NBAA is questioning the Internal Revenue Service’s plan, announced this week, to “begin dozens of audits” of business aircraft use by American companies and entrepreneurs. “Today’s announcement by the IRS amounts to nothing more than an audit in search of a problem, and an attempt to broadly paint with a negative brush the thousands of U.S. companies of all sizes that rely on business aircraft to effectively compete in a global marketplace,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen.
Sources Assert it To Be "Hobby Balloon" -- At 43-45K Feet
Well... we're back to balloon watch once again... although recent assertions claim that this high-attitude transgressor is a 'hobby' balloon... flying at over 40,000 feet. NORAD has disclosed that it has, "detected a small balloon at an altitude varying between 43,000-45,000 ft. The balloon was intercepted by NORAD fighters over Utah, who determined it was not maneuverable and did not present a threat to national security. NORAD will continue to track and monitor the balloon. The FAA also determined the balloon posed no hazard to flight safety. NORAD remains in close coordination with the FAA to ensure flight safety.”
New Glenn Is Named After John Glenn, The First American To Orbit Earth
Blue Origin's New Glenn vehicle was successfully rolled out and upended for the first time, this week, on the pad at Launch Complex 36 (LC-36). This milestone represents the first view of the advanced heavy-lift vehicle, which will support a multitude of customer missions and Blue Origin programs, including returning to the Moon as part of NASA’s Artemis program. Blue Origin notes that everything on the pad is real New Glenn hardware. The upending is one in a series of major manufacturing and integrated test milestones in preparation for New Glenn’s first launch later this year. The test campaign enables their teams to practice, validate, and increase proficien
The Finalists For The 2023 Collier Are Reportedly Among The Most Diverse, To Date
The National Aeronautic Association has ID'ed the finalists vying for the 2023 Collier Trophy. The Robert J. Collier Trophy is selected by a group of aviation leaders chosen by the National Aeronautic Association (NAA). The trophy is awarded annually for the greatest achievement in aeronautics or astronautics in America with respect to improving the performance, efficiency, and safety of air or space vehicles, the value of which has been thoroughly demonstrated by actual use during the preceding year. Commissioned by Robert J. Collier in 1910, and first awarded in 1911, the Collier Trophy is housed in the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum.
Ouch... Cumulative Flight Time Was 41.5 Hours, With The Engines Running Continuously For 45 Hours
The 139th Airlift Wing has set a new milestone by pushing the boundaries of the C-130H Hercules aircraft. From Feb. 13-15, multiple aircrews flew a mission in which the aircraft’s cumulative flight time was 41.5 hours, with the engines running continuously for 45 hours. The first Missouri Air National Guard aircrew took off from Rosecrans Air National Guard Base. Approximately 10 hours later, the crew landed back at Rosecrans for the first refuel. Three separate crews took turns operating the aircraft, each flying roughly 10 hours, with one crew completing two shifts. When the final crew landed Feb. 15, the aircraft’s engines had oper
Cadets Will Fly For FlyHouse For A Minimum Of Two Years—Or 12 Months If Operating As A Captain
FlyHouse has partnered with the Southwest Airlines Destination 225° Pilot Pathways Program. Destination 225° is a springboard at Southwest for those seeking an aviation career. Budding pilots who aspire to fly in the right seat at Southwest Airlines must complete required coursework, flight training, and all regulatory requirements to apply for their commercial pilot's licenses. Once they do, cadets become certified flight instructors and earn additional hours, potentially qualifying them to fly for FlyHouse, now a Destination 225° flight partner.
At 20 Feet Longer Than The 787-8, The 787-9 Will Enable Thai Airways To Fly Nearly 20% More Passengers
Thai Airways has placed an order for 45 787 Dreamliners as the airline looks to modernize and grow its widebody fleet and international network. Thai Airways selected the 787-9 to support its long-term strategy to renew and expand its fleet with more efficient jets, as well as open new routes to support high demand for air travel across Southeast Asia. "To accomplish our company's and the national carbon neutral goals by 2050, the 45 new Boeing 787 Dreamliners will be equipped with GEnx engines, which are known for their cutting-edge technology and reduced environmental impact," said Chai Eamsiri, Thai Airways CEO.
Witnesses Reported The Weather Conditions In The Area Were “Not Good” And Raining With A Snow Mix
On February 9, 2024, about 2208 Pacific standard time, an Airbus Helicopters EC 130B4 helicopter, N130CZ, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Halloran Springs, California. The two pilots and four passengers were fatally injured. The helicopter was operated by Orbic Air, LLC, as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 on-demand flight. According to automatic dependent surveillance broadcast (ADS-B) data and operator personnel, the flight departed the operator’s base at Bob Hope Airport, Burbank, California, at 1822, to reposition the helicopter for a charter passenger flight and arrived at the Palm Springs I
From 2023 (YouTube Version): The Best Option for Pilots’ Worst Days
Since its 1979 founding, Para-Phernalia, Inc. has designed and manufactured the Softie line of pilot emergency parachutes. The products are renowned among aerobatic, glider, and warbird pilots, formation fliers, and kit-plane builders for their high-quality, comfort, and perennial reliability. Emergency parachutes comprise two primary components: the parachute canopy and the harness and container system. The harness attaches a parachute’s canopy to its wearer. The container system retains the packed parachute canopy. Finally, the parachute harness and co
Aero Linx: Brigade Air Mission Aviation Adventure Camps
Brigade Air has developed strategic partnerships with organizations and schools such as Wycliffe/JAARS, Moody Aviation and Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF). This vital support enables us to introduce teenagers to aviation, inform them about training requirements , and inspire them to consider mission aviation as a life path. Read one camper’s story our site. After camp, she trained, then returned as a volunteer pilot in 2019.
LAHSO
An acronym for “Land and Hold Short Operation.” These operations include landing and holding short of an intersecting runway, a taxiway, a predetermined point, or an approach/departure flightpath.
“Today’s announcement by the IRS amounts to nothing more than an audit in search of a problem, and an attempt to broadly paint with a negative brush the thousands of U.S. companies of all sizes that rely on business aircraft to effectively compete in a global marketplace... It is difficult to understand why the agency is suggesting that these companies — some of the most respected, well-managed businesses in the world — are not in compliance with applicable tax laws... For decades, studies have shown that companies utilizing business aircraft to successfully address some portion of their transportation challenges consistently outperform comparable companies without the asset.”
Source: NBA
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