ALPA Says Economics of Single Pilot Operation Just Aren't Worth the Safety Cost

A recent update to the NTSB docket regarding a runway incursion added to the canon of recent near-hits in the industry, and the Air Line Pilots Association says it's a reminder of the vital importance of keeping two pilots on deck. Jason Ambrosi, president of the ALPA, took a moment to comment on the final investigative report regarding the near-collision between FedEx Flight 1432 and Southwest Flight 708 on February 4th, 2023. In addressing the ALPA board, Ambrosi used the incident as a perfect case study regarding the added safety margins of a two-pilot cockpit.

Video Shows Effect of Broadsiding a Boat While Accelerating to Takeoff Speed

A well-filmed clip began circulating over the weekend, showing a Harbour Air seaplane as it began its takeoff roll and collided with a boat. The aircraft was operating under Harbour Air, a seaplane operator in Vancouver, Canada. The firm is a common sight there, with a handful of single-engine, high-wing turboprops tethered to the dock in between a constant stream of revenue flights. Thankfully, there were no fatalities reported, between the 5 passengers on the aircraft and 4 on the boat. Some light injuries were reported, but were treated quickly since the collision was such an attention-grabbing affair. EMS was able to reach the scene in seconds, with occupants of both

Northern Carrier Jumps on the Battery Bandwagon

Harbour Air, an all-seaplane operator in Vancouver, announced that they would be offering a conversion program using some of their single-engine turboprops and magniX's Magni650 electric systems. They signed a letter of intent with Bel-Air Aviation, a sightseeing operator on the East Coast of Canada. Under the deal, they plan to buy 3 'eBeaver' conversions, in a deal that will replace their DHC-2's propulsion systems with the magniX equivalent. The completed eBeavers will grant about 60 to 75 minutes of absolute flight time and payload for up to 6 passengers, perfectly suited for operators touring the bays of Canada. 

Skyway Range Begins Planning for Traffic Early On

Skyway 36 is shaping up to be a handy UAV development location, boasting a 3,000-foot runway a short hop from downtown Tulsa, Oklahoma. As a part of the Skyway Range, a 114-nm UAV corridor, the Nation has been on the hunt for traffic management schemes, hoping to secure the local airspace and institute some kind of control scheme before it gets too crowded. They picked Flight Horizon to do the honors, an uncrewed traffic management system created by Vigilant Aerospace. The system will help bolster Skyway 36's case as the premier "airport for drones" and later AAM aircraft.

Also: Hubble On Pause, FedEx Pilots Picket, Nexus eVTOL, VFS Honors

The Rotax folks have published a Service Bulletin after issues were noted that may affect all R915i and R916i series engines. Rotax operators have reported occasional, isolated, cases a momentary slipping of the overload clutch -- which may lead to a slight exceedance of the maximum rpm limit, followed by the engine rpm quickly normalizing. As previously noted, the next Starship launch seems to be pending... soon. According to Elon's troops, the fourth flight test of Starship could launch as soon as June 6 (pending regulatory approval). The launch window will open as early as 0700CT. As

Addition of New Commercial Operators Fleshes Out Traffic Data Initiative

The FAA has added two more companies to its Space Data Integrator tool, adding to the public's situational awareness and helping the administration manage air traffic during space operations. Now, the FAA can reopen airspace in as little as 3 minutes after a launch or reentry vehicle safely transits a designated hazard area, obviating the need to keep large swathes of airspace open for a long period out of an abundance of caution. The SDI addition helps the FAA respond to anomalies, too, should something far outside expectations come to being.

With a Shift in the Industry Coming, Planners Seek to Call the Shots Before they Land

Airbus and Avincis have signed off on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to partner on the development of Advanced Air Mobility tech together, focusing largely on eVTOL operations in continental Europe. The MoU outlines each company's forte, with both working on defining a variety of mission profiles for eVTOL ops in Europe and other markets abroad. While it's a small step, it's a step regardless, and the industry knows that the eVTOL industry could prove to be just the shot in the arm small-time aircraft transportation needs. 

SkyReach Ends Bushcat Manufacturing

Jim Campbell, Editor-in-Chief of the Aero News Network, spoke with Aerosport President Daniela Knoll to get the scoop on where their Bushcat LSA stands in 2024. Rainbow SkyReach, the Bushcat factory abroad, announced that it would be ending production of the full aircraft kit and completed planes in early April 2024. They promise that they'll continue to supply spare parts to keep the fleet flying, which is some good news among bad. The South African operation is swimming in uncertain waters, but the community of operators at home and abroad can't be counted out just yet - the market can never keep a good design down for long

At A Low Altitude, The Pilot Activated The Parachute System

On June 1, 2024, about 1218 central daylight time, a Cirrus SR20 airplane, N275RS, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Aitkin, Minnesota. The pilot and a passenger were not injured, and one passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, during the landing, the airplane touched down, bounced, and the pilot elected to perform a go-around.

From 2018 (YouTube Version): Aero-News Talks With The Airplane's Builder

One of the many unique airplanes at AirVenture 2018 was a 1/3-scale B-17 bomber built by Jack Bally, who talked about the 17-year project with Aero-News at the show last summer. Bally said that the idea was born over "too much beer one night with a bunch of buddies" as they talked about what kind of airplane they could build that would be the only one of its kind. They settled on the B-17, because as far as they knew, there were no flying 4-engine scale models WWII airplanes. They had originally intended to build a B-24, but that airplane would not scale properly.

Aero Linx: The Air Charter Safety Alliance The group, called the Air Charter Safety Alliance, will raise awareness of illegal charter flights among potential customers, charter brokers, ministries of transport, and national aviation authorities. The coalition is already promoting best practices from the various associations, creating an online platform and has initiated an online educational campaign to make main stakeholders aware of the dangers of illegal charter.

Abeam

An aircraft is “abeam” a fix, point, or object when that fix, point, or object is approximately 90 degrees to the right or left of the aircraft track. Abeam indicates a general position rather than a precise point. 

“For months, ALPA has been sounding the alarm on the ongoing efforts by some aircraft manufacturers to remove pilots from the flight deck and replace them with automation. Today’s NTSB Board meeting highlighted the critical importance of having two highly trained, well-rested pilots on the flight deck. I commend the FedEx crew for their extraordinary efforts to avert disaster and thank the NTSB for its thorough investigation. I echo Chair Homendy’s comments about how the FedEx crew, working together and utilizing their extensive experience and all the resources available, saved the lives of the 128 people onboard Southwest Flight 708." Source:  Read More