High-Flying Humanoids Head Up Hyped Highrise Series

Gravity Industries' powered jetpack/jacket got to kick off its first race in the 2024 series, starting off in Dubai with a 7-man stack. The race garnered headlines around the world promising a eye-popping sprint of jetpack-equipped racers bobbing and weaving in between high-altitude skyscrapers, but the ultimate result was understandably tamer. Racers operated over a nearby river, still making the most of Dubai's skyline, but far from the images of thrilling death-tempting jetpackin' expected by the uninitiated. 

HB24-1235 "Bad Not Just for Colorado Aviation, But as a Precedent Nationwide"

The Colorado Pilots Association has called upon its members, friends, and stakeholders throughout the state to push back on the imposition of HB24-1235, "Reduce Aviation Impacts on Communities" in its current form. They contend that the "bill would be bad not just for Colorado aviation, but as a precedent nationwide," thanks to stipulations that are decidedly unfriendly to aviation as a whole. The bill has a handful of elements and grant establishing mechanisms nestled inside that could very easily be used to stifle aviation operations and further regulate smaller airfields into oblivion, particularly in areas with already contentious neighbors.

Virtual Reality Enhances Cockpit Realism with Hybrid Setup

Textron's Bell Flight Training Academy will be using a brand new type of Virtual Reality Flight Simulator at their flagship location, with a brand-new Veris VR Flight Simulator. The unit was recently shown off at the HAI Heli-Expo 2024, offering clients a clean-sheet design that combines a traditional full-motion experience with visual augmentation to make it feel even more like the real thing. Bell Training Academy will be the launch customer for the type, and begin using the simulator on the Bell 505 later this year.

Providing Continuous Talk, Text, And Email General Manager of Airtext Jonathan Pinson brought his company’s newest Oasis suite to NBAA 2023, and he gave ANN founder Jim Campbell the rundown. Their new Oasis IFE offers dual-channel satellite radios for continued communications in-flight, offering passengers and pilots moving maps, 2-way radio, ATIS, and even clearances before, during, and after flights.

Channel-Switching System Hardens X10D's Performance in the 'Battlespace'

Skydio announced that customers have begun receiving the first of its X10D, its flagship defense and government drone. The announcement follows the successful rollout of the older X2D, which has seen thousands of systems delivered across the USA and its allies around the world. Taking hard-won lessons from back East, the X10D ships with a dynamic channel switching system to constantly maintain a clear comms frequency during flight, ideally allowing troops to remain in contact with the X10D even in contested, electromagnetically messy environments.

New Order With the Italians Adds 10 to 20 Leonardo AW189s

Bristow Helicopter is collecting more Leonardo aircraft with an order for 10 firm aircraft, and options for 10 more. The deal highlights Bristow's expansion plans from the 2025 to 2028 time frame. Business is booming for the firm, thanks to considerable demand for Offshore Energy Services, executive transport, and some new contracts across Northern Europe for Search & Rescue services. With all that work to be done, Bristow wants to capitalize on demand above and beyonds its current stable of 21 AW189s. That's not the whole kaboodle, either, since Bristow is still expecting 5 more of them from a previous order. All in all, the AW189 fleet could end up anywhere from 36 to 46 aircraft

Airbus Continues to Provide Bulk of Fleet for DRF Luftrettung

Airbus Helicopters completed a deal with German helicopter emergency medical services operation DRF Luftrettung for the sale of up to 10 H145 aircraft. The sale will see 7 firm orders for aircraft filled, with 3 options available if DRF wishes to continue expanding its fleet. The firm is already a member of Airbus' 'HCare Smart' contract, providing comprehensive parts-by-the-hour support. The company operates more than 50 Airbus H135 and H145 helicopters across 40 bases across Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein and Switzerland.

Failure Of The Landing Gear Float Due To Inadequate Maintenance Of The Floats And Corrosion

Analysis: The pilot was departing on a cross-country flight in a float-equipped airplane when the accident occurred. She had contacted a family member and stated she was departing; however, she did not arrive at the destination when expected. A search was initiated, and the airplane was located partially submerged in the departure lake. Postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed that both floats were heavily corroded and separated from the fuselage. There was no evidence that either float had contacted a foreign object in the water. A portion of the hull on the right float tore open and bent back.

Aero Linx: WW1 Aeroplanes, Inc.

WORLD WAR 1 AEROPLANES was founded by Leo Opdycke in 1961 and incorporated as a federally recognized 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit corporation in 1979, organized and operated for educational purposes relating to early aviation, from pre-World War I to 1940. 

Catch Point A fix/waypoint that serves as a transition point from the high altitude waypoint navigation structure to an arrival procedure (STAR) or the low altitude ground-based navigation structure. 

"CPA is supporting CABA in its efforts to amend the bill, and we believe those efforts are working, but we won’t know how well until at least March 1... The bill is tentatively scheduled to be heard on the afternoon of March 6th before the Transportation, Housing & Local Government Committee. "Since the bill has a good chance of passing, it’s important we continue to work cooperatively toward the best language possible. That is why our position is that the bill must be Amended, and we recommend not opposing the bill (yet)." Source: From a statement made by the Colorado Pilots Association called upon its members, friends, and stakeholders throughout the state to push back on the imposition of HB24-1235, "Reduce Aviation Impa