Pilot Advocacy Group Fights the Good Fight for the Little Guy

The EAA contacted officials in Yuba County, California after members had alerted the org to a newly introduced prohibition on ultralight flight activity from the facility. County officials rationalized their ban using the FARs and FAA Airport Compliance Manual in ways that didn't hold up under EAA scrutiny. Doing its part to fight the good fight, the EAA wrote to county Airport management to remind them that while FAA policy does allow some restrictions in the interest of safety, they must be adequately justified and supported. According to Yuba administrators, they banned ultralights under the auspices of Part 103.19, which says "No person may operate an ultralight vehicle in proh

Training for Low-Altitude Insertion in Mountainous, Snowbound Conditions Goes Awry with Zero Injuries

A pair of UH-60 Black Hawks from the Utah National Guard were involved in a training accident this morning near Mineral Basin, Utah. The two have been  landed near the impact, with the crew thankfully escaping any serious injury. The accident highlights the dangers of formation flight in zero-visibility conditions, especially with fresh, powdery snow in a natural, enclosed valley. The Blackhawks appeared near a group of skiers who quickly began recording the novel experience of the helicopters coming in to hover nearby. As the pair of Blackhawks hovered in place to simulate a drop into an area surrounded by upsloping mountains and trees,

Broadband-Speed Avance L3 System Now Available for HA-420 Operators

Gogo's high-speed internet capabilities are now available for HondaJet owners through Banyan Air Service, as their STC for the AVANCE L3 Wi-Fi system has been approved. For the first time, owners can now avail themselves of the high performance, reliable domestic network of Gogo Business Aviation throughout the contiguous US. The Avance system was specifically designed for easy equipment updates, allowing owners to quickly avail themselves of 5G network improvements as they are rolled out.

Cancellation of 50 A321neos Held for April Resolution

In the ongoing court dispute between Airbus and Qatar Airways, a London Judge ordered the manufacturer to delay its cancellation of nearly $6 billion in order slots as the lawsuit plays out. The cancellations were seen as a vindictive severance of the relationship between the two and is assumed to be the reason for a relatively large order with aircraft rival Boeing. Airbus had hoped that cancelling the early delivery slots for those highly desirable A321neos bound for Qatar would allow them to fulfill other customer demand. The court order now means that things are paused until an April hearing in which Qatar hopes to force the slots to be honored through court injunction. 

As Tensions Rise, Stressed Out Actuaries Take Their Toll

While the tensions escalate in Ukraine, a number of airliners have begun to cancel service to the region. So far, carriers from Switzerland, Germany, and Austria have pulled their flights to the region in the interest of safety, with more expected to accelerate their moves in the coming days. The drawn out dispute between NATO and Russia shifted into second gear with the recognition of breakaway republics in the east of Ukraine, further heightening tensions that were previously somewhat high. Earlier this month, the American embassy told citizens to evacuate themselves if they wanted to avoid being drawn into a war zone.

From 2016 (YouTube Version): A VW Bug Engine Conversion Has Matured Into an Engine for the Airplane Homebuilder…

While at EAA AirVenture 2016, ANN News Editor, Tom Patton, visited with the folks at RevMaster and talked with Ralph Maloof, who is an aeronautical engineer and inventor. The first thing we find out in this interview is that the RevMaster engine is based on the Volkswagen Bug engine, but it is not simply a Volkswagen engine with slight modifications to make it fit in an airplane. Maloof says it has been modified to the point that it is really designed for aircraft use, not for automobile use. Maloof goes on to describe the change

Engine Lost Power And The Pilot Initiated A Right Turn Toward The Airport

On January 26, 2022, about 1055 mountain standard time, a Beech F33A, N1HH, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Williams, Arizona. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The pilot reported that he departed from H A Clark Memorial Field Airport, runway 36, and turned left to the west. While ascending, about 700 to 800 ft agl, the engine lost power and the pilot initiated a right turn toward the airport. The pilot stated that he realized he was unable to make it to the airport and elected to land in an open desert field. Subsequently, the airplane lande

AD 2022-04-04 Prompted By Reports Of Two Accidents That Were The Result Of Power Loss Due To Oil Starvation

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Continental Aerospace Technologies, Inc. C-125, C145, IO-360, IO-470, IO-550, O-300, O-470, TSIO-360, TSIO-520 series model reciprocating engines and certain Continental Motors IO-520 series model reciprocating engines with a certain oil filter adapter installed. This AD was prompted by reports of two accidents that were the result of power loss due to oil starvation. This AD requires replacing the oil filter adapter fiber gasket (fiber gasket) with an oil filter adapter copper gasket (copper gasket). The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these product

AD 2022-04-01 Describes The Unsafe Condition As Failure Of The Bearing Of The Upper Pulley Of The Belt Driven Reduction Gear

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Model DG-1000T gliders and Schempp-Hirth Flugzeugbau GmbH Model Duo Discus T gliders with a Solo Kleinmotoren GmbH Solo Model 2350C or 2350D engine installed. This AD was prompted by mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as failure of the bearing of the upper pulley of the belt driven reduction gear resulting in separation of the propeller from the engine. This AD requires r

Aero Linx: Indiana Aviation Hall of Fame Founded in 2020, the Indiana Aviation Hall of Fame is dedicated to honoring individuals who have uniquely contributed to Indiana’s rich legacy of aviation achievement through service, innovation, or entrepreneurial spirit. The purpose of the Indiana Aviation Hall of Fame is to preserve and memorialize the outstanding accomplishments of enshrinees. The goal is to inspire others to appreciate and honor Indiana’s aviation legacy and the men and women who created it. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors and operates on tax deductible membership dues and contributions. The Indiana Aviation Hall of Fame is a non-profit 501(c)(3) char

Resolution Advisory A display indication given to the pilot by the Traffic alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS II) recommending a maneuver to increase vertical separation relative to an intruding aircraft. Positive, negative, and vertical speed limit (VSL) advisories constitute the resolution advisories. A resolution advisory is also classified as corrective or preventive.

"We are excited to provide HondaJet operators with the latest in connectivity solutions. The AVANCE L3 enables passengers to work, socialize, and have access to information and entertainment in the air as they are used to on the ground." Source: Danny Santiago, Banyan's director of avionics, discussing how Gogo's high-speed internet capabilities are now available for HondaJet owners through Banyan Air Service, as their STC for the AVANCE L3 Wi-Fi system has been approved.