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August 03, 2020

Airborne 08.03.20: Splashdown!, USN Black Female TACAIR Plt, New Wagstaff Course

Also: Boeing Will Remember 2020, 2020 Skydiving Nationals Cancelled, Swedish Medevac PC-24, More Reductions For Gogo

Two NASA astronauts splashed down safely in the Gulf of Mexico Sunday for the first time in a commercially built and operated American crew spacecraft, returning from the International Space Station to complete a test flight that marks a new era in human spaceflight. SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, carrying Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley, splashed down under parachutes in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Pensacola, Florida at 2:48 p.m. EDT Sunday and was successfully recovered by SpaceX. The U.S. Navy’s first Black female tactical air (TACAIR) pilot received her Wings of Gold July 31, marking a significant milestone for Naval Aviation. Virginia native Lt.

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Homecoming! NASA Astronauts Safely Splash Down

On Target, On Time!

Two NASA astronauts splashed down safely in the Gulf of Mexico Sunday for the first time in a commercially built and operated American crew spacecraft, returning from the International Space Station to complete a test flight that marks a new era in human spaceflight. SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, carrying Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley, splashed down under parachutes in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Pensacola, Florida at 2:48 p.m. EDT Sunday and was successfully recovered by SpaceX. After their return to shore, the astronauts immediately flew back to Houston.

With The Certificate Trial Flights Of EHang 216 AAVs Can Be Conducted In Canada

EHang has confirmed that the EHang 216 has obtained a Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC) issued by Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA), the civil aviation authority in Canada. This is reportedly another milestone in regulatory breakthrough for EHang 216 and the first of this kind permit for periodic operations of passenger-grade AAVs in North America.

United Has Pretty Much Cut Out ExpressJet In Favor of CommutAir...

First Officer Joe Mauro, chairman of the ExpressJet Airlines Master Executive Council (XJT MEC) of the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA), issued the following statement in response to United Airlines’ awarding all 50-seat Embraer 145 flying moving forward to CommutAir: “I am very disappointed that United Airlines announced today that ExpressJet Airlines was not chosen as the sole E145 operator in the United Express system. United Airlines purchased 49 percent of ExpressJet Airlines when Mana Air LLC bought the airline from SkyWest Airlines in early 2019..."

Overwhelming Majority of FAA-Certificated Repair Stations Reported Revenue Declines

ARSA, the Aeronautical Repair Station Association, is noting that the aviation maintenance industry has been decimated by coronavirus-related economic disruptions, according to a survey they recently undertook. ARSA members reported widespread revenue declines that have in turn led to significant job losses. In the face of continued economic uncertainty, the survey results suggest more layoffs are imminent.

Klyde Has The Inside Skinny On The Space Community

FMI: www.klydemorris.com

Bolen Corrects L.A. Times’ Inaccurate Characterization of Business Aviation

Credit Where Credit Is Due... NBAA Is One Of The FEW Alphabets Fighting Back

Don't tick off Ed Bolen... NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen has again stood up for aviation against errant general-media BS -- this time correcting the Los Angeles Times’ inaccurate portrayal of business aviation in a letter to the editor published July 29, 2020. "First, business aviation has been hit hard by the pandemic. Consider flight activity at small airports that handle business aviation traffic: At New Jersey’s Teterboro Airport near New York, flights have plummeted a staggering 65% compared to this time last year..."

Boeing Began Converting Retired F-16s Into QF-16s in 2015

A team from Boeing and the U.S. Air Force completed the first QF-16 Full-Scale Aerial Target to undergo conversion from a modification line in Arizona. The aircraft was flown last month to Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, where it will be used autonomously in future weapons training operations. The 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG) located at Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson teamed with Boeing under a public-private partnership to create a second modification line to supplement ongoing QF-16 work at Boeing’s Cecil Field site in Jacksonville, Florida.

From 2018: Assisted In The Rescue Of At Least 65 People On Five Continents In 2017

At least 65 people have been rescued by drones in the last year, according to a new report from drone maker DJI. The report, "More Lives Saved: A Year Of Drone Rescues Around The World," is available for download. It highlights how improved drone technology, rapid adoption by first responders and smart aviation regulations have combined to increase the pace of drone use in critical public safety missions.

Also: XPONENTIAL Goes Virtual, Hurricane Hunters, ALPA: FedEx Hong Kong Pilots, FCC Fines Hobbyking $2.8M

The FAA has confirmed that severe issues of an unspecified nature are causing them to force as many as several hundred pilots to be retested for checkrides they may have taken over the course of some 11 years. The FAA states, "This notice provides current guidance to FAA aviation safety inspectors (ASI) on program policies and procedures for reexamining individuals holding pilot certificates with various ratings who were tested by Michael A. Puehler of Cincinnati, Ohio. The reexamination will ensure

Turbine Section Of The Engine Had Been Removed And Reinstalled Three Times In The Past Month

On July 17, 2020, at about 0854 Pacific daylight time, a Hiller UH-12D helicopter, N2297W, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Mehama, Oregon. The pilot was fatally injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 137 aerial application flight. There were no witnesses to the accident. The support truck operator reported that the helicopter departed from the truck and flew towards the next field. Shortly after departing the truck operator heard the pilot report over the radio that he was "going down."

Aero Linx: European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) Founded in 1955 as an intergovernmental organisation, the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) seeks to harmonise civil aviation policies and practices amongst its Member States and, at the same time, promote understanding on policy matters between its Member States and other parts of the world. ECAC's mission is the promotion of the continued development of a safe, efficient and sustainable European air transport system. ECAC's long-established expertise in aviation matters, pan-European membership and close liaison with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) enable it to serve as a unique European forum for discussion

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (08.03.20): Cold Temperature Compensation

Cold Temperature Compensation An action on the part of the pilot to adjust an aircraft’s indicated altitude due to the effect of cold temperatures on true altitude above terrain versus aircraft indicated altitude. The amount of compensation required increases at a greater rate with a decrease in temperature and increase in height above the reporting station.

"The overwhelming majority (87.8 percent) of U.S. respondents to ARSA’s June survey of FAA-certificated repair stations reported revenue declines in the first five months of the year, with an average drop of 45.9 percent from 2019 levels. Not surprisingly, 70 percent of respondents expect this year’s revenues to fall below 2019’s." Source: From a portion of a stunning and troubling statement by the Aeronautical Repair Station Association, who is noting that the aviation maintenance industry has been decimated by coronavirus-related economic disruptions, according to a survey they recently undertook. ARSA members reported widespread revenue declines that have in turn led to significant job losses.