Holiday Wishes and Informational Pickets

On Monday, 26 September 2022, FedEx Express pilots held an informational picket in front of the New York Stock Exchange for purpose of expressing their collective frustrations over the ongoing lack of an equitable labor contract. The pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) have been negotiating for a new contract since May 2021. 

Lilium Jet On Pace for 2025 Certification

Lilium, the Munich-based, German aerospace concern, has announced that its Phoenix II eVTOL technology demonstrator aircraft achieved its first full transition from vertical, thrust-powered flight to horizontal, wing-borne, aerodynamic flight.  

Original October 1st Date Delayed Due to Hurricane Ian

By Ted Luebbers ANN expects to have to offer up more than a few announcements like this one as the state of Florida dries out and shakes out after the indignities of Hurricane Ian. As a result of the aforementioned Mother Nature temper tantrum, the Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 534 at the Leesburg International Airport had had to postpone their Fly-In/Drive-In scheduled for this coming Saturday October 1, 2022. The new date for the event will be Saturday October 29, 2022 and they will hope for a much better weather situation.

Oh, the Humanity!

H2 Clipper, Inc., an aerospace and alternative energy company developing hydrogen-powered airships and hydrogen infrastructure, has announced it’s been granted US Patent 11,396,356 B2 by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The patent, entitled Method and Apparatus for Lighter-Than-Air Airship with Improved Structure and Delivery System, incorporates an evolved structural design for operating H2 Clipper’s Pipeline-in-the-Sky hydrogen-powered airships. Specifically, the patent addresses autonomous and remotely piloted operation of subject airships.

Also: Chattahoochee Tech Aviation Academy, Annual Space Day, EAA Chapter 534, RAA on FAA Decision

The FAA has denied Republic Airways’s request to halve the flight time requirements for graduates of its Leadership In Flight Training (LIFT) Academy—a Part 141 flight-school operated by the Indianapolis-based air-carrier. In its decision, the FAA asserted: “After full consideration of Republic’s petition for exemption and the public comments, the FAA has determined that the relief requested is not in the public interest and would adversely affect safety.” Top Aces Corp has announced its selection for the US Air Force Combat A

Croatia’s Ministry of Interior to Take 2023 Delivery of Two Ships

Bell Textron Inc. has announced the signing of a purchase agreement by which two Subaru Bell 412EPX helicopters will be delivered to the Republic of Croatia’s Ministry of Interior. The deal marks the first European purchase of Subaru Bell’s 412EPX. The two helicopters are slated to be delivered in October 2023.

Drone Infrastructure Inspection Grant Act

AMA has called attention to actions by the House of Representatives... who recently passed HR 5315, the Drone Infrastructure Inspection Grant Act. The bill passed out of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in May with a 54-4 vote, before being sent to a full House vote on September 14, 2022. It is not clear if the Senate will vote on a similar bill this year or if it will be incorporated into FAA Reauthorization in 2023.

787-9 to Replace Air-Carrier’s A330-300s

Boeing and China Airlines, the state-owned flag carrier of the People’s Republic of China,  have announced the finalization of an order for up to 24 787 Dreamliners with which the airline intends to contemporaneously expand its passenger and cargo operations. The deal includes firm orders for 16 787-9 aircraft—the longest-legged and best-selling model of Boeing’s long-range 787 family—and options for eight additional planes. 

Of Drones and Electric Delivery Bikes

The Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences has partnered with Wingcopter—the German maker of eVTOL delivery-drones—to test the logistics, economics, and general feasibility of delivering consumer-goods to rural residents via a system comprising Wingcopter’s drones, and a fleet of electric cargo bikes. Flights and rides are scheduled to commence in the west-central German state of Hesse in the spring of 2023.

From 2014 (YouTube Version): An Exercise In Elegant Simplicity... AND Affordable Fun!

Model airplanes and ultralights are close cousins, and you’ll see what we mean by that in this video. ANN CEO and Editor-In-Chief, Jim Campbell took the opportunity to talk with Brian Carpenter while at the U.S. Sport Aviation Expo 2014. Carpenter’s Rainbow Aviation Services specializes in sport pilot training but they got their start with ultralights. Carpenter is convinced that ultralights still represent the perfect first step into piloti

Previous Owner Offered To Stay In The Airplane So The Pilot Could Perform Practice Takeoffs-And-Landings

On August 20, 2022, about 1331 central daylight time, a Smyth Sidewinder TD, N60JV, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Wichita Falls, Texas. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The airplane’s previous owner stated that he sold the airplane to the pilot on the morning of the accident. The pilot’s friend dropped him off in Wichita Falls around 0900 and he was planning to fly the airplane to his home airport in Arkansas.

Aero Linx: IrishAirPics Since 2002 we have visited over 40 countries, photographing aircraft and the people who work with them. We have attended air shows & exercises, visited air bases & museums, photographing everything from light aircraft to fast jets and jetliners, both from the ground and air-to-air. We currently have 168 photo reports online... IrishAirPics.com is based in Galway, Ireland.

Landing Minimums The minimum visibility prescribed for landing a civil aircraft while using an instrument approach procedure. The minimum applies with other limitations set forth in 14 CFR Part 91 with respect to the Minimum Descent Altitude (MDA) or Decision Height (DH) prescribed in the instrument approach procedures as follows: a. Straight-in landing minimums. A statement of MDA and visibility, or DH and visibility, required for a straight-in landing on a specified runway, or b. Circling minimums. A statement of MDA and visibility required for the circle-to-land maneuver. Note: Descent below the MDA or DH must meet the conditions state