Air New Zealand to Objectify its Customers

In an apparent bid to alienate passengers and bring about the alacritous demise of the island nation’s national airline, New Zealand’s Civil Aviation Authority has prevailed upon Air New Zealand to weigh passengers departing on international flights from Auckland International Airport (AKL) through 02 July 2023.

Of Trends Broken

On 31 May 2023, the AEA released its First Quarter 2023 Avionics Market Report. In the year’s first three months, total worldwide business and general aviation avionics sales brought in revenues of $777,640,387.48 as reported by the 22 avionics concerns participating in the report’s compilation.

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The Reno Air Racing Association (RARA) is now accepting bids from airports and localities seeking to partner with the organization for purpose of hosting future air racing events. Last March, the Reno Air Racing Association’s board of directors regretfully announced that 2023’s 59th National Championship Air Races—spanning 13 through 17 September—are to be the last held at Reno, Nevada’s Reno-Stead Airport (4SD). North Carolina-based charter and fractional ownership concern Jet It—the world’s 12th largest private jet operator by t

Fostering Flying in the Sunshine State

On 27 May 2023, EAA Chapter 534 hosted a Flying Start event, at which eight prospective adult student pilots were schooled in the particulars of the at-once arduous and rewarding business of earning an FAA Private Pilot Certificate. The EAA’s Flying Start initiative is a chapter-hosted program that welcomes, inspires, and educates aspiring pilots—ages 18 and older—vis-à-vis the didactic, practical, and regulatory conventions by which non-fliers are fashioned into licensed aviators.

Embracing AVANCE-ment

Gogo Business Aviation, the American provider of in-flight broadband Internet and connectivity solutions for business aircraft, announced that its proprietary AVANCE inflight broadband connectivity solution has been selected by flyExclusive—the North Carolina-based charter operator and aircraft fractional ownership concern. To better serve its customers, flyExclusive will upgrade forty of its ninety-plus aircraft fleet with Gogo’s AVANCE connectivity platform.

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The National Park Service (NPS) and the FAA are rewriting the regulations by which air tours over U.S. national parks are conducted. Extant drafts of the agencies’ Air Tour Management Plans (ATMPs) call for radical and reactionary measures the likes of eliminating air tours in their entirety in some U.S. parks and, in others, cutting such undertakings by as much as 86-percent. Founded in 1992 under the guiding premise “You don't quit skydiving because you get old; you get old because you quit skydiving,” Skydivers Over Sixty (SOS) has evolved into an internat

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Textron has unveiled the Cessna Citation Ascend, the newest model in Cessna’s proven and popular 560XL series. Made public on the eve of 2023’s European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (EBACE), the Citation Ascend—by virtue of its wholly redesigned cockpit, improved performance, and a more luxurious cabin—pleasantly disrupts the midsize business jet market. Representatives of Airbus’s Perlan Mission II announced its pilots and engineers had completed a successful flight test campaign in the Southwestern U.S., thereby clearing the way f

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Virgin Galactic has successfully completed its Unity 25 space mission, thinking this makes them ready for commercial service after just a few handfuls of flights. Mission specialists Jamila Gilbert, Christopher Huie, and Luke Mays ventured spaceward for purpose of conducting final end-to-end assessments of Virgin Galactic’s Unity spacecraft and overall spaceflight experience. The first delivery of Cessna's passenger-layout SkyCourier was tendered to Western Aircraft, Inc last week, kicking off the industry's next favorite twin-turboprop, light commuter twin - or so Textron ho

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US Aviation Academy has set forth that it has launched its second Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) training location at San Marcos Regional Airport (HYI)—a public-use airport in southeast-central Texas’s Caldwell County.CAE announced that it is expanding its global network of simulator training centers to Central Europe. The announcement, made at EBACE 2023, set forth that CAE will presently open a new business aviation training center in Vienna, Austria. Operations at the new facility are slated to get underway in the latter half of 2024. The Allied Pilots

Planegiarism

China’s first domestically-produced airliner, the Comac C919, made its inaugural revenue flight on Sunday, 28 May 2023. Operated by China Eastern Airlines, the flight conveyed some 130 paying passengers between Shanghai’s Pudong International Airport (PVG) and Beijing’s Capital International Airport (PEK). The 164-seat, narrow-body aircraft—of which China Eastern took delivery in December 2022—was manufactured by China’s state-owned Commercial Aviation Corporation of China (Comac).

Klyde Opines On the Glamorous Profession of Corporate Piloting

FMI: www.klydemorris.com

After 2 years in Storage, Etihad's Biggest Birds Return to Service 

After years of being packed away, Etihad has begun readying their Airbus A380 aircraft for passenger service once again. The aircraft were stowed away during the nadir of pandemic-era passenger loads, when the high costs of operation vastly outweighed the utility of keeping the aircraft in service. Now, as things have rebounded, the accountants have given their blessing to A380 service.

From 2011 (YouTube Version): Aviation's Greatest Living Legend Talks About His Life In Aviation (Part 5, Final)

ANN is pleased to offer you yet another snippet from the public conversations that took place with Bob Hoover at Airventure 2011... where he was honored for a lifetime of aviation excellence. In this program, Bob continues his d

Klyde Is Getting A Bit Tired Of Life On The Road...

FMI: www.klydemorris.com

Global 6500 Aircraft With Riffing by General Dynamics Offered as Submarine Hunter

Bombardier published an interesting-looking antisubmarine version of its Global 6500 jet in a combined offer with General Dynamics’ Canadian arm. The aircraft is proposed for the Canadian Multi-Mission System, or CMMA, program. The end goal is a capable aircraft that can fill a number of roles beyond the apparent anti-sub duties. The CMMA is to provide command, control, communications, ISR, anti-submarine, and anti-ship capabilities in one aircraft.

The Airplane Was Flying Approximately Parallel To And South Of A Band Of Light/Moderate To Extreme Precipitation

On August 11, 2022, about 1805 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA32, N720RP, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Metz, West Virginia. The private pilot and two passengers were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot’s employer, the pilot and the passengers were congregants of the same church, and the flight was a planned day trip to conduct church business in Indiana.

Aero Linx: The Aeronca Aviators Club The Aeronca Aviators Club is now officially back! Originally founded by Joe and Julia Dickey, who published a very informative and enjoyable newsletter for many years before retiring from the aviation world. Their style and words were unique, and any attempt at imitation will fall short. Therefore, we resolve to bring you a new version of this venerable name with new contributors, experienced Aeronca owners, flyers, mechanics, historians, and enthusiasts.

We're Everywhere... Thanks To You!

Even with the vast resources and incredibly far-reaching scope of the Aero-News Network, every now and then a story that should be reported on slips through our fingers. There's a lot of news out there, and sometimes we just don't get to all of it. Fortunately for us, we realized early on we couldn't be everywhere at once -- curse the laws of physics! -- so we came up with the idea of News-Spies. Just as the title suggests, a News-Spy is a reader who notices a news item -- be it in the newspaper, on television, or something they came across at their own airport, town hall, at the office water cooler or just by walking down the street -- basically, any item a reader may think is newsworthy, that pertains to the wo

Aero-Term

Mountain waves occur when air is being blown over a mountain range or even the ridge of a sharp bluff area. As the air hits the upwind side of the range, it starts to climb, thus creating what is generally a smooth updraft which turns into a turbulent downdraft as the air passes the crest of the ridge. Mountain waves can cause significant fluctuations in airspeed and altitude with or without associated turbulence. 

"This quarterly report offers mixed results, as the industry posted a lower dollar amount in sales when compared to the fourth quarter of last year, while at the same time reporting an increase in sales of more than 22-percent compared to the first three months of 2022. Also of note, the industry garnered the largest forward-fit sales volume in the history of the report with more than $467-million in avionics sales to OEMs. It is only the second time that quarterly sales have topped $400-million in that category."   Source: AEA President and CEO Mike Adamson, explaining AEA's 1Q/23 sales stats.

Company Gains Value Thanks to Streak of Good News

Cubcrafters was proud of their recent stock valuation after the share price of its public offering was raised to $5.45 after some good news. In November of 2022, the company began offering stocks at $5.00 a share, with a minimum buy-in of $400 per investor. Since that Regulation A+ public offering, the company has ridden a wave of good news to see the share prices rise to $5.45. It's a victory for the little guys, when much of the Part 23 and homebuilt industry lay almost entirely outside the stock market's purview. Even more impressive for Cubcrafters is the capacity to maintain its value - particularly when the wider stock market continues come down from its 2021 fever pitch. 

Air Corporate Keeps Expanding its Fleet with Ever-Popular ACH Aircraft

Italian operator Air Corporate signed an order for 43 Airbus helicopters on the last day of EBACE 2023, making the team's week with a mondo sale at the eleventh hour. The deal includes 40 single-engine helicopters from the H125/H130 series, with 3 ACH160s from Airbus Corporate Helicopters. The -160s will be equipped in Line configuration, with the Lounge package to be added to a pair of ACH160s from an older order. Overall, Air Corporate holds 28 additional orders, with 17 deliveries made in the last 2 years.

Program Gives $1,000 for Eligible 10", 7" Displays

Dynon is looking to make some deals with operators with a new trade-in program that grants $1,000 for older 10"/7" SkyView Classic, Touch, or SE displays. The program allows SkyView HDX buyers to return their older displays and get a $1,000 rebate on their new system, which could represent anywhere from 1/4 to 1/3 of the price of their new system at current prices. 10" displays nab more money, of course, with the smaller 7" ones netting only $700 back. The program is available only via Dynon, with HDX displays purchased at retail ineligible for the deal.

Germany’s Best by Way of Florida

Established in 1980 by German aerobatic pilot Walter Extra as a means by which to design and develop his own airplanes, EXTRA Aircraft—EXTRA Flugzeugbau in its founder’s native tongue—has evolved into one of the world’s premier makers of aerobatic aircraft. In autumn 2022, Walter Extra—who in addition to founding Extra serves as the company’s CEO—announced the formation of EXTRA Aircraft USA LP. The facility is based at Florida’s DeLand Airport (DED) and provides factory-authorized parts and maintenance support to all North American EXTRA aircraft owners. Add

The Light in Ameriflight

On 30 May 2023, Ameriflight announced it had received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration to operate drone aircraft. The approval renders Ameriflight the first Part 135 Cargo airline to receive such exemption and allows the air-carrier to conduct Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) operations under its current Part 119 Air Carrier Certificate for Part 135 operations. Moreover, the FAA has granted Ameriflight approval to add Matternet’s M2 UAS—the first drone-delivery system granted standard Type Certification by the Federal Aviation Administration—to its fleet, thereby heralding the launch of the United States’ first fully operational, large-scale drone-delivery operation.

NBAA Sees "Spirit of Optimism and Opportunity" Abroad

The National Business Aviation Administration wound down its time at the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE) 2023 with some remarks about the future of the industry, seeing positive developments and an optimistic attitude. This year saw many exhibitors pushing for increased efficiency on all fronts, advertising lower fuel burn and emissions throughout their products. While the NBAA's optimistic take could be seen as a hunky-dory, 'ain't life grand' approach to the industry, there's an undercurrent of understanding among business-aviation stakeholders: "We'll regulate ourselves, so the government won't have cause to". 

Inaugural Event to Showcase Utah’s Aviation Industry

Scheduled to be held 20 through 22 June 2023 at Layton, Utah’s Davis Conference Center and Provo, Utah’s Provo Municipal Airport (PVU), the Utah Aeronautics Conference will bring together upward of five-hundred aviation professionals, state and local officials, mechanics, engineers, planners, and industry leaders for purpose of improving safety networks, sharing best practices, and fostering collaboration throughout Utah’s aviation industry.

Ministry of Defence Opts to Rent Combat Aircraft to Replace Aging Sea King Fleet

The Malaysian Ministry of Defence has announced a deal to lease a quartet of Sikorsky UH-60A Black Hawk helicopters from Aerotree Defence & Services of Kuala Lumpur. The deal is somewhat unorthodox to see in the defense industry, where the vast majority of armies and air forces opt to own their aircraft outright, but the costs may just be the overriding benefit for the service, costing only $40.4 million US throughout a period of 5 years. Exactly what that amount entails is unknown, but, with the right support services and benefits it's not too unlikely that it's a better deal than the country could get buying so few aircraft outright.

The Flight Was For Pleasure And The Pilot Planned To Have Lunch In The Area Then Return To CMA Later In The Afternoon

On April 29, about 1950 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172S, N575ND was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident in Los Angeles, California. The private pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot was renting the airplane from a flight school at Camarillo Airport (CMA). He had approached the school in early April for a flight review, having last flown in July 2022 in the Bay Area of Northern California. The flight review was performed in both the accident airplane and an identically equipped model and was completed two days

Have A Story That NEEDS To Be Featured On Aero-News? Here’s How To Submit A Story To Our Team

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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.

Light-Sport Aircraft (LSA) An FAA-registered aircraft, other than a helicopter or powered-lift, that meets certain weight and performance. Principally it is a single-engine aircraft with a maximum of two seats and weighing no more than 1,430 pounds if intended for operation on water, or 1,320 pounds if not. It must be of simple design (fixed landing gear (except if intended for operations on water or a glider), piston powered, nonpressurized, with a fixed or ground adjustable propeller). Performance is also limited to a maximum airspeed in level flight of not more than 120 knots calibrated airspeed (CAS), have a maximum never-exceed speed of not more than 120 knots CAS for a glider, and have a

“Since our public offering announcement, demand for our shares continued to grow. The milestone achievements that we announced in 2022, such as the introduction of the new Carbon Cub UL model powered by the multi-fuel Rotax 916iS engine, two rounds of NASA funding of our Electric Lift Augmenting Slats [ELAS] project, and strong 2022 financial performance drove the share price change.”  Source: Patrick Horgan, CubCrafters’ President and CEO, in a celebratory mood as the company continues to make progress on the financial front.