Two Perish in T-6 Heat

The NTSB has released its preliminary report on a 17 September 2023 accident in which two aircraft then competing in the Reno Air Races—a North American T-6G registration N2897G and a North American AT-6B registration N57418—were substantially damaged and the pilots (and sole occupants) of both aircraft suffered fatal injuries following a traffic-pattern collision. The two accident aircraft were operated as personal flights under Part 91 of the Federal Aviation Regulations.

Look Out Below …

Gulfstream’s clean-sheet, next-generation Gulfstream G500 has been granted FAA certification to undertake steep-approach operations. Thus certified, the aircraft is authorized to operate at challenging airports such as London City (LCY), Switzerland’s Sion (SIR) and Lugano (LUG), New Jersey’s Teterboro (TEB), Orange County’s John Wayne (SNA), and Florida’s Naples (APF).

A Trend Worth Sustaining

The FAA’s 2023 fiscal year ended on 30 September, thereby closing the proverbial book on annual statistics the likes of total numbers of Part 121, Part 135, Part 91, and military flight operations; unruly passenger incidents; airport closures; flight delays and cancellations; and—of particular salience to this writing—fatal accidents involving Experimental category and amateur-built aircraft during the 12-month period ending 30 September 2023. While the rate of accidents based on flight-hours will not be made public until the FAA releases general aviation survey data in 2024, the incidence of accidents involving Experimental category/amateur-built aircraft in fiscal 2023 was the lowest on record.

Also: GPS Spoofing, Universal Hydrogen Flight Test, Boeing Pays $8.1M, CG Rescue

On 02 October 2019, seven people perished when a World War II-era Boeing B17 Flying Fortress dubbed Nine-O-Nine went down minutes after departing Windsor Locks, Connecticut’s Bradley International Airport (BDL). At the time of the accident, the aircraft—then participating in the Wings of Freedom Tour—was carrying ten passengers. A settlement has been reached between the downed B-17’s operator, a number of the accident’s six survivors, and families of the deceased—so stated attorneys representing eight of the ten passengers e

Houston Ultra-Low-Cost Carrier Growing Steadily

Houston-based Ultra-Low-Cost Carrier (ULCC) Avelo Airlines has announced plans to pay its pilots an hourly-rate in excess of those offered by all regional carriers and the majority of competing ULCCs. The increase, made public on 10 October 2023, is the fifth pay-raise to be lavished upon Avelo pilots since the airline commenced operations in April 2021.

Agreement Comprises $48-million in Added Value

Air Wisconsin pilots represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), have overwhelmingly ratified a new contract worth nearly $48-million in added value over its three-year period of validity. Of the 83-percent of eligible Air Wisconsin pilots who cast ballots, 93-percent voted in favor of the agreement, which includes 38- and 54-percent pay-increases for captains and first-officers respectively, scheduling and reserve improvements, as well as the creation of a new ALPA-Company Fatigue Review Panel, which provides pay protection for fatigue events determined to arise from workplace rigors.

At the Confluence of Today and Tomorrow

Airbus Helicopters's demonstrator FlightLab has successfully tested an electric flight control system salient to a new Human Machine Interface (HMI) destined for installation on the company’s CityAirbus NextGen eVTOL prototype. The milestone test occasioned an important step toward the advent of electric-powered Urban Air Mobility (UAM) aircraft.

Also: GPS Spoofing, Universal Hydrogen Flight Test, Boeing Pays $8.1M, CG Rescue

On 02 October 2019, seven people perished when a World War II-era Boeing B17 Flying Fortress dubbed Nine-O-Nine went down minutes after departing Windsor Locks, Connecticut’s Bradley International Airport (BDL). At the time of the accident, the aircraft—then participating in the Wings of Freedom Tour—was carrying ten passengers. A settlement has been reached between the downed B-17’s operator, a number of the accident’s six survivors, and families of the deceased—so stated attorneys representing eight of the ten passengers e

To Buy or Not to Buy …

 Ahead of NBAA-BACE 2023, SherpaReport, an independent outlet providing data pertaining to the emergent shared luxury travel market, has released its Aircraft Buying Guide 2023, an updated publication providing comprehensive and user-friendly guidance germane to the purchasing of private aircraft. The Guide’s new edition offers individuals and businesses contemplating aircraft acquisitions salient technical and pricing data, as well as insights into the conventions of aircraft brokerage.

The Air Up There …

Savannah, Georgia-based Aviation Clean Air (ACA), a producer of aircraft air-filtration systems, has finalized an agreement with Swiss plane-maker Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. for installation of the former’s Ionization Purification System as a factory-approved OEM production option for new Pilatus PC-24 light business jets. The ACA system is approved, also, for retrofit installation.

From 2011 (YouTube Version): 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 simpler concept. Still; they note that the Hopp

Aero Linx: The International Civil Aviation English Association (ICAEA)

The International Civil Aviation English Association (ICAEA) is a non-profit, non-partisan association that exists to: facilitate exchanges between people and organisations involved in the use of English in aviation, raise awareness of language proficiency and its effect on aviation safety, service quality and industry efficiency, develop expertise about the use, training and testing of English in all aviation professions, promote the sharing of expertise and cooperation between professions, industry and training organisation

Glideslope Intercept Altitude The published minimum altitude to intercept the glideslope in the intermediate segment of an instrument approach. Government charts use the lightning bolt symbol to identify this intercept point. This intersection is called the Precise Final Approach fix (PFAF). ATC directs a higher altitude, the resultant intercept becomes the PFAF. 

“The activity data is necessary to paint the full-picture, but the initial indications are very positive indeed. It shows a continuing trend toward safer operations, even as total hours flown increase. It reminds us that safety is an ongoing journey that always needs the highest attention of our flying community.”   Source: EAA vice president of advocacy and safety Sean Elliott noting that while the rate of accidents based on flight-hours will not be made public until the FAA releases general aviation survey data in 2024, the incidence of accidents involving Experimental category/amateur-built aircraft in fiscal 2023 was the lowest on record.