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July 07, 2023

Airborne 07.07.23: Vans v Laser, Wheels Up Sues, Joby Update

Also: JAL Clothing Rental Program, Air Service to Small Communities, Viva Aerobus, Mid-Continent Expands

In response to customer reports of cracks appearing in parts manufactured via laser-cutting processes between February 2022 and June 2023, Van’s Aircraft has disseminated a letter setting forth: “As many of you likely know: Some of the laser-cut parts made during that period have formed cracks in holes either when being dimpled by a builder, or when riveting a dimpled hole. There are a variety of variables that may contribute to this occurring..." Wheels Up has filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court Southern District of New York alleging flyExclusive, a charter operator, wrongfully terminated a contract to fly the plaintiff’s members on t

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Mid-Continent to Expand Wichita Headquarters

28,000 Square-Foot Addition to Break Ground in 2023

Mid-Continent Instruments and Avionics is making ready to break ground on a 28,000 square-foot addition to its Wichita, Kansas headquarters. The expansion is part of the company’s long-term plan to accommodate increased global customer demand. Mid-Continent has entrusted the design and construction of its Wichita headquarters expansion to Kansas-based design firm Alloy Architecture. Groundbreaking is slated for autumn 2023.

Ducks in False Plumage

In a new filing regarding SkyWest’s ongoing attempts to artfully obviate the aviation safety rules by which U.S. airline passenger fatalities have been reduced by 99.8-percent, the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA) called upon the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to close the Part 135 loophole currently being exploited by JSX—the Dallas-headquartered U.S. air-carrier that operates point-to-point flights between and within Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, and Texas in the United States and Baja California Sur in Mexico.

Case Alleges Wrongful Termination of Key Contract

Wheels Up, the New York City-based provider of on-demand aircraft services, has filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court Southern District of New York alleging flyExclusive, the North Carolina-based aircraft charter operator, wrongfully terminated a contract to fly the plaintiff’s members on the Friday preceding the busy July-Fourth holiday weekend. Wheels Up contends flyExclusive’s failure to meet its contractual obligation caused the former “serious harm, warranting compensatory damages.”

Icelandic Flag Carrier Orders 13 A321XLR Jets

Icelandair, the Keflavik-based Icelandic flag-carrier, has placed a firm order for 13 Airbus A321XLR narrow-body jets. The deal occasions the airline’s first business dealing with Airbus and its first acquisitions of the European OEM’s aircraft. In addition to the 13 purchased aircraft, Icelandair intends to lease four A321LR airliners. By dint of the Extra Long Range connoted by its XLR designation, the model will afford Icelandair opportunity to seize shares of previously inaccessible markets.

Consortium Retains Upper Hand in Latin American Sales

Mexican ultra-low-cost airline Viva Aerobus has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Airbus for ninety A321neo aircraft with which the Monterrey International Airport (MTY)-based air-carrier seeks to drive its international and domestic growth. The newly-signed MoU brings the airline’s order-book to 170 A320 family aircraft.

Axnes Further Refines Wireless Intercom Systems

Keeping First Responders Responsive

Founded in 1995, Grimstad, Norway-based Axnes is a privately-owned developer and manufacturer of communication technologies—Wireless Intercom Systems (WICS) in particular. The company's Polycon Next Generation (PNG) Wireless Intercom technology allows mounted (within an aircraft or vessel) and dismounted (outside an aircraft or vessel) crew-members to maintain full duplex communication in the most extreme and challenging environments.

From 2017 (YouTube Version): Cicaré Helicopter Displays SVH-4 Single-Seat Training Device At HAI…

Cicaré Helicopters displayed the SVH4 single-seat simulator training device at HAI 2017 in Dallas this year. Mike Creed, CEO, DEA General Aviation (USA/China) for Cicaré Helicopters, told Aero-News CEO and editor in chief Jim Campbell that the SVH-4 can be used by student pilots for up to 10 hours credit towards their FAA Private Pilot certificate. Creed said that the ground-based SVH-4 can revo

Airplane Banked Steeply Left, Leveled, Then Banked Right, Followed By Deployment Of The Parachute

On June 6, 2023, about 1352 eastern daylight time, a Cirrus SR22T, Canadian registration CGNMT, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Jamestown, New York. The two Canadian-certificated pilots were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. According to witnesses, the pilot in the left seat owned the accident airplane and brokered other airplanes. Additionally, the pilot in the left seat was preparing for an instrument rating practical examination, scheduled for the following week. The purpose of the accident trip was a combination of training and

Incident on “C” Street

An experimental Berkut 540 fixed-wing aircraft went down in rural Cedar Rapids, Iowa during its maiden flight on the morning of Saturday, 01 July 2023. The aircraft lost power shortly before 09:00 CDT, and was guided by Vijay Pisini, 50, of Cedar Rapids—the plane’s pilot and sole occupant—to an inelegant but survivable emergency landing. Emergency responders arrived on-scene to find Mr. Pisini unhurt and safely clear of the aircraft’s wreckage.

Aero Linx: The Canadian Business Aviation Association (CBAA)

The Canadian Business Aviation Association (CBAA) is a non-profit association formed in 1961 as Canada's voice for business aviation. Since its inception, CBAA has assumed an increasing role in its advocacy for Canadian business aviation interests. With a membership of approximately 400 companies and organizations, including operators, management companies and suppliers, CBAA represents the entire business aviation community with a unified and collective voice.

Instrument Approach Procedure [ICAO] A series of predetermined maneuvers by reference to flight instruments with specified protection from obstacles from the initial approach fix, or where applicable, from the beginning of a defined arrival route to a point from which a landing can be completed and thereafter, if a landing is not completed, to a position at which holding or en route obstacle clearance criteria apply.

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (07.07.23)

“This project is an example of our ongoing commitment to innovation. We invest heavily in research and development to propel our industry forward. Expanding our company allows us to grow our manufacturing facilities, in-house design, testing capabilities, and engineering department. This will attract new talent and add well-paying aviation jobs in the Air Capital.” Source: Mid-Continent Instruments and Avionics president and CEO Todd Winter, discussing the continual expansion of his company.