Hide/Show Archive Navigation.

All News

June 12, 2020

Airborne 06.12.20: CERTIFIED Electric Pipistrel, Airflow eSTOL, 2020 AMA Nats

Also: Shadin Approved on R66, DeLand Sport Aviation Showcase, CAP Buys More Cessnas, 400th V-22 Osprey

Though expected several months ago, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency has finally announced the certification of an electric airplane, the Pipistrel Velis Electro, the first type certification world-wide of a fully electric aircraft and an important milestone in the quest for environmentally sustainable aviation. The Velis Electro is a two-seater aircraft intended primarily for pilot training. Slovenia-based Pipistrel is a leading small aircraft designer and manufacturer, specialised in energy-efficient and affordable high-performance aircraft. The Velis Electro joins a product line-up of similar, but conventionally powered, aircraft. Airflow is developing their first e

More Videos

Airborne 06.08.20: CA Allows Tele-Medicals!, Icon Sinking, SnF Rent Deal

Also: Layoffs At Bombardier, DoT Modifies June 3 China Order, Aerox and Aithre Team Up, Amazon Air Expands

Transport Canada has announced temporary provisions for the renewal of medical certificates permitting the use of virtual visits... Government documents note that the program has resulted from the need, "... to adopt measures in the public interest to reduce the immediate and longer-term regulatory demand on healthcare resources in Canada following the declaration of a pandemic outbreak of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020 and reduce the unnecessary ex

Spirit Believes There Will Be A Reduction To Spirit's 2020 737 MAX Production Plan

The long-awaited re-emergence of the 737MAX from FAA pergatory is going to take a bit longer... so says Boeing contractor, Spirit AeroSystems. On June 4, 2020, Spirit reported that they received a letter from Boeing directing Spirit to pause additional work on four 737 MAX shipsets and avoid starting production on sixteen 737 MAX shipsets to be delivered in 2020, until otherwise directed by Boeing, in order to support Boeing's alignment of near-term delivery schedules to its customers' needs in light of COVID-19's impact on air travel and airline operations, and in order to mitigate the expenditure of potential unnecessary production costs.

All-Electric eVTOL Aircraft, Cora, Returns To Flight

Wisk's Cora has resumed flight testing in both the U.S. and in New Zealand. The flight tests will evaluate the performance of the aircraft in a real world environment, while collecting data that will help inform the further development, operation, safety features and certification of the aircraft. “We are excited to resume test flights following a brief pause due to COVID-19,” said Gary Gysin, CEO of Wisk. “The team’s dedication over the past few months has allowed us to remain focused on critical non-flight areas, such as certification, software development, and operations. This has allowed us to maintain momentum during this unique time. But it’s awesome to be fly

VIPER Is Part Of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) Initiative

NASA has awarded Astrobotic of Pittsburgh $199.5 million to deliver NASA's Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) to the Moon's South Pole in late 2023. The water-seeking mobile VIPER robot will help pave the way for astronaut missions to the lunar surface beginning in 2024 and will bring NASA a step closer to developing a sustainable, long-term presence on the Moon as part of the agency's Artemis program. "The VIPER rover and the commercial partnership that will deliver it to the Moon are a prime example of how the scientific community and U.S. industry are making NASA's lunar exploration vision a reality," said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. "Commer

From 2019: One-On-One With The Founder Of One Of The Best-Known Aviation Products Companies

Sporty's started out as "Sportsman's Market Incorporated" ... but according to founder Hal Shevers, "that was a mouthful" and people were simply referring to the company as "Sporty's". And that's what the company has been called ever since. Hal founded Sporty’s over 50 years ago as a young flight instructor, and he’s been flying and teaching aviation ever since. In the mid-1960s, he pioneered the three day ground school, and spent many years traveling the country teaching pilots to earn their instrument

Hilton Software Wins $4M FAA Contract

Contract Solidifies The Business Relationship Between Hilton Software And The FAA

Hilton Software has won a $4M contract from the FAA to provide continued software and data excellence in support of the FAA's Flight Program Operations. "We are humbled to have won the confidence of the Federal Aviation Administration culminating in this award. Hilton Software has always been a company focused on safety. It is an honor to continue working with the FAA's Flight Program Operations to improve the safety of flight for all pilots by ensuring the integrity of instrument approaches and airway procedures that constitute our National Airspace System infrastructure. We are proud to support our United States Department of Defense, Federal Aviation Administratio

Amended Report Says Pilot Left Speaker On Top Of Plane... Which Hit Prop

E-I-C Note: Please note the additional data furnished below, also in italics. This may or may not explain how the prop failed, but we have a hard time believing that a speaker stayed on top of the aircraft so long, through startup, water-taxi, the turn into the wind, and the like. And then, there's still the issue that arises from the fact that there have been a number of hull breaches and sinkings of Icon A5s... which create additional questions about the structural integrity of the airframe, the frequency at which these things have swamped or been sunk, and the composite construction employed in the airframe... more info to come.

AD 2020-03-50: This Condition, If Not Addressed, Could Lead To An Uncontained Cabin Fire

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Cirrus Design Corporation (Cirrus) Model SF-50 airplanes. This AD was sent previously as an emergency AD to all known U.S. owners and operators of these airplanes. This AD requires disconnecting and removing the headset amplifier and microphone interface circuit card assemblies for the 3.5 mm audio and microphone jacks. This AD was prompted by a cabin fire incident that occurred on a Cirrus Model SF50 airplane during ground operations where the operator observed smoke exiting from behind the right sidewall interior panel. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these produ

AD 2020-12-10 Retains The Requirements Of AD 2011-12-08 While Excluding Certain T/R Blades From Applicability

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2011-12-08 for Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. (Bell), Model 205A, 205A-1, 205B, 212, 412, 412CF, and 412EP helicopters. AD 2011-12-08 required a one-time inspection of the tail rotor (T/R) blade for corrosion and pitting. This new AD retains the requirements of AD 2011-12-08 while excluding certain T/R blades from the applicability. This AD was prompted by new manufacturing and inspection procedures implemented by Bell that correct the unsafe condition on more recently manufactured T/R blades. The actions of this AD are intended to address an unsafe condition on these products. This AD is e

Aero Linx: First Flight Society First Flight Society is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization devoted to fostering and promoting a public awareness of and wide-spread interest in the origin, history and future of flight, in all its forms and to memorialize Orville and Wilbur Wright. Our primary mission is to memorialize Orville and Wilbur Wright, first in the world to successfully achieve powered flight in a heavier than air machine, on December 17, 1903 at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina; and to encourage, invite, and promote visits to the historic site by people from near and far, so that all may see first-hand the birthplace of powered flight. Our Vision is to preserve the legacy of the Wright Br

Class C (Airspace) Generally, that airspace from the surface to 4,000 feet above the airport elevation (charted in MSL) surrounding those airports that have an operational control tower, are serviced by a radar approach control, and that have a certain number of IFR operations or passenger enplanements. Although the configuration of each Class C area is individually tailored, the airspace usually consists of a surface area with a 5 nautical mile (NM) radius, a circle with a 10NM radius that extends no lower than 1,200 feet up to 4,000 feet above the airport elevation, and an outer area that is not charted. Each person must establish two-way radio communications with the ATC facility providing air tra

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (06.12.20)

"The VIPER rover and the commercial partnership that will deliver it to the Moon are a prime example of how the scientific community and U.S. industry are making NASA's lunar exploration vision a reality. Commercial partners are changing the landscape of space exploration, and VIPER is going to be a big boost to our efforts to send the first woman and next man to the lunar surface in 2024 through the Artemis program." Source: NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said this as a result of NASA's selection of Astrobotic of Pittsburgh $199.5 million to deliver NASA's Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) to the Moon's South Pole in late 2023. The water-seeking mobile VIPER robot will help pave the way for astronaut missions to