Will Continue Part-Time Efforts While Pursuing Other Prospects

While the Salinas Airshow was underway at Monterey Airport, in Salinas, California, some news was broken about #5 Lead Solo pilot, Major Michelle Curran. Describing her impending career move, she said: "I’m about to make a big career pivot and will be leaving the Active Duty Air Force in the new year. However, I’ll be continuing to serve in a part-time capacity and pursuing some goals in the business world.”  The groundbreaking pilot says she won’t be out of the spotlight for good, with projects and offers to be courted as she charts the path of her flying career. “The part of this job that I really love is inspiring others,” she said.

Certified, Specialized Programs for Professional Operators

European drone group Parrot has announced their new Certified Training Program, an education system for professionals to learn everything necessary to safely, reliably, and consistently operate their UAV systems. As drone usage expands throughout every industry, accidents- or, hard-won “training incidents”- can be expensive and wasteful, with damage or injury halting work. Like any other industrial certification that provides its students a solid, dependable base of knowledge, the Parrot program aims to give operators and owners a turnkey, simple, and consistent knowledge base for professional use.

Program Takes Students from Zero to Full Employment

Bristow Group Inc. announced their latest cohort of trainees has commenced their course of study under their fully sponsored UK cadet program held in partnership with Helicentre Aviation. The program is the only one of its kind in the UK that allows cadets to enter, train, graduate, and transition directly into employment with Bristow, where they gain type ratings and begin their careers as First Officers with one of the largest rotary wing operators in the world. Competition for entry is stiff, with over 1,200 applicants vying for one of four slots in this year’s class. 

NASA HyTec Award Spurs Thermally Efficient Core Project

GE has partnered with NASA to research advanced, sustainable engine cores as part of the Hybrid Thermally Efficient Core (HyTEC) project. GE Aviation has been the recipient of multiple cost-share contracts for core development worth more than $20 million, which build on previous awards given under the program, for the 2020 HyTEC focus of enhancing power extraction tech for the next-gen turbofan program. GE Aviation will design, develop, and test compact engine core designs, including compressor, combustor, and high-pressure turbine technologies, with a specific aim to improve thermal efficiency. Newer materials and manufacturing methods are hoped to enable the gains sought, with early use of

Float-Equipped Biplane Turns Heads At AirVenture

WACO Aircraft brought its latest airplane, the YMF-5F Floatplane, to AirVenture this summer. When the aircraft was introduced last year, the company said that the combination of a new 300 HP engine, the new MT constant speed propeller and Aerocet 3400 Amphibious floats helped make this ambitious project a reality. This blending of equipment has allowed WACO to build a great performing, exceptionally fun, and beautiful WACO Amphibious float plane, the YMF-5F (The "F" is for Float, and Fun). In preliminary flight testing, performance both in the air and on the water have met and exceeded expectations,

Texas’ New Braunfels Nat’l Apt. to Offer AvFuel 

New Braunfels National Airport’s FBO is the newest addition to the AvFuel network, as City Terminal Flight Services joins the fold. The change comes at a good time, after the airport received a reclassification to a national operation, and the FBO’s corresponding rebranding will occur over the coming years. As part of the AvFuel network, customers can now earn AvTrip rewards and buy fuel at AvFuel contract prices. As a full-service FBO, City Terminal Flight Services offers ground handling services in between San Antonio and Austin, Texas. Offering self and fuel-serve avgas and jet fuel, as well as GPU, lavatory service, cargo operations, quick turns, tie-downs, courtesy

Student-Built Feng Ru 3-100 Logged Almost 81 Hours Aloft

A Chinese student team broke another world record in UAV development again, when their custom built carbon fiber aircraft stayed airborne for 80 hours, 46 minutes, and 35 seconds. Their Feng Ru 3-100 took the honor for the U-1 class UAV, a category of drones powered by ICE or jet engines from 55lb to 220lb. Their flight took place on May 18, 2021 when they successfully launched the aircraft from the supporting rack of a small sedan, sending the aircraft on to its flight path without the increased fuel burn an unsupported takeoff would require. The Feng has a wingspan of 32 feet, and at full fuel load weights 120lb, with a simulated payload of almost 7 lbs.

AD 2021-22-22 Requires Replacing The NLG Piston Tube

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecnam S.P.A. Model P2006T airplanes. This AD was prompted by mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI identifies the unsafe condition as a manufacturing defect in the nose landing gear (NLG) piston tube. This AD requires replacing the NLG piston tube. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. This AD is effective December 3, 2021.

As The Airplane Touched Down On The Runway, A Splash Of Water Was Observed

On September 9, 2021, about 1527 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 402, N88833, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Provincetown, Massachusetts. The pilot and the six passengers were seriously injured. The airplane was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 as a scheduled passenger flight. The flight was being operated by Cape Air (flight 2072) and was on an instrument flight rules flight plan from Boston-Logan International Airport (BOS), Boston, Massachusetts to Provincetown Municipal Airport (PVC), Provincetown, Massachusetts. The flight departed BOS about 1504.

Aero Linx: The FAI Gliding Commission (IGC) The FAI Gliding Commission (IGC) conducts FAI's gliding activities, in particular World Records and International Competitions with the exception of glider aerobatics. Gliding involves engineless aircraft that move by use of raising air known as thermals, which are cause by the sun heating the ground which in turn heats the air above it; after locating a thermal, a glider pilot will circle within the area of rising air to gain height. Other types of rising air include ridge lift, mountain waves and convergences of different air masses.

Outer Fix A general term used within ATC to describe fixes in the terminal area, other than the final approach fix. Aircraft are normally cleared to these fixes by an Air Route Traffic Control Center or an Approach Control Facility. Aircraft are normally cleared from these fixes to the final approach fix or final approach course.

“To have the support from Bristow means everything to me, it's a golden ticket. It would have been significantly more challenging and taken a very long time for me to pursue a civil aviation career without it. I can’t remember a day I didn’t want to be a helicopter pilot, so I’m really excited about starting my training.” Source:  Bristow flight cadet, Felix Lilleyman-- a part of the Bristow Group's latest cohort of trainees, who has commenced their course of study under their fully sponsored UK cadet program held in partnership with Helicentre Aviation.