Injured Man Yanked from Wreckage Seconds Before Impact

One viral video this week showed a dramatic, last-second save by a Los Angeles Police Department officer who rescued a recently-crashed pilot out of his plane only seconds before an oncoming train collided with the wreckage. The LAPD released the Foothill Division Officer's bodycam footage, saying they "displayed heroism and quick action" with their response. The units were called to an afternoon crash landing involving a single-occupant Cessna 172 that came to rest on top of the Metrolink Antelope Valley line train tracks. The aircraft appeared to have had rough go of things on the way down, as its nose gear had collapsed and was rendered immobile. The pilot, bleeding from his face, seem

Airline Says Change Will Open Opportunity for Well-Qualified and Experienced but Uncredentialed Pilots

Delta Airlines updated its Facebook Recruitment site, notifying prospective pilot candidates that the company has reduced the minimum hiring requirements. The reception was mixed, with those in the know understanding how much the dearth of qualified aviators has worsened, with more than a few non-industry commenters decrying the decline in standards. Those in the pilot career pipeline should be excited, as the drawing back of the non-essential standards in the biggest legacy carriers means that at last the long-prophesied pilot shortage may be upon us. Generations of aviators have been advised of an industrial crisis that's always a few conv

Also: SpaceX Starship Delays, Anti-Wasp UAV, Drug-Mule UAV, Wildlife Charity v Drones

Kawasaki has further refined its K-Racer X1 UAV prototype, taking its previously staid, run of the mill powerplant to the next level by cramming in the engine from their top of the line H2R superbike. Japan seems continually enamored by the concept of gas-powered VTOL aircraft, with the Xturismo "Hoverbike" similarly propelled by a wrapped-out bike engine while in hover. Soon to come to North American locales, Autel has announced its EVO Nano and Lite series of drones will be in customer hands in the near future. The premium, workaday UAVs have improved on previous Aut

Graduating Aviation-Bound High Schoolers Encouraged to Apply

The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) has begun accepting applications for the Edward W. Stimpson Aviation Excellence Award Scholarship, granted to graduating US high school seniors pursuing education in aviation. The lucky recipient selected will get $2,000 for the furtherance of their career. The award honors late GAMA president and founder Edward W. Stimpson as a way to foster the aerospace workforce and advance the careers of young up and comers establishing a foothold in the business. 

Forward-Thinking Management Add 2nd Facility, Stocks Up On Components For Guaranteed Assembly

Masten Mission 2 is now in the works, as the company announces the start of an ambitious lunar program aimed at reaching the lunar south pole with their Xelene lander. The Haworth Crater is hoped to be the landing site for government and commercial payloads as it assesses surface composition, volatility, and radiation ahead of planned human missions expected to take place under the Artemis program. Masten aims to offer lunar delivery missions to all near and far-side of the moon locales, from craters to plains, poles to the equator. Masten's inbuilt heat and power systems c

From 2011: A Unique, Affordable and Isolated Way to Enjoy Ballooning

Ballooning is both a unique as well as eclectic pursuit... and it attracts (naturally) a pretty unique brand of aviator to its ranks. But solo balloons are particularly rare... though an undeniably cost effective way to play in the sky. While there have been a number of single seat experimental and ultralight balloon systems offered over the years, Cameron says its Sky Hopper is a smaller, lighter and s

Also: SpaceX Starship Delays, Anti-Wasp UAV, Drug-Mule UAV, Wildlife Charity v Drones

Kawasaki has further refined its K-Racer X1 UAV prototype, taking its previously staid, run of the mill powerplant to the next level by cramming in the engine from their top of the line H2R superbike. Japan seems continually enamored by the concept of gas-powered VTOL aircraft, with the Xturismo "Hoverbike" similarly propelled by a wrapped-out bike engine while in hover. Soon to come to North American locales, Autel has announced its EVO Nano and Lite series of drones will be in customer hands in the near future. The premium, workaday UAVs have improved on previous Aut

The Helicopter Experienced An Un-Commanded Left Roll... The Pilot Attempted To Regain Control

On November 28, 2021, about 1658 central standard time, a Bell 206B helicopter, N59600, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Perry, Oklahoma. The commercial pilot sustained fatal injuries and the student pilot sustained serious injuries. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight. The family members of the pilot reported that he worked fulltime as a helicopter air ambulance pilot. The pilot owned the accident helicopter and also worked part-time seasonal jobs as a 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application pilot.

AD 2021-26-17 Prompted By A Determination That Certain Airplanes Are Listed In The Wrong Configuration

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2019-03-26, which applied to certain The Boeing Company Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, -900, and -900ER series airplanes. AD 2019-03-26 required modifying the passenger service units (PSUs) and life vest panels by replacing the existing inboard lanyard and installing two new lanyards on the outboard edge of the PSUs and life vest panels; measuring the distance between the hooks of the torsion spring of the lanyard assembly; replacing discrepant lanyard assemblies; and re-identifying serviceable lanyard assemblies. This AD was prompted by a determination that certain airplanes are listed in th

AD 2021-26-15 Requires Inspecting The Stabilator Trim Control Cables And Replacing If Necessary

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain km, Vulcanair S.p.A. Model P.68C, P.68C-TC, P.68 “OBSERVER,” P.68 OBSERVER 2, P.68R, and P.68TC OBSERVER airplanes. This AD was prompted by mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI identifies the unsafe condition as a damaged stabilator trim control cable. This AD requires inspecting the stabilator trim control cables and replacing if necessary. This AD also requires reporting the results of each inspection to Vulcanair S.p.A. The FA

Aero Linx: French Aerospace Industries Association (GIFAS) With more than a hundred years of history credentials, the French aerospace industry is designing and building the future. GIFAS supports all industry players so that they can reach their fullest potential. GIFAS counts over 400 members. If your company has significant activity in the aerospace sector and you are interested in participating in work undertaken in this industry, you are welcome to join us. Becoming a member of GIFAS integrates you into an ecosystem of common strategy. Not only are there services you could benefit from, you will also be able to meet numerous clients and partners and use these opportunities to stru

Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring (RAIM) A technique whereby a civil GNSS receiver/processor determines the integrity of the GNSS navigation signals without reference to sensors or non-DoD integrity systems other than the receiver itself. This determination is achieved by a consistency check among redundant pseudorange measurements.

"While we feel as strongly as ever about the importance of education, there are highly qualified candidates – people who we would want to welcome to our Delta family – who have gained more than the equivalent of a college education through years of life and leadership experience. Making the four-year degree requirement preferred removes unintentional barriers to our Delta flight decks. There are no other changes to our requirements, or to our continued commitment to hiring the world’s best pilots. We’re excited about our future at Delta and we’re proud of the many things we are doing to make the dream of becoming a Delta pilot a reality for talented, hard-working and committed people who love this industry. If you have questions, please send us a di

"Maybe Next Year" Says Council for 3rd Time In a Row

The Sunderland, UK city council has announced it will not be holding the Sunderland Airshow this summer, saying that the decision is the result of its public-facing consultation last August, and increased uncertainty around Covid in the near future. The statement issued is couched in a gentle, slightly uncertain manner of speaking, but there should be no mistake: The show is canceled. The event once stood among the longest-running seaside airshows, performing over 30 years with a festival of activities, displays, and arena events. Sunderland was one of the premier places to see the aerobatic Red Arrows, and the gamut of Royal Air Force steel as it streaked across the skies.