Grissom, Chaffee, and White Remembered

More than half-a-century after a tragic launchpad fire claimed their lives, the crew-members of NASA’s Apollo 1 mission were honored with a monument at Arlington National Cemetery. Families of the three, deceased astronauts requested a Latin motto meaning A rough road leads to the stars be carved into the monument’s stone. On 27 January 1967–three weeks ahead of the mission’s scheduled launch date—astronauts Virgil (Gus) Grissom, Edward White, and Roger Chaffee perished during a preflight simulation when an electrical fire broke-out in the pure oxygen environment of the Apollo1 command module. 

Pilot's Org Says Production Exceeds Pre-Pandemic Levels as Pilots Lobby Lawmakers to Maintain Safety

Pilot Shortage? Armed with current data demonstrating that the United States is producing more pilots than it did pre-COVID, leaders from ALPA are fanning out across Capitol Hill this week to meet with federal lawmakers to reiterate that the current first officer qualification standards have been a critical component in our nation’s impressive airline safety record.

Moscow Authorizes Domestic Production of Counterfeit Aircraft Parts

Russia’s aviation sector is struggling to remain operational and solvent in the wake of Western sanctions prohibiting the export—to Russia—of authorized spare parts for Boeing and Airbus aircraft. The sanctions were levied in response to Russia’s invasion of, and ongoing war with Ukraine. As the conflict enters its sixth month, operators such as flag carrier Aeroflot and its subsidiary, Rossiya are struggling to service their fleet of Western aircraft.

Regional Equipment Idle as Carrier Shifts Capacity to Larger Planes

American Airlines CEO Robert Isom states his company has parked approximately 100 aircraft. “We have probably a hundred aircraft … almost a hundred aircraft that aren’t productive right now, that aren’t flying,” Isom said at the Bernstein Strategic Decisions Conference on 03 June 2022. American—the largest U.S. airline—is the latest domestic carrier to announce that it’s parking some regional jets due to a shortage of qualified pilots. 

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Lilium GmbH, the German Aerospace company developing the VTOL Lilium Jet, announced that its technology demonstrator, Phoenix 2, has achieved main wing transition—which is to say, the aircraft successfully transitioned from hover to wing-borne flight. From a physics/aerodynamic perspective, transition entails the transference of lift from vertical engine thrust to horizontal, laminar, relative-wind flow over the test vehicle’s wings. A Seattle man is using ingenuity and aviation technology to fight the rampant crime and worsening lawlessness afflicting his home to

AT-11 Still Tantalizing at Eighty-One

Aero News had occasion to speak with pilot and aircraft restoration expert John Hess about his rare and beautiful AT-11 Kansan, the U.S. Army Air Forces’s primary bombing trainer during the Second World War. Approximately 90-percent of the USAAF’s 45,000 bombardiers trained in the aircraft, which derived of Beechcraft’s Model 18 commercial transport. The AT-11 differed from its civilian forebear by way of a transparent nose, a bomb bay, internal bomb racks, and turrets for gunnery training.

Boeing Concedes Production Rate to Ensure Quality 

Trouble in the form of supply-chain delays has beset Boeing’s beleaguered, 737 MAX program. A source familiar with Boeing production schedules states the 737 MAX assembly line at the company’s Renton, WA plant sat idle for a period of roughly ten-days in May as airplanes were held in position pending delivery of parts missing because of supply chain issues. According to the source, work on production line aircraft did not stop entirely, but continued to the extent possible with extant parts. 

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On 19 May 2020, the Boeing Orbital Flight Test-2 (OFT-2) uncrewed CST-100 launched aboard the United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket, to the ISS. The CST-100 returned, landing at the White Sands Missile Range, in New Mexico. While the return landing was ‘textbook’ -- its trip to the ISS wasn’t entirely without issue. Apparently, on its way to the ISS, two of its main thrusters went offline per sensor data, but backups kicked into gear and it was on its merry way. And again, problems arose when the CST-100 got close to the ISS, two

Includes 416 Grants To Airports Across The US

The FAA has awarded $518 million to build safer, more accessible airports across the country.  The second round of the 2022 Airport Improvement Program (AIP) awards includes 416 grants to airports across the U.S. to fund a variety of projects such as construction of new and improved airport facilities, repairs to runways and taxiways, maintenance of airfield elements like lighting or signage, and purchasing equipment needed to operate and maintain airports.  

Storied Jet Retiring After 61-Years and 50,000 Pilots Trained

Since it’s introduction 61-years ago, some fifty-thousand military pilots have trained in Northrop’s T-38 Talon. In addition to serving the United States Air Force—the single largest operator of the type—the T-38 is in use with NASA, and the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School. Worldwide, the T-38 serves numerous NATO militaries, to include those of Germany, Portugal, Turkey, and the Republic of China. In September 2018, the USAF announced it would replace its T-38s with the clean-sheet, Boeing-Saab, T-7 Red Hawk.

Airplane Subsequently Turned Right And Flew To The West Of The Pilot’S House About 200 To 300 FT AGL

On May 17, 2022, about 1751 central daylight time, an American Aviation AA-1A, N6409L, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Cleburne, Texas. The student pilot sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. A review of automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) data revealed that the airplane departed Cleburne Regional Airport (CPT) about 1309 and flew to Clifton Municipal Airport (7F7), Clifton, Texas.

Aero Linx: European Helicopter Association (EHA) EHA’s goal is to be the single voice of the European rotorcraft industry by all its stakeholders, including manufacturers; operators; suppliers; regulatory entities (EASA, ICAO and European Commission); financial institutions; customers and society. EHA influences safety standards and growth of the European rotorcraft industry by creating new opportunities for its members.

Approach Speed The recommended speed contained in aircraft manuals used by pilots when making an approach to landing. This speed will vary for different segments of an approach as well as for aircraft weight and configuration.

“The United States is producing a record number of pilots, yet some are still trying to claim we need to weaken aviation safety rules to fix a problem that doesn’t exist. That’s why it’s so important we have frontline aviation safety experts—our pilots—on Capitol Hill this week to make sure decision-makers know the facts, and what’s at stake. Airline pilots offer a unique perspective that literally no one else can, and I’m proud our members are here in Washington, D.C., this week sharing that expertise in order to protect the world’s safest air transport system.” Source: ALPA president Capt. Joe DePete, explaining that according to the FAA, nearly 8,000 newly certificated com