Also: Big Airbus Heli Buy, USAF-Help Wanted, G280 Updated, Universal Avionics

Blue Origin flight NS-18 completed its suborbital flight safely making it the company’s second successful manned voyage. Four astronauts, including Dr. Chris Boshuizen, Glen de Vries, Audrey Powers, and William Shatner made their mark on a portion of aviation history when they returned to Earth on October 13.  The 90 year-old Shatner made history as the oldest man in space. After their capsule made landfall, Shatner said to Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos, “What you have given me is the most profound experience I can ask… I’m so filled with emotio

Proof of Concept for the VTOL Drone

Bell’s Autonomous Pod Transport, or APT, has proved its conceptual pack mule capabilities after airdropping test supplies successfully, another milestone for the project. An unmanned VTOL quad-rotor, the APT is designed to carry two standard tactical packs, each carrying up to 60 pounds, with a maximum payload of 100 lbs. Ranging from ammunition, water, medical supplies, batteries, or fuel, the capability to flexibly resupply personnel with minimal impact to transit is one of the hallmarks of drone tasking. It can drop the bags over separate locations, if needed, allowing multiple units to be served in one trip. 

“Trust People to Make the Right Decisions,” CEO Says 

Ed Bastian, in an interview on The Claman Countdown, spoke about his company’s lack of mandatory employee coronavirus vaccination. In a time of supply chain woes, worker shortages, and miscellaneous discontent, some online have seen his comments as indicators of company policy. With other carriers entering a game of chicken, where employees choose between vaccination or forced termination, the move made good fodder for weekend headlines amidst the charged debate. 

It Ain't Just TikTok, Klyde!

FMI: www.klydemorris.com

To Oversee Aviation Safety Research, Education Initiatives

A new global center for Aviation and Aerospace Safety will be launched at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU), to be led by industry expert Robert Sumwalt III. He will begin stewarding the Center as a Distinguished Fellow in Aviation Safety and Executive Director of Embry-Riddle's Center for Aviation and Aerospace Safety (ERCAA) from January 4, 2022. 

Canadian Restrictions Propose Exclusion Zones Around Airport Runways...

The questions surrounding the interference of 5G wireless network signals to aviation radar instruments and guidance has been initially addressed in Canada, as authorities proposed restrictions on 5G service near most major airports in that country. Similar to in the US, Canadian telecommunications companies in July had acquired spectrum licenses to begin 5G service, which increases speed and bandwidth of wireless communications. The Canadian restrictions propose exclusion zones around airport runways where no 5G base stations are permitted plus protection zones where 5G services face restrictions.

From 2014: This Is How A Great Life Gets Its Start... Enjoy!

While at EAA AirVenture 2014, Special Aero-News Correspondent, Michael Maya Charles, got a little off the beaten track and visited the Kermit Weeks hangar located on the north side of Wittman Regional Airport. While not actually part of the AirVenture exposition, Charles found a story that bodes well for the future of general aviation. Charles was lucky enough to be there at a time when he could meet a young man by the name of Eric Fatla. Eric is the kind of guy that works behind the scenes, but without him the scenes couldn’t take place. At only 24 years old, Eric is a pilot and an A&a

Total Outstanding Commitments For The Electra eSTOL Total 18

Electra Aero, a next generation aerial mobility company, recently secured purchase commitments for 180 of the company’s hybrid-electric ultra-shot takeoff and landing (eSTOL) aircraft. The deals, taken together, are worth more than $500 million over the coming years. Electra is seeing success with small charter operators, air service providers, and infrastructure developers in multiple countries as stakeholder pivot towards smaller, greener air transit. 

Also: New Radar Altimeters, Net-Zero Pledge, SmartSky Networks, ThrustSense Autothrottle Deliveries

Honda Aircraft took the wraps off their new "HondaJet 2600 Concept”, at a special event hosted by Honda Aircraft Company at NBAA 2021 where the displayed a mockup. The HondaJet 2600 Concept inherits Honda’s Over-The-Wing Engine Mount (OTWEM) configuration, Natural Laminar Flow (NLF) technology on wings and fuselage nose, and carbon composite fuselage. What might it do? The HJ2600 has a range of 2,625 nautical miles, and also features a high speed cruise of 450 knots and a ceiling of 47,000 feet. Diamond Aircraft’s experimentation with e

Experience(d) A Right (No. 2) Engine Bird Strike And Subsequent Engine Fire During Takeoff Roll

On October 2, 2021, about 17:14 eastern standard time, an Airbus A320-271N neo, registration number N922NK, operated by Spirit Airlines as flight number 4922, and powered by two International Aero Engines PW 1127G-JM turbofan geared engines experience a right (No. 2) engine bird strike and subsequent engine fire during takeoff roll from the Atlantic City International Airport (ACY), Atlantic City, New Jersey. The flight crew reported receiving an No. 2 engine fire warning, discharged both fire bottles, aborted the takeoff at a groundspeed of about 90 knots and stopped the airplane on the runway.

AD 2021-20-04 Requires Revising The Existing Airplane Flight Manual

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus SAS Model A350-941 and -1041 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report that during flight tests, the opening of the ram air outlet flaps was found to cause a disturbance of the air flow around the ram air turbine (RAT) when the landing gear (L/G) is extended. This AD requires revising the existing airplane flight manual (AFM) and applicable corresponding operational procedures to provide procedures for all engines failure and L/G gravity extension related to certain software, and installing Airbus temporary quick change (ATQC) V3 for the flight warning system (FWS) software (SW) standard (STD) 6/2.0, as sp

AD 2021-20-14 Prompted By A Report Of A Manufacturing Issue Involving Misalignment Of A Cabin Seat Pin And Plate

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Dassault Aviation Model FALCON 7X, FALCON 900EX, and FALCON 2000EX airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report of a manufacturing issue involving misalignment of a cabin seat pin and plate that can prevent the recline locking mechanism from properly engaging when the seat is in taxi, take-off, or landing position. This AD requires an inspection of certain cabin seats for discrepancies and corrective action, as specified in European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these p

Aero Linx: The British Aerobatic Association Limited We were founded in 1974 to represent the interests of all those concerned with aerobatic flying in powered aircraft and in gliders, by promoting and organising all aspects of competition aerobatics in the UK, including progressive training, proper conduct and furtherance of the sport. The British Aerobatic Association Limited is a Company incorporated with its liability limited by guarantee and not having any share capital. We are recognised by The Royal Aero Club of the United Kingdom as the governing body of sport aerobatics. We run regular events ranging from aerobatic training camps to our full annual com

Mode C Intruder Alert A function of certain air traffic control automated systems designed to alert radar controllers to existing or pending situations between a tracked target (known IFR or VFR aircraft) and an untracked target (unknown IFR or VFR aircraft) that requires immediate attention/action.

“The reason the mandate was put in by the president, I believe, is because they wanted to make sure companies had a plan to get their employees vaccinated. A month before the president came out with the mandate, we had already announced our plan to get everybody vaccinated. And the good news is that our plan is working. At Delta today we are 90% vaccinated, fully vaccinated, across our entire company. And more and more vaccinations are coming in by the day. So I expect that by the time we get to November next month, we’re going to be at the 95% threshold, and when you consider there’s going to be some religious and medical accommodations made, that we’re going to need to consider, that by the time we’re done we’re going to be pretty close to f