Brazilians First to Market with Family Sized Sportplane

Flyer Indústria Aeronáutica's locally assembled RV-10 LSA received approval from Brazil's ANAC, making it the first such multi-passenger sport plane in the world. The Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil perhaps jumped the gun a little bit in granting authorization to a 4-place aircraft, granting approval to a type of plane pilots around the world have eagerly awaited. Stateside, the industry has been digesting the proposed changes under MOSAIC, a new approach to light sport aircraft that would most visibly change the market by turning the average sport plane into a livable family hauler.

Newest Batch Sports Pioneers, Daredevils, and Builders Alike

This year's new batch of EAA pioneers has been added to the Halls of Fame, with a handful representing each category served by the EAA. The Homebuilders Hall of Fame saw the induction of Neal Loving, the Vintage Aircraft Association Hall of Fame John Parish Senior, the International Aerobatic Club Hall of Fame Lew Shattuck, the Warbirds of America Hall of Fame Charles 'Chuck' Greenhill, and the Ultralights Hall of Fame Paul Mather. Two of the inductees, Neal Loving and Chuck Greenhill, were posthumous additions. Along with the inductions, Jim Casper of Oshkosh, Wisconsin received the Henry Kimberly Leadership Award in recognition of his volunteer services to the EAA.

Aviation Techs Can Train and Work at Flexjet from Square One

Flexjet has embarked on a partnership with Purdue University to bolster its pipeline of incoming Aviation Maintenance Technicians, offering a program that combines hands-on apprenticeships with remote learning. The “AeroSphere for Business Aviation” program will make use of Purdue’s Center for Research and Education in Advanced Technology Ecosystems (a fun name that allows them to use the acronym “CREATE”) to provide a symbiotic approach to learning between an “innovative education facility” and “one of the largest private aviation operators in the world”. Purdue’s education programs will feed recruits into Flexjet’s

Proof-of-Concept Testing Begins on Promising Sustainable Fuel Engine

The Blue Condor team has finally begun flight testing using its experimental hydrogen fuel engine, taking their powered glider up to 30,000 feet for the first time ever. The effort dovetails into a plethora of projects, programs, and initiatives both in their partner Airbus' portfolio, but EU governments, too. The ZEROe project has a vested interest in studying the resulting hydrogen contrails left behind Blue Condor, while Aero Design Works eagerly awaits flight test data for their one-off custom hydrogen engine. The aircraft is operated by The Perlan Project, a group who've built a name for themselves in a hyperspecific niche of high-altitude, zero-emission aviation.

Launchpad Intact! 33 Raptor Engines Roaring! Hot Staging! and More

The long-awaited and bureaucratically delayed second flight of the SpaceX Starship finally took place early Saturday.... just a minute or two past the projected liftoff of 0700ET. The monstrous vehicle did not destroy the pad and surrounding facilities this time around, SpaceX having learned well from the the first go-around as all 33 Raptors lit off and continued producing propulsion until stage separation... one of the critical tests of this launch. This time around, the gang at SpaceX was trying to preserve as much launch momentum as possible (that could conceivably contribute to as much as a 10% increase in eventual payloads) by 'Hot Staging' -- a procedure whereby the sec

Elroy Air Makes Successful Test Flight with Turbogenerator, Battery Powered Aircraft

A 57-second test flight of the Chaparral C1 took place on November 12th, proving the hybrid turbogenerator system of the company's upcoming eVTOL competitor. The team isn't just eyeing the exciting new market for AAM operations and air taxis, but a coveted chance at competing for a place at the military contracting table. Elroy Air’s involvement in the AFWERX Agility Prime project has given the firm some extra intensity in pursuing a functioning aircraft platform, keeping and eye towards fast, reliable logistics capabilities. 

Backup Gauge Sees Wider Approval with Approved Model Expansion

Southeast Aerospace has received FAA approval for an expanded Aircraft Model List for their STC to use the Garmin GI 275 electronic gauge as a backup instrument. STC ST01985WI allows for the installation of the GI 275 as an electronic standby instrument, with the expanded AML now making the retrofit available on more than 1,500 aircraft. The certification allows dealers to replace aging, hard-to-replace IVA-81A/D IVSI units with the newer GI 275 IVSI, making for a much more affordable solution than strict repair and overhaul. 

Airplane Appeared To Stall And Bank Left Prior To Impact

On October 17, 2023, at 1050 eastern daylight time, a Tecnam P2010, N118T, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Ocala International Airport-Jim Taylor Field (OCF), Ocala, Florida. The flight instructor and the private pilot were seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. Shortly after arrival in OCF following an uneventful cross-country flight, the pilots fueled the airplane with about 27 gallons of fuel before preparing for their return flight to Lakeland Linder International Airport (LAL) Lakeland, Florida. According to the private pilot who was undergoing instrument instruction, they

Aero Linx: The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) identifies nearly 3,300 public-use airports that are included in the national airport system, the roles they currently serve, and the amounts and types of airport development eligible for Federal funding under the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) over the next 5 years. The FAA is required to publish a 5-year estimate of AIP eligible development every other year. The NPIAS contains all commercial service airports, all reliever airports, and selected public-owned general aviation airports.

Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) An airport lighting facility, similar to VASI, providing vertical approach slope guidance to aircraft during approach to landing. PAPIs consist of a single row of either two or four lights, normally installed on the left side of the runway, and have an effective visual range of about 5 miles during the day and up to 20 miles at night. PAPIs radiate a directional pattern of high intensity red and white focused light beams which indicate that the pilot is “on path” if the pilot sees an equal number of white lights and red lights, with white to the left of the red; “above path” if the pilot sees more white than red lights; and “below

"Flyer received our certificate of recognition for the RV-10 LSA as a light sport aircraft! We're grateful to all our clients, customers, partners, and friends for being a part of this decisive moment in our business' history. We're especially grateful to the ANAC, whose pioneering spirit and courage allowed us to certify the first light sport, 4-place aircraft in the world!"  Source: From an announcement made by Flyer Indústria Aeronáutica... whose locally assembled RV-10 LSA received approval from Brazil's ANAC, making it the first such multi-passenger sportplane in the world.