Coronavirus Uncertainty Forces Cancellation Of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2020

The continuing uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic has forced organizers of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2020 to cancel this year's event. The 68th annual Experimental Aircraft Association fly-in convention was scheduled to be held on July 20-26, 2020. "We looked at every possibility over the past six weeks as to how EAA could move forward with AirVenture this year, because it is such an important reunion for the aviation community," said Jack J. Pelton, EAA CEO and Chairman of the Board. "The current status in Wisconsin is that it is still under a stay at home order until May 26, which completely eliminates our ability to start grounds preparation May 1. Th

SpaceShipTwo Flies Unpowered in New Mexico Airspace

The successful completion of its first SpaceShipTwo test flight from Spaceport America has just taken place. This glide flight marks the inaugural solo flight of VSS Unity in New Mexico and as such is an important flight test milestone in preparation for commercial service. On SpaceShipTwo’s flight deck were Dave Mackay and CJ Sturckow who, together with the team in Mission Control, executed some of the key elements of a spaceflight profile. These included take-off and landing along with high-altitude release from the mothership, VMS Eve, which was piloted by Michael Masucci and Kelly Latimer.

First Test Airplane Has Logged Nearly 100 Hours Of Testing

It's not all bad news at Boeing, as the company conducted a productive and successful first flight of the second 777X airplane. Capt. Ted Grady, 777X project pilot, and Capt. Van Chaney, 777/777X chief pilot, flew for 2 hours and 58 minutes over Washington state before landing at Seattle's Boeing Field at 2:02 p.m. Pacific. Designated WH002, this airplane is the second of four in a dedicated flight test fleet and will test handling characteristics and other aspects of airplane performance. An array of equipment, sensors and monitoring devices throughout the cabin allows the onboard team to document and evaluate the airplane's response to test conditions in real time.

'Additional Equipage Requirements For Manned Aircraft Are Not Acceptable'

EAA has affirmed its support of the concept of UAS integration and the general concept of remote ID while stressing that the burden of sensing and avoiding traffic must remain on the UAS, not on manned aircraft, in response to an FAA Request for Information (RFI) this week. "EAA holds the position that UAS indeed must be integrated into the airspace, with no concessions given to UAS that would restrict manned aircraft in any operations that are presently allowed," the comments state. "Manned aircraft must also have priority over unmanned aircraft at all times and in all circumstances."

Model Fashioned After Sporty's Flightline Skyhawk

Sporty's die-cast Skyhawk model is a reminder for many pilots of their student pilot days. For others, the Skyhawk is simply a well-loved aircraft model. First flown in 1955, and still in production today, more Skyhawks have been built than any other aircraft. This 1:72 scale die-cast replica features detailed printed graphics, realistic landing gear, see-through cockpit, and a rotating propeller. An included display stand lets you customize the flight configuration. Officially licensed by Cessna, this model measures four inches long with a six-inch wingspan.

Product Development Continuing On Schedule

Speaking with Aero-News Editor in Chief Jim Campbell at AirVenture 2018, Tom Peghiny, President of Flight Design USA said that the company has been rebuilding since its acquisition by Lift Holdings, a company based in Germany. Peghiny said that the development of a four-place aircraft is on track, assisted by recent innovations in manufacturing materials, engines, avionics and the implementation of new Part 23 and CS 23 rules governing General Aviation. Lift Air is also the owner of Rotorvox, which manufactures a line of advanced gyroplanes. The Rotorvox has mi

PAX Are Also Required To Certify Their Health

Frontier Airlines has joined several other alirlines that will be requiring passengers to wear a face covering over their nose and mouth at the airline’s ticket counters, gate areas and onboard Frontier aircraft, effective May 8, 2020. Face coverings have been required for Frontier flight crews since April 13. “We want our passengers to feel comfortable when flying with us by protecting themselves and their fellow travelers as we all navigate the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Barry Biffle, CEO of Frontier Airlines. “This new measure is aligned with CDC recommendations and those of many municipalities within the U.S. that include wearing a face covering when out in public.”

Helps The Industry To Address The High Demand For Humanitarian Flights

Airbus is developing a modification for A330 and A350 family aircraft which will enable airlines to install freight pallets directly onto the cabin floor seat tracks, after removal of the economy-class seats. This solution will help with the airlines’ own business continuity, and also alleviate the global shortage of ‘belly-freight’ air cargo capacity due to the widespread grounding of long-haul aircraft in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, it helps the industry to address the high demand for humanitarian flights to transport large quantities of medical equipment and other supplies rapidly over large distances to where they are needed.

New Unmanned Aircraft Systems Collegiate Training Initiative Established

The FAA has announced a new Unmanned Aircraft Systems Collegiate Training Initiative (UAS-CTI) that allows educational institutions and the agency to work collaboratively with students who pursue careers in UAS. “Providing our nation’s youth with educational opportunities is a major commitment of this administration,” said FAA Administrator Stephen M. Dickson. “We see these institutions opening doors for students seeking careers in this exciting, growing field of aviation.”

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Estimated (EST) When used in NOTAMs “EST” is a contraction that is used by the issuing authority only when the condition is expected to return to service prior to the expiration time. Using “EST” lets the user know that this NOTAM has the possibility of returning to service earlier than the expiration time. Any NOTAM which includes an “EST” will be auto−expired at the designated expiration time.

“I’d like to congratulate our team for reaching this flight milestone, especially during these challenging times. I am grateful for the commitment displayed by everyone involved, not only in helping to support relief efforts in both New Mexico and California, but also for the dedication and creativity which will allow us to continue safely towards our goal of commercial launch.” Source: George Whitesides, CEO of Virgin Galactic and The Spaceship Company, commenting the first flight of their vehcle from New Mexico.