Solid Leadership Needed To Correct Safety Issues, Guide ATC Rebuild

The U.S. Senate confirmed Bryan Bedford on July 9 to become the next Administrator of the FAA, in a near party-line 53-43 vote. Bedford takes over the agency during a critical time when safety issues have become prominent and Congress has approved initial funding for the complete overhaul of the air traffic control system that is slated to be completed in the next 3-4 years.

“Let’s launch” Says Enthusiastic Secretary Of Transportation

President Donald Trump appointed U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean P. Duffy to take the reins as interim administrator of NASA in a move Trump said reflects the rising priority of space in national interests.

80% Throttle Gives Good Climb And Impressive Level Flight Speeds

Sonex Aircraft’s first venture into high-wing design aircraft performed its second test flight just after the 4th of July weekend and flying at various throttle settings – but limited to 80% per UL engine break-in instructions – yielded some solid performance during its 20-minute flight over Wittman Regional Airport (KOSH).

Classic Aircraft Adds Another Line to Its Long-Running Resume

NASA’s old-school WB-57 got a workout this week with a novel mission for the classic aircraft: Emergency assessment of the devastated Texas Hill Country. NASA deployed two WB-57s, dispatched under the NASA Disasters Response Coordination System, to help obtain crystal-clear imagery of the affected region. Cloud cover in the area has rendered much of the satellite data useless, so the WB-57s began aerial surveys with their DyNAMITE sensor system. Imagery collected will be sent to NASA’s Disaster Response Coordination System, and will eventually be disbursed for public reference via the NASA DIsasters Mapping Portal once they are finished.

No Mention Of Environmental Progress Made By Industry

The National Business Aviation Association is pushing back in a big way on a recent report by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) that it says provides an incomplete and inaccurate depiction of business jet emissions and private aviation in general.

Air Travel Just Got 2% Less Irritating

A longstanding rule of the Transportation Security Administration is done, after Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the end to shoes-off screening. The new policy “will increase hospitality for travelers and streamline the TSA security checkpoint process, leading to lower wait times” according to the org. “Ending the ‘Shoes-Off’ policy is the latest effort DHS is implementing to modernize and enhance traveler experience across our nation’s airports,” said Secretary Noem.

Airplane Climbed To 100 Ft Above Ground Level, At Which Time The Airplane Experienced A Total Loss Of Engine Power

On May 24, 2025, at 1300 eastern daylight time, an Aeronca 7AC, N2659E, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Westphalia, Michigan. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations as a Part 91 personal flight. The pilot stated that he flew to Forest Hill Airport, Westphalia, Michigan, where he performed a full stop landing and taxied back on the runway for takeoff. The subsequent takeoff was normal until the airplane climbed to 100 ft above ground level, at which time the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power.

Glider Encountered A Loss Of Lift And There Was Not Sufficient Altitude To Reach The Airport

Analysis: The flight instructor reported that while turning final, the glider encountered a loss of lift and there was not sufficient altitude to reach the airport. The instructor chose to land in an orchard, and during the landing roll, the glider struck several small trees, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing and left horizontal stabilizer. 

From 2023 (YouTube Edition): Advent of the Age of Safety Wearables

The paramountcy of a pilot’s headset to the safety and enjoyment of flight cannot be overstated. It is the helm of his panoply, the instrument of his radiotelephony, and—thanks to the good people at Lightspeed—the ever-vigilant guardian by which his life is defended from demon carbon-monoxide. Since the introduction of its first product in 1996, Oswego, Oregon-based Lightspeed Aviation has evolved into one of the headset market’s premier innovators. In 2022, the company launched what it calls Safety Wearables—a forward-thinking amalgam comprising Lightspeed’s award-winning audio and Active Noise Reduction (ANR) systems with Kanari smart carbon-monoxide monitoring, detection, and warning technology.

 

 

The Senate confirmed Bryan Bedford to become the next Administrator of the FAA, in a near party-line 53-43 vote. Bedford takes over the agency during a critical time when safety issues have become prominent and Congress has approved initial funding for the complete overhaul of the air traffic control system that is slated to be completed in the next 3-4 years. In a post on Truth Social, President Trump said, "I am pleased to announce that I am directing our GREAT Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy, to be Interim Administrator of NASA. He will be a fantastic leader of the ever more important Space Agency, even if only for a short period of time." NASA’s old-school WB-57 got a workout this week with a novel mission for the classic aircraft: Emergency assessment of the devastated Texas Hill Country. The high-altitude WB-

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