The Low Road

Oleg Patsulya, a Russian national, and his business partner were arrested in the U.S. for violating broad technical sanctions imposed against Russia in the wake of the country’s February 2022 invasion of neighboring Ukraine. Investigation of the alleged crimes revealed Patsulya and his partner, whose name remains undisclosed, sent sanctioned aircraft components—including 737 wheel-brake systems—to at least three Russian airlines by dint of a network of companies scattered across Florida, Turkey, and Russia.

It’s a Beauty Way to Go

On 17 May 2023, ALPA’s Executive Board approved by acclamation the union’s merger with the Air Canada Pilots Association (ACPA). Following the vote, the presidents of both organizations signed the merger agreement, thereby occasioning Air Canada’s entrance into ALPA’s fold as the fortieth pilot group to ally itself with the world-leading union. With the addition of Air Canada’s pilots, ALPA’s membership surpasses 73,000 individual aviators.

Also: More Honors For The Kings, Astronaut Sam Durrance, Drone Symposium, FedEx Mother/Daughter Crew

Boeing has scored a major MAX order with their pals at Ryanair... announcing that the low-cost airline has selected the largest 737 MAX model to power its future growth with an order for up to 300 airplanes. The purchase agreement is the biggest in Ryanair's history and includes a firm order for 150 737-10 jets and options for 150 more. Textron is adding Emergency Autoland capability to its new Beechcraft Denali single-engine turboprop. The new feature is being implemented into the aircraft’s development and flight test program and will be available as a

Also: More Honors For The Kings, Astronaut Sam Durrance, Drone Symposium, FedEx Mother/Daughter Crew

Boeing has scored a major MAX order with their pals at Ryanair... announcing that the low-cost airline has selected the largest 737 MAX model to power its future growth with an order for up to 300 airplanes. The purchase agreement is the biggest in Ryanair's history and includes a firm order for 150 737-10 jets and options for 150 more. Textron is adding Emergency Autoland capability to its new Beechcraft Denali single-engine turboprop. The new feature is being implemented into the aircraft’s development and flight test program and will be available as a

The Stearman Storyteller

As the Stearman Storyteller, Mr. Nordsiek interacts with young people for purpose of inspiring them to achieve their dreams—aviation-related or otherwise. Hans’s guiding ethos reflects and is loosely based upon that of “The Little Prince,” the character created by Antoine de Saint-Exupery who famously set forth: “And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye. … All grown-ups were once children…but only a few of them remember it.”

South Korean Demonstration Flight Impresses

Embraer S.A., the multinational aerospace manufacturer of commercial, military, executive, and agricultural aircraft founded in 1969 and headquartered in São Paulo, Brazil, announced on 16 March 2023 that one of its E190-E2 airliners had demonstrated outstanding short-field performance during a round-robin demonstration flight from Seoul, South Korea’s Gimpo Airport (GMP) to Pohang (KPO) and back.

Advanced UAS Stretches its Sea Legs

Airbus Helicopters and the French Armament General Directorate (DGA) announced on 15 May 2023 that they’d jointly tested Airbus’s VSR700 Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) in its operational configuration from a ship at sea. The test-flight, the platform’s first in its full operational configuration, saw the VSR700 perform no fewer than eighty fully-autonomous take-offs and landings from a helicopter-deck-equipped civil vessel operating off France’s Atlantic coast in the vicinity of Brittany.

Axiomatic Truths

NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX will provide coverage of the pre-launch and launch activities of Axiom Mission 2 (Ax-2), the second private astronaut mission to the International Space Station (ISS). Broadcasts of the undertaking as well as subsequent ISS docking operations will be presented on NASA Television, the NASA app, and the agency’s website. Liftoff of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center is slated for 17:37 EDT on Sunday, 21 May.

On the Origin of Specious

On 15 May 2023, the NBAA joined upwards of 35 aviation and biofuel industry stakeholders in prevailing upon the U.S. House and Senate Appropriations Committees to prioritize fiscal year 2024 funding for federal programs germane to accelerating the development and deployment of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF).

Fighting the Proxy War

Following delivery of the first two MQ-9A Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) procured upon the successful completion of a Company-Owned Company-Operated (COCO) Deployment Contract, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.(GA-ASI) and the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) are celebrating the 19 April 2023 delivery of the first new-build MQ-9A Extended Range (ER) UAS to Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR). The delivery is part of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) Unmanned Expeditionary (MUX) Program.

Ballad of a Montana Mixmaster

The NTSB has released its preliminary report on a 03 May 2023 accident in which a Cessna P337H Pressurized Skymaster, registration N62PC, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Laurel, Montana. The accident flight was conducted under Part 91 in day VFR/VMC conditions.

Aero Linx: Piper Apache Club In 1978 a group of Piper Apache owners from the USA and Canada gathered in Hazleton, PA and formed the "Flying Apache Association". The Association produced a monthly newsletter and had an annual fly-in in various locations in the United States and the Bahama Islands. The Piper Apache was primarily owned by individuals that were long time owners and some flight schools for multi-trainers.  As time went on many of the owners moved on to larger twins and a lot of the planes were sold to individuals that were only interested in building multi time to get an airline job. There was still a group of dedicated Apache Lovers out there that kept in touch and we did our best i

Visual Approach Slope Indicator (VASI) An airport lighting facility providing vertical visual approach slope guidance to aircraft during approach to landing by radiating a directional pattern of high intensity red and white focused light beams which indicate to the pilot that he/she is “on path” if he/she sees red/white, “above path” if white/white, and “below path” if red/red. Some airports serving large aircraft have three-bar VASIs which provide two visual glide paths to the same runway.

“Continued federal investments in research, development and demonstration (RD&D) are essential to lower costs; unlock new, cleaner ways of making these fuels; and to foster a competitive SAF market. With this foundation of support, the emerging SAF industry will also create jobs and provide new economic opportunities in rural communities across America.” Source: From a latter drafted by NBAA and sent to a number of elected officials.