Major STEM Enhancement Program Gets Delayed Due To COVID-19 Concerns

To ensure the health and safety of our rocketeers, mentors, teachers, and their families, the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) is officially postponing the 2020 American Rocketry Challenge competition and will roll over this year’s rules into the 2021 competition. Last month, teams were directed to suspend all qualification flights and launches and follow the guidance of their schools, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and state and local health departments. Teams were notified of the competition’s postponement at the end of March. All registered 2020 teams will be automatically registered to compete in the 2021 season. The 2021 season of the American Rocke

Boeing Releases Statement on Starliner's Next Flight

After a series of embarrassments and errors involving the Boeing 737MAX program and the abortive Starliner development, the company has admitted it will have to refly the Starliner after an earlier launch attempt resulted in the vehicle being unable to reach the ISS as well as a number of other failed objectives. In typical Boeing-speak, the company tried to make the situation seem a bit less embarrassing, stating, "The Boeing Company is honored to be a provider for the Commercial Crew mission.  We are committed to the safety of the men and women who design, build and ultimately will fly on the Starliner just as we have on every crewed mission to space.  We have chosen to refly our Orb

SAFECON 2021 Now Set for Oshkosh

The National Intercollegiate Flying Association will have its next champions determined in Oshkosh, even though the forced shutdown of most universities this spring because of COVID-19 dashed hopes for the 2020 competition. NIFA voted last week to bring its SAFECON 2021 competition to Oshkosh, using EAA facilities and Wittman Regional Airport as its base of operations. The competition involves many of the nation's top collegiate flight teams. "In addition to various national and local limitations, schools have implemented travel restrictions, limited the congregation of groups, and/or team members have returned home," NIFA said in a statement announcing this year's cancellation and the 2021 Oshkosh site.

ALPA Letter Reaches Out To SecTrans Elaine Chao

Shortly after reporting its first COVID-19 related fatalities, the Air Lines Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) sent a letter to Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao urging her to direct the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to immediately require that airlines fully comply with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines related to flight deck cleaning and disinfecting, as well as employee notifications of positive COVID-19 cases in the workplace. Currently, those guidelines are only voluntary for airlines and some are not complying. At least three ALPA pilots have died after contracting the Coronavirus and approximately 200 of its members have tested positive for the disease

Also: American Airlines Apologizes, AD For A220 Engines, NC Flight School CEO Threatens, Drone Ops In Europe

Today’s the day! After the crushing disappointment of missing the 2020 AEA Convention and Tradeshow and all the exciting live coverage we’ve been presenting for over a dozen years, we get to make up for the loss of this great program... at least a little bit. One of the hits of our Annual AEA LIVE Coverage was the opening day's presentation of new avionics 'reveals' showcased in rapid-fire succession, with all the cool new things that were to come for the next year... it was proof pos

Final Descent Rate Estimated at 8000 FPM

Location: Mesquite, TX Accident Number: CEN20LA134 Date & Time: 03/29/2020, 1518 CDT Registration: N151JD Aircraft: MUSE P51D Injuries: 1 Fatal Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal On March 29, 2020, at 1518 central daylight time, an amateur-built Muse P51D airplane, N151JD, was destroyed when it impacted terrain shortly after takeoff from the Mesquite Metro Airport (HQZ), Mesquite, Texas. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

Simulated Emergency Training Preps SpaceX, NASA Crews

Safety is a top priority as NASA and SpaceX prepare for liftoff of the company’s second demonstration flight test (Demo-2), the first flight to carry astronauts to the International Space Station onboard the Crew Dragon spacecraft as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. The teams conducted an emergency egress exercise at Launch Complex 39A at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 3. The end-to-end demonstration is the latest in a series of similar exercises to ensure the crew and support teams can quickly evacuate from the launch pad in the unlikely event of an emergency prior to liftoff.

Commercial Aircraft Production And Assembly Activities In Northern Germany And Alabama Sites Affected Due To COVID-19

Airbus is reporting that it has temporarily adapted commercial aircraft production and assembly activity at its German sites in Bremen and Stade and pausing production at its A220/A320 manufacturing facility in Mobile, Alabama in the United States. These actions are being taken in response to several factors related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic including high inventory levels in the sites and the various government recommendations and requirements which impact at different stages of the overall industrial production flow. Airbus remains committed to meeting customer demand.

'Fully Operational Capable' Is A Significant Achievement

Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 362, known as the “Ugly Angels,” were declared fully operational capable on Feb. 28, 2020, signifying that the Marine Corps’ newest MV-22B Osprey squadron is prepared to support the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. Following the certification, they continued to work together to accomplish additional training and readiness objectives while conducting precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. Fully operational capable is a significant achievement that affirms the squadron is staffed, trained, and equipped. Upon completion of the requirements, the unit became part of the collective combat-power of Marine Aircraft Group 16

Air Carriers Can Apply For Support To Continue Paying Employees

NBAA applauded guidance from the Department of the Treasury, ensuring that qualifying passenger air carriers – including many small charter operators in NBAA’s membership – have more flexible access to the Payroll Support Program contained in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Through this program, air carriers can apply for support to continue paying employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the debate on the CARES Act, NBAA led a significant effort to ensure that general aviation air carriers, such as FAR Part 135 operators, were eligible for this relief. NBAA’s effort led to the inclusion of general aviation in crucial provi

Resume Normal Speed Used by ATC to advise a pilot to resume an aircraft’s normal operating speed. It is issued to terminate a speed adjustment where no published speed restrictions apply. It does not delete speed restrictions in published procedures of upcoming segments of flight. This does not relieve the pilot of those speed restrictions, which are applicable to 14 CFR Section 91.117.

Aero Linx: Space Studies Institute (SSI) The Institute’s mission is to open the energy and material resources of space for human benefit within our lifetime. SSI’s first commitment is to complete the missing technological links to make possible the productive use of the abundant resources in space. Its second goal is to promote the formation of private, governmental, or multi-national programs to use space resources responsibly and carefully, avoiding environmental damage.

"The Boeing Company is honored to be a provider for the Commercial Crew mission.  We are committed to the safety of the men and women who design, build and ultimately will fly on the Starliner just as we have on every crewed mission to space.  We have chosen to refly our Orbital Flight Test to demonstrate the quality of the Starliner system. Flying another uncrewed flight will allow us to complete all flight test objectives and evaluate the performance of the second Starliner vehicle at no cost to the taxpayer. We will then proceed to the tremendous responsibility and privilege of flying astronauts to the International Space Station." Source: From a Boeing statement in which the company admitted it needed to refly/retest the Star