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July 03, 2018

Airborne-Unmanned 07.03.18: Facebook Drops Aquila, Yamaha Fazer, FAA Survey

Also: New AUVSI Jax Chapter, Switzerland Air Traffic Demo, KState Polytechnic, TopXGun

Facebook has abandoned its efforts to use a high-altitude solar-powered drone to relay internet connectivity to people living in remote areas without such service. Facebook began its efforts in 2014. On its blog, the company said it developed an aircraft, known as Aquila, as well as other technologies to deliver wireless internet connectivity to remote areas. In 2016, one of its aircraft suffered a wing failure while attempting to land, which the NTSB attributed to strong winds. The flight was the first for the full-s

Airborne-Unmanned 07.03.18: Facebook Drops Aquila, Yamaha Fazer, FAA Survey

Also: New AUVSI Jax Chapter, Switzerland Air Traffic Demo, KState Polytechnic, TopXGun

Facebook has abandoned its efforts to use a high-altitude solar-powered drone to relay internet connectivity to people living in remote areas without such service. Facebook began its efforts in 2014. On its blog, the company said it developed an aircraft, known as Aquila, as well as other technologies to deliver wireless internet connectivity to remote areas. In 2016, one of its aircraft suffered a wing failure while attempting to land, which the NTSB attributed to strong winds. The flight was the first for the full-scale test aircraft. The company continued its development, and conducted additional successful test flight. The FAA has granted an exemption to Yama

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Vanilla Aircraft Becomes Vanilla Unmanned

Result Of A Newly-Announced Joint Venture With Platform Aerospace And An Unnamed Partner

Platform Aerospace, which provides rapid aircraft and drone prototyping, modification, and systems integration, has established a joint venture with an unnamed partner to acquire substantially all the assets of Vanilla Aircraft, which designed and built the VA001 ultra-endurance UAS.

Student Pilot In April Accident In Arizona May Have Been Impaired

Local Coroner Says James Pedroza Had Cocaine In His System

A student pilot who was one of six people fatally injured in an accident April 9 in Scottsdale, AZ had cocaine in his system at the time of the accident, according to the Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office.

AUVSI Report Shows Proposed Defense Budget For Unmanned Systems Totals $9.6B

Authorized Spending For Military Unmanned Technologies Increases By 28 Percent

Proposed spending for unmanned vehicle systems by the U.S military totals $9.6 billion for 2019, an increase of 28 percent over last year, according to an analysis by the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI).

Canada Takes Action To Thwart Laser Attacks On Aircraft

Safety Measures Restrict Possession Of Hand-Held Lasers, Allow For On-The-Spot Fines Of Up To $25,000 (CA)

Canadians expect to feel safe on the ground and in the sky. Despite past and ongoing safety awareness campaigns, there are still too many cases of laser attacks on aircraft. These attacks continue to put the safety of Canadians and flight crew at risk, prompting immediate safety measures to restrict battery-operated hand-held lasers, and further action to strengthen enforcement powers.

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Daher salutes TBMOPA's 2018 European Gathering

Some Participants Flew With The Breitling Jet Team

Daher on Saturday congratulated the TBM Owners and Pilots Association (TBMOPA) on the success of its 2018 European Gathering, which brought together the international TBM very fast aircraft community for technical briefings and camaraderie – reinforced by an emphasis on safety and the passion for flight.

Boeing Chinook Block II Program Moves To Final Assembly

Completion Of First Aircraft Expected In 2019

A major milestone has been reached in the Boeing CH-47F Block II program with the loading of the first engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) helicopter into final assembly on June 27.

Embraer Delivers Asia Pacific's First Phenom 300E

Customer Is Australian Luxury Tourism Group Northern Escape Collection

Embraer has delivered its first Phenom 300E in Asia Pacific to Northern Escape Collection. The new light jet model, which is an enhancement of the Phenom 300 – the world’s most delivered light business jet for the past six years – offers Northern Escape Collection an elegant solution to provide their guests access to its collection of private lodges in Queensland including Orpheus Island Lodge, Daintree Ecolodge and Mt Mulligan Lodge.

Airbus BelugaXL Rolls Out of Paintshop

First Flight Planned For Later This Summer

The first BelugaXL has rolled out of the paintshop unveiling a special livery making it look like a Beluga Whale. The livery was one of six choices submitted to Airbus employees through a poll where 20,000 people participated. With 40% votes in favour, the smiley livery won.

Astronaut Dan Burbank Retires From NASA

Flew Three Missions Totalling 188 Days In Space

NASA Astronaut Dan Burbank, who spent 188 days in space over three missions, is retiring from the agency. Friday, June 29, was his last day with NASA.

Investigators Say They Have Identified D.B. Cooper

Confession Coded In Letter Leads To Claim Of Solving The Case

A message sent to "The Portland Oregonian Newspaper" in 1972 contained a coded message that cold case investigators say has led to the identification of D.B. Cooper.

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Ariane 5 Is Ready To Receive Its Galileo Satellites

Launch By Arianespace Planned For July

The next Ariane 5 launcher to orbit Galileo navigation satellites has completed its initial build-up in French Guiana, continuing preparations for Arianespace’s July mission – which is designated Flight VA244 in the company’s numbering system.

Reps DeFazio, Larsen Slam FAA In Letter To Elaine Chao

Say The Agency Is Deficient In Its Oversight Of Foreign Aircraft Repair Stations

U.S. Representatives Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Rick Larsen (D-WA) have sent a letter to U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao slamming the Department for failing to finalize a rule requiring drug and alcohol testing for safety-sensitive workers at certificated foreign aircraft repair stations who perform extensive maintenance and repair work on U.S.-registered commercial aircraft.

DOT IG Releases Report On Runway Incursions

FAA Faces Challenges In Implementing And Measuring The Effectiveness Of Its 2015 Runway Safety Call To Action Initiatives, IG Says

Runway incursions—incidents involving unauthorized aircraft, vehicles, or people on a runway—have been a longstanding challenge for the FAA. The Agency reported a nearly 83-percent rise in total incursions between fiscal years 2011 and 2017, and there have been serious incidents in which two aircraft have come within a few feet of colliding with each other. Due to the increase in runway incursions, in June 2015 FAA initiated a Call to Action forum that focused on developing short-, mid-, and long-term initiatives to mitigate runway incursions and improve safety.

Airbus’ Majority Stake In C Series Partnership With Bombardier Now In Effect

Agreement Between The Two Planemakers Began July 1

The closing of the previously announced C Series transaction between Airbus SAS, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Airbus SE (EPA: AIR), Bombardier Inc. and Investissement Québec went into effect on July 1, 2018. Airbus now owns a 50.01% majority stake in C Series Aircraft Limited Partnership, while Bombardier and Investissement Québec own approximately 34% and 16% respectively. CSALP’s head office, primary assembly line and related functions are based in Mirabel, Québec.

First ACJ320neo Enters Final Assembly

Builds On Success Of A320neo Airliner Family

The first ACJ320neo has entered final assembly in Hamburg, marking the start of a new era in Airbus corporate jets. Featuring the largest cabin in its class, the ACJ320neo is due to be delivered to Acropolis Aviation of the UK in the last quarter, together with a second aircraft, for Comlux of Switzerland.

FAA Proposes $3.3 Million Civil Penalty Against The Hinman Co.

Alleges Hundreds Of Commercial Aircraft Operations In Violation Of FARs

The FAA has proposed a $3.3 million civil penalty against The Hinman Co. of Portage, Michigan, for conducting hundreds of commercial aircraft operations in violation of the Federal Aviation Regulations, including failing to hold the required operator certificate for the flights being performed.

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New National Leadership Begins Work For The APFA

Association of Professional Flight Attendants Represents 27,000 Flight Attendants Working For American Airlines

For the 27,000 flight attendants of American Airlines, July 2 may be as significant as Labor Day this year. Newly elected officers of the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) officially begin their terms, welcoming a new National President and National Officers to lead its membership forward on improving contracts and issues that affect the work environment and quality of life of its members.

Allegiant Dispatchers Fail To Ratify Tentative Agreement With Teamsters

Carrier Says It Is Ready To Go Back To The Negotiating Table

Allegiant dispatchers represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) have failed to ratify a proposed collective bargaining agreement with the company. The tentative agreement brought by IBT to its members was reached between the parties on May 22, 2018.

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (07.03.18)

“The only thing consistent about the FAA’s oversight of these FAA-certificated facilities—which number more than 700 abroad—is its inconsistency, leaving far too many stones unturned.” Source: Letter from Congressmen Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Rick Larsen (D-WA) to Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao.

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (07.03.18): Ultimate Load Factor

In stress analysis, the load that causes physical breakdown in an aircraft or aircraft component during a strength test, or the load that according to computations, should cause such a breakdown.

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (07.03.18)

Soaring Society of America

The Soaring Society of America, Inc. was formed in 1932 to foster and promote all phases of soaring, both nationally and internationally. Since then, the SSA membership has grown to in excess of 12,000.

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