While a Robo-Tanker Pilot is a Long Way Off, Everything Starts Somewhere

A lesser-known project from Merlin began doing some data collection flights with a KC-135 Stratotanker from MacDill AFB, gathering info about crew workload, tasking, and use cases for their future Merlin Pilot suite. They went on a pair of flights back to back, assessing tasks that pilots perform in the course of a normal tanker flight. The firm is reportedly assessing just where autonomy could actually make the most effective difference in improving safety, cost, and efficiency.

ATG Network Provider Adds to the Family

Air-to-Ground internet provider SmartSky has added Aero Center Atlanta to their network of dealers and installers, adding 7 FBO locales to the roster. The addition means that Aero Centers can provide Part 145 maintenance services along with flu-service management, charter, and FBO services. Their Atlanta location is by far the most plush in the family, described as a crown jewel amongst a slate of smaller facilities throughout the US. They're already in the swing of things, installing SmartSky's Flagship and LITE systems to cover everything from smaller aircraft to large-cabin bizjets.

UK Base Hones Skills in Overhauling Bizjet Classic

StandardAero announced that its Gosport, UK facility has taken in its 500th Pratt & Whitney Canada PW300 for scheduled maintenance. It's a small milestone but somewhat notable to get word out there that the 'newcomers', who started working on the type in 2009, have gotten the routine down pat. Gosport was added as a Pratt & Whitney Designated Overhaul Facility back then, and that slice of the pie has fed StandardAero's British operations quite well in the years since. 

Also: Midnight eVTOL Certification, Falcon 9 Record, Pro Line Fusion, Europa Clipper

The warbird community celebrated Mark Novak, Chief Pilot of their B-29 'Doc', and his accomplishment of racking up 500 hours in the vintage bomber. On top of that, Novak built up more than 300 hours of time flying the other B-29 'Fifi', making him the modern era's most experienced B-29 pilot. The Airspace Center for Excellence has been given the blessing to begin operating Lakeland Linder International Airport's first concessions store, riding on the tail of new commercial service by Avelo Airlines. Evidently, there weren't too many bidders for the opportunity, with most

Upcoming "One FedEx" Program Ruffles Feathers at Cargo Carrier

FedEx pilots and the Air Line Pilots Association haven't been too keen on FedEx' new "One FedEx" scheme, to the point they're willing to set up an informational picket at their Memphis base. Roughly, the change is a consolidation of operating companies, which will herald a 10% dividend increase on the way to "$4 billion in benefits from transformation." It will bring FedEx Express, FedEx Ground, FedEx Services, and other FedEx operating companies into a single Federal Express Corporation. 

Also: NATA CEO In Legal Dilemma, WestJet Encore Settle, Drone Bill H.R. 8416, USN Jet Trainer 

GAMA released their 1Q/24 GA Aircraft Shipment and Billing Report -- with mostly mixed news. The results for the first three months of 2024 when compared to the same period in 2023, show deliveries were flat for piston airplanes and piston helicopters, decreased for turboprops and turbine helicopters, and increased for business jets. Total aircraft billings were up 3.2% at $4.7 billion. Czech sportplane manufacturer Direct Fly has finished delivering its 200th ALTO NG, the latest iteration of their 600-kg sportplane. The Alto was previously offered as the Alto

Also: uAvionix AV-Link, F-16 Viper Demo, TN National Guard, 'Staff the Towers'

A Saturday afternoon jump run, originating from SkyDive Kansas City, went bad when it was reported that, "a Skydiver premature parachute deployment at 14,000 msl damag(ed) the tail section." The turbine-upgraded Cessna 206, N29173, was abandoned by the pilot, who made a safe and successful jump, though the aircraft is a total loss. The parachute-equipped jump pilot exited the aircraft after all six jumpers had cleared the aircraft. The fourth flight test of Starship could launch as soon as June 5, pending regulatory approval. SpaceX notes that Starship’s third flight tes

Also: VA Scholarships, Certification Standards, 'Staff the Towers', Women in Aviation Advisory

In partnership with Revv Aviation and the Eastern Iowa Airport (CID), Coe College is opening a new flight school and aviation management program. Those interested in becoming a professional pilot can complete their certification while enrolled as students within Coe's new aviation management concentration. Just as they got themselves a new contract, things spiraled out of control as the NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots claimed, "Managers use intimidation, aggressive interrogation tactics to silence the Union's voice." Scarcely a few weeks passed si

Army's New UAS Powerplant Looks Promising, with Increased TBO, Generation, and Power

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, in many ways America's flagship combat UAV manufacturer, has finished up durability testing on a new 200-hp engine. The firm calls it the "Heavy Fuel Engine (HFE) 2.0", designed to provide 2,500 hours between overhauls and chug along for long flights with nary a complaint. The final durability test put their test unit through a ringer of 1,250 full-power takeoffs and climbs, along with 200 hours of cruise with a fallback generator setup to simulate a worst-case loading condition. At the end of it all, General Atomics gave it the nod, setting it up for the Army's upcoming Multi-Domain Ops UAS. Now, it only needs one more 150-ho

Another Pie in the Sky "Game Changer" Program Sticks Around a While Longer

Bell has been given funding under Phase 1B of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's (DARPA) Speed and Runway Independent Technologies (SPRINT) X-Plane program. Bell will move on from Phase 1A, where it completed a conceptual design review, and will now move on to "preliminary design efforts" for the SPRINT X-Plane. SPRINT aims to "design, build, and fly an X-Plane" aimed at a "transformational combination of aircraft speed and runway independence for the next generation of air mobility platforms". While much of the time these nifty pie-in-the-sky projects come to little more than some fun press releases and an aborted project at the end of their funding, ther

Also: Samson Sky, CAF Great Plains Wing, New Cert Standards, Flying Start Day

There are, occasionally, blisteringly dunderheaded bits of governmental incompetence to be found with increasing regularity... but the most recent move by the Nat'l Parks Service leaves us shaking our heads and a bit ashamed of Uncle Sam. The leaders of the Arsenal of Democracy consortium had planned to execute a World War II aircraft flyover at Mount Rushmore on Memorial Day to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day. It would have been grand... and NOT a sight to miss. Vertical Aviation International is worried that an NYC helicopter port is in danger of permanent closure c

Also: VAI v Anti-Heli Actions, Electric Aircraft Symposium, 2024 FAA Drone/AAM Symposium, Gravitymaster

Blue Origin's seventh passenger flight ended with a smidgeon of drama when one of its 3 parachutes failed to fully deploy, forcing it to rely on its remaining 2 units. That's not the worst system failure in the world, since the triple-chute system sports redundancy as a baseline, but it's always a little discomfiting to rely on a backup whenever parachutes are involved. Women in Aviation International (WAI) members and friends will honor the valiant service of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) by visiting their graves and leaving an appropriate

Also: ALPA Warns, ASA Updates Training Logs, Florida Teen Scholarship, Aviation Meteorology

The EAA Ray Aviation Scholarship program has seen its 500th student pilot graduate helped along the way, marking off a significant milestone for the group's most widely useful scholarship. The Ray Scholarship is funded by the Ray Foundation, but managed by EAA. That allows it to source candidates through its network of EAA chapters. Women in Corporate Aviation has announced the recipients of its Spring Scholarship Program, noting that they've had a record amount of applications in the last year. All in all, WCA saw more than 300 applicants for the scholarship, mea

Witnesses In The Area Reported Low Clouds, Fog, And Reduced Visibility Along The Accident Airplane’s Anticipated Flight Route

On May 17, 2024, about 1145 Alaska daylight time, a wheel-equipped Taylorcraft BC12-D airplane, N95744, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Nondalton, Alaska. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 flight. The uncertificated pilot, and his passenger, reportedly departed from the Port Alsworth Airport (PTA), Port Alsworth, Alaska, about 1130 and were traveling to the Nondalton Airport (5NN) Nondalton. The community of Nondalton is located on the western shoreline of Six Mile Lake. About 2000, the

From 2016 (YouTube Version): A Truly Unique Flying Experience…

Most of us have dreamed of being able to fly like a bird. And while that’s not an option for most of us, unless you’re interested in a wingsuit, one company has devised a way to at least get close. At I/ITSEC 2016 in Orlando, Florida, Tony Isaacs, VP of Development for PLW Model Works, told ANN CEO and Editor in Chief Jim Campbell that they have married high-resolution virtual reality with a fully-immersive simulation to allow you to “fly” over

Aero Linx: International Academy of Aviation and Space Medicine (IAASM)

The Academy was founded in 1955, with the object of searching for and promoting new knowledge in Aviation and Space Medicine and contributing to international co-operation and exchange of information among those devoted to education and research in this field. Members of the Academy (referred to as ‘Academicians’) are selected for their merit, based on their outstanding contribution to Aviation and Space Medicine, regardless of nationality, race, creed, ideology, political belief or any other characteristic. Membership is limited to 275 with representation from leaders in the specialty from all the regions of the

Hold For Release Used by ATC to delay an aircraft for traffic management reasons; i.e., weather, traffic volume, etc. Hold for release instructions (including departure delay information) are used to inform a pilot or a controller (either directly or through an authorized relay) that an IFR departure clearance is not valid until a release time or additional instructions have been received. 

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“As FedEx begins its journey to restructure under the ‘One FedEx’ strategy, our pilots remind management that there’s still unfinished business to address in the near term. Our negotiations began well ahead of this realignment strategy, and we strongly believe management must resolve outstanding labor disputes to ensure the company’s continued success. Our outdated contract does not reflect the strategic direction of the company nor the standard for commercial airline pilots." Source: Jose Nieves, chair of the FedEx ALPA Master Executive Council, as  Read More