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September 28, 2020

Airborne 09.28.20: Panthera Flt Test, Arsenal of Democracy, ZeroAvia Pax Flt

Also: NASA Polishes Image, Drone Airspace Access, All-Electric Ecomax Heli, 1st Brazilian Gripen

One of the efforts ANN and Jim Campbell are best known for, are our flight test reports. However; the amount of work required to keep ANN on the straight and level hasn’t allowed us to do any for a while. Further; we’ve been aggressively pursuing a new plan for how to conduct them in terms of the many media options currently available. Well... for now, the highly detailed and long-awaited flight test report on the Pipistrel Panthera is now online with parts 1 and 2, so far, of the massive 8000 word 6-part report. The rest of the report will be unveiled in portions every few days. Shortly thereafter; we will also produce a video report once we have finalized our vide

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Airborne 09.25.20: 1000th TBM, Airbus Reveals ZEROe, Colyer 'Acemaker' T-33

Also: More Boeing 737-800BCFs, Bell 505 Logs 50,000 Hrs, London's ITPS, Embraer 250th

It's quite the milestone... The 1,000th TBM has rolled out from Daher’s Tarbes, France final assembly line, in this case a TBM 940 version, destined for an owner/operator in the United States. Nicolas Chabbert, the Senior Vice President of Daher’s Aircraft Division, added: “Looking ahead to the next 1,000 TBMs, we maintain our firm commitment to continue delivering aircraft that provide the optimum combination of speed and operational efficiency for owners and operators, along with the highest levels

The Aircraft Went Down In Open Field

It's been a horrific year for the airshow industry as much of the annual shows were cancelled due to the COVID crisis... but that pales in comparison to the worst news imaginable... the loss of a member of the overtly tight-knit airshow community. ANN regrets to note that it has confirmed the death of Team Rocket Aerobatics' Ken Fowler, along with passenger Hannalei Eder. Both were killed when Fowler's Harmon Rocket II (C-FZXS) went down 13 miles NW of Thorsby, AB Canada, Saturday afternoon. The aircraft went down in open field on a flight from Rocky Mountain House airstrip to an unknown destination. The aircraft was consumed by fire after impact. There is no witness data or other information to explain any asp

Klyde Gets Back On The Flight Schedule

FMI: www.klydemorris.com

Coast Guard Crew Rescues 2 From Bodega Bay Cliffside

It's been a busy weekend for the US Coast Guard... but then again, that's not that unusual. The Coast Guard rescued two men who were stranded on the side of a cliff near Bodega Bay Friday evening. Coast Guard Sector San Francisco watchstanders received notification from Coast Guard Station Bodega Bay who received a report from a friend of one of the men at 4:45 p.m. reporting that his friend’s vessel had capsized near Bodega Bay. Watchstanders launched a Coast Guard Station Bodega Bay 47-foot Motor Life Boat crew and a Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew.

VFS Announces $5,000 In Prizes For New VTOL Drone Competition

The Vertical Flight Society (VFS) is letting lose with details of the inaugural Design-Build-Vertical Flight (DBVF) Student Competition. This electric-powered remote-control vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) competition seeks to encourage interest in unmanned aircraft technology, and small air vehicle design and fabrication. The competition is designed to develop hands-on skills and familiarization with electric VTOL and urban air mobility (UAM) technology at the university student level and prepare the next generation of engineers and leaders to push the limits of this exciting technology into the future.

Aero-TV: Profiles in Aviation - Aaron Singer’s Nanchang CJ-6A

From 2009: From China to Wittman Field, Singer Introduces the Nanchang CJ-6A

From 1954 until 1958, the Nanchang Aircraft Factory build the Soviet Yak-18 under license as the CJ-5; however, with increasing advancements in jet pilot training, Chinese engineers quickly realized that improvements to the performance and design would be necessary in order to meet the needs of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force. Starting in 1957, two aeronautical engineers, Bushi Cheng and Lin Jiahua, began intensive revisions to the basic Yak-18 in order to develop a better-suited trainer aircraft

Uses Gasoline And Battery-Powered System To Recharge Batteries While In Flight

Atlanta-based drone manufacturer Sonin Hybrid has just unveiled a 140MPH+ drone (with FAA waiver) built exclusively for first responders. The Sonin Hybrid Recruit has a fully-equipped flight time over three hours and can reach speeds over three times faster than most of the fastest commercial drones currently available. Despite the number of police, firefighters, and government officials flying drones as part of their duty to protect and serve, few drones are designed for first responders. The limitations of battery-powered drones prevent first responders from executing longer missions and carrying additional equipment that can extend their capabilities.

The Guild of Air Traffic Control Officers Takes Issue

The GATCO Executive Board has published a statement in which they state that they are, "shocked and concerned by the decision NATS has taken to terminate the training of a significant number (122) of Trainee Air Traffic Controllers (TATCs) after a review of its initial training organization structure. Those trainees are now under threat of redundancy or redeployment. A number of those TATCs were within two weeks of completing their ab-initio training and receiving their student Air Traffic Control (ATC) licenses."

Advised The Controller That He Was Experiencing A Fuel Issue And Needed To Land

On September 11, 2020, about 0252 central daylight time, a Beech A36, N74HS, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near McKellar-Spies Regional Airport (MKL), Jackson, Tennessee. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Review of a surveillance video at Dickson Municipal Airport (M02), Dickson, Tennessee, revealed that the accident airplane arrived on September 10, 2020 about 2041. The airplane taxied to the fuel farm. The pilot exited the airplane and walked to the fuel pump. He then returned to the airplane and taxied to the parking area. The fuel farm was opera

AD 2020-20-06 Requires Repetitive Inspections Of Certain Cyclic And Collective Assembly Bearings

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited (BHTC) Model 429 helicopters. This AD requires repetitive inspections of certain cyclic and collective assembly bearings. This AD was prompted by reports that precipitation can lead to reduced effectiveness of the grease in the bearings. The actions of this AD are intended to address an unsafe condition on these products. This AD is effective October 30, 2020.

Aero Linx: The Guild of Air Traffic Control Officers GATCO is a professional body which represents the professional interests and opinions of those in the air traffic management profession. Membership is open to civil or military air traffic controllers, flight information service officers, aerospace battle managers (weapons) and anyone involved in the air traffic management support including non operational positions. GATCO members are employed at units from small general aviation and military airfields to major international airports and en-route centres. Members also include UK licensed controllers working abroad.

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (09.28.20): High Speed Taxiway

High Speed Taxiway A long radius taxiway designed and provided with lighting or marking to define the path of aircraft, traveling at high speed (up to 60 knots), from the runway center to a point on the center of a taxiway. Also referred to as long radius exit or turn-off taxiway. The high speed taxiway is designed to expedite aircraft turning off the runway after landing, thus reducing runway occupancy time.

"...shocked and concerned by the decision NATS has taken to terminate the training of a significant number (122) of Trainee Air Traffic Controllers (TATCs) after a review of its initial training organization structure. Those trainees are now under threat of redundancy or redeployment. A number of those TATCs were within two weeks of completing their ab-initio training and receiving their student Air Traffic Control (ATC) licenses." Source: From a statement published by the Guild of Air Traffic Control Officers Executive Board, expressing their concern over NAYS' decision to terminate over 100 Air Traffic Controllers (TATCs).