One of two private aircraft that launched from Apatity Airport near Murmansk in the Russian Federation with filed flight plans to Arkhangelsk was apparently mistaken for a drone and was fired upon on September 11. The airspace surrounding the Murmansk and Apatity airports had been closed under a temporary flight restriction (TFR) due to Ukrainian drone activity. The EAA recently expressed its concern about a new FAA policy that would limit Phase I testing operations. The order, 8130.2K, is expected to take effect on October 27. Order 8130.2K cuts down on the number of airports permitted for Phase I flight testing. Boeing work
Buyer Intends to Turn the Space Into Office Buildings
Monroe’s First Air Field (W16), a 36-acre property housing six large hangars and a well-loved runway, has been a centerpiece for the city’s aviation community since 1967. Now, however, pilots are bracing for its demolition as a purchase from the Snohomish County Public Utility District moves in for the kill.
A Boeing C-17 Globemaster III stationed at South Carolina’s Joint Base Charleston experienced an unusual malfunction mid-flight around 4:00 pm on September 12. Its tail cone mysteriously detached and landed in a school parking lot, fortunately without causing injury or property damage. Officials from Joint Base Charleston have confirmed that an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the malfunction.
Follows Concern Over Unusually Low And Unsafe Approaches
Southwest Airlines is stepping up its safety precautions by mandating additional pilot training. This decision follows a string of incidents and an intensified FAA safety review, which highlighted weak spots in the carrier’s operations. Starting in November, Southwest pilots will be required to attend one-day training sessions at the airline's Dallas headquarters.
One of two private aircraft that launched from Apatity Airport near Murmansk in the Russian Federation with filed flight plans to Arkhangelsk was apparently mistaken for a drone and was fired upon on September 11. The airspace surrounding the Murmansk and Apatity airports had been closed under a temporary flight restriction (TFR) due to Ukrainian drone activity. The governor of the region, Andrei Chibis, reported that 3 drones had been shot down during this period and at about 4 p.m. Moscow time the TFR was lifted.
New Policy Would Limit Airports Allowed For Phase I Tests
The EAA recently expressed its concern about a new FAA policy that would limit Phase I testing operations. The order, 8130.2K, was issued on August 28 and is expected to take effect on October 27. The EAA went to the FAA in hopes of getting the policy reversed and has since received “favorable indications” of reconsideration.
Last month we described how the FAA sent notices of violations to 27 operators of uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) or drones, along with proposed fines totaling more than $341,000. The largest fine was $32,700 for an operator whose drone caused a Wesley Chapel, Florida, Sheriff’s Office helicopter pilot to terminate a nighttime search for a burglary suspect to avoid a mid-air collision. The drone was unregistered and did not have an anti-collision light as required at night and was flying above the 400-foot limit.
Vertical Aerospace, a Bristol-based technology company working towards zero-emissions aviation, recently completed Phase I testing of its VX4 prototype. They are now working with the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to start untethered tests. Phase I testing included multiple piloted tethered flights and ground runs for a total of 20 sorties at the Vertical Flight Test Center.
Enthusiasts Will Explore More Than 70 Exhibitors In Providence
The Flight Simulation Association (FSA) announced that its 2025 Flight Sim Expo will be held at the Rhode Island Convention Center June 27-29, 2025, and registration for the event will open December 14, 2024. Besides the actual Expo, on the Thursday before and Monday after the main event, guests will have access to a variety of aviation activities such as air traffic control facility tours, behind the scenes airport tours, museum visits, and more.
Enhancement For Innovative Solutions & Support’s Flat Panel Display System
Innovative Solutions & Support (IS&S), of Exton, PA, announced it has gained FAA certification for the Engine-Indicating and Crew Alerting System (EICAS) upgrade to its B757/B767 Flat Panel Display System (FPDS). The EICAS enhancement simplifies the flight deck, resolves issues with CRT obsolescence, and reduces weight by 40 pounds. It is also easily installed with minimum downtime and that installations have begun with initial customers.
Classic Kit Revived Under New Ownership
The BD-4C recently returned to the kit plane stage under the SureWings brand. This provides a more streamlined option for the traditional kit. The Bede Aviation BD-4 was first developed in 1968 by Jim Bede. The aircraft, designated as one of the first true “kitplanes,” is a four-seat, high-wing plane with a uniquely durable construction. The BD-4’s easy assembly and roomy cockpit make it a popular choice for builders. Bede Aviation, now run by Jim Bede’s son, made the decision to sell the design in July. Today, the BD-4's legacy continues under a new name: the BD-4C-S SureWing
ANN is enjoying the comradery, hospitality and cool vibes at the MidWest Sport Aviation Expo... but we’re also getting hit with one question... time after time. What the #$%^& is going on
Clouds Were At About 100 Ft Above The Ground When (Witness) Initially Heard The Airplane Fly By
On August 26, 2024, about 0931 central daylight time, a Piper PA28-140, N9626K, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Wayne, Nebraska. The private pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight originated from Norfolk Regional Airport (OFK), Norfolk, Nebraska, and departed to the northeast, presumably to return to Buffalo, Minnesota. The airplane had been hangered as a transient at OFK for the weekend. The FBO manager stated that the airplane was refueled by the pilot at the self-service fuel pump prior to departure but he did not observe the pilot
Aero Linx: The Flying Dentists Association
The Flying Dentists Association is a professional and social association devoted to continuing dental education combined with aviation and family fun. We believe there are skills common to dentistry and flying, and Flying Dentist Association members are more successful and better practitioners due to these skills. We earn a lot of dental and aviation continuing education and learn from each other, but it’s more than that: we are a family that shares the interests of dentistry and flying!
Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring (RAIM)
A technique whereby a civil GNSS receiver/processor determines the integrity of the GNSS navigation signals without reference to sensors or non-DoD integrity systems other than the receiver itself. This determination is achieved by a consistency check among redundant pseudorange measurements.
“Over the past few months, we have seen an increase in safety events. Meaningful work is underway to address these events and advance our safety.”
Source: From a Southwest memo... after Southwest Airlines is stepped up its safety precautions by mandating additional pilot training. This decision follows a string of incidents and an intensified FAA safety review, which highlighted weak spots in the carrier’s operations.
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