Initial Course Scheduled To Begin In January 2021

The Air Force Test Center’s Test Pilot School is one step closer to standing up the Space Test Fundamentals course. “Today, here in this building, a board is selecting the first class of space professionals to attend our new space test fundamentals course,” said Maj. Gen. Christopher Azzano, AFTC commander, during the Multi-Domain Test Force activation ceremony held Oct. 1 in the Test Pilot School Scobee auditorium. “How fitting that we’re talking about a new paradigm for domain-integrated test in the halls of our own test pilot schoolhouse.”

The Event Will Be Postponed To November 16 -- 18, 2021

The Pandemic continues to curtail aviation events the world over. The latest, European Rotors 2020, has been put off to 2021. The organizers note that, "Due to latest developments in regard to the spread of the coronavirus COVID-19, European Helicopter Association (EHA) and European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) are taking a serious but necessary step: The first edition of EUROPEAN ROTORS will not be held as planned from November 10 to 12, 2020, but will be postponed to November 16 to 18, 2021.

Klyde Feels The Need... The Need For Supersonic Speed

FMI: www.klydemorris.com

From 2017: So You Wanna Fly Commercial Drones…

What does it take to move from a drone hobbyist to a professional drone operator? That was the question posed by ANN CEO and Editor in Chief Jim Campbell of Harold Sweet, Rental Manager for Samy’s Camera. Sweet said that first thing a potential commercial drone operator needs to consider is how they will be using their aircraft. The choices run the gamut from aircraft that would be appropriate for a photographer documenting a wedding or real estate venture to full cinematic photography.  

Reduced $5.00 Purchase Price Reflects Post-COVID-19 Reduction

Air Canada has concluded an amended transaction with Transat A.T. Inc. that provides for Air Canada to acquire all the issued and outstanding shares of Transat and for its combination with Air Canada. Under the binding agreement, unanimously approved by the Board of Directors of Transat, Air Canada will acquire all shares of Transat for $5.00 per share, payable at the option of Transat shareholders in cash or shares of Air Canada at a fixed exchange ratio of 0.2862 Air Canada share for each Transat share (representing a price for the Air Canada shares of $17.47). The value of the transaction is approximately $190 million.

Full-Stack Avidyne Avionics Upgrade For The Pilatus PC-12 By Servicios Aereos Montre

Avidyne has completed a full-stack Avidyne avionics upgrade for the Pilatus PC-12 by Servicios Aereos Montre (S.A.M.) of Monterrey, Mexico. The retrofit installation includes Avidyne IFD550 and IFD540 FMS/GPS/NAV/COMs, plus dual AXP322 Mode S ADS-B OUT Transponders and AMX240 Audio Panel. “We are really excited to be working with Servicios Aereo Montre to put together this avionics upgrade package for the PC-12,” said John Talmadge, Avidyne’s Vice President of Worldwide Sales.

Drug and Alcohol Testing Violations Alleged

The FAA has proposed an $83,000 civil penalty against AirMed International, LLC, of Birmingham, Ala., for allegedly failing to conduct required drug and alcohol testing. Between April 13, 2018 and Dec. 2, 2019, AirMed hired 21 employees in safety-sensitive positions but failed to include them in random drug and alcohol testing pools until months after they were hired, the FAA alleges. These included 17 people who performed flight crewmember duties and four people who performed aircraft maintenance work.

Shortly After Takeoff The Airplane’S Engine Stopped Producing Power

On September 24, 2020, about 1105 central daylight time, an amateur-built Eipper Quicksilver MX II airplane, N9045Z, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Killeen, Texas. The pilot and the pilot-rated passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight.

AD 2020-20-14 Requires Inspecting The Main Rotor (M/R) Servo Actuators

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Helicopters Model SA-365N, SA-365N1, AS-365N2, AS 365 N3, EC 155B, EC155B1, AS350B3, AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, AS355N, AS355NP, EC130B4, and EC130T2 helicopters. This AD requires inspecting the main rotor (M/R) servo actuators, and depending on the inspection results, replacing the affected part, applying a slippage mark, and reporting information. This AD was prompted by an incident of a sudden, strong nose-up attitude followed by intensive vibrations and increased loads on the flight controls during a cruise flight. The actions of this AD are intended to address an unsafe condition on these products. Th

Aero Linx: The Flight Safety Foundation The Flight Safety Foundation. We are an independent, international, and impartial non-profit that exists to champion the cause of aviation safety. Since 1947, Flight Safety Foundation has helped protect everyone who benefits from air travel, everywhere in the world. The Foundation is an international non-profit organization exclusively chartered to provide impartial, independent, expert safety guidance and resources for the aviation and aerospace industry. Today, membership includes more than 1,000 organizations and individuals in 150 countries. The Foundation is based in Alexandria, Virginia, U.S., has a regional office in Melbourne, Australia.

Chop A form of turbulence. Light Chop– Turbulence that causes slight, rapid and somewhat rhythmic bumpiness without appreciable changes in altitude or attitude. Moderate Chop– Turbulence similar to Light Chop but of greater intensity. It causes rapid bumps or jolts without appreciable changes in aircraft altitude or attitude.

“This course coalesces test and space expertise from Test Pilot School, the Space Force, NASA, the Air Force Academy and others. It is just the first step in training the cadre of space test professionals we need – space operators, engineers, space acquisition test managers – to deliver on-orbit capabilities for the nation.” Source: Col. Nick Hague, U.S. Space Force Test and Evaluation director and NASA astronaut, commenting on the upcoming Space Test Fundamentals course at the USAF Test Pilot's School. The U.S. Space Force Test Directorate and Air Force Test Center’s Test Pilot School, or TPS, completed the selection board for the inaugural Space Test Fundamentals course. The school received 166 applicants pr