Performing in the Round

Between 2008 and 2023, ten accidents involving aircraft operating under FAR Part 91 and FAR Part 135 occurred during circling maneuvers following both IFR and VFR approaches. Compelled by this disproportionately high incidence of mishaps, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has made public augmented guidance germane to circling maneuvers—which it encourages aviators of all experience levels to review and reflect upon.

Five Days and Twenty Aerospace Employers

SUN ‘n FUN, the Lakeland, Florida non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of aviation education and renowned for the annual week-long fly-in and airshow of the same name, announced on 22 March 2023 that its longstanding partnership with leading aviation job website, JSfirm.com will continue in 2023. The two entities will jointly host the 10th Annual SUN ‘n FUN Career Fair—a networking event featuring a broad cross-section of aerospace employers and savvy showgoers aspiring to become employees thereof.

The Weight of Persistence

“While we had anticipated the final National Championship Air Races in Reno would be one of our best, we never imagined it would be so popular that the demand would overload our servers within a half-hour of tickets going on sale!"

Cruise Control Disabled

On Friday, 17 March 2023, the producers of the latest Mission: Impossible film, titled Dead Reckoning Part Two, relented in their attempts to obtain permits for dozens of helicopter landings on Svalbard. Citing concerns over disturbances to arctic wildlife, Norwegian authorities refused to grant permission for more than forty helicopter landings requested by film production concern PolarX. The decision was predicated primarily upon section 73 of the Svalbard Environment Act, which requires traffic on the archipelago “not to damage or degrade the natural environment … or lead to unnecessary disturbance of people or wildlife.”

Fight the Good Fight

On 22 March 2023, the Santa Monica Airport Association, a group dedicated to the airport and its preservation, published a survey in the printed and digital iterations of the Santa Monica Mirror, the city’s weekly, community newspaper. Subject survey posed two simple questions: Should Santa Monica close the Airport? If you think the airport should close, what should the site be converted to? It's time for America's pilots to weigh in, and in so doing, perhaps help save one of the U.S.'s most historic and iconic airports.

Also: B-21 First Flight Delayed, EAA's 30th, Ducommun Acquiring BLR, Qantas Warning

The SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo is proud to present, as the lead-in to the aviation year via its partnership with the Aero-News Network, the 2023 SUN ‘n FUN Innovation Preview scheduled for 1030 ET on DAY ONE. See it LIVE at www.airborne-live.net at 1030ET or come to SnF and see it for yourself in the Pavilion (ACE3 on the SnF Map), on the West side of the SnF Headquarters building. Following recent incidents involving runway incursions and traffic conflicts between Part 121 aircraft, the FAA has resolved to increase the archival capability of Cockpit Voice Recorders (CVR) from the thirty minutes of magnetic-tape designs and two hours of solid-state architectures to a comparatively expansive 25-hours. Delta Air Lines will launch the Delta Propel Flight Academy, partnering with Sky

Also: Int'l Skydiving Museum, Axiom Space, WWII Airman Identified, NAFI Has Plans For Sun 'N Fun

US officials have released video that shows a Russian Su-27 fighter jet colliding with the aft-mounted pusher-propeller of a US MQ-9 Reaper UAV. The newly declassified video, which U.S. European Command released early Thursday, 16 March 2023, depicts—albeit less than transparently—the critical moments leading up to and immediately following the 14 March midair collision that allegedly resulted in the downing of the $20-million USAF drone. Aero-News Network is saddened to report that Sergeant First-Class Michael “Ty” Kettenhofen lost his life in a 13 March 2023 training mishap at Florida’s Homestead Air Reserve Base. Kettenhofen had served with the Army’s elite Golden Knights parachute demonstration team since 2020. Sikorsky is building a fully autonomous hybrid-eVTOL which will serve as a flying testbed by dint of which th

Also: FAA Admin Nom Contested, Beechcraft Guide, Russia Honors Dumb SU-27 Pilots, USAF Budget

After an enthusiastic reception at Oshkosh, ScaleWings's SW-51 Mustang returns to Sun ´N Fun 2023. The machine is a seventy-percent replica of the North American P-51 Mustang fighter aircraft of the Second World War. The SW-51 was first flown in October 2014 and is supplied as both a kit for amateur construction and a complete, factory-built, ready-to-fly-aircraft. CAV Ice Protection Limited is patenting an anti-icing solution for sUAS. CAV notes that the new system has the potential to revolutionize the manner in which commercial drones are utilized in cold climates. During the FAA’s Safety Summit, GA industry leaders participated in both the opening public session and a closed-door breakout session for purpose of discussing the challenges by which the GA industry is currently faced and determining means by which to improve safety. All this --

Also: Airborne-Special Editions Reports On EVEN MORE Cool Things Coming To SnF23!

Welcome to this special edition of Airborne. As we continue to prepare for the 49th rendition of the Sun ‘n Fun Aerospace Expo, now some ten days or so away, SnF BOss, Gene Conrad has kept the Lakeland staff busy with all manner of new updates and improvements. In this chat, we start with the good stuff! It's airshow time and there are few better reason o go to Sun 'n Fun than to watch the airshows that they present in many forms. The daytime shows, with the US Navy Blue Angels heading up the roster is a big draw,,, but so are many other performers that fly both NIGHT and DAY. The two night airshows have become huge favorites. Even better, the LightPlane area, alias Paradise City has it's own gig going in the evenings with the Sunset Aerial Circus which promises to liven up the sport aviation arena quite a bit. And then, there's the elephant in the room... PARKING! G

Also: DJI Mini 2 SE, Aerojet Rocketdyne, Inmarsat & Heron AirBridge, Sikorsky eVTOL

Senator Mark Kelly (Democrat, Arizona), a former U.S. Navy combat pilot and NASA astronaut, has openly opined that the 14 March 2023 incident in which a pair of Russian Su-27 Flanker jet fighters downed a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV) over the Black Sea is ascribable to incompetence on the parts of the Russian pilots. Lift's Hexa aircraft made a notable demo for the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB), obtaining approval for additional demonstrations. The company completed Phase 1 flight testing and initial envelope development with the USAF, moving onward to Alpha Flights to allow persons outside the company to fly the prototype Hexa. Demonstrations were held on a field within sight of the Osaka Castle. CAV Ice Protection Limited is patenting an anti-icing solution for sUAS. CAV notes that the new system has the potential to revolutionize the manner in