Order For Up To 500 Electric Aircraft Valued At US$2 Billion

Avolon and Vertical Aerospace have agreed on a ground-breaking US$2 billion order for up to 500 electric eVTOL aircraft. This agreement, which is subject to certain conditions, will introduce the ultra-short-haul aircraft category to commercial aviation. The agreement will see both companies collaborate throughout the development, road map to certification and subsequent commercial roll-out of the VA-X4. Avolon will join Microsoft, Rolls-Royce, Honeywell, and American Airlines as equity investors in Vertical, working also with Virgin Atlantic who will be a VA-X4 launch airline customer in Europe.

Zenith AeroTech's Quad 8 Tethered Aerial Vehicle Sets Record

Zenith AeroTech has, over the span of a week, flown its Quad 8 multi-rotor platform for a total of 161 hours and 49 minutes—108 hours of which were continuous, uninterrupted flight. “Small, multirotor-type drones are notorious for their limited air endurance. By contrast, tethered aerial vehicles, which draw power from a generator on the ground, can stay aloft for hours at a stretch,” said Kutlay Kaya, CEO of Zenith AeroTech. “But no other TAV company has ever been able to fly a platform for as long as we just did. This is a major technological breakthrough for small unmanned systems.”

Flight Suit Prototypes Designed To Increase Safety, Meet Urgent Fleet Need

In response to an urgent fleet need, the Aircrew Systems Program Office (PMA-202), with the assistance of an in-house tailor, recently began modifying and testing standard flight suits to create a prototype Maternity Flight Suit Uniform (MFSU), and has begun rolling them out to the fleet in a timeframe of less than four months from requirement to fielding. The program office began alterations to standard flight suits by sewing in expandable panels that provide extra room in the abdomen area where pregnant aircrew need it the most.

Sim Also Certified For Upset Recovery Training (UPRT)

Rex today announced the acquisition of a Boeing 737 Full Flight Simulator (B737 FFS) from Boeing US Training & Flight Services L.L.C. The B737 FFS satisfies the Qualification Level D requirements promulgated by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and will be used for type ratings, recurrent training and proficiency checks. It is also certified for Upset Recovery Training (UPRT) and can be configured for a number of variants of the B737, including B737-800, B737-700 and B737 Boeing Business Jet (BBJ).

From 2016 (YouTube Version): Swift Fuels Expands the No-Lead Avgas Option across the Country…

While at EAA AirVenture 2016, ANN CEO and Editor-In-Chief, Jim Campbell, met with Chris D’Acosta, the CEO of Swift Fuels, to get an update about the progress of introducing this new no-lead avgas to the flying public. Let’s quickly review what Swift Fuels is all about. Swift is producing an alternative aviation gasoline that does not use lead. At this time, the fuel they are marketing is the equivalent of 94 octane, and it is a fuel specifically formulated for aviation that complies with all FAA criteria for use in type-certificated aircraft

Will Also Promote The Development Of SAE Standards In Aviation

GAMA and SAE International have signed an agreement to cooperate in the areas of general and business aviation, including advanced air mobility (AAM), electric/hybrid propulsion, vertical take-off and landing (VTOL), rotorcraft, manufacturing, quality, maintenance, repair and overhaul to meet the demands of the evolving aviation landscape. The agreement sets the goals of increasing coordination, fostering innovation and safety, as well as promoting the development of SAE standards in aviation that serve the members of both organizations.

Witness, 'Saw Pieces, And Then The Tail Section Separating From The Helicopter'

On May 25, 2021, about 1747 eastern daylight time, a BHI H60 Helicopters LLC, UH-60A, N9FH, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Leesburg International Airport (LEE), Leesburg, Florida. The pilot, copilot, and two crew members were fatally injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 post-maintenance test flight. According to the operator, a new water tank and snorkel were installed on the helicopter to facilitate firefighting operations in accordance with supplemental type certificate (STC) #SR00933DE on May 17, 2021. Several days of ground testing and calibration were performed before the accident flight, wh

AD 2021-11-16 Required Repetitive Inspections Of The Spar Carry Through Assembly

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 79-01-03, which applied to certain Piper Aircraft, Inc. (Piper) Model PA-36-285 airplanes, and AD 83-20-03, which applied to Piper Models PA-36-285, PA-36-300, and PA-36-375 airplanes. AD 79-01-03 required repetitive inspections of the spar carry through assembly until replaced with a different part numbered spar carry through assembly. AD 83-20-03 established life limits for the wing spar structural components. This AD retains the requirements in AD 79-01-03 and AD 83-20-03 and requires the spar carry through assembly inspection from AD 79-01-03 for additional airplanes and adds life limits for certain wing structur

AD 2021-10-28 Results From Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information (MCAI)

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. (Pilatus) Model PC-24  airplanes. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI identifies the unsafe condition as the need to revise certain airworthiness limitations and certification maintenance instructions. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. This AD is effective July 15, 2021.

Aero Linx: The Amelia Earhart Memorial Scholarships & Awards Each year Amelia Earhart Memorial Scholarships are awarded to qualified members for five different scholarship types, including two specialized scholarships: an Emergency Maneuver Training Scholarship established in memory of 99 member Vicki Cruse and an International Scholarship, in memory of Kitty Houghton, for pilots in developing countries.

Permanent Echo Radar signals reflected from fixed objects on the earth’s surface; e.g., buildings, towers, terrain. Permanent echoes are distinguished from “ground clutter” by being definable locations rather than large areas. Under certain conditions they may be used to check radar alignment.

“The team supporting the MFSU development and distribution deserves all the credit for being able to work the drafting and coordination of procedures for ordering and distribution in parallel with the design of the uniform. They continue to provide superior support to the warfighter every day.” Source: Capt. Tom Heck, PMA-202 program manager, commenting on the Aircrew Systems Program Office (PMA-202), (with the assistance of an in-house tailor), successful effort to modify and test standard flight suits to create a prototype Maternity Flight Suit Uniform (MFSU), and the fact that they have begun rolling them out to the fleet in a timeframe of less than four months from requirement to fielding.