Also: Operational Pause Of CT-114 Lifted, New Helo Design, Allied Pilots Association Warning, EASA Approved XCub

The internet is abuzz after a copy of a letter that ANN has confirmed as having been written by the head of the National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO) to the CEO of Frontier Airlines, was published on the web. NAPO President Michael McHale wrote, "...I write to you in regards to an incident that occurred at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on August 23, 2020, in which a Federal Air Marshal (FAM) boarding a Frontier Airlines plane was told to remove his America

Professional Pilot Av Program Will Use Bell 505 To Support Student Pilot/Technical Training

Bell recently delivered a Bell 505 Jet Ranger X to Southern Utah University (SUU) for its existing fleet of helicopters used to conduct student training. “SUU has been a Bell customer for more than 20 years, and its Professional Pilot Aviation Program currently operates two Bell 206L4s for advanced flight training,” said Greg Maitlen, regional sales manager, Bell, North America. “The Bell 505 is the most technologically advanced aircraft in its class and will offer a generational step forward by providing advanced training to tomorrow’s rotorcraft pilots.”

Believes Current Law Does Not Prohibit Use of Flexible-Use Bands for UAS Operations

Earlier Thursday, the FCC released a report on UAS use of spectrum required by Congress in Section 374 of the 2018 FAA Reauthorization Act. The Small UAV Coalition, which has long engaged with the FCC on how flexible-use spectrum can best be utilized to advance commercial UAS operations, is pleased the Commission provided clarity on its views and acknowledged concerns the Coalition previously raised with lower altitude operations utilizing the 5030-5091MHz band. The Coalition looks forward to engaging with the Commission on the anticipated rulemaking for this band.

Guide Will Be Updated Regularly To Incorporate New Upgrades

AEROCOR has released what they label as a comprehensive buyer’s guide for the Beechcraft Premier I/IA family of aircraft. The guide is designed to answer all of the most common questions posed by potential buyers. It includes sections outlining aircraft options, avionics upgrades, maintenance intervals, engine programs, aircraft performance, insurance, and financing options. “There has been a notable lack of unbiased information available about the Premier” notes Gavin Woodman, AEROCOR co-founder and President. Woodman says that the Premier Buyer’s Guide is a follow up to the company’s highly successful Eclipse 500/550 Buyer’s guide, which fueled an inc

G650 and G650ER Can Now Utilize Viasat's Ka-band or Dual-band In-flight Connectivity Systems

Viasat's business aviation in-flight connectivity (IFC) system received an STC from the FAA through Gulfstream, certifying the use of its Ka-band IFC system on the Gulfstream G650 and Gulfstream G650ER business jets. When combined with its prior FAA STC for the Viasat Ku-band system, Gulfstream operators get a powerful tail-mounted Dual-band (Ka-Ku) service offering. Receiving the Ka-band STC ensures passengers and crew flying on Gulfstream's G650 and G650ER receive a premium cabin internet experience over the most heavily traveled flight routes. Viasat's expanding Ka-band coverage combined with its recent announcement of no speed caps across all Ka-band s

From 2016: Full-sized Helicopter Performance With The Safety Of A UAS...

ANN CEO and Editor-In-Chief, Jim Campbell attended the 2014 convention of the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) and talked with Jim Sampson, the test pilot and Chairman of the Board of Scion UAS. The video opens with Jim standing in front of their optionally piloted SA-400 helicopter. According to Sampson they designed it as an optionally manned aircraft to allow it to operate in the national airspace system.

A Flight Instructor Stated That The Sequence Resembled An Aerodynamic Stall/Spin

On August 15, 2020, about 1340 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-14 airplane, N91449, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Susanville, California. The pilot and pilot-rated passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to a friend of the pilot who also witnessed the accident, the pilot, pilot-rated passenger, and him had planned to fly over a landmark in the Nevada desert and then stay overnight in a campground north of Susanville. The friend was in his own airplane, while the pilot and passenger were in the accident airplane. They departed Redding, Cal

AD 2020-17-09 Due To Unsafe Condition As A Design Change To The Fuselage Strut Pick Up Ribs No. 5 And 6

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for GA8 Airvan (Pty) Ltd Models GA8 and GA8-TC320 airplanes. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as a design change to the fuselage strut pick up ribs No. 5 and 6 that requires a reduced life limit. The FAA is issuing this AD to require actions to address the unsafe condition on these products. This AD is effective September 29, 2020.

AD 2020-17-04 Required Installing Lanyard Assemblies On The Passenger Service Units

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2019-03-06, which applied to certain The Boeing Company Model 737-300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. AD 2019-03-06 required installing lanyard assemblies on the passenger service units (PSUs) and, for certain airplanes, on the life vest panels. This AD was prompted by a report indicating that the PSUs became separated from their attachments during several survivable accident sequences, and by the determination that additional actions are necessary for five airplanes. This AD retains the requirements of AD 2019-03-06 and also requires installation of lanyard assemblies on the life vest panels on those five airpl

Aero Linx: Eastern Region Helicopter Council (ERHC) Eastern Region Helicopter Council (ERHC) was started in 1977 by local helicopter pilots, who were interested in the availability of IFR flight for rotorcraft. Their ad hoc meetings in New York City, using the initial name of Northeast Helicopter Operator Council (NEHOC), was the initial step in forming the eastern seaboard’s first, locally organized aviation group to represent helicopters. After the charter member pilots realized their success in joining together with respect to the IFR issue, they incorporated their organization in 1979, renaming it Eastern Region Helicopter Council, Inc., a non-profit organization, to represent their in

Automatic Dependent Surveillance Rebroadcast (ADS-R) A datalink translation function of the ADS-B ground system required to accommodate the two separate operating  frequencies (978 MHz and 1090 MHz). The ADS-B system receives the ADS-B messages transmitted on one frequency and ADS-R translates and reformats the information for rebroadcast and use on the other frequency. This allows ADS-B In equipped aircraft to see nearby ADS-B Out traffic regardless of the operating link of the other aircraft. Aircraft operating on the same ADS-B frequency exchange information directly and do not require the ADS-R translation function.

Aero-News Quote of the Day “We are excited to grow our current Bell fleet and begin offering advanced pilot and maintenance training with the Bell 505. As we continue to navigate through pilot shortages and strive to ensure industry safety, it is critical to train future aviators to operate aircraft with the latest technology on board.” Source: Mike Mower, executive director, SUU Aviation, discussing the acquisition of a brand spanking new Bell 505 to Southern Utah University (SUU) for its existing fleet of helicopters used to conduct student training.