Also: B-29 Doc Flight Experience, Triple Tree Cancels, Challenger 350, RAVN May Yet Live On

A late night notice was posted with the bad news, Friday evening... The IAC Board of Directors met by teleconference on Friday, 10 July 2020, to discuss the 2020 U.S. National Aerobatic Championships scheduled to be held in Salina, Kansas, 20-24 September 2020. After much research, debate, and discussion with City of Salina officials and EAA leadership, the IAC Board of Directors has determined that it will be in the best interest of the safety of all who attend the U.S. Nationals that this premier event is cance

Cites First Officer’s Inappropriate Response To An Inadvertent Activation Of The Airplane’S Go-Around Mode

The NTSB has determined during a public board meeting held this week that Atlas Air flight 3591 crashed in Trinity Bay, Texas, because of the first officer’s inappropriate response to an inadvertent activation of the airplane’s go-around mode, resulting in his spatial disorientation that led him to place the airplane in a steep descent from which the crew did not recover. The accident happened Feb. 23, 2019, when the Atlas Air Boeing 767 cargo jet entered a rapid descent from about 6,000 feet and impacted a marshy bay about 40 miles from Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport. The captain, first officer a

Michael Colglazier Takes Over As CEO In Preparation For Commercial Service

Virgin Galactic has appointed Michael Colglazier as Virgin Galactic’s new Chief Executive Officer and George Whitesides as Chief Space Officer, effective July 20, 2020. Michael assumes the CEO role at an 'exciting time for Virgin Galactic as the Company progresses through its test flight program and prepares for commercial service.' He will also join the Company’s Board of Directors effective July 20, 2020. Michael joins Virgin Galactic following a long and successful career at The Walt Disney Company...

Blames Increased Coronavirus Infections For Continuing Air Travel Declines

Once believing that air travel activity would mostly recover before the end of CARES Act funding ran out, American Airlines has changed its tune, and says it no longer feels that to be so. As a result, it has notified some 25,000 employees of the potential for furloughs. CARES Act money has kept much of the airline industry somewhat solvent to this point, but the gravy train couldn't last forever, and American Airlines seems to be firing a shot across the bow in order to both warn its staffers, as well as to lobby Washington for more recovery dollars to prevent the specter of more layoffs.

Order Made Just After Certification

Airbus Corporate Helicopters (ACH) has won a new order for its latest ACH160 helicopter, announced just days after the H160 achieved certification. This new order, placed by an experienced Italian operator for use on private and corporate flights mainly inside Italy, means the ACH160 has been ordered by customers in eight countries across North America, Latin America, Europe, China and South-East Asia. The client, an existing ACH twin-engined helicopter operator, has specified a customised interior configured for six passengers.

Recent Bad News For Pakistani Aviation Intensifies

The FAA has assigned Pakistan a Category 2 rating because it does not comply with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) safety standards under the FAA’s International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) program. Under IASA, the FAA assesses the civil aviation authorities of all countries with air carriers that have applied to fly to the United States, currently conduct operations to the United States, or participate in code-sharing arrangements with U.S. partner airlines. The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority provides aviation safety oversight for Pakistan.

From 2016: No Kidding.... This Is Electro-Nostalgia At Its Best!

While at the AMA Expo 2016, ANN CEO and Editor-In-Chief, Jim Campbell, came across a real “blast from the past.” Jim met up with Brian Curry, the owner of “Memories From the Past,” and Jim re-lived some of those days when he received his introduction to aviation through model aircraft. It sometimes seems like everybody has to collect something, and for Curry it’s model aircraft radio control units from the past. Curry tells the fascinating story of how he got started with his co

During Departure, The Airplane Failed To Accelerate Past 40 Knots

The pilot reported that he was departing a remote off-airport landing site in his tailwheel equipped airplane. After assessing the physical site, which was sloped on both ends and the current weather conditions, he selected a takeoff direction and a takeoff abort point. During the departure roll, the airplane failed to accelerate past 40 knots, exited the departure area and impacted brush and trees. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operations.

AD 2020-14-09 GEnx-1B Model Turbofan Engines Experienced Temporary Thrust Anomalies

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 737-8 and 737-9 (737 MAX) airplanes. This AD requires removing Kathon FP 1.5 biocide from the fuel tanks and engines, installing a fuel limitation placard, and revising the existing airplane flight manual (AFM) to prohibit operation of the airplane with Kathon FP 1.5 biocide in a fuel tank or engine. This AD was prompted by a report indicating that Kathon FP 1.5 biocide added to fuel and running through the engines can lead to significant engine anomalies. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. This AD is effective July 15, 2020.

AD 2020-14-06 Deals With Fuel Tank Connection Hose Deterioration

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Diamond Aircraft Industries Models DA 40, DA 40 F, and DA 40 NG airplanes. This AD results from 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 deterioration of the fuel tank connection hoses that could result in restriction of fuel flow leading to fuel starvation and reduced control of the airplane. The FAA is issuing this AD to require actions to address the unsafe condition on these products. This AD is effective August 4, 2020.

Aero Linx: The Ohio Aerospace Institute The Ohio Aerospace Institute was founded in 1989. Ohio Aerospace Institute is a joint initiative of the NASA Glenn Research Center, the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, the State of Ohio, ten Ohio public and private universities granting doctoral degrees in aerospace-related engineering disciplines, and numerous companies engaged in aerospace activities. Ohio Aerospace Institute is a 501(c) (3), not-for-profit organization.

RNAV Standard T An RNAV approach whose design allows direct flight to any one of three initial approach fixes (IAF) and eliminates the need for procedure turns. The standard design is to align the procedure on the extended centerline with the missed approach point (MAP) at the runway threshold, the final approach fix (FAF), and the initial approach/intermediate fix (IAF/IF). The other two IAFs will be established perpendicular to the IF.

"The NTSB concluded the first officer likely experienced a pitch-up somatogravic illusion – a specific kind of spatial disorientation in which forward acceleration is misinterpreted as the airplane pitching up – as the airplane accelerated due to the inadvertent activation of the go-around mode, which prompted the first officer to push forward on the elevator control column." Source: Part of the causal data contained in a recent publication from the NTSB... who determined during a public board meeting held this week that Atlas Air flight 3591 crashed in Trinity Bay, Texas, because of the first officer’s inappropriate response to an inadvertent activation of the airplane’s go-around mode, result