SmartSky Was Awarded Over $12M In Damages, Legal Expenses, And Sanctions

The war is over... SmartSky Networks has prevailed in its arbitration of legal claims against its former vendor, Wireless Systems Solutions, LLC (WSS). SmartSky was awarded over $12M in damages, legal expenses, and sanctions. The panel of three arbitrators issued a permanent injunction against WSS, its companion companies DAG Wireless Ltd. and DAG Wireless USA, and individuals Laslo Gross, Susan Gross, and David Gross. All counterclaims against SmartSky were dismissed with prejudice.

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General aviation and skydiving enthusiasts in Hawaii have something to celebrate! General aviation and skydiving enthusiasts are celebrating the fact that the Hawaii Department of Transportation - Airports Division revoked its termination of the lease of Kawai-hapai (Dillingham) Airfield. The news gives tenants and businesses at least three more years to utilize the airfield, while the US Army and HDOT work on finalizing a joint-use agreement that will look towards a long term lease. Located on Oahu’s North Shore, there are currently 11 businesses operati

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Captain Kirk May Soon Be Space Bound. A number of media outlets are reporting vague details about the possibility that Star Trek actor, William Shatner, (aka Captain James T Kirk) may be one of the next space tourist/passengers about an upcoming flight of a Blue Origin New Shepherd sub-orbital launch vehicle. Reportedly set for a mid-October launch, Shatner's flight may be the subject of a documentary that is still being shopped around to various outlets. A bipartisan amendment, introduced by Representative Sam Graves (R-MO) and Representative Kai K

Successful Crew Capsule Relocation Takes Place Aboard ISS

On the morning of September 28, three astronauts relocated a Russian Soyuz crew capsule to a new port on the International Space Station, clearing the way for the entry of another Soyuz vehicle that will carry a Russian film crew -- to film the first commercial film in space... and beating out Tom Cruise. The procedure went according to plan. "A perfect approach and a flawless docking," NASA spokesperson Rob Navias said. On October 5th, launching from Kazakhstan, the Soyuz MS-19 will carry three Russian crew members that will complete their mission by docking at the ISS. The crew members include commander and cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos and spaceflight participants Klim Shipenko

Concerns Mount Around Secondary Flight Deck Barrier Concerns

Along with the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on the Aviation hearing about the surge in air rage and its effect on workers, airlines, and airports, Air Line Pilots Association, International President Captain Joe DePete sent Subcommittee Chair Rick Larsen (pictured) a letter discussing the perceived lack of action by the FAA on issuing a regulation requiring secondary flight deck barriers on all newly manufactured airliners. The letter thanks Larsen for the hearing, “On behalf of the more than 61,000 members of the Air Line Pilots Association, I would like to thank you for highlighting the increasing safety threat posed by disruptive airline passeng

Bye Aerospace Shares Intentions For The Future

KLM Flight Academy, located at Groningen Airport Eelde in the Netherlands, has finalized  purchase deposits for six all-electric eFlyer 2 and eight all-electric eFlyer 4 airplanes, says Bye Aerospace. “We are honored to add the first major airline’s flight academy, KLM Flight Academy, to our expanding list of eFlyer customers,” said George E. Bye, CEO of Bye Aerospace. “In addition to helping them become carbon-neutral, eFlyers will help the academy significantly reduce the noise signature in the Eelde area. Bye Aerospace celebrates KLM Flight Academy’s rich history and offer them warm congratulations on their 75th anniversary.”

Exemptions Required To Establish Testing Protocol

San Francisco International Airport recently became the first airport in the US to require all workers to get the COVID-19 vaccination. “Throughout this pandemic, SFO has been leading the aviation industry in protecting passengers and employees alike,” said Airport Director Ivar C. Satero. “As SFO prepares for the upcoming holiday travel season, and the return of pre-pandemic passenger levels, we have an obligation to provide a safe airport facility for the traveling public and our on-site employees. According to the Centers for Disease Control, vaccination is the most effective way to prevent transmission of COVID-19.”

Childhood Cancer Survivor Hayley Arceneaux Answered Questions In Two Languages

The call of a lifetime took place on September 16th between four astronauts flying through space and children back on Earth who are being treated for cancer and other diseases at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. St. Jude physician assistant Hayley Arceneaux was onboard the spacecraft, answering the kids' questions. Hayley is a childhood cancer survivor herself, giving hope to those who really need it.

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Merlin Labs shares that the certification basis for its takeoff to touchdown autonomy system has been approved by the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand in collaboration with the FAA. Merlin is now the first company to reach an agreement on an approach for the certification of aircraft autonomy, according to a media release. Following a crawl, walk, run approach, this system incorporates an onboard safety pilot who will continue to act as legal pilot in command. Urban Aeronautics Secures $10 Million Advance for CityHawk -- Israel-based aerospace company Urban A

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General aviation and skydiving enthusiasts in Hawaii have something to celebrate! General aviation and skydiving enthusiasts are celebrating the fact that the Hawaii Department of Transportation - Airports Division revoked its termination of the lease of Kawai-hapai (Dillingham) Airfield. The news gives tenants and businesses at least three more years to utilize the airfield, while the US Army and HDOT work on finalizing a joint-use agreement that will look towards a long term lease. Located on Oahu’s North Shore, there are currently 11 businesses operati

Main Wreckage Was Positioned About 50 Ft From A Set Of Power Lines

On September 10, 2021, about 0900 central daylight time, a Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta, N292DD, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Mentone, Texas. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 aerial observation (livestock gathering) flight. The pilot departed the operator’s facility in Sterling City, Texas, about 0750. Ground support personnel arrived in the area about 0800. A witness observed the helicopter 6 times over the next 30 to 40 minutes. The wreckage was discovered about 0930 and local authorities were contacted. There were no known witnesses to the accident itself.

AD 2021-18-12 Requires Repetitively Inspecting The Sealing Compound Of Certain Part-Numbered Brackets

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain PZL Swidnik S.A. Model PZL W-3A helicopters. This AD was prompted by a report of fractured hoist carrying assembly bracket (bracket) bolts. This AD requires repetitively inspecting the sealing compound of certain part-numbered brackets, and depending on the results, removing the hoist or removing the hardware from service and installing new hardware. As an option to replacing the bolts, this AD allows deactivating the hoist, turning the circuit breaker panel switches to the OFF position, installing inoperative placards on the circuit breaker panel switches, and before each flight,

Aero Linx: The Air Charter Safety Foundation The Air Charter Safety Foundation will lead and support the advancement of the highest safety standards available to allow the business, charter and fractional ownership industry to offer the safest air transportation products in the world and to provide objective information about these standards and services to the public. The vision of the ACSF is to promote and enable the highest levels of safety in personal and business aviation.

Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring (RAIM) A technique whereby a civil GNSS receiver/processor determines the integrity of the GNSS navigation signals without reference to sensors or non-DoD integrity systems other than the receiver itself. This determination is achieved by a consistency check among redundant pseudorange measurements.

"SmartSky is very pleased with the outcome of this case and always had great confidence that the facts supported our position and our rights. As we turn the page and look forward to commercial launch of our market-changing aviation air-to-ground network service, I have to note how this entire process ultimately has made us a stronger, more cohesive team." Source: David Helfgott, CEO SmartSky, commenting on the results of a legal proceeding ahead of the company's commercial service launch later this year.