Congressional Caucus Quickly Finds Fans in Business Aviation Community

A dozen international Av-Biz stakeholders have responded to the establishment of the Congressional Sustainable Aviation Caucus, extending an olive branch on behalf of the "CLIMBING. FAST." initiative. “The organizations supporting the CLIMBING. FAST. advocacy initiative applaud Reps. Sharice Davids (D-03-Kan.) and Dusty Johnson (R-At-Large-SD) for their leadership in taking the important step to form the Congressional Sustainable Aviation Caucus, supporting business aviation’s path to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050."

Future Operations to Sport End-to-End Internet Connectivity Throughout the Trip

Volato has opted to go with SmartSky for its future inflight connectivity needs, selecting the SmartSky LITE system for its internet basis on a pair of aircraft to start. This round yields the point to SmartSky, netting them some added cachet as the purveyors to the largest HondaJet fleet around. “After evaluating the available options for Wi-Fi for our fleet, SmartSky demonstrated the capability to deliver the high-quality connected experience our customers expect,” said Mike Prachar, Chief Operating Officer of Volato. 

Shortly After Takeoff On Runway 34, The Airplane Struck A Hopper Trailer That Was Parked At And Oriented Parallel To The Departure End Of Runway

On May 28, 2024, about 1346 Pacific daylight time, a turbine-powered, Schweizer Aircraft Corp G-164B airplane, N3629Y, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Richvale, California. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. According to the operator, the airplane departed with 80 gallons of Jet-A turbine fuel onboard, and 345 gallons of agricultural material in the airplane’s hopper. The pilot was departing the Richvale Airport (07CL), Richvale, scheduled to spray over multiple agricultural fields. Shortly after takeoff on Runway 34, the airplane struck a hopper trailer that was parked at and oriented parallel to the departure end of runway 34 on the left side of the runway.

Enables Faster Response Time, Enhances Situational Awareness and Safety

uAvionix, based in Bigfork, Montana, announced that the FAA has approved the Oswego City Police Department’s Drone as First Responder (DFR) program for operations Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) without Visual Observers (VOs). The uAvionix Casia G ground-based Detect-and-Avoid (DAA) system was instrumental in gaining the approval. Casia G is an advanced ground-based DAA surveillance system that provides crucial airspace awareness to enhance situational awareness for drones operating beyond line of sight with no visual observers as well as any piloted aircraft within proximity of the drones.

Highlighting Progress in Sustainable Fuels

Explorer, environmentalist, and veteran circumnavigator, Bertrand Piccard, announced that he is set to pilot the liquid hydrogen-powered aircraft Climate Impulse on a non-stop globe-circling flight in 2028. The flight will track along the equator and take about nine days to complete. Along the way, Piccard will speak with the public, schools, and governments while seeking to inspire and educate audiences about using the earth’s resources as efficiently and sustainably as possible.

Archer Continues March Toward Commercialization

Archer Aviation’s second full-scale eVTOL aircraft Midnight successfully completed its transition flight on June 8. In the eVTOL industry, transition flight is a well-known benchmark that is difficult to achieve. It occurs when the aircraft takes off vertically like a helicopter (hover), transitions into wing-borne forward flight as the engines tilt forward and flies like an airplane. As it approaches its destination it decelerates, the engines tilt upward and the craft lands like a helicopter. The process is similar to that seen with the US military’s tiltrotor V-22 Osprey operation.

New Program Offers Education, Networking Benefits

A new partnership will add some extra niceties for those under the National Business Aviation Association's umbrella, providing Clay Lacy Aviation's services under a special pilot program for members. Clay Lacy will create NBAA operating memberships for its managed aircraft clientele, granting access and eligibility to a "variety of key benefits" from both partnered groups. Once in, members can gain entrance to premier events, networking opportunities, professional development programs, webinars, discounts, information resources and volunteer opportunities through the NBAA’s various committees and professional groups.