Bill Seeks Raise Business Jet Fuel Tax by Almost 9x

U.S. Senator Edward J. Markey (Democrat, Massachusetts), a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, and Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez (New York, 7th District) announced that they’d introduced a bill titled The Fueling Alternative Transportation with a Carbon Aviation Tax (FATCAT) Act. In addition to increasing the fuel taxes currently paid by owners and operators of business jets from $0.22 to a staggering $1.95-per-gallon, subject legislation, if ratified, will eliminate extant fuel tax exemptions for logging and petroleum exploration.

Aerobility Initiatives Continue to Change Lives

Claire Tonkinson, a disabled woman from London, England is the first individual with a disability to have earned a TMG (Touring Motor-Glider) Class Rating through Aerobility’s training initiatives. She earned the rating in a Grob-109B. Founded in 1993, Aerobility is a U.K. charity perpetually about the commendable mission of providing disabled individuals access to the liberating, self-affirming, independence-fostering challenge of piloting an aircraft.

On Deaf Ears …

The Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA) has issued a statement condemning Congress’s passage of H.R. 3935, the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act. ALPA formerly disparaged H.R. 3935, setting forth the bill contained a poison-pill provision, which, if ratified by the Senate, could raise the compulsory retirement age for Part 121 airline pilots from 65 to 67-years.

FAA to Imminently Vet Autonomous Flight System

Founded in 2017 by CEO Robert Rose and CTO Jureg Frefel for purpose of bringing safe, certified automation systems to commercial aviation, Mountain View, California-based Reliable Robotics made known that the certification plan for its autonomous flight system has been formally accepted by the FAA. Subject system facilitates continuous autopilot engagement through all phases of aircraft operation—including taxi, takeoff, cruise, approach, and landing. The achievement heralds the advent of fully-automated aircraft.

USAF Investigates Alleged RIAT Mishap

The U.S. Air Force is investigating an incident in which one of the service’s B-52H Stratofortress allegedly damaged runway lighting while taking part in a 16 July demonstration at 2023’s Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) event at RAF Fairford (FFD) in Gloucestershire, United Kingdom. Held annually, usually at RAF Fairford, in support of The Royal Air Force Charitable Trust, the Royal International Air Tattoo is the world’s largest military air-show. Year upon year, the three-day event draws between 150,000 and 200-000 spectators.

At the Confluence of Ability and Persistence

Spirit Aeronautics has completed a 13-month project on behalf of one of the world’s largest private aviation concerns. Between May 2022 and June 2023, Spirit personnel upgraded no fewer than 11 Citation 750 X aircraft to Honeywell Flight Management Systems (FMS) 6.1. Moreover, Spirit has upgraded north of twenty additional aircraft by dint of the selfsame unique methodology employed during the marathon 13-month undertaking, thereby establishing the company as the most experienced and adept provider of subject service.

Much Ado About Nothing

On 20 July GAMA praised the U.S. House of Representatives’ passage of H.R. 3935, the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act. Known informally as the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Bill, the legislation contemporaneously funds the FAA and sets the agency’s objectives over the coming five-years. In keeping with the five-year renewal timetable ascribed subject legislation, the reauthorization bill under which the FAA is currently operating was ratified in 2018 and expires 30 September 2023.

South Carolina eVTOL Network Planned

SkyDrive Inc., a Tokyo-based Japanese eVTOL maker, and Austin Aviation Inc. a Part 135 charter operator and subsidiary of Waterloo, South Carolina’s Lowcountry Aviation Company (LCA) have announced a pre-order Letter of Intent (LOI) by which Austin Aviation will take delivery of up to five of the Japanese concern’s eponymous SKYDRIVE eVTOL aircraft.

Also: Flightcell – v2track, flyExclusive-SmartSky, ALTO Aviation, Honda Aircraft Builds

Mayman Aerospace is the designer and manufacturer of a so-called Air Utility Vehicle (AUV) dubbed Speeder. Parties bound for EAA’s AirVenture 2023 are invited to view the machine for yourselves and learn more about Speeder by visiting Mayman Aerospace at AFWERX Booth 324. Vertical Aviation Technologies—makers of the four-place Hummingbird helicopter kit—cordially invite AirVenture attendees, one and all, to drop by next week and inspect a customer’s Hummingbird 300L. The  beautiful Hummingbird 300L was built by Mr. Vic Syracuse of Locust

From 2012 (YouTube Version): One Of The Many Hits Of The Oshkosh Experience...

If you think when the sun slips beyond the western horizon and the calm of night spreads over EAA AirVenture that this is the time for quiet contemplation of the day’s activities, then you haven’t been to AirVenture since the advent of the nighttime airshows. Nighttime airshows are new to the airshow world and EAA AirVenture is the place to see the greatest of nighttime aerial activities. This video is a masterpiece of videography. You’ll see skydivers, single-aircraft aerobatics, and formation aerobatics. There just seems to be somethin

About 20 Minutes Into The Flight, The Right Engine Lost Power

On June 24, 2023, about 1615 central daylight time, a Cessna 421 airplane, N123SM, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Rockport, Texas. The pilot and three passengers were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he had flown the airplane from the West Houston Airport (IWS), West Houston, Texas, to the Corpus Christi International Airport (CRP), Corpus Christi, Texas, where he picked up the airplane owner and his friends for a return flight to IWS.

Aero Linx: The de Havilland Moth Club

Welcome to the de Havilland Moth Club of North America, catering for all de Havilland aircraft types. Members receive regular e-mailed newsletters and access to the Members’ Area of the Club’s website. 

“When I fly in an aircraft, the required focus and concentration is a distraction from pain. I am able to sit in an aircraft for longer periods than normally possible. I feel incredibly proud and honored to be Aerobility’s first student to have earned my TMG Class Rating. With a disability, the world doesn't have things put in place. It's a daily battle. One of the most important things that Aerobility does is to build confidence.” Source: From a statement by Claire Tonkinson, a disabled woman from London, England is the first individual with a disability to have earned a TMG (Touring Motor-Glider) Class Rating through Aerobility’s training initiatives. She earned the rating in a Grob-109B.

Circle-To-Land Maneuver

A maneuver initiated by the pilot to align the aircraft with a runway for landing when a straight-in landing from an instrument approach is not possible or is not desirable. At tower-controlled airports, this maneuver is made only after ATC authorization has been obtained and the pilot has established required visual reference to the airport.