Yes... another week and another collection of intriguing news. This week's report starts with the sad news that long-time NATA Boss Jim Coyne will retire this year, Ryan Airlines announced its long-rumored bankruptcy. Fifty pilots are about to get unemployment as they get laid off by American Eagle and a former Navy jock is lost in a tragic Kfir accident at NAS Fallon. We have more details of our upcoming coverage of AEA 2012 as well as some info on the ASF report that suggests that glass panel cockpits are not influencing safety -- positively or negatively. All this and SO MUCH MORE in this week's edition of AIRBORNE!
As always, PLEASE keep sending us your feedback and ideas... you have no idea how important that is to us as we evolve the Airborne mission. As we listen to your critiques, we're getting a far better idea as to how to tweak and fine-tune future Airborne programming to fit your needs. We think you're going to like what we have in mind for the future.
Airborne 03.09.12 is chock full of info about the week ending Friday, March 9th, 2012... Presented by Aero-TV veteran videographer and Airborne Host Ashley Hale, and supported by ANN CEO/Editor-In-Chief Jim Campbell, Chief Videographer Nathan Cremisino, and Aero-Journalists Tom Patton, this episode covers:
Coyne Stepping Down
Ryan Airlines Bankruptcy
American Eagle Furlough
Kfir Down In Nevada
ANN's AEA Coverage Getting Wide Spread Support
AOPA Glass Panel Study
Latest letter to the White House
LAS Embarrassment
Calming Brazil Over A-29
F-35 First Operational Sortie
UPS Pilots Lobby LaHood
Boeing Delamination Inspections
Barnstorming: Aiding The Lee Bottom Airfield
NTSB Prelim: Cirrus
NTSB Prelim: Elevator Trim
FAA Colgan Fine
United Assimilates Continental
Aero-Video of the Week: Lego Shuttle Flies Again!
Drunk Driver Charged With Flying Under Influence
Get Comprehensive, Real-Time, 24/7 coverage of the latest aviation and aerospace stories anytime, at aero-news.net. And be sure to join us again next week for the next edition of "Airborne" here on Aero-TV. Thanks for watching. See you next week!
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Airborne 04.12.24: SnF24!, G100UL Is Here, Holy Micro, Plane Tags
Also: Seaplane Pilots Association, Rotax 916’s First Year, Gene Conrad
After a decade and a half of struggling with the FAA and other aero-politics, G100UL is in production and there are a million gallons currently available. You can NEVER have too many good aids in keeping a flight safe... Holy Micro has an interesting approach to keeping pilots informed. The folks at Plane Tags have collected memorabilia from over 200 aircraft of all makes and categories... And offer mementos of great planes in aviation’s proud history. SPA’s Steve McCaughey updates the Airborne team on the latest and greatest in one of the aviation world’s coolest (sometimes we mean that literally) aviation pursuits. ANN had the honor of helping to introduce the Rotax 915 at last year’s Innovation Preview and we got a chance to review what a year in the field is teaching the aviation biz. Gene Conrad Catches His Breath During Our Morning Brief... and joins Airborne for an update on the 50th Annual SnF Aerospace Expo and what may be in the offing for the future. All this -- and MORE in today's episode of Airborne-Unlimited!!!
FIFTY YEARS! What a milestone for the aviation world’s master aero-education duo! John, Martha, along with their CEO Barry Knutilla have come to Sun ‘n Fuin to celebrate a half-century of keeping us educated while also casting eyes upon the future. Ya want to land and take off REALLY short? Ya want to keep it simple? Ya want it to cost less than your house? Bryce Angell’s newly created Top Rudder aircraft has some affordable, highly capable STOL-ready aero-toys for you! The ultimate cockpit visual aid? Aileronics has introduced the Sentinel, a portable sensor that can be mounted in any cockpit and assist with the chores of seeing and avoiding hazards in your flight path. There is a cool new offering by the name of Flight Club... Flight Club is a double-sided marketplace that connects aircraft owners with pilots looking to rent an aircraft. The idea is not a new one but this execution shows promise... The sun is your friend... except when its not. Jet Shades seems to have come up with a more protective solution when it comes to the heat, glare, UV and other distractions of the sun while in flight... and make flying a lot more comfortable. In-cockpit video and all the accessories that go with it have become an important facet to many fliers... as a way to enjoy their flights as well as a valuable educational tool. The MyGoFlight folks have a number of ways to support your aero-video aspirations. All this -- and MORE in today's episode of Airborne-Unlimited!!!
Also: Bushcat Woes, Hummingbird 300 SL 4-Seat Heli Kit, Carbon Cub UL
The newest Junkers is a faithful recreation that mates a 7-cylinder Verner radial engine to the airframe offered last year with a Rotax 912... but a desire for more historical accuracy led to the A50 Heritage. The Helicycle has gone through a number of owners and iterations but looks to be in good hands with a company that keeps tweaking and improving this unique turbine single-engine, single-seat kit helicopter. The Brazilian Montaer MC-01 is about to be joined by a four-place sibling, the MC-04. The two-seater is holding its own though with a number of impressive fleet sales and growing popularity here in the states. Life throws challenges at you now and then... and the folks got thrown a curveball at the start of SnF24. AeroSport has been the US Distributor for SkyReach and its BushCat light sport aircraft... until the manufacturer announced that they were not going to offer kits or complete aircraft anymore... leaving AeroSport with a number of challenges. A four-place helicopter kit? Really? There are nearly 400 Hummingbird 300SL kits out in the world now... Piling up hours and impressive record. Vertical Aviation’s Brad Clark fills us in on upgrades and plans for this impressive machine. The Carbon Cub UL hit the sport aviation world by storm last year, powered by the (then) brand new Rotax 916 engine. Production plans are now afoot, the plane is being fine-tuned, and the Carbon Cub UL order book is filling fast... All this -- and MORE in today's episode of Airborne-Unlimited!!!
Also: ForeFlight Upgrades, Cicare USA, Vittorazi Engines, EarthX
We have a number of late-breaking news highlights from the 2024 Innovation Preview... which was PACKED with real news and probably broke more real news in one day than any other aviation event... again! The big announcement of the 2024 Sun n Fun Innovation Preview? Piper is working alongside the DeltaHawk diesel folks on what could eventually show up as a Diesel Piper PA-44 Seminole... which would be a VERY fuel-thrifty airplane. Not content to produce a classic aircraft with an inline engine, Junkers has updated... or backdated for that matter the A50 platform with an honest-to-goodness radial engine. And the results? Gorgeous... in both sight and sound. CKD Aerospace has taken over Fisher Flying Products and is making BIG changes to the highly regarded SportPlane line. New products, new services, new engines... CKD had a lot to discuss... In addition to their usual list of a bazillion or so new upgrades, ForeFlight is pushing tech limits with a new product called ForeFlight Voyager. All this -- and MORE in today's episode of Airborne-Unlimited!!!
Airborne 04.05.24: Vans Reorg, ICON Bankrupt, SUN n FUN Programs!
Also: Dynon Expands, FeEx Not Happy W/USPS, Soaring Society of America, KleinVision Flying Car
Van's Aircraft filed its long-awaited Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization with the Federal Bankruptcy Court on March 29, 2024. This step is essential for the company's financial recovery. The process will be complete after the court sets hearing dates and the judge signs a certificate approving the plan. Then, the plan will be mailed to the same approximately 40,000 people notified when Van's filed for bankruptcy. Perrenially troubled ICON Aircraft has filed for Chapter 11 protection. This strategic restructuring process is reportedly aimed at addressing the company's financial challenges while continuing to support customers and operations. The management team remains committed to the company's mission... whatever that may actually be at this point. Here it comes! ANN has prepared its most comprehensive coverage EVER of the SUN n FUN Aerospace Expo... and we guarantee you that this is the best there is. We’re already posting stories to the SUN n FUN Digital Daily website at www.snfdd.com, but the real excitement starts on Tuesday morning at 1030ET when the SUN n FUN Innovation Preview starts with announcements of over 30 new products, developments, and other surprises. Log on to www.airborne-live.net to see it all LIVE. All this -- and MORE in today's episode of Airborne-Unlimited!!!
Airborne-Flight Training 04.04.24: ALPA Refutes Shortage, FAA Grants, WAI24
Also: Fired Boeing Pilots Win, MAC Air Group, Kansas State Salina $$, Drone Safety Day
The Air Line Pilots Association says they have plenty of pilots, so there's no need to change anything about the aviation system from top to bottom. They publicized the fact that "the United States continues to certify more airline pilots each month than in the years prior to COVID-19", noting that the last 12 months have seen more than 11,000 ATP-MEL ratings issued. The FAA has granted $27.2 million to 11 universities across the US under its Aviation Sustainability Center program. The awards will be matched in-kind by a range of partners with a 1:1 grant as a sort of cost sharing agreement. Women in Aviation International capped off its 2024 Conference with a flurry of activity, completing its year get-together for the 35th year running - and things were busier than ever. The Conference saw some record attendance and exhibition numbers, with more than 5,200 attendees representing 35 countries. All this -- and MORE in today's episode of Airborne!!!
The National Aeronautic Association has awarded the 2023 Robert J. Collier Trophy to a NASA program that saw a prop head to an asteroid and back on the OSIRIS-REX mission. The mission stands for "Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx)". The Australian program to add Boeing's MQ-28 Ghost Bat drone has led to the creation of a nigh-100,000 square foot facility in Toowoomba, Queensland. The Aussies jumped at integrating the MQ-28 into their air force much more readily than Boeing's own homeland did, embarking on the program as a joint venture between their own MoD and Boeing's Australian subsidiary. They expect the factory to be up and running in "the next three years." Archer Aviation announced the successful completion of testing on its battery packs, evaluating their ability to withstand drops without failure and rupture. The test saw their Midnight aircraft's batteries dropped at various charge states, from totally dead to 100% from a 50-foot height. All this -- and MORE in today's episode of Airborne-NextGen!!!
Also: ALPA Says Plenty of Pilots, Bell 429 E-AD, Eutelsat OneWeb STC, Bell BasiX-Pro
Gulfstream has announced that the G700 has received FAA type certification. The milestone paves the way for customer deliveries. The FAA certification process also confirmed two new performance improvements for the G700, providing customers with increased flexibility and airport availability. The National Aeronautic Association has awarded the 2023 Robert J. Collier Trophy to a NASA program that saw a prop head to an asteroid and back on the OSIRIS-REX mission. The mission stands for "Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx)". The FAA has revoked the license of Mike Mason, of the Mason Wing Walking Academy in Sequim, Washington, effectively shutting down his business. The FAA cited a breach of safety rules as the reason. In its Letter of Emergency Revocation of March 18, 2024, the FAA stated that "[The FAA] Administrator has determined that an emergency exists related to safety in air commerce and that the immediate action to revoke your Airline Transport Pilot certificate is required." Mason stated that an FAA inspector had OK'd the wing-walking flights back in 2012. All this -- and MORE in today's episode of Airborne-Unlimited!!!
Airborne 04.01.24: April 1st Special! CubCrafters, $paceX Taxes, Demo Retro
Also: PETA Sues, AF1 Busts TFR, 747-1000 MAX!!!, 4th Class Medical Certificate
CubCrafters is testing a new backcountry landing gear configuration that the company conceived to dramatically reduce the potential for ground loops in backcountry flying. Recognizing recent industrywide calls from regulators, insurance companies, and many in the pilot community to continue with safety innovation in the backcountry, the company sees broad applications for this new technology. The State of Florida thinks that if you buy a new or used aircraft and sign the bill of sale... this starts "the clock." It is Florida's position that for the next six months (possibly thereafter, though the burden of proof reportedly changes at that point), the state has the right to exact the requisite "Use Tax" (Sales Tax) for the fact you partook of the state's services unless you can show an equivalent Use or Sales Tax receipt from another state... now, the FDOR is casting its greedy eyes on SpaceX's Falcon Booster fleet. The U.S. Navy Blue Angels and the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds are going retro, bringing back some of their classic airplanes for the next air show season. The two teams jointly announced April 1 that the Blue Angels will fly the next season in A-4 Skyhawks, while the Thunderbirds will take to the skies in F-100 Super Sabres. All this -- and MORE in today's episode of Airborne-Unlimited!!!
Airborne 03.29.24: BIG PAL-V Sale, WAI24 Report, Fired Boeing Pilots WIN
Also: SUN ‘n FUN Innovation Preview, Boeing Execs Out, GA Awards, Avelo Adds Lakeland
Aviterra of Dubai has signed off on a deal to purchase more than a hundred PAL-V flying cars for its regional aviation ops in Dubai. The PAL-V has been in a slowly simmering battle for the right to dominate the "flying car" market. Unlike the fixed-wing pusher-prop Switchblade, the PAL-V opts to take flight as a gyrocopter. In both cases, they sidestep exceedingly strict automotive regulations with the omission of a single tire, making them "trikes" that are legislated more in line with motorcycles than autos. Women in Aviation International capped off its 2024 Conference with a flurry of activity, completing its year get-together for the 35th year running - and things were busier than ever. The Conference saw some record attendance and exhibition numbers, with more than 5,200 attendees representing 35 countries. Boeing took another black eye after losing a case for retaliating against a group of 7 pilots working directly for the company. In the case, pilots represented by the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace, or SPEEA, alleged that they were fired as punishment for engaging in union actions. All this -- and MORE in today's episode of Airborne-Unlimited!!!
Also: MASSIVE Innovation Preview, 2024 AMA National Fun-Fly, Hartzell Acquires WhirlWind, Drone Safety Day
CKD Aero has partnered up with Kite Magnetics to create the Dakota e-Hawk, the “world’s most cost-effective two-seat electric aircraft”. The e-Hawk is intended to be the first in a lineup of kit aircraft using Kite’s KM-60 electric engine and running gear. The KM-60 is much like an old-school piston engine, offering air-cooled, direct drive propulsion with 60 kW (about 80 horsepower). Mark your calendars for April 9th at 1030ET... and log on to www.airborne-live.net to see this year’s MASSIVE LIVE SUN n FUN Innovation Preview... which the SnF folks promise to be bigger, better and badder than ever before. "After Turning 70 years old twenty months ago, I began to think it was time to let someone younger take charge of the company," said Bearhawk Aircraft's outgoing owner Mark Goldberg. The new company head, Virgil Irwin, took delivery of the family earlier this year. Originally, Irwin joined the fold as a customer, searching for a rough & tumble mission-ready aircraft that provided truly livable mission readiness. The Scalewings SW-51 Mustang has been further improved with some new options on the order form, thanks to factory upgrades and further design refinements. First off, the SW-51 can now be equipped with a Rotax 916iS, bringing 160 horsepower of turbocharged, fuel injected grunt to the front of the plane. All this -- and MORE in today's episode of Airborne!!!
Airborne 03.27.24: Bong's P-38, Lunar Ldr TOD, Baconator Via UAV
Also: 2024 AMA National Fun-Fly, B-29 Doc and B-25 Berlin Express, Rex B737 FFS, Dreamliner Pilot Seats
The Richard I. Bong Veterans Historical Center has embarked on a search for the remains of its WWII ace namesake's aircraft, working with preservation specialist Pacific Wrecks in an effort to find the P-38 Lightning "Marge". Richard, or 'Dick' as friends and internet-adepts today know him, racked up a healthy medal case throughout his time in the Army Air Corps, downing 40 Japanese aircraft in the Pacific Theater. Intuitive Machines' Odysseus lunar lander is not answering their calls, despite hopes that its solar system would possibly provide enough juice to answer the phone. They called an official "time of death" on March 23, 10:30 CST, officially ending the program. Those displeased with the sometimes spotty outcomes of manual food delivery are in luck now that DoorDash is partnering with Wing to provide drone deliveries to customers in select regions. Of course, like every piece of news involving customer-facing drone delivery, the affected area remains tiny in the grand scheme of things. All this -- and MORE in today's episode of Airborne-Unlimited!!!
Officially, the Carbon Cub UL and Rotax 916 iS is now in its 'market survey development phase', meaning it's just about to head into the oven, but the recipe isn't inked just yet. CubCrafters VP Brad Damm wants to see everyone chip in with their two cents to see how they feel about the prospective aircraft. So far, everything that's been shown off paints a very attractive portrait of a lightweight, capable, eager little bird, boasting an empty weight "well below 900 lbs..." CKD Aerospace hit innovation preview with a couple goodies right off the bat, updating fans on their line of kit aircraft, Fisher Flying Products. Now, Fisher Flying Products are looking to moving from spruce into rag & tube. The Affordable Flying Expo is on the books for January 9th through the 11th of 2025. The new fly-in offers a well-timed excuse to take the family down south to enjoy the Florida sunshine in the same excellent facilities as Sun 'n Fun. The Affordable Flying Expo will focus on the love of flight, and all things that bring it into reach of the average, fun-loving pilot. Everyone is invited, from pilots and AMT's to manufacturers and owners. All this -- and MORE in today's episode of Airborne!!!
Airborne-Flight Training 04.17.24: Feds Need Controllers, Spirit Delay, Redbird Flt
Also: Martha King Scholarship, Montaer Grows, Textron Updates Pistons, FlySto
The FAA is hiring thousands of air traffic controllers, but the window to apply will only be open for a short time. The FAA has issued a call to action, requesting anyone and everyone meeting the relatively accommodating standards. They will have to bolster their numbers soon, with plans to hire 1,800 more controllers this year, and another 2,000 in 2025. Spirit Airlines announced its decision to defer the delivery of new Airbus aircraft and furlough approximately 260 pilots. The budget airline, headquartered in Miramar, Florida, is taking these measures as part of its strategy to boost liquidity amidst challenging times. Redbird Flight, manufacturer of flight simulators and training devices, came out in force to Sun 'n Fun 2024, with all kinds of new goodies in tow. Their new friends at the Recreational Aviation Foundation have kept up their momentum in keeping a presence at the yearly fly-in, helping them to support the development of future pilots, hone the active ones, and improve safety for all. All this -- and MORE in today's episode of Airborne!!!
Van's Aircraft posted a short video recapping the goings-on around their reorganization as they continue to move away from the brink, and by all accounts, things are going great. Clyde Hamstreet indicated that things are going pretty well in the Chapter 11 process, and they expect their reorganization plan to be approved by the court come May. Hammerstreet noted, with pleasure, that few companies in a similar position manage to survive the process, but Van's is sitting pretty. The Affordable Flying Expo is on the books for January 9th through the 11th of 2025. The new fly-in offers a well-timed excuse to take the family down south to enjoy the Florida sunshine in the same excellent facilities as Sun 'n Fun. The Affordable Flying Expo will focus on the love of flight, and all things that bring it into reach of the average, fun-loving pilot. The Commemorative Air Force's Jeremy Lashbrook, Squadron Leader for the B-29 and B-24, broke some bad news to fans looking forward to the upcoming Air Power History Tour: The B-24 Liberator, Diamond Lil', will need a lot of unanticipated maintenance. All this -- and MORE in today's episode of Airborne-Unlimited!!!
