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April 24, 2023

Airborne 04.24.23: Gogo Goes to Canada, Avidyne Updates, MCI Three-Packs!

Also: Nolen to Step Down, Task-Based Phase I, B-17 Wing Spar AD?, AEA LIVE Continues

Gogo Business Aviation has confirmed that it will expand its Gogo 5G network into Canada, providing additional coverage to business aviation operators in North America. Gogo 5G is expected to deliver ~25 Mbps on average, with peak speeds in the 75-80 Mbps range. It’s going to be an interesting year for Avidyne, with certification expected this year for the Avidyne Vantage12 for the first of a number of airframes, the ATLAS FMS for Lear 55 Series, the Helix Integrated Flightdeck which is set to go first into an S-76C++, and more... Mid-Continent Instruments and Avionics announced the imminent release of new, digital, standby, primary aircraft instrument packs featuring the company&r

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FAA Releases Policy Memo on Task-Based Phase I

Better to Do than Wait

In early March 2023, the FAA published guidelines for an optional task-based Phase I flight-testing program, thereby establishing an alternative to the standard 25 or 40-hour flight-testing requirement for amateur-built aircraft and replacing the hours-based testing period with a list of comprehensive and concise tasks. On 21 April, the FAA released a formal policy memorandum fully enabling the use of the task-based methodology.

Shipenko and Peresild Underwent Four Months of Training

On Thursday, 20 April 2023, Moscow exulted as the first feature film shot in space premiered in Russian cinemas—thereby beating a rival Hollywood project to the proverbial punch at an historical juncture characterized by renewed tensions between Russia and the Western world. Titled The Challenge, the Russian film tells the fictitious but plausible story of a surgeon dispatched to the International Space Station for purpose of saving an injured cosmonaut.

What Horrors May Come

On Friday, 21 April 2023, Acting FAA Administrator Billy Nolen announced in an intra-agency memo that he intends to leave his post within a period of time measurable in months. Nolen’s departure will exacerbate the paucity of stable leadership by which the FAA has been afflicted for over a year.

Stand-By In Style

On 24 April 2023, Mid-Continent Instruments and Avionics announced the imminent release of new, digital, standby, primary aircraft instrument packs featuring the company’s Flex attitude indicator, Flex counter drum encoding altimeter, and Flex airspeed indicator. All three instruments are supported by an Approved Model List (AML) Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) covering more than 180 aircraft models. The newly-offered instrument clusters are all-digital iterations of Mid-Continent’s popular two-inch standby package.

Aluminum Overcast and Yankee Lady Sidelined

EAA members remain about the business of repairing and restoring the association’s B-17 and are working closely with the FAA as the agency considers the best practical and regulatory paths by which to safely get the historic aircraft back into the air.

Airborne Affordable Flyers 04.13.23: Carbon Cub UL, NEW Rotax!, Junkers A50

Also: SnF Innovation Preview, Dynon Back To Normal?, CompAir 6.2 Makes Appearance, Full Stop Aviation

This year’s Sun ‘n Fun Aerospace Expo was VERY good to sport aviation aficionados... Here are a few of the major announcements we covered for Aero-News, the Sun ‘ N Fun Digital Daily, the SportPlane Resource Guide and the Sun ‘ N Fun Innovation Preview... The new Carbon Cub UL replaces the model's usual engine, the Titan CC340, with a Rotax 916 iS. The 160-hp Rotax enables the Cub to lift 2 adults with a full fuel load and a 'reasonable' amount of baggage at a 1,320 lb max takeoff weight. BRP-Rotax brought the latest and greatest in sp

Classic Aircraft Joining EAA Warbirds Display

An historic, fabric-covered Piper L-4 Cub, dubbed Rosie the Rocketer will be among the Warbirds featured at the EAA’s AirVenture Oshkosh 2023. The little L-4 Cub’s wartime exploits are astounding, comprising equal measures of madness, desperation, and American ingenuity.

Mid-Continent Instruments and Avionics and True Blue Power AEA2023 Booth #202

True Blue Power Introduces its Smallest, Lightest Lithium Main Ship Batteries for GA

True Blue Power Lithium Batteries will be on display in the True Blue Power and Mid-Continent Instruments and Avionics booth, #202, throughout AEA, April 24 – 27 at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.

Unscheduled Departure from Canada’s Busiest Airport

A container stocked with an estimated $15-million worth of gold and "other items of monetary value" has been purloined, filched, burgled, and otherwise peculated from a cargo facility on Toronto’s Pearson International Airport (YYZ).

SmartSky Networks Completes Additional STC for Dassault Falcon 900

SmartSky Networks announced the completion of 7 additional STCs for their Air-to-Ground network, which will soon be available through the affiliated dealer network. First up in the release queue should be an STC for the Dassault Falcon 2000, the most recent recipient of the brand’s 5G airborne connectivity. An example of the breed has been given one of SmartSky’s Flagship system installations, returning to service on April 15th.

From 2019 (YouTube Version): First Flight Conducted In Early 2019

SyberJet Aircraft recently completed the first flight of its SJ30i aircraft featuring SyberVision, an all-new cockpit based around the Honeywell Epic 2.0 avionics suite, new ergonomic enhancements, electronic standby attitude/heading display, and much more. SyberJet conducted the flight out of its Engineering and Product Development Center at the San Antonio International Airport (KSAT) and kicked off an 18-month certification test program which will culminate in an amended type certificate for the SJ30i and immediate subsequent deliveries thereafter.

NTSB Prelim: Zenith STOL CH701

Pilot’s Friends Commented That The Pilot Normally Flew Low And Followed The Same Route

On March 29, 2023, about 1853 central daylight time, a Zenith CH-701 airplane, N43414, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Oxford, Mississippi. The pilot was fatally injured, and the passenger was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.The manager of the New Albany/Union County Airport (M72) reported that airport surveillance video footage depicted the airplane departing about 1820.

Aero Linx: Lake Amphibian Club This website is created and sponsored by the Lake Amphibian Club, to help spread the word about these wonderful, versatile amphibians that can land just about anywhere, making traveling in small aircraft adventurous, safe, and just plain fun. The public portion of the site includes a tremendous amount of information about Lakes, that should help anyone interested in the planes learn more about them.

Blast Pad A surface adjacent to the ends of a runway provided to reduce the erosive effect of jet blast and propeller wash.

“Even the most robust airframes, such as the B-17 with its legendary durability, need proper care to ensure their safe operation for years to come. We all want to keep ‘em flying and keep ‘em flying safely. We at EAA have had excellent cooperation from the FAA as we jointly review the situation and find the best path forward.” Source: EAA vice president of advocacy and safety Sean Elliott, in comments made as the future of flying the mighty B-17 gets some attention from the FAA.