Also: Ultralight Symposium Canceled, SSA Convention Nixed, Instagram CFI Fraud, UND PPL Scholarships

Delta Airlines has notified prospective pilot candidates that the company has reduced its minimum hiring requirements. The reception was mixed, 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. A severe windstorm struck Alaska earlier last week, wreaking havoc across the south central region, with winds up to 91 mph causi

Also: Unmanned Carrier Ops, eHang Opens AMC, MagniX CEO Steps Down, Michigan AMC

Joby Aviation has completed its second prototype aircraft in an effort to speed up its flight testing schedule heading into 2022, recently receiving its Special Airworthiness Certificate and US Air Force approval. JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO, said the pre-production campaign has been an enormous effort for the young eVTOL design, logging 65 terabytes of test data in 2021 alone. The addition of a second demonstrator will help to quicken the pace, and Joby intends for it to help see the design obtain FAA certification in time for a commercial operations launch in 2024. NA

More Airports Available For Low-Visibility Landings Amid 5G Rollout

The FAA granted new approvals on January 19th that now allow nearly 62% of the domestic American commercial fleet to perform low-visibility landings at airports with adjacent C-band 5G networks. The move follows the expansion of the safety buffer zones around some areas of concern. Now, the FAA has expanded the number of airports available to planes with previously cleared altimeters to perform low-visibility landings, and the most recent announcement has added another 3 combinations. Now, the majority of U.S. transport aircraft are cleared, including "Boeing 717, 737, 747, 757, 767, 777, MD-10/-11 and Airbus A300, A310, A319, A320, A330, A340, A350 and A380 models."

Florida Flight School Allows FO Pathway for CFIs

Epic Flight Academy, of Smyrna, Florida, has announced its addition to the United Airlines Aviate Program. Epic's students and flight instructors are now able to build time for their career at the school as they train and work, and eventually move on to United as a First Officer once they meet the minimum pilot standards. Epic is a part 141 FAA-certified flight school, where student applicants are invited to sit for an interview with United Airlines for acceptance into the program. If selected, students obtain an Aviate coach, a United pilot, once they complete their training at the school. Once rated, students will, as many flight schools offer, move on become flight instructors as they begin

Pilots Share Stories of "That Special Airplane" for an AirVenture Camp Experience

EAA's "Pilot Your Own Adventure" contest is back for 2022, offering big prizes from the organization and sponsor, Flight Outfitters. The chance to win a grand prize is open for pilots and aircraft owners, welcoming entrants to submit real-world stories behind the aircraft they have owned. Up for grabs is a top of the line AirVenture experience, spending the expo in a fully outfitted Flight Outfitters camper along with a plethora of the brand's clothing and gear. Winners beside the first prize, up to the 5th winner will be awarded. Last year's grand prize winner took first place with a story of his trek westward in his newly restored 1968 Citabria 7ECA. 

eSTOL Company Expects Full-Scale Demonstrator Later This Year

Electra.aero has received an investment during its Series A funding round from the venture arm of Lockheed Martin, which will be used to support the company's plans to fly a full-scale demonstrator aircraft for their hybrid eSTOL technology. The prototype is hoped to take flight sometime in 2022, pending successful ground tests of the propulsion system. “Electra’s technical approach to sustainable aviation is differentiated, and we are excited to see this concept mature,” said Chris Moran, Vice President and General Manager of Lockheed Martin Ventures.

"Further Study Needed" for Complex Infrared Defense Systems 

The FAA has dashed the hopes of excited aviation nerds everywhere, as they quash the potential installation of an ECM pod on commercial cargo aircraft. The FAA said that a proposal for FedEx Airbus A220s to install anti-missile, infrared dazzler equipment "is not moving forward at this time.” The agency accepted the proposal for consideration earlier this week, following years of development by the company and industry partners. FedEx has felt for years that the proliferation of man portable anti-air systems in countries around the globe merits built-in defensive measures. Similar equipment has been placed into military service for quite some time, to the point that the indust

UK Airshow Back for the First Time Since 2019

Good news for United Kingdom airshow enthusiasts has come, for once this year, as the organizers of the Teesside Airshow have confirmed the event is on for June 11th, 2022. Once on, it will be the first time in action since 2020, following two consecutive years of cancellations. They thank the major local backing of the Tees Valley Combined Authority for their support of the show as the show's principal sponsor. 

Klyde Gets In A Shameless Plug For A Friend!

FMI: www.klydemorris.com

Light, Compact Rotary Engine Tested in UK MoD, USAF UAV Project

Advanced Innovative Engineering (AIE) has announced the development of its newest small UAV propulsion system, showing a compact, lightweight Wankel engine. AIE demonstrated the capability of its 38 HP rotary engine, the AIE 225CS - standing for, in the tradition of engine design, a bevy of abbreviations. The 'CS' in the name stands for Compact SPARCS, which itself is another abbreviation for 'Self Pressurizing Air Rotor Cooling System'. The rotary engine could use the appreciation of its lightweight, smooth design, and the UAV industry seems uniquely prepared for its benefits.

Colorado Campus Offers  aVariety Of Aerospace Entertainment And Education

Wings over the Rockies Exploration of Flight is the second location for the Wings Over The Rockies Museum. ANN spoke with Keith Palmer, the Director of Operations at WOTR Exploration of Flight to find out what this campus offers to the community. “The goal was to build something on the airfield, so that we could start teaching kids, our next generation, up close, personal, touching aircraft and seeing working aircraft. These are not museum pieces. Everything at the Exploration of Flight Campus is a working, functional aircraft,” Palmer expla

Horizon Aero and Blainjett to Demonstrate Flying Prototype of Level-Flight, Tailless eVTO

"Hoverbikes" seem to be the fad of the year, amid a rapidly growing aerial mobility market inundated with every possible combination of tadpole inspired fuselage designs packed with as many rotors as the battery packs can stand. Those smaller, hungrier startups have to differentiate themselves from the pack somehow, and if recent announcements are pointing north, then being the first to market a flying motorcycle is a reliable way to get eyes on a project. Sure, much like terrestrial motorcycles they forego a measure of wind protection, crash survivability, and passenger comfort, but marketers know that purely logical purchase decisions are few and far betwee

Also: Ultralight Symposium Canceled, SSA Convention Nixed, Instagram CFI Fraud, UND PPL Scholarships

Delta Airlines has notified prospective pilot candidates that the company has reduced its minimum hiring requirements. The reception was mixed, 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. A severe windstorm struck Alaska earlier last week, wreaking havoc across the south central region, with winds up to 91 mph causi

“It Was Extremely Foggy That Day”

On December 29, 2021, at 1425 eastern standard time, a Robinson R-44 II, N544SC, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Cosby, Tennessee. The commercial pilot received serious injuries and the passenger was fatally injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to personnel at Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge Airport (GKT), Sevierville, Tennessee, the pilot and passenger traveled from Utah to pick up the helicopter after leasing it from the owner. They arrived at the service center where the helicopter had been stored about 0830 on the day of the accident. The pilot reviewed the lease agreement and conducted a local f

Performance-Based Navigation Area navigation based on performance requirements for aircraft operating along an ATS route, on an instrument approach procedure or in a designated airspace. Note: Performance requirements are expressed in navigation specifications (RNAV specification, RNP specification) in terms of accuracy, integrity, continuity, availability, and functionality needed for the proposed operation in the context of a particular airspace concept.

Aero Linx: International Business Aviation Council Co-located at the ICAO headquarters in Montreal, Canada, IBAC provides expert advocacy and intelligence on behalf of the global business aviation community participating in various ICAO bodies whose work affects business aviation.  Where business aviation association members work effectively in national and regional capitals, IBAC advocates at the global level – at ICAO – on behalf of the worldwide business aviation community.

"The FAA has determined that further internal study is necessary with respect to the proposed conditions referenced above. Therefore, to avoid confusion to the public and a comment period on a proposal that the agency is moving forward at this time, the FAA is withdrawing the notice." Source: The FAA, as they dashed the hopes of excited aviation nerds everywhere, as they quash the potential installation of an ECM pod on commercial cargo aircraft. The FAA said that a proposal for FedEx Airbus A220s to install anti-missile, infrared dazzler equipment "is not moving forward at this time.”