Also: Electra Goes Military, Miami Air Taxi, Hypersonics Lab, MagniX HeliStrom

Amazon’s Prime Air drones are back in the spotlight after one of its newest MK30 delivery drones struck an overhead internet cable in Waco, Texas. The incident serves as an unnerving replay of safety concerns that surfaced just two months ago involving back-to-back collisions with a crane in Arizona. The more recent event occurred on November 18. The drone, registered  N139PA, had just wrapped up a delivery when it “clipped a thin, overhead internet cable,” according to Amazon. The maiden flight of LandSpace’s ZhuQue-3 rocket on December 3 was one for the books… for both its successes and failures. The rocket reached orbit before the first stage booster recovery attempt resulted in an explosion near the edge of the landing pad. A soldier with no aviation experience was trained how to create flight plans and flew unmanned Black Hawk hel

Also: Cosmonaut Kicked Out, Airbus Scales Back, AF Silver Star, Russian A-60 Clobbered

A Samaritan’s Purse humanitarian flight was hijacked on Tuesday, December 2, while attempting to supply a mobile medical unit in South Sudan. Authorities were able to meet the aircraft on the ground and take the suspect into custody without further incident. The aircraft involved was one of the organization’s Cessna Grand Caravans that operates solely within Africa. The FAA has taken an unusually cooperative step towards pilot mental health reform, reducing the stabilization wait time for approved antidepressant medications from 6 months to just 3. Though this is, in itself, a basic change, it reflects years of industry efforts. Under the revised policy, airmen and air traffic control specialists may now submit Special Issuance medical packages after maintaining a stable dose of an approved antidepressant for at least three continuous months. The maid

Also: Cosmonaut Kicked Out, Airbus Scales Back, AF Silver Star, Russian A-60 Clobbered

A Samaritan’s Purse humanitarian flight was hijacked on Tuesday, December 2, while attempting to supply a mobile medical unit in South Sudan. Authorities were able to meet the aircraft on the ground and take the suspect into custody without further incident. The aircraft involved was one of the organization’s Cessna Grand Caravans that operates solely within Africa. The FAA has taken an unusually cooperative step towards pilot mental health reform, reducing the stabilization wait time for approved antidepressant medications from 6 months to just 3. Though this is, in itself, a basic change, it reflects years of industry efforts. Under the revised policy, airmen and air traffic control specialists may now submit Special Issuance medical packages after maintaining a stable dose of an approved antidepressant for at least three continuous months. T

From 2015 (YouTube Edition): One of Aviation’s Greatest Efforts Expands Our Ranks With Inspirational New Flyers

In this short, 2 ½ minute video, you’ll see and hear Charles Stites, who is the Executive Director of Able Flight, as he pins pilot wings on four new able flight students. You’ll also receive an introduction to an organization that takes pride in helping people succeed in ways that were not imagined before. Able Flight was created by pilots who believe that the life-changing experience of learning to fly is best shared, and they designed the Able Flight Scholarships to enable people with disabilities to pursue that experience. Members of the Able Flight Board of Directors and Advisory Board include a flight instructor, an Aviation Medical Examiner, a pilot who has provided thousands of free flights to young people, a veteran who flies his own plane with the aid of a prosthetic

...The Dynamic Rollover Was Likely Caused By The Front Seat Passenger Inadvertently Contacting The Cyclic Control While Turning To Speak With The Rear Seat Passenger

Analysis: The pilot reported that while on a local flight he noticed a squall line approaching and elected to return to the private strip from which he had departed. During the approach, rain intensity increased, and the wind began gusting to about 15 knots. The pilot landed the helicopter, lowered the collective, and reduced power. While the main rotor was turning about 420 rpm, the helicopter suddenly rolled over onto its right side, resulting in substantial damage to the main rotor system and fuselage. 

Aero Linx: Flying Physicians Association (FPA) FPA members are physician-pilots promoting safety, education and human interest projects relating to medicine and aviation. FPA organizes regional chapter meetings and an annual national meeting offering a unique combination of continuing medical education (CME), presentations by world-class aviation figures, and varied charitable and recreational opportunities.

Low Approach An approach over an airport or runway following an instrument approach or a VFR approach including the go-around maneuver where the pilot intentionally does not make contact with the runway. 

Good News, Bad News... It's ALL News

As the preeminent online aviation news resource out there, the editorial staff at Aero-News sees a large number of news releases. We look at all of them, and can usually tell whether something merits publishing consideration within reading the first couple of paragraphs. Often, however, a new and innovative product can be overlooked because of the very words written to promote it, by the very people who created it.

“There is no truth to any rumors that we are preparing to cease operations. It is business as usual at Spirit, and flights continue to operate normally... We are working closely with our debtor-in-possession providers and other key stakeholders on a wide variety of issues to support the financial needs and future of the business, as we have been throughout our restructuring process.” Source: From a statement from a Spirit spokeswoman, tryiung to ward off rumors of impending doom for the embattled airline.  

Industry Speaks Against Section 373 of the National Defense Authorization Act

Section 373 of the newly passed National Defense Authorization Act isn’t sitting well with much of the industry, sparking public frustration from the National Transportation Safety Board, the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), and Washington, D.C. officials. Their statements all serve as a warning to Congress, claiming that the provision undoing necessary safety protections put in place after January’s deadly mid-air collision.