Also: SkyReach Parts Support, Piper Service Ctr, Airliner Near-Miss, Airshow London
The Judge overseeing Icon's convoluted Chapter 11 process has approved $9 million in Chapter 11 financing and set a June asset auction for the Icon A5 Program -- and said that objections had apparently been resolved (for the moment) by shareholders who claimed (not surprisingly) that Icon was being sold to an 'insider.' Judge Craig T. Goldblatt gave final approval to Icon's (DIP) debtor-in-possession financing and approved the sales schedule... but has yet to approve that previously disclosed stalking horse bidder. On April 12, 2024, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky sentenced Morgan J. Wiljanen, former helicopter pilot for Air Evac EMS, Inc., to 8 months of incarceration, 18 months of supervised release, 4 months of home detention, and a $100 special assessment. In December 2023, Wiljanen pleaded guilty to operating an air common carrier while under the influence of alcohol. Bell Textron showed off its new Bell 429 testbed aircraft for the ALFA project, showing the way forward for an industry eager to advance. All this -- and MORE in today's episode of Airborne-Unlimited!!!
Airborne 05.10.24 is chock full of info in this Daily News Episode, Friday, May 10th, 2024... Presented by Aero-TV veteran videographer and Airborne Host Holland Lee. Holland is supported by ANN Chief Videographer Nathan Cremisino, as well as ANN CEO/Editor-In-Chief Jim Campbell. This episode covers:
Sink Or Swim... Icon Gets June Auction Date
Beyond Foolish... MedEvac Pilot Sentenced For 'FUI'
Bell Unveils ALFA Testbed
SkyReach Reiterates Parts Support For BushCat
Piper Approves New Service Center in France
NTSB to Conduct Hearing On TX Airliner Near-Miss
Airshow London Wins Popularity Contest
Get Comprehensive, Real-Time, 24/7 coverage of the latest aviation and aerospace stories anytime, at aero-news.net. And be sure to join us again tomorrow, for the next edition of "Airborne Unlimited" here on Aero-TV. Thanks for watching. See you, again, tomorrow!
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 is the case with all developmental testing, the schedule is dynamic and likely to change. PlaneTags has finished up a run of plates using some of the castoff skins of the upper wings from the Experimental Aviation Association's B-17 Aluminum Overcast. The skins were taken off in March of 2014, when the aircraft was overhauled and stripped down for a much needed refurb. All this -- and MORE in today's episode of Airborne-Unlimited!!!
Airborne 05.31.24: 1Q GA Sales, 200th ALTO LSA, Spitfire Grounding
Also: NATA CEO In Legal Dilemma, WestJet Encore Settle, Drone Bill H.R. 8416, USN Jet Trainer
GAMA released their 1Q/24 GA Aircraft Shipment and Billing Report -- with mostly mixed news. The results for the first three months of 2024 when compared to the same period in 2023, show deliveries were flat for piston airplanes and piston helicopters, decreased for turboprops and turbine helicopters, and increased for business jets. Total aircraft billings were up 3.2% at $4.7 billion. Czech sportplane manufacturer Direct Fly has finished delivering its 200th ALTO NG, the latest iteration of their 600-kg sportplane. The Alto was previously offered as the Alto 912 TG model, sporting some light tweaks and changes for improved stiffness and durability. One such modification added additional engine space up front, shifting the weight a tad to prevent the TG's habit of tail standing when disembarking. The newer ones also make full use of the 15-kg baggage compartment... A tragic crash involving a Royal Air Force Spitfire has led to the grounding of the fleet. The accident took place on May 25th, during an early afternoon flight using a Battle of Britain Memorial Flight aircraft. So far, not much has been released regarding the accident, which involved only the single aircraft, and ended in a field near Coningsby. Investigations are underway to figure out the cause. All this -- and MORE in today's episode of Airborne-Unlimited!!!
Airborne 05.30.24: High Time B29 Pilot, KLAL Teams With ACE, CHOPPER COPS
Also: Midnight eVTOL Certification, Falcon 9 Record, Pro Line Fusion, Europa Clipper
The warbird community celebrated Mark Novak, Chief Pilot of their B-29 'Doc', and his accomplishment of racking up 500 hours in the vintage bomber. On top of that, Novak built up more than 300 hours of time flying the other B-29 'Fifi', making him the modern era's most experienced B-29 pilot. The Airspace Center for Excellence has been given the blessing to begin operating Lakeland Linder International Airport's first concessions store, riding on the tail of new commercial service by Avelo Airlines. Evidently, there weren't too many bidders for the opportunity, with most in the area eschewing what they believed is a non-starter. The approving body came by way of Lakeland commissioners, who voted unanimously to approve the Center's lease agreement. If you've been looking for exciting aviation oriented programming, a new reality series just MAY do the trick. Paramount+ has announced the June 18 launch of CHOPPER COPS, a new docuseries that takes viewers into the cockpit of an elite Florida police team of helicopter pilots. They’re just north of Disney World, but to the men and women of the Marion County Sheriff’s Department, the 1,600 square-mile area they patrol is no theme park. All this -- and MORE in today's episode of Airborne-Unlimited!!!
Airborne-Flight Training 05.29.24: Coe College, NetJets Issues, Wayman Financing
Also: VA Scholarships, Certification Standards, 'Staff the Towers', Women in Aviation Advisory
In partnership with Revv Aviation and the Eastern Iowa Airport (CID), Coe College is opening a new flight school and aviation management program. Those interested in becoming a professional pilot can complete their certification while enrolled as students within Coe's new aviation management concentration. Just as they got themselves a new contract, things spiraled out of control as the NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots claimed, "Managers use intimidation, aggressive interrogation tactics to silence the Union's voice." Scarcely a few weeks passed since the parties sat down at the bargaining table and inked a 5-year pilot contract, something all expected would put the very acrimonious relationship on the back burner until time for negotiations arose anew. Stratus Financial and Wayman Aviation Academy have joined forces to deliver customized financing that are reportedly tailored specifically for Wayman Aviation Academy's students. Wayman Aviation Academy is a flight school based in Miami, Florida, specializing in comprehensive pilot training programs. All this -- and MORE in today's episode of Airborne!!!
Also: uAvionix AV-Link, F-16 Viper Demo, TN National Guard, 'Staff the Towers'
A Saturday afternoon jump run, originating from SkyDive Kansas City, went bad when it was reported that, "a Skydiver premature parachute deployment at 14,000 msl damag(ed) the tail section." The turbine-upgraded Cessna 206, N29173, was abandoned by the pilot, who made a safe and successful jump, though the aircraft is a total loss. The parachute-equipped jump pilot exited the aircraft after all six jumpers had cleared the aircraft. The fourth flight test of Starship could launch as soon as June 5, pending regulatory approval. SpaceX notes that Starship’s third flight test made tremendous strides towards a future of rapidly reliable reusable rockets with the test completing several exciting firsts, including the first Starship reentry from space, the first ever opening and closing of Starship’s payload door in space, and a successful propellant transfer demonstration. There's been a swath of accidents featuring Cirrus's much-maligned single-engine jet aircraft... and again, it seems that the bird is having problems on the ground... a lot of problems. On Thursday, May 23rd, Cirrus SF50, N83MR, experienced a brake failure while taxiing to the ramp, veering off the runway and striking a runway light. Two days earlier, another SF50 demonstrated why it is not a good seaplane when N18YF, Vision Jet G2+ Xi, experienced an apparent taxiway excursion and came to rest in the water... All this -- and MORE in today's episode of Airborne-Unlimited!!!
Airborne 05.24.24: NPS Kills Rushmore Flyover, VAI v NYC, New Reno Home-Roswell!
Also: Samson Sky, CAF Great Plains Wing, New Cert Standards, Flying Start Day
There are, occasionally, blisteringly dunderheaded bits of governmental incompetence to be found with increasing regularity... but the most recent move by the Nat'l Parks Service leaves us shaking our heads and a bit ashamed of Uncle Sam. The leaders of the Arsenal of Democracy consortium had planned to execute a World War II aircraft flyover at Mount Rushmore on Memorial Day to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day. It would have been grand... and NOT a sight to miss. Vertical Aviation International is worried that an NYC helicopter port is in danger of permanent closure courtesy of a recently introduced piece of legislation. The legislation, A.10224/S.9408 by Simone & Hoylman, would permanently close the West 30th Street Heliport (KJRA) within New York City's Hudson River Park. The Reno Air Racing Association (RARA) has selected Roswell, NM as the new home of the National Championship Air Races (NCAR). Following a lengthy selection process by RARA, and after demonstrating its commitment to carry forward this one-of-a-kind event, Roswell has been chosen to host the return of the air races in 2025. The event will continue to feature seven classes of racing, static displays, military demonstrations and more. All this -- and MORE in today's episode of Airborne-Unlimited!!!
Airborne 05.20.24: Van's BK Exit, Bud Anderson, Air Race Classic
Also: ALPA Warns, Aviation Meteorology Reference, Jennifer Homendy Re-Ups, CAF Tampa Bay
The court has approved Van's Aircraft's bankruptcy reorganization plans, settling a stressful period for the company with some pretty optimistic news. Van's Aircraft filed its Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization back in March, setting up their ideal path to recovery amidst some very expensive challenges. One of the remaining icons of the World War II fighter pilot community has gone west... Bud Anderson, at the age of 102. Brig. Gen. Bud Anderson shot down 16 German planes over Europe in World War II and became America's last living triple ace, passing away Friday at home in Auburn, Calif. Women pilots from across the United States and around the world will take off Tuesday, June 18, from Southern Illinois Airport in Carbondale, Illinois, for a 2,610-statute mile competition across 11 states that ends Friday, June 21, at Northern Colorado Regional Airport in Loveland, Colorado. All this -- and MORE in today's episode of Airborne-Unlimited!!!
Also: New Shepard Targets May 19th, Gulfstream G700, Citation Ascend, FAA Reauth
Hummingbird's 300L helicopter was awarded "Best Helicopter" at the recent Sun 'n Fun fly-in, garnering some serious bragging rights for the design. Vertical Aviation took a brief moment to make a little victory lap for their Hummingbird 300L, noting its popularity around the show. Their display aircraft was completed by Frank McMullan and Vic Syracuse, who did a great job with a multi-layer black, red, and gold striped livery. It's a nice showing for a fresh addition to the world of kit helicopters. Hybrid eVTOL manufacturer, or better said, developer, showed off its latest flight test using a smaller scaled version of its high-wing Cavorite X5. The short tethered test flight shows the Cavorite take off from a standstill, lifting off and testing its behavior as it gently moves through a handful of power settings and control checks. NASA, Boeing, and ULA (United Launch Alliance) teams continue working remaining open tasks in preparation for the agency’s Boeing Crew Flight Test to the ISS. The teams now are targeting a launch date of no earlier than 4:43 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, May 21, to complete additional testing. All this -- and MORE in today's episode of Airborne-Unlimited!!!
Airborne Affordable Flyers 05.16.24: PRA Runway, Wag-Aero Sold, Young Eagles
Also: Paramotor Champ's, Electric Ultralight, ICON BK Update, Burt Rutan at Oshkosh!
The Popular Rotorcraft Association is reaching out for help in rebuilding their private runway in Mentone, IN -- the home of the PRA, itself. "We are reaching out to you today on behalf of the Popular Rotorcraft Association because we need your help. We are dangerously close to losing a critical resource that if lost, will have a negative and lasting effect on the gyro community..." An interesting surprise occurred this week as Wag-Aero customers logged on to their site in order to order a few things...no Wag-Aero. Instead, the site was redirected to Aircraft Spruce, which has apparently bought out the once popular Wag-Aero operations shortly after the same operation divested itself of its interest in Leading Edge Air Foils. The Young Eagles Program has been one of the Experimental Aviation Association's best tools in their repertoire when it comes to fostering a continued culture of aviation, but it doesn't come for cheap. The EAA has only been able to keep it running with the blessing of its insurers, which brings about all the usual restrictions underwriters require. All this -- and MORE in today's episode of Airborne!!!
Also: Flt School Security, G600 Steep-Approach, Honduran Aid, PW545D Cert
Two aircraft performing at the Fort Lauderdale Air Show clipped wings during a routine last Sunday, spooking onlookers. The aircraft were performing as a part of the Polaris Ghost Squadron, a team of urban-camo milsurplus jets hailing from across Eastern Europe. The Polaris Ghost Squadron features an eye-catching MiG-29, a trio of Alpha Jets, and a quartet of Albatros L39s. The US Air Force won't be bringing back a damaged B-2A Spirit bomber, further whittling away at the irreplaceable fleet of strategic aircraft. The plane in question was contrasted against one that had a minor crash in 2010. That aircraft was shipped back to Northrop Grumman for repair. The latest incident won't see the same amount of TLC, however, as a recent Force Structure Report showed that the B-2 fleet would head into 2025 one plane short. Sierra Space's Dream Chaser has been put through the wringer at NASA's Glenn Armstrong Test Facility in Ohio, but with testing passed, it will soon head down to its launch site in Florida. All this -- and MORE in today's episode of Airborne-Unlimited!!!
UVify is claiming a new Guinness World Record for the most unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) airborne simultaneously. This event took place in Songdo, Korea, where UVify orchestrated a display of 5,293 IFO drones that lit up the night sky. The fleet of IFO drones created intricate patterns and visuals above the crowd, showcasing UVify's programming and drone control technology. The record-breaking feat exceeded the previous record. Airbus has completed the acquisition of US-based Aerovel and its unmanned aerial system (UAS), Flexrotor. Flexrotor is a small tactical unmanned aerial system designed for intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions at sea and over land. The AAIB has disclosed its findings after an accident befell an unmanned, remotely pilots test vehicle which suffered a forced landing following power unit failure, at the Cotswold Airport (Kemble), Gloucestershire on 9 August 2023. All this -- and MORE in today's episode of Airborne-NextGen!!!
Also: 'Space Weather', USAF Rescue, Atlanta Warbirds, WestJet Encore Pilots Vote NO
The Perris SkyDive DC-9 is ALIVE! Following initial test flighta and practice landings that were flown by a flight crew that had to be brought in all the way from Florida, the California DZ put the DC9 back in service and made at least three jump runs on Saturday, taking about 60 jumpers each to about 15K'. An interesting surprise occurred this week as Wag-Aero customers logged on to their site in order to order a few things...no Wag-Aero. Instead, the site was redirected to Aircraft Spruce, which has apparently bought out the once popular Wag-Aero operations shortly after the same operation divested itself of its interest in Leading Edge Air Foils. The AAIB has disclosed its findings after an accident befell an unmanned, remotely pilots test vehicle which suffered a forced landing following power unit failure, at the Cotswold Airport (Kemble), Gloucestershire on 9 August 2023. The report notes that, "The aircraft was being flown by a remote pilot on a test flight at 30 ft agl when a propeller blade detached from the electric propulsion unit 3 forward motor due to a failure of the adhesive bond between the propeller blade sheath and spar..." All this -- and MORE in today's episode of Airborne-Unlimited!!!
Airborne-Flight Training 06.13.24: Abandoned Students, Nolinor C172, Simming
Also: USN Jet Returns, MD530F Special Missions, PAL Aerospace, FedEx Picket
Students of Atlantis Aviation Flight school are apparently either out the total sum of their prepaid flight training, or waiting on probate to get on with their careers, after the owners of the school died in an aircraft accident last March. Several students caught the attention of local news, sharing their plight with reporters in the hopes of continuing on with their training. Atlantis Aviation is, or was, a flight school offering students the usual zero-to-hero flight training experience in addition to the standard Part 61 experience. Nolinor Aviation has acquired a second Cessna 172 for its Become a Pilot program. This Cessna 172 (C-172), rich in history and carefully restored, will be made available to Nolinor Aviation employees, offering an exceptional pilot training opportunity. The Flight Simulation Association completed a survey of pilots and air traffic controllers across the country, looking to quantify the exact impact of home-based flight simulation on their resulting training. Now, with a plethora of free (but unvetted, to the consternation of the industry at large) information available online, it's not too surprising that kids today are seeing more benefits than those of old. All this -- and MORE in today's episode of Airborne!!!
Suk Min Choi, known to his million-plus YouTube subscribers as Alex Choi, has been arrested and faces federal charges for “causing the placement of an explosive or incendiary device on an aircraft.” The charges result from Choi’s allegedly being the mastermind behind a scheme to create a video showing a Lamborghini speeding and doing donuts on a dry lake bed as passengers in a low-flying helicopter shoot fireworks aimed at the car. 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... Airservices Australia logged a single resident's noise complaints in Perth more than 20,700 times throughout 2023, accounting for more than half of the entire country's noise reports in all. She wasn't the only reporter in the country with such an outsized effect, with the runner-up accounting for 4,071 complaints throughout the year. All this -- and MORE in today's episode of Airborne-Unlimited!!!
Airborne-NextGen 06.04.24: Drone Bill HR 8416, Pivotal-USAF, Gray Eagle
Also: Starship Set To Launch, Nexus eVTOL, Merlin, SPRINT X-Plane
The Drone industry has raised its hackles regarding the Drones for First Responders Act introduced by Congressional rep Elise Stefanik, describing it as a boon to the EMS/Fire/Police crowd at the expense of the recreational and commercial drone industries. Pivotal signed an 'Other Transaction Authority' contract with the US Air Force and its AFWERX Agility Prime program, providing them with access to testing facilities, segregated airspace, and "expert resources" for a 2-year term. The firm sees the contract as a very solid step in the right direction, where they'll be able to make the best use of government testing facilities and space to keep up developmental pace on their Helix eVTOL. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, in many ways America's flagship combat UAV manufacturer, has finished up durability testing on a new 200-hp engine. The firm calls it the "Heavy Fuel Engine (HFE) 2.0", designed to provide 2,500 hours between overhauls and chug along for long flights with nary a complaint. All this -- and MORE in today's episode of Airborne-NextGen!!!
