Turboprop, Business Jet And Helicopter Deliveries Declined As Compared To 2019

GAMA) presented the 2020 year-end general aviation aircraft billings and shipments report, during its annual State of the Industry press conference. Aircraft deliveries reached a value of $22.8 billion, a decrease compared to $27.8 billion in 2019. Piston airplane deliveries were steady, while turboprop, business jet and helicopter deliveries declined as compared to 2019. "As expected, in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted general aviation and stifled the industry's growth. While we continue to face headwinds globally, all signs point to strong demand for our products and services that are unfortunately being constrained by pandemic induced supply chain limitations and a vast array of disjointed barriers to air travel across national borders. As we progress through the recovery process, our member companies have made the health and safety of their employees and that of their suppliers an overarching priority, and rigorously support economic policies t

Also: WAI Receives $250K, Inspiration4, Emergency AD: Bell 505, Elite Balloon Instructor

The National Transportation Safety Board has decided to decommission the TWA Flight 800 reconstruction as the agency prepares for the expiration of the lease for its Ashburn, Virginia, Training Center. The reconstruction, housed in the 30,000 square foot hangar along with other training tools at the NTSB’s Training Center, has been used in the NTSB’s accident investigation training courses for nearly 20 years. However, advances in investigative techniques such as 3-D scanning and drone imagery, lessen the relevance of the large-scale reconstruction in teaching modern investigative techniques. Airlines for America (A4A) has announced that its member passenger carriers have pledged support for the implementation of a so-called 'voluntary' international contact tracing program that is likely to disple

Also: Next-Gen Airplane Parachutes, Lighter, Smaller, and More Cost-Effective, Coming Soon

ANN’s Editor-In-Chief Jim Campbell has an interesting background as a test pilot... But one of the most exciting programs he was part of …..was flying and testing the first early generation of emergency airframe parachute systems on several different Cessnas, while working with two separate development programs. The technology has progressed so much since then, but the next generation of airframe recovery parachute systems is undergoing preparation for the civilian market and beyond... promising better/lighter materials, small sizes, and lower costs. Our Editor-In-Chief Jim Campbell interviewed Aviation Safety Resources’ CEO and President Larry Williams to get the inside scoop on what we’ll be seeing from ASR in the very near future -- and take our words for it, ASR seems ready to sh

Also: US Helicopter Safety Team, DPE Model Code of Conduct, Spatial Disorientation, American Flyers

Another much-anticipated event, one that was pretty an indoor convention, has been delayed due to issues associated with the pandemic. The Flight School Association of North America notes that, "Through discussions with members, suppliers, government officials and hotel management, the FSANA board and staff have decided to reschedule the 2021 conference. We apologize to anyone unable to make the new date, but feel the move will make for a better conference for all who attend or exhibit. We expect that we may have our largest attendance ever." The event is now scheduled for August 18-20, 2021, and will still be held in the Rosen Plaza in Orlando, Florida. Robinson's Cockpit Video Camera introduced at Heli Expo 2020 is now optional on R22/R44 helicopters and standard on R66 helicopters ordered after 1

AD #: 2021-05-51 Prompted By An In-Flight Failure Of A 1st-Stage LPC Blade On A PW4077

An Emergency Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2021-05-51 has been sent to owners and operators of Pratt & Whitney Division (PW) PW4074, PW4074D, PW4077, PW4077D, PW4084D, PW4090, and PW4090-3 model turbofan engines. This emergency AD was prompted by the in-flight failure of a 1st-stage low-pressure compressor (LPC) blade on a PW4077 model turbofan engine resulting in an engine fire during flight. This condition, if not addressed, could result in 1st-stage LPC blade release, damage to the engine, and damage to the airplane. The FAA reviewed Pratt & Whitney Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) PW4G-112-A72-268, Revision No. 7, dated September 6, 2018. This ASB specifies procedures for performing thermal acoustic image (TAI) inspections of 1st-stage LPC blades.

Air Race E's Existing Race Airplane Formula Will Be Re-Named The Open Class

Air Race E, a hopeful electric air race promotor, has announced it is launching two new distinct race classes: one an airplane and the other a VTOL. The move to amplify its operations and create more races is reportedly the direct result of high levels of interest and demand from across the industry. The new airplane formula will be named the Performance Class and will be based on a standard electric powertrain, which will focus on optimisation, efficiency and extracting the maximum potential out of a powertrain. Air Race E is developing this new race plane under its own roof with the help of leading manufacturers in the industry.

Also: ERAU Researchers Receive Grants, Aquiline Drones, Cygnus, Flint Hills and UAV Navigation

Mission controllers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California have received the first status report from the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter, which landed Feb. 18, 2021, at Jezero Crater attached to the belly of the agency’s Mars 2020 Perseverance rover. The downlink, which arrived at 1630 EST via a connection through the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, indicates that both the helicopter, which will remain attached to the rover for 30 to 60 days, and its base station (an electrical box on the rover that stores and routes communications between the rotorcraft and Earth) are operating as expected. FRESHVALE LTD released their new HEAVY VTOL UAV 150H. The unmanned helicopter HEAVY VTOL UAV 150H successfully performed tests by delivering 150 kg cargo to 130 km demonstrating safe autonomou

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Northwest UAV And The Naval Research Laboratory Are Working Towards A Test Flight

Through a cooperative agreement, NWUAV and NRL have successfully completed a hydrogen fuel cell prototype designed specifically for the high power-to-weight ratio and harsh operational requirements of unmanned systems. After a successful first operational test, NWUAV and NRL plan further developments to their hydrogen fuel cell prototype, with a test flight slated for later this year. “It is very gratifying to turn research sustained by the Office of Naval Research into a commercial product,” said Dr. Karen Swider-Lyons, Director of the Laboratory of Autonomous Systems Research at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory.

This 12 Passenger Howard 250 Is The Only Remaining Flying Model

The Lone Star Flight Museum (LSFM) has announced the arrival of a rare Lockheed Howard 250 Tri-Gear. The aircraft was gifted to the museum by the Mid America Flight Museum in Mount Pleasant, Texas (MAFM), and will now become a permanent part of the LSFM’s aircraft collection. The Howard 250 is an added highlight to the new and ongoing relationship between the two flight museums that will see additional visiting aircraft at LSFM over the next several years.