Déjà Vu

On Sunday, 14 May 2023, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) disclosed in a written statement that U.S. fighter jets had intercepted six Russian aircraft operating within the boundaries of the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).

Gravest Yet One-Day Russian Losses

Four Russian military aircraft—two airplanes and two helicopters—were shot down in Russia’s western Bryansk region near the Ukrainian border on Saturday, 13 May 2023. The lost aircraft—an Su-34 Fullback fighter-bomber, an Su-35 Flanker-E fighter jet, and two Mi-8 Hip transport helicopters—were enroute to Ukraine, reportedly, in part to carry out bombing raids.

Tick-Tock …

On 15 May 2023, WestJet pilots represented by ALPA issued a 72-hour strike notice to both the Calgary-headquartered air-carrier’s management and the Canadian government. The move set in motion a three-day countdown over which WestJet management may either agree to a fair and equitable pilot labor contract or incur crippling operational shutdowns resultant of its pilot cadre collectively availing itself of the full range of options made available under Canada’s Labor Code.

Also: Air India Pilot Woos, Pilatus PC-12 Milestone, NBAA v DC Think Tank Nonsense, F22 v Ballon Redux

The next-generation, all digital SportPlane Resource Guide is slowly getting ready for its public unveiling and the result is looking really good! The MOST comprehensive book EVER undertaken about all things sport aviation, the newest version expands the last version’s 1100 pages to what appears to be some 2000 pages... at least. The digital capabilities mean that the eSPRG will also add video, audio, webinars and very frequent newsletters to the mix. The looming deadline to install compliant navigational equipment won't be extended, according to DoT S

Also: Air India Pilot Woos, Pilatus PC-12 Milestone, NBAA v DC Think Tank Nonsense, F22 v Ballon Redux

The next-generation, all digital SportPlane Resource Guide is slowly getting ready for its public unveiling and the result is looking really good! The MOST comprehensive book EVER undertaken about all things sport aviation, the newest version expands the last version’s 1100 pages to what appears to be some 2000 pages... at least. The digital capabilities mean that the eSPRG will also add video, audio, webinars and very frequent newsletters to the mix. The looming deadline to install compliant navigational equipment won't be extended, according to DoT S

Also: Vertical Flight Society, New FAA Admin Nom?, Droneup-Iris, A2Z Drone Delivery

The Florida legislature has enacted a law by which Sunshine State governmental, police, fire, and similarly-critical agencies were barred from utilizing drones made by a “foreign country of concern.” The legislation tacitly but clearly refers to China, and strongly implies Chinese drone-maker Shenzhen DJI Sciences and Technologies Ltd.—more widely known as Da Jiang Innovations, or simply DJI. AeroVironment has been awarded a $10-million contract by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) to co-design and co-develop rotary-wing concepts germane to NASA&rs

Electro Defeats Magneto—Marvel’s Lawyers Frown

The design, function, and management of aero-engine magneto ignition systems has been a mainstay of primary aircraft training for decades. FAA Airman Knowledge Tests are replete with questions pertaining to magneto system design and function and student pilots, at this very moment, are turning keys and dogmatically conveying observed RPM drops to CFIs weary to death of Lycoming and Continental engine runups.

Also: Vertical Flight Society, New FAA Admin Nom?, Droneup-Iris, A2Z Drone Delivery

The Florida legislature has enacted a law by which Sunshine State governmental, police, fire, and similarly-critical agencies were barred from utilizing drones made by a “foreign country of concern.” The legislation tacitly but clearly refers to China, and strongly implies Chinese drone-maker Shenzhen DJI Sciences and Technologies Ltd.—more widely known as Da Jiang Innovations, or simply DJI. AeroVironment has been awarded a $10-million contract by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) to co-design and co-develop rotary-wing concepts germane to NASA&rs

The Ongoing Lack Of Service From U.S. Federal Agencies

On Friday, 05 May, the Office of the Chief Counsel for the FAA, Mark Nichols, delivered a shocking memorandum to the FAA aircraft registration community. The memo, authored by Alexandra Randazzo, Assistant Chief Counsel, Information Law Division, announced that effective Monday, 15 May 2023, Aeronautical Center, Central Region Counsel (ACC as the division is informally known in Oklahoma City) will no longer issue legal opinions to what it refers to as “external stakeholders” on any subject relating to the registration of aircraft using non-citizen trusts, the registration of aircraft using revocable living trusts, or the recordation of what the ACC calls “aircr

Upgrade Covers ALL PC-12 Models

True Blue Power—the Kansas and California-based aerospace technology concern specializing in the design and manufacture of aircraft electrical power systems, USB and wireless chargers, power conversion products, emergency power supplies, and advanced lithium-ion batteries—announced on 16 May 2023 that the company’s Gen5 TB40 (40 amp-hour) Lithium-ion Battery has been granted FAA Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) approval for installation in all models of Pilatus’s highly-popular PC-12 single-engine turboprop aircraft.

VoltAero Selects French Site

Bids are currently being sought for the construction of an industrial site at France’s Rochefort - Charente Maritime Airport (LRH) in the nation’s Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. Upon its completion, the new structure will serve as the assembly facility for VoltAero’s Cassio electric-hybrid aircraft family.

According To The Pilot, The Airplane Was On Approach To The Runway When He Felt The Left Rudder Cable Break

On April 30, 2023, about 1450 central daylight time, a Luscombe 8F airplane, N1113B, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Palmer, Texas. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, the airplane was on approach to the runway when he felt the left rudder cable break, and he lost rudder control.

Aero Linx: WWI Aeroplanes, Inc. WORLD WAR 1 AEROPLANES was founded by Leo Opdycke in 1961 and incorporated as a federally recognized 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit corporation in 1979. In 2016 a decision was made by the Board of Trustees to dissolve the organization, and transfer the assets to the Rhinebeck Aerodrome Museum to allow back issues, documents and other related items to remain available to the public.

Outer Fix A general term used within ATC to describe fixes in the terminal area, other than the final approach fix. Aircraft are normally cleared to these fixes by an Air Route Traffic Control Center or an Approach Control Facility. Aircraft are normally cleared from these fixes to the final approach fix or final approach course.

“After nine months of negotiating, management still fails to understand today’s labor market conditions, leading to a mass exodus of our pilots in search of better work opportunities, and more will follow if this agreement does not meet our pilots’ needs. Without the economic and job security improvements our pilots require, WestJet will be parking planes, as they will not have enough pilots to operate them or accomplish its own growth strategy.” Source: WestJet ALPA Master Executive Council (MEC) chair Captain Bernard Lewall, commenting as to why WestJet pilots issued a 72-hour strike notice to both the Calgary-headquartered air-carrier’s management and the Canadian government.