ATG Network Provider Adds to the Family

Air-to-Ground internet provider SmartSky has added Aero Center Atlanta to their network of dealers and installers, adding 7 FBO locales to the roster. The addition means that Aero Centers can provide Part 145 maintenance services along with flu-service management, charter, and FBO services. Their Atlanta location is by far the most plush in the family, described as a crown jewel amongst a slate of smaller facilities throughout the US. They're already in the swing of things, installing SmartSky's Flagship and LITE systems to cover everything from smaller aircraft to large-cabin bizjets.

Witnesses In The Area Reported Low Clouds, Fog, And Reduced Visibility Along The Accident Airplane’s Anticipated Flight Route

On May 17, 2024, about 1145 Alaska daylight time, a wheel-equipped Taylorcraft BC12-D airplane, N95744, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Nondalton, Alaska. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 flight. The uncertificated pilot, and his passenger, reportedly departed from the Port Alsworth Airport (PTA), Port Alsworth, Alaska, about 1130 and were traveling to the Nondalton Airport (5NN) Nondalton. The community of Nondalton is located on the western shoreline of Six Mile Lake. About 2000, the airplane was reported overdue.

From 2016 (YouTube Version): A Truly Unique Flying Experience…

Most of us have dreamed of being able to fly like a bird. And while that’s not an option for most of us, unless you’re interested in a wingsuit, one company has devised a way to at least get close. At I/ITSEC 2016 in Orlando, Florida, Tony Isaacs, VP of Development for PLW Model Works, told ANN CEO and Editor in Chief Jim Campbell that they have married high-resolution virtual reality with a fully-immersive simulation to allow you to “fly” over cities, like New York City, for a bird’s-eye view. “It’s very up close and personal,” Isaacs said. “In fact, if you’re not careful, you’ll run into one of those buildings and go ‘splat’.”

RAF Mourns Loss of One of Its Own, Squadron Leader Mark Long

A tragic crash involving a Royal Air Force Spitfire has led to the grounding of the fleet for the time being. The pilot's identity has been released to the public, Squadron Leader Mark Long. He was a Typhoon pilot with the Royal Air Force before getting a slot with the Memorial Flight, where he's been flying the last 4 years. Prior to the incident, the BBMF had 6 original Spitfires left, which fly alongside a dozen airworthy Hurricanes. The unit is staffed as a regular RAF unit, funded by the UK's Ministry of Defense.

Transition from 'Helicopter' Society to 'Vertical Flight' Helps Strengthen Industry Ties

One of the Vertical Flight Society's own has been given the Exceptional Public Service Medal from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), garnering just another smidgeon of prestige for the organization. VFS Director of Strategy Mike Hirschberg was recognized with the EPSM, which is awarded to those who contribute to NASA's mission without being on a government payroll. Hirschberg was honored at the NASA Ames Research Center’s “2023 Presidential Rank & NASA Honors Awards” ceremony, where 73 individual and 27 group awards were given to NASA employees, contractors and groups. Hirschberg was the only one out of 100 awards given who was neither a NASA employee nor contractor, bucking the trend.

$7.5 Million Replaces 4 Out-of-Spec Taxiways at Tulsa Reliever

Tulsa Riverside Airport of Oklahoma has completed a small ribbon cutting to celebrate the opening of a newly realigned Taxiway Alpha, correcting a collection of non-standard, angled taxiways. The project ran about $7.5 million in all, funded largely by a Federal Aviation Administration grant of $6.8 million. The rest was scraped together with $381,000 from an Oklahoma Department of Aerospace & Aeronautics (ODAA) Grant of $381,028, and the rest form the Tulsa Airports Improvement Trust (TAIT) for $423,928. With construction complete, all four connector taxiways between Runway 01L/19R and Taxiway Alpha meet standard specifications, connecting at perpendicular angles for maximum visibility on either side.

Pistons Up (Barely), Bizjets Up... Turboprops, As Well As Piston/Turbine Helis Are Down

GAMA released their First Quarter 2024 General Aviation Aircraft Shipment and Billing Report -- with mostly mixed news and not all that impressive news on any front, at that. The results for the first three months of 2024 when compared to the same period in 2023, show deliveries were flat for piston airplanes and piston helicopters, decreased for turboprops and turbine helicopters, and increased for business jets. Total aircraft billings were up 3.2% at $4.7 billion. 

6th Generation Improvement to Cockpit Recording Simplifies Data Retrieval

Universal Avionics has shown off their latest in cockpit recording tech, the 25-hour KAPTURE CVR. The system is a robust cockpit voice and flight data recorder, nominally a 6th generation piece that melds with all the tech operators run up front these days. The CVR/FDR offers readout services with full support for certification, checkouts, and datalink analysis & reporting. That provides easy compliance with EASA, UK CAA, and FAA requirements, all without requiring intense maintenance just to access the info.

Expanding Network of Charter Ops Expands Domestic Footprint

Pegasus Elite Aviation has moved its East Coast airport base to Signature Aviation TEB East in Teterboro, New Jersey. The private charter operator has been collecting planes and accolades in recent years, helped along by an acquisition by Prima Air at the end of 2022. Today, the Pegasus Elite fleet has a pair of Gulfstream G650s, a single Boeing 737, and 10 Gulfstream Gas and GIVs. The change puts Pegasus about 30 minutes from Midtown Manhattan, a pretty good little spot to cater to its hoity-toity business operators in the area. 

'Doc' Has a Busy Season Ahead of Itself Heading Into Summer

The warbird community celebrated Mark Novak, Chief Pilot of their B-29 'Doc', and his accomplishment of racking up 500 hours in the vintage bomber. On top of that, Novak built up more than 300 hours of time flying the other B-29 'Fifi', making him the modern era's most experienced B-29 pilot. In celebrating the milestone, the details surrounding how one goes about becoming the world's foremost captain of a nearly extinct type certificate, unsurprisingly starts with 'who you know' like any cool piloting job.