Also: Vega Flight VV17, Expanded ISS Crew, XTI Aircraft-Verdego Aero, Helo Maritime Strike Squadron 37

Special agents with the FBI this week arrested a Hollywood man on a federal charge alleging that he recklessly operated a drone that crashed into a Los Angeles Police Department helicopter. 22-year-old Andrew Rene Hernandez,was arrested pursuant to a criminal complaint that charges him with one count of unsafe operation of an unmanned aircraft. Using data from the remains of the drone that hit an LAPD helicopter last September and other evidence, the Feds believe they have found the operator of the rogue aircraft. The drone damaged the LAPD aircraft and the pilot was forced to initiate an emergency landing. At last week's fall meeting – held in a virtual format – the EAA board of directors supported the ongoing planning efforts for EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2021, which will be held July

Also: Remote Sim Training, PC-12 NGX FTD, CAE Acquires, Middle East Training and Support Contracts

In March 2020, Aero Locarno (Switzerland) signed an order for 5 Sonaca 200 Trainer Pros. The Approved-Training Organisation has just decided to double the initial order bringing the revised order to a total of 10 aircraft. “Even though we are going through a difficult time in aviation, we are seeing a steady demand for training which justifies the investment in a brand new fleet. We feel the need to harmonize our aircraft fleet by acquiring additional Sonaca 200 Trainer Pros. The Sonaca 200s will replace our old Cessnas. It goes without saying that glass cockpit and state-of-the-art aircraft will further spark interest in our school," Stefano Buratti, Aero Locarno CEO. Proudly wearing their newly-pinned wings, a group of pilot cadets have become the first to graduate from Airbus’ Ab-Initi

Also: Autel and DroneSense, Pennsylvania CAP Wing, Airspace Link, Beringer Aero

DJI is aiming at the farming market with its latest agriculture drone, the DJI AGRAS T20. This agriculture spraying drone makes it accessible and scalable for farmers who are ready to apply digital insights and automated spray technology into their operations. The DJI AGRAS T20 is optimized to work in complicated environments and different agricultural lands, from its autonomous flight planning and terrain-sensing radar, to extended flight time, high payload capacity, and off-the-grid power options. SecTrans Chao has announced that the three-year UAS Integration Pilot Program (IPP) successfully concluded on Oct. 25. Eight of the nine state, local and tribal governments that participated in the program have signed new agreements with the FAA to continue to tackle remaining UAS integration challenges. “The three ye

Action Comes After Runway Over-Run Accident Following Uncontained Engine Failure

Volga-Dnepr Airlines has announced the temporary suspension of its An-124-100(-150) commercial operations as of November 25, 2020 until the investigation completion and identification of causes of aviation incident occurred in Tolmachevo airport (Novosibirsk). On the 13th of November 2020 soon after take off the airplane suffered the uncontained engine fan disk failure of series D-18T which resulted in engine failure and the loss of control systems. Carrying 84 tons of cargo with full fuel tanks, suffering engine failure and loss of control elements, the crew managed to avert the disaster, make a 180-degree, land and keep the plane on the runway, skidding off the runway.

The Government of Canada Has 'Modernized And Strengthened' ELT Regulations

The Minister of Transport has announced changes to the Canadian Aviation Regulations to mandate the use of digital emergency locator transmitters (ELTs) onboard aircraft flying in Canada. Under the previous regulations, Canadian aircraft were required to be equipped with an analog ELT using the 121.5 MHz frequency. The regulatory changes announced today will require all Canadian aircraft to be equipped with a digital ELT capable of broadcasting simultaneously on frequencies of 406 MHz and 121.5 MHz, with some exceptions.

From 2009: MedEvac Means Saving Lives

Airborne in minutes and on-site shortly thereafter, the presence of the helicopter at the scene of a serious medical emergency can be as critical as the medical team itself... if the care is not there in time, then the effort often goes for naught. In the case of TriState Careflite, responsible for covering a three state area with A119 Koala single-engine turbine helicopters and Augusta 109 Power Twin-turbine helicopters, the work that they shows measurable results with nearly every flight. 

Prepping Now for Dragon Cargo Mission

The seven-member Expedition 64 crew from the United States, Russia and Japan took the day off on Thanksgiving before ending the week with a day full of microgravity research. The crew spent Wednesday on a wide array of space science while getting the International Space Station ready for an upgraded SpaceX Dragon resupply ship. NASA Flight Engineers Kate Rubins and Shannon Walker worked throughout Wednesday readying the station’s Tranquility module for a new commercial airlock from NanoRacks. Dubbed Bishop, the airlock will be delivered on the next SpaceX Dragon cargo mission targeted to launch on Dec. 5. The Bishop airlock will enable private industries to increase research opportunities in the vacuum of space.

Four Additional E-99 Aircraft Will Be Modernized As Part Of The Contract

In a ceremony held at the Embraer facility in Gavião Peixoto (São Paulo, Brazil), Embraer delivered the first modernized EMB 145 AEW&C (Airborne Early Warning and Control), designated E-99, to the Brazilian Air Force (FAB). Four additional E-99 aircraft will be modernized as part of the contract. "For Embraer, it is a privilege to continue meeting FAB's needs to keep this robust and modern aircraft updated. It plays a strategic role in Brazil's defense system and has already proven its operational effectiveness," said Jackson Schneider, President and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security.

The Pilots Radioed That Engine Power Was Intermittent And Was At Idle

On November 11, 2020, at 1144 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 177B airplane, N34633, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Whidbey Air Park (W10), Langley, Washington. The private pilot and certified flight instructor (CFI) were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight. Radar data indicated that the airplane flew from Boeing field (BFI), Seattle, Washington, to Bellingham International Airport (BLI) Bellingham, Washington, earlier in the day. About 1110, the airplane departed BLI and flew south over Whidbey island. The airplane climbed to about 6,500 feet MSL for about 16 minutes when the airplane’s groundspeed decreased, and the airplane started to descend.

AD 2020-23-03 Was Prompted By The Development Of The MOD By Airbus Helicopters That Addresses The Unsafe Condition

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2017-09-05 for Airbus Helicopters Model AS332C, AS332C1, AS332L, AS332L1, AS332L2, and EC225LP helicopters. AD 2017-09-05 required repetitively checking screws in the emergency flotation gear. This new AD retains the requirements of AD 2017-09-05 but also requires installing a modification (MOD), which is a terminating action for the repetitive checks. This AD was prompted by the development of the MOD by Airbus Helicopters that addresses the unsafe condition. The actions of this AD are intended to address an unsafe condition on these products. This AD is effective January 4, 2021.