Agency Delays 2021-22 'Most Wanted List' Meeting

The Society of Aviation and Flight Educators has noted that the NTSB has postponed the March 9 unveiling of its 2021-2022 Most Wanted List (MWL) of transportation safety improvements, with no future announcements set. The agency said only it will post the new date on the NTSB Board Calendar. SAFE has long advocated for flight training reform based on educator improvement. SAFE convened the GA Pilot Training Reform Symposium in 2011 (which was extensively documented by ANN's video teams). This event led to the creation of the FAA ACS. SAFE members including Rich Stowell and Doug Stewart, testified at NTSB hearings.

Bill Will Now Go Back To The House Of Representatives

NBAA is applauding the United States Senate passage of the $1.9 trillion COVID-relief package which provides additional targeted relief for the aviation industry -- despite the fact that the bill is being extensively criticized for being packed with 'pork' and only dedicates a small percentage of the proceeds to actual COVID relief. The bill will now go back to the House of Representatives for final consideration and passage before being sent to President Biden.

Haul Is Worth Over $58 Million

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air and Marine Operations (AMO) National Air Security Operations Center (NASOC) P-3 crews partnered with federal authorities to disrupt a narcotics smuggling attempt in the Eastern Pacific Ocean leading to the seizure of 1.7 tons of cocaine in February, denying transnational criminal organizations more than $58 million in illicit proceeds. On February 14, in a Joint Interagency Task Force-South (JIATF-S) led operation, a NASOC P-3 Long Range Tracker crew detected a suspicious vessel in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. The aircrew conducted a hand-off to a partner aircraft that vectored U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Cutter Munro (WMSL-755) for interdiction. A USCG team detained four people

Klyde Needs To Learn To Wager More Wisely...

FMI: www.klydemorris.com

This Particular Dauntless, BuNo 36175, Was Recovered From The Bottom Of Lake Michigan

The Military Aviation Museum has announced that the most recent addition to the collection in Virginia Beach is a Douglas SBD Dauntless. This particular Dauntless, BuNo 36175, was recovered from the bottom of Lake Michigan where it was lost during a training exercise in 1944. The exhibit is expected to be on display until 5pm on March 31st at 1341 Princess Anne Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23457 and is included with regular Museum admission. The aircraft, which was located in 177 feet of water by A and T Recovery, is a time capsule that tells the story of the Naval Aviators training on the Great Lakes, as well as connecting us with the broader story of World War II in

Volocopter Expects First Commercial Air Taxi Routes To Open Within The Next Two Years

Volocopter announced the signing of their Series D funding round raising €200 million ($240M US) in additional capital. Cumulatively, Volocopter has raised €322 million. The funding will be used to bring the VoloCity, the battery-powered air taxi for cities, to certification and by accelerating the launch of its first commercial routes. Volocopter is in the final stages of providing new, sustainable mobility options for cities around the world. Their future services range from electric autonomous air taxis flying passengers directly and safely to their destinations, to transporting goods with the company’s VoloDrone.

From 2017 (YouTube Version): High-Precision Instrument Guidance System Coming Soon To The Market…

An Italian start-up company is working on an ADS-B-based technology to enhance safety of helicopter approaches and landings. Luka Branca, Director of Business Development for Palu, told Aero-News CEO and Editor in Chief Jim Campbell at Heli-EXPO 2017, in Dallas, that Angels is a precision, ground-based approach system. It downlinks data from the helicopter to the ground station, which makes a predictive elaboration of the data and uplinks it back to the aircraft giving lateral and vertical alignment. Pilots can use an iPad in the cockpit to pre

As The Airplane Descended Through 2,300 Ft, The Radar Target Disappeared

On February 7, 2021, about 1648 central standard time, a Cessna 441, N44776, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Belvidere, Tennessee. The airline transport pilot and a commercial pilot-rated passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to preliminary radar and communications information obtained from the Federal Aviation Administration, the pilot took off from Thomasville Regional Airport (TVI), Thomasville, Georgia about 1527 with a destination of Winchester Municipal Airport (BGF), Winchester, Tennessee.

AD 2021-05-22 Requires Removal From Service Of Certain Stage 2 HPT Disks

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Safran Helicopter Engines, S.A. (Safran Helicopter Engines) Arriel 1B, Arriel 1C, Arriel 1C2, Arriel 1D1, Astazou XIV B, and Astazou XIV H model turboshaft engines. This AD was prompted by the detection of positive segregation (freckles) on Stage 2 high-pressure turbine (HPT) disks and Stage 3 turbine wheels. This AD requires removal from service of certain Stage 2 HPT disks for Safran Helicopter Engines Arriel 1B, 1C, 1C2, and 1D1 model turbofan engines and affected Stage 3 turbine wheels for Safran Helicopter Engines Astazou XIV B and XIV H model turbofan engines. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the un

AD 2021-04-20 Requires Revising The Existing Maintenance Or Inspection Program

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2018-24-03, which applied to all Dassault Aviation Model Falcon 10 airplanes. AD 2018-24-03 required revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive maintenance requirements and airworthiness limitations. This AD requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations; as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. This AD is effective A

Aero Linx: Commercial Aviation Safety Team (CAST) Founded in 1997, the Commercial Aviation Safety Team (CAST) has developed an integrated, data-driven strategy to reduce the commercial aviation fatality risk in the United States and promote new Government and industry safety initiatives throughout the world. The nation’s impressive commercial aviation safety record is due in part to the aviation industry and Government voluntarily investing in the right safety enhancements to reduce the fatality risk in U.S. commercial air travel. CAST’s work, along with new aircraft, regulations, and other activities, reduced the fatality risk for commercial aviation in the United States by 83 percent fr

Ground Communication Outlet (GCO) An unstaffed, remotely controlled, ground/ground communications facility. Pilots at uncontrolled airports may contact ATC and FSS via VHF to a telephone connection to obtain an instrument clearance or close a VFR or IFR flight plan. They may also get an updated weather briefing prior to takeoff. Pilots will use four “key clicks” on the VHF radio to contact the appropriate ATC facility or six “key clicks” to contact the FSS. The GCO system is intended to be used only on the ground.

"We hope for a more nuanced approach to improving aviation educator professionalism, not a statistical tripwire. So far the NTSB has offered a knee-jerk solution to the FAA that could be counterproductive and viewed as punitive. We encourage a more comprehensive approach. Both Rich Stowell and Doug Stewart have testified in front of the NTSB supporting and defining SAFE's view of flight training reform." Source: SAFE Executive Director David St George, discussing the organization's hopes for a more studied approach by the NTSB toward the flight training community.