Customer Support Terminated, Factory Closed, with Liquidation to Come

The Enstrom Helicopter Corporation has sent a letter to dealers and representatives, announcing the end of continuous operations. The company has apparently seen lean times lately, and its owners have directed the company to declare Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Enstrom will leave behind nearly 1,500 unsupported aircraft around the world, now orphaned unless the company is resurrected in some form. The banruptcy is somewhat unsurprising to some, as the often troubled company has changed hands several times over its lifetime. The helicopter industry is not a particularly high-volume one, and economic doldrums are felt much more keenly in a manufacturer the size of the ~110-strong En

Also: HAI's Salute to Excellence, Caldwell Airpt Changes Name, Masten Expands, Tupolev Tu-160M

Zeva has completed the first untethered flight test for its Zero flying wing airframe, where the aircraft took off and flew under its 8 electric propellers. With the first flight completed, the Zero now boasts the bragging rights of being a functional, real aircraft, with flight time in its logbook in an industry rife with ground demonstrators and digital renders. The flight is an important milestone in the airworthiness certification process, proving the unmanned demonstrator could take off and maintain position in a controlled hover, as well as taxi, climb,

QuickBuild Kit Shipping Costs Increase 5x, says Company

Van's Aircraft has announced a shipping surcharge for certain foreign-made QuickBuild kits, as the costs to bring them aboard formerly cheap container ships have gone up nearly fivefold. The surcharge amount of $375 per QuickBuild kit will now be added for kits ordered on or before December 15th, 2021. The charge will only apply to QuickBuild kits, and will not affect standard-build products. Additionally, Van's believes that the change will prove to be temporary, telling customers they don't anticipate that QuickBuild kits ordered after December 15th will require the surcharge. 

Another Day, Another Delay 

The upcoming Crew-4 mission will be the 4th of SpaceX's operational astronaut launches for NASA, now scheduled for April with a brand new Crew Dragon capsule, and a 3-time veteran Falcon 9 booster. The administration confirmed a rumored delay of the Axiom's Ax-1 mission, which now pushes the original February launch to the end of March. Reportedly, the delay is meant to "allow [for] additional technical and scheduling issues." The Ax-1 is the first private astronaut launch to the international Space Station, as well as the first all-private spaceflight. 

Also: HAI's Salute to Excellence, Caldwell Airpt Changes Name, Masten Expands, Tupolev Tu-160M

Zeva has completed the first untethered flight test for its Zero flying wing airframe, where the aircraft took off and flew under its 8 electric propellers. With the first flight completed, the Zero now boasts the bragging rights of being a functional, real aircraft, with flight time in its logbook in an industry rife with ground demonstrators and digital renders. The flight is an important milestone in the airworthiness certification process, proving the unmanned demonstrator could take off and maintain position in a controlled hover, as well as taxi, climb,

Free Tools, Lesson Plans, and Refresher Courses Now Offered for Active Flight Instructors

Sporty's has made their training management and lesson tracking portal available for flight instructors looking to streamline their educational coursework. The company says that part of their 2022 Pilot Training platform enhancements will see all their features available free to any active flight instructor, allowing access to lesson plans, flight instructor refresher course, an FAA library, and access to Sporty's pilot training courses. Of course, the system is built, part and parcel, around the delivery and use of the company's courses, with particular attention paid to tracking video segments and test prep sessions. Test prep reporting reduces the nee

Volcanic Eruption Douses Airfields with Thick, Volcanic Effluvium

New Zealand Rescue and relief efforts for Tonga's volcano-affected areas have been hampered by ash-covered landing zones, leading to difficulties in making deliveries and repairing communications throughout the region. As of January 19th, a World Health Organization representative has said the Fua'amotu International Airport in Nuku'alofa has been cleared for operation once again. Extensive damage throughout the islands have led authorities to believe internet connectivity will not be restored to the region for at least a month, as the primary tap for Tonga was severed. 

Signature Aviation to Lease East Facility for New Jersey Home

Jet Edge has announced an expansion to its New York base operations, signing an agreement to occupy Signature's East facility at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey. The new base will act as a hub for NYC area customers of the Jet Edge charter program, aircraft owners, and fleet access to dedicated hangar and maintenance space at one of the world's busiest private aviation airports. A revamped FBO interior is part of the lease agreement, signed over alongside 44,000 square feet of hangar, workshop, and office space. The introduction will allow Jet Edge to build a strong, upscale base for itself near one of the biggest private jet markets in the world.

From AirVenture 2017: Flight-Proven Booster On Display At AirVenture…

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh is known primarily as a celebration of experimental and amateur-built aircraft. But over the years, the scope of the show has grown to include all aspects of aviation and aerospace. Enter Blue Origin, an aerospace company that has seen significant success over the past two years launching and recovering reusable boosters with an eye towards suborbital space tourism and commercial space launches. And this year, the Blue Origin New Shepard booster was on displa

World's Largest FBO Network Selects Brass After Going Private

Signature Aviation's recent acquisition will soon be headed by Michael Friisdahl as executive chairman, and Tony Lefebvre as chief executive officer. Friisdahl, currently standing president of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, will assume his role on March 1, with Lefebvre appointed as CEO effective immediately. The move codifies his position and makes his standing firm after working as interim CEO since June of 2021. “Both Michael and Tony bring decades of extensive strategic and operational experience from within and outside of the aviation industry that will allow Signature Aviation to build on our successes to date and accelerate our plans for growth,” said lea

The Engine Experienced A Complete Loss Of Engine Power

On November 22, 2021, about 1140 mountain standard time, an experimental amateur-built RV-10 airplane, N54CT, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near the Grassy Meadows/Sky Ranch Airport, Hurricane, Utah. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that prior to takeoff, he conducted an uneventful engine runup with the fuel selector set to the left fuel tank. Following completion of the engine runup, he switched to the right fuel tank and back taxied on runway 17 for takeoff. The pilot departed runway 17 with the intention of conducting a downwind departure to the

Aero Linx: The Colorado Airport Operators Association (CAOA) The Colorado Airport Operators Association (CAOA) serves the common interests of the owners, operators and users of the 74 public use airports located throughout the State of Colorado. CAOA provides a unified voice for airport operators to State and Federal agencies, the General Assembly and the Congress of the United States of America, on proposed or pending legislation and regulations. It further provides a medium for the exchange of ideas, methods, information and experiences relative to airport operations, promotes and encourages the public’s understanding of the value of aviation and airports throughout Colorado communities,

'Passengers Deserve a Commitment from the Telecom Companies Not to Launch 5G Near Airports Until a Permanent Fix is Found'

Capt. Joe DePete, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, made a statement in reference to the recent postponement of AT&T and Verizon's 5G network rollout. The issue has been a running dispute, with 2 of the biggest cell carriers scaling back deployment of their shiny new (and terribly expensive) toy in the hopes of maintaining high standards of aviation safety. The companies have given face to the FAA and industry bodies by complying with their terms, from postponing of network activation from December to Early January, then mid-January again.

Landing Area Any locality either on land, water, or structures, including airports/heliports and intermediate landing fields, which is used, or intended to be used, for the landing and takeoff of aircraft whether or not facilities are provided for the shelter, servicing, or for receiving or discharging passengers or cargo.

“We designed the CFI portal as a platform to manage and organize students, monitor progress, and give instructors access to the tools and resources to help in their teaching activity. Given the popularity of home-study resources, the portal also helps instructors and students stay engaged in the learning process and moving toward a common goal.” Source: Sporty’s Academy Chief Instructor Eric Radtke, describing how Sporty's has made their training management and lesson tracking portal available for flight instructors looking to streamline their educational coursework.