Also: Mars Rover Landing Site, King Air Ground Cooling, SmartSky, Rod Machado eCourses
Women in Aviation International members and conference attendees will no doubt connect with the impressive roster of speakers scheduled for the 32nd Annual International Women in Aviation Conference, March 11-12, 2021, from the convenience of one’s home or office. “Although we are disappointed that we can’t meet in person, this virtual conference has allowed us to assemble a dynamic group of keynotes from all over the world,” Allison McKay, WAI CEO says. The Sun ‘n Fun Aerospace Expo is less than five week away and things are looking up for what may be the first major live aviation event in over a year. Masking protocols are being lessened
Diamond Aircraft Industries Inc. and Blue Line Aviation recently inked a firm order for 50 Diamond Aircraft... including single engine DA40 NG’s, twin engine DA42-VI’s and a Diamond Simulator, with an option for up to 50 additional aircraft. The order comes less than a year after Blue Line Aviation’s 8 year anniversary. NASA and Boeing are evaluating a new target launch date for the CST-100 Starliner’s Orbital Flight Test-2 (OFT-2) to the International Space Station after winter storm
The original and highly regarded Master Instructor program, which arguably set the standard of excellence in aviation education when first introduced in 1997, has settled comfortably in the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE) nest as the Master Instructor Continuing Education Program (MICEP) for all aviation educators. The original Master Instructor Program, written and introduced by professional educators Sandy and JoAnn Hill of Colorado, celebrates its 24th year representing what then-FAA Administrator Marion Bl
Enables King Air Operators To Cool The Cabin Before Crew And Passengers Board
Textron has received FAA STC approval for the new Beechcraft King Air Ground Cooling aftermarket upgrade for Beechcraft King Air 200 and 300 series turboprops. With King Air Ground Cooling installed, customers can provide flood cooling into the cabin before departure, enhancing passenger and crew comfort. “Textron Aviation continues to push the boundaries of customer service options for aircraft owners,” said Brian Rohloff, senior vice president, Customer Support.
NASA has assigned astronaut Mark Vande Hei to an upcoming mission to the International Space Station as a flight engineer and member of the Expedition 64/65 crew. Vande Hei, along with cosmonauts Oleg Novitskiy and Pyotr Dubrov of the Russian space agency Roscosmos, are scheduled to launch Friday, April 9, on the Soyuz MS-18 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Vande Hei will work on hundreds of experiments during his mission to benefit life on Earth and learn more about living in space. The space station is a critical testbed for NASA to understand and overcome the challenges of long-duration spaceflight and those insights gained will help send humans to the Moon and eventually to Mars. Among
Portfolio Supports The Company’s Upcoming Inflight Broadband Service
SmartSky Networks reports that it has surpassed 200 granted patents. This portfolio supports the company’s inflight broadband service, launching later this year. “SmartSky set out to transform aviation through innovations in communications technology and services,” said SmartSky CEO David Helfgott. “Our expanding patent portfolio represents the latest advances in a host of sophisticated tech needed to deliver on the promise of the truly connected aircraft, from our cutting-edge radio and antenna hardware to our sophisticated next-generation network and new aviation-related digital services.”
Cmdr. George “Cob” Zintak Relieved Cmdr. Eric “Cheese” Reeves As Commanding Officer
The “Sabrehawks” of Training Squadron (VT) 86 held a change-of-command ceremony at NAS Pensacola, March 4. Cmdr. George “COB” Zintak relieved Cmdr. Eric “Cheese” Reeves as commanding officer during an aerial ceremony that followed a ground-based segment. Reeves, a native of Baldwinsville, New York, assumed command of VT-86 in November 2019 after serving as executive officer since June 2018. During his tenure, Reeves oversaw a cadre of around 60 instructors dedicated to training Navy and Marine Corps, and international military naval flight officers (NFO). More than 347 NFOs received their Wings of Gold und
Upgrade Includes Conversion To GE Engine Software Along With EGPWS and UPRT
Pam Am Flight Academy has upgraded its second Boeing–777, Level D, full motion flight simulator. Based in the aviation academy's headquarters in Miami, Florida, the Level D, B777 has been upgraded to embody the popular B777-200ER. The upgrade includes a conversion to the GE engine software model along with Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS) and the incorporation of an Upset Prevention and Recovery Training (UPRT) solution using a wireless tablet. "This upgrade demonstrates Pan Am Flight Academy's commitment to supporting our customer's needs by expanding our offering for current aviation training demands" said Jeff Portanova, President of Pan Am Flight
From 2014 (YouTube Version): CubCrafters Is Growing... And In A 'Down' Industry -- Find Out How
While at EAA AirVenture 2014, ANN’s Michael Maya Charles stopped to talk with John Whitish, the Marketing Manager for CubCrafters. Charles started off with the comment that the CubCrafters product line seems to be expanding in a period of time that other facets of general aviation have been in the decline. Whitish replied that CubCrafters was in the right place at the right time in 2008 when they brought out their Carbon Cub. He said it proved to be the right product for the recreational market and they have continued to grow
Also: ERAU Electric Plane, Collier Trophy, Air Race E Expands, Hydrogen Powered Propulsion
Emergency response and healthcare company Falck has announced a collaboration with Kitty Hawk. The companies will establish a joint innovation platform creating a framework for Project Heaviside, Kitty's Hawk's latest high performance aircraft, to be used in emergency response operations. The new collaboration adds to Falck's drone initiative, Vertical, which aims to assess the potential of drone technology in the prehospital and ambulance services of the future. With Kitty Hawk's Project Heaviside, the company pl
Just Prior To Reaching The Minimum Descent Altitude, He Saw The Approach Lights
On February 22, 2021, at 1145 eastern standard time, a Cessna 421C, N84HA, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at St. Marys Municipal Airport (OYM), St. Marys, Pennsylvania. The airline transport pilot sustained minor injuries and the two passengers were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 corporate flight. According to the pilot, while inbound to OYM, he believed the automated weather observation station reported the cloud conditions at 600 ft broken 1,000 ft overcast, and visibility 1.5 miles in snow. Prior to being cleared for the GPS approach to runway 28, air traffic control provided no
AD 2021-05-51 Prompted By The In-Flight Failure Of A 1st-Stage Low-Pressure Compressor (LPC) Blade On A PW4077
The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Pratt & Whitney Division (PW) PW4074, PW4074D, PW4077, PW4077D, PW4084D, PW4090, and PW4090-3 model turbofan engines. This AD was prompted by the in-flight failure of a 1st-stage low-pressure compressor (LPC) blade on a PW4077 model turbofan engine resulting in an engine fire during flight. This AD requires performing a thermal acoustic image (TAI) inspection for cracks in certain 1st-stage LPC blades and removal of those blades that fail inspection. The FAA previously sent an emergency AD to all known U.S. owners and operators of these engines and is now issuing this
AD 2021-04-19 Prompted By Flight Testing And Fatigue Analysis Results
The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Bell Textron Inc. (Bell) Model 205B helicopters. This AD was prompted by flight testing and fatigue analysis results. This AD requires reducing the life limit of certain tail rotor (T/R) blades and re-identifying them with a new part number (P/N). The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. This AD is effective April 13, 2021.
Aero Linx: The Arizona Pilot’s Association (APA)
The Arizona Pilot’s Association (APA) was organized in 1978 to give Arizona’s general aviation community a voice in aviation matters. Our mission remains much the same today as we continue to promote general aviation through advocacy at various levels of state and federal government, as well as through partnering with other aviation organizations in advocating our common interests: promoting aviation safety, pilot education, and public understanding of general aviation; preserving, maintaining, and even re-opening Arizona’s backcountry and recreational airstrips; broadcasting Arizona aviation news; and connecting Arizona pilots
Airmen’s Meteorological Information (AIRMET)
In-flight weather advisories issued only to amend the Aviation Surface Forecast, Aviation Cloud Forecast, or area forecast concerning weather phenomena which are of operational interest to all aircraft and potentially hazardous to aircraft having limited capability because of lack of equipment, instrumentation, or pilot qualifications. AIRMETs concern weather of less severity than that covered by SIGMETs or Convective SIGMETs. AIRMETs cover moderate icing, moderate turbulence, sustained winds of 30 knots or more at the surface, widespread areas of ceilings less than 1,000 feet and/or visibility less than 3 miles, and extensive mountain obscurement.
“This tour has without a doubt been the most fulfilling and rewarding of my naval career. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve with such a professional team as the Sabrehawks. The instructors, civilians, and contractors do a phenomenal job every day ensuring the success of the future generation of naval flight officers. Having the opportunity to shape the future of Naval Aviation is something I will always cherish and I look forward to seeing many of our students as they continue to hone their warfighting skills in the fleet.”
Source: Cmdr. Eric “Cheese” Reeves, the former C.O. of the “Sabrehawks” Training Squadron (VT) 86, who was relieved during a change-of-command ceremony at N
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