Also: SpaceX Wins CC Extension, USAF's 75th Anniversary, Boston Airspace, Inhofe Secures $1M Grants

The US Senate has confirmed the nomination of C. B. “Sully” Sullenberger III to be the U.S. representative on the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, who along with fellow “Miracle on the Hudson” pilot Jeff Skiles, became instantly known on January 15, 2009, when they successfully landed an airliner on the Hudson River following a complete loss of engine power after the aircraft struck a flock of geese. A joint study on the impact of 100% sustainable aviat

Also: SpaceX Wins CC Extension, USAF's 75th Anniversary, Boston Airspace, Inhofe Secures $1M Grants

The US Senate has confirmed the nomination of C. B. “Sully” Sullenberger III to be the U.S. representative on the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, who along with fellow “Miracle on the Hudson” pilot Jeff Skiles, became instantly known on January 15, 2009, when they successfully landed an airliner on the Hudson River following a complete loss of engine power after the aircraft struck a flock of geese. A joint study on the impact of 100% sustainable aviation f

FAA Will Recognize Individuals Reaching Space on Website

With the advent of the commercial space tourism era, starting in 2022, the FAA has reconsidred the process and will now recognize individuals who reach space on its website instead of issuing Commercial Space Astronaut Wings. Any individual who is on an FAA-licensed or permitted launch and reaches 50 statute miles above the surface of the Earth will be listed on the site. “The U.S. commercial human spaceflight industry has come a long way from conducting test flights to launching paying customers into space,” FAA Associate Administrator Wayne Monteith said.

Failed Carrier Launch Left F-35B Subject of Hurried Recovery to Maintain Tech Secrecy

The United Kingdom Ministry of Defense recovered the wreckage of a Royal Air Force F-35B Joint Strike Fighter that crashed into the Mediterranean sea after an anemic takeoff from HMS Queen Elizabeth in November 2021. The remains have been the subject of much ministry angst, fearing peer country intervention and salvage in the region that could reveal proprietary, secret technical details of the 5th generation lynchpin of western air fighters. The U.S. and Italian Navies sent assistance in scouting the wreck and protecting the salvage operation, eventually culminating in a successful recovery of the sensitive equipment aboard the fighter. The Ministry of Defense t

Shap'In TechCenter To Focus on Aerostructures and Composites Development

Daher has laid the foundation of its new 1/2-acre facility, a development center that will focus on the advancement of aerostructures and composite expertise. The facility will be added to Daher's existing site at Saint Aignan de Grandlieu in the Jules Verne industrial cluster near Nantes, France. The “Shap’in” name, while somewhat silly to some, falls in line with "Log’In", their logistics acceleration platform, and "Fly’In", Daher’s aircraft development center. 

Seattle Air Show Will See Updated Routine With Faster, Modern Hornet Variant

The U.S. Navy Blue Angels have announced their intention to return as the featured performers at the Boeing Seafair Air Show in 2022 and 2023 in Seattle, Washington. The occasion will mark the first time that the touring air show demonstrators will bring their newest F/A-18 Super Hornet aircraft to the Northwestern states. The return is good news for airshow-starved Washingtonians, bereft of the Angels' presence in 2021 following a cancelled 2020 show. “Seafair is thrilled to have the U.S. Navy Blue Angels back for another two years,” said Eric Corning, president and CEO of Seafair. “After the past two years that saw so many events b

Applauds FAA Move, Joins Coalition in "Aviation Safety Proposal for 5G Limits"

The Helicopter Association International released their statement on the newest FAA Airworthiness Directives issued before the imminent rollout of 5G cellular networks and their possible effects on navigation instruments. The HAI appreciates the difficult position the FAA has had to assume to protect aviation throughout the country, noting that the new changes will address much of their safety concerns. They also joined the “Aviation Safety Proposal for 5G Limits”, an industry effort to address possible shortcomings in safety regarding the new technology. 

From 2015 -- E-Fest: The Greatest Indoor Airshow We've EVER Seen!

While at E-Fest 2015, it’s obvious that ANN CEO and Editor-In-Chief, Jim Campbell, had a great time, and he talked with E-Fest committee member Frank Noll to get some background on this great event. Noll explained that E-Fest is an annual indoor electric R/C Festival that brings together about 250 pilots every February to fly, and to advance their sport. The event takes place at the University of Illinois Track and Field Armory in Champaign, Illinois. The primary sponsor of E-Fest is Hobbico, a major source of the equipment that makes flying indoor electric RC aircraft so much fun.

DBX-G7 Replaces Personnel with Multi-Use Docking, Charging, Data Landing Pad

H3 Dynamics has revealed what kept them busy during their 2020 lockdown, releasing a multifunction landing platform that aims to replace personnel in field deployment by completing all the regular upkeep of unmanned systems in the field. The system can update navigation information, charge batteries, store, and dock with the drone on its built in landing pad. Once attached, the system can retrieve, manage, process, and transmit data without direct human oversight.

AD 2021-24-01 Prompted By A Report Of Strake Attachment Brackets And The Fuselage Frame Failing

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. (Pilatus) Model PC-12/45, PC-12/47, and PC-12/47E airplanes with Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) SA00634DE installed. This AD was prompted by a report of strake attachment brackets and the fuselage frame failing at the upper most bracket attachment location. This AD requires inspecting the strake, attachment brackets, surrounding structure, and bolts and replacing components and repairing damage if necessary. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. This AD is effective January 13, 2022.

Airplane Impacted In A Right Wing Low Near Vertical Attitude

On November 07, 2021, about 1405 Alaska standard time, a Gerald Jones 2+2 homebuilt airplane, N540AK sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Kodiak, Alaska. The pilot and sole occupant was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot had departed from Kodiak Municipal Airport (KDK), Kodiak, Alaska destined for a remote off-airport landing site near Saltery Cove. A friend of the pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was to transport hunting gear to the remote location to establish a hunting camp.

Aero Linx: The International Skydiving Museum & Hall of Fame The International Skydiving Museum & Hall of Fame is a Recognized Venue as designated by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale. Though most people will never make a skydive, they can still revel in the amazing achievements of our sport. They will be able to do just that at the International Skydiving Museum & Hall of Fame. The Museum & Hall of Fame will engage visitors by presenting the extraordinary global history of skydiving and showcasing the ongoing advances of our ever-changing sport.  It will feature those who have made extraordinary contributions to skydiving as recognize

Air Traffic Clearance An authorization by air traffic control for the purpose of preventing collision between known aircraft, for an aircraft to proceed under specified traffic conditions within controlled airspace. The pilot-in-command of an aircraft may not deviate from the provisions of a visual flight rules (VFR) or instrument flight rules (IFR) air traffic clearance except in an emergency or unless an amended clearance has been obtained. Additionally, the pilot may request a different clearance from that which has been issued by air traffic control (ATC) if information available to the pilot makes another course of action more practicable or if aircraft equipment limitations or company procedure

“Seafair is thrilled to have the U.S. Navy Blue Angels back for another two years. After the past two years that saw so many events be put on hold, we are looking forward to joining our community in welcoming back a Pacific Northwest tradition.” Source: Eric Corning, president and CEO of Seafair, celebrating the news that the Blue Angels will return to SeaFair.