Newest Gulfstream Receives FAA Type Certificate

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. has announced that its all-new Gulfstream G700 has received FAA type certification. The milestone paves the way for customer deliveries of the most spacious aircraft in business aviation. The FAA certification process also confirmed two new performance improvements for the G700, providing customers with increased flexibility and airport availability. The aircraft now boasts a balanced field length takeoff distance of 5,995 feet and a landing distance of 3,150 feet under standard ISA conditions at sea level, both shorter than initially anticipated.

Tail Rotor Abrasion Strips Could Cause Rotor Failure

On March 29, 2024, the FAA issued an emergency AD for owners and operators of Bell 429 helicopters. The directive, AD 2024-07-51, was prompted by multiple reports of tail rotor blade abrasion strip cracks, which could lead to severe imbalance, tail rotor blade failure, loss of the tail rotor gearbox, and ultimately, loss of control of the helicopter. The FAA's action follows a similar emergency AD issued by Transport Canada.

Money for Research Could Prove Helpful for Those Aiming to Shut Down Airports

The FAA has granted $27.2 million to 11 universities across the US under its Aviation Sustainability Center program. The awards will be matched in-kind by a range of partners with a 1:1 grant as a sort of cost sharing agreement. Under the program, a spectrum of next-gen aviation developments, technologies, and advancements will be targeted. Sadly not all of them will be absolute boons to those in the industry, with some topics that could be weaponized in ongoing battles to close regional airports.

MQ-28 'Ghost Bat' Production Line Marks New Turn for US Manufacturer

The Australian program to add Boeing's MQ-28 Ghost Bat drone has led to the creation of a nigh-100,000 square foot facility in Toowoomba, Queensland. The Aussies jumped at integrating the MQ-28 into their air force much more readily than Boeing's own homeland did, embarking on the program as a joint venture between their own MoD and Boeing's Australian subsidiary. They expect the factory to be up and running in "the next three years", including carbon fiber composites manufacture, robotic assembly for major sections of the aircraft, and finally assembly for the Ghost Bat.

More Aircraft Join the Public Safety Mission in The Pelican State

Bell Textron has shuffled off a pair of brand new Bell 407GXis to the Louisiana State Police department, expanding their fleet for improved services throughout the Bayou. The 407 remains a very popular offering in the Bell lineup, striking a healthy balance between affordable, reliable operation and performance. It comes stock with glass panel avionics and seating for 6 passengers, with speeds up to 133 knots and a 337-nm range. Thats a lot of 'function' with some attractive 'form', and the Louisiana State Police appear to agree.

UniLink Suite Added as Core of A320 Comms Upgrade

Eirtech Aviation Services has chosen to install data links from Universal Avionics as a part of its Airbus A320 upgrade program, ensuring constant, reliable comms between the aircraft and traffic management on the ground. The core of the system remains Universal's UniLink Communications Management Unit, a unit that ensures continuous access to ATC communications by radio and AOC via ACARS while in flight. Under the upgrade program, the UniLink CMU will deliver datalink benefits like Departure Clearance support with full ACARS feature support, ATN-B1/Controller-Pilot Data Link Communications for text-based ATC interplay, and optimized routing communications.

Smaller Operators Continue to Be Snatched Up in General Aviation Game

Consolidated Fuel Systems has acquired Great Planes Fuel Metering, bringing them under the banner of Tempest Aero Group. Great Planes Fuel Metering began in 2007, when Dave Dewell began a firm to overhaul fuel pumps and their associated systems, with particular skill in caring for Continental pieces. Consolidated Fuel Systems has been in the same biz since 2015, overhauling fuel pumps and injectors, too. Great Planes is a Class 1 Repair Station authorized to repair and overhaul Lear-Romec pumps and Conti injection systems, which now gets folded into the Consolidated family.

You Don't Really Believe That... Do You, Klyde?

FMI: www.klydemorris.com

LEO Satellite Internet Inbound for VIP Boeing Operators

ALOFT AeroArchitects, the self-described "Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) experts", has chosen Eutelsat OneWeb to be their internet purveyor aboard client aircraft. As usual they promise Eutelsat's OneWeb will "deliver high-speed, low-latency broadband connectivity" to customer aircraft using the Eutelsat Group's low Earth orbit constellation of satellites. The resulting OneWeb service is largely comparable to Starlink's, just with a different geographical coverage area due to the company's current network growth.

From 2023 (YouTube Version): The Best of the Eighties in the Early Twenties

It can be argued with confidence that the father of the Ultralight aircraft from which the Light-Sport Aircraft sector arose was Chuck Slusarczyk (slew-ZAR-chick), who created the Hawk—an inspired syncretism of the hang-glider, the J3 Cub, and Daedalus’s better ideas. The CGS abbreviation by which the Hawk moniker is most-often prefixed derives of Mr. Slusarczyk’s earlier business, Chuck’s Glider Supplies, which worked in the medium of hang-gliders.

Flight Instructor Acknowledged And Took Control Of The Airplane And Applied Engine Power To Correct The Flight Path. Shortly Thereafter, The Engine Lost All Power

On February 27, 2024, at 1622 eastern standard time, a Cirrus Design Corp SR20, N485DA, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Sanford, Florida. The pilot receiving instruction was seriously injured, and the flight instructor and a back seat observing pilot were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The flight departed Sanford International Airport (SFB), Sanford, Florida, at 1718 for an instrument training lesson.

Aero Linx: Irish Air Line Pilots Association (IALPA) One of IALPA main goals is to ensure aviation safety, a task assigned to the Safety and Technical Committee. The Safety and Technical committee is an independent and professional body within the IALPA family that allows Irish Professional pilots contribute their expertise in the aviation industry in a range of areas that affects them complete their lives. The Committee is assigned the mission of studying, analyzing and planning all the technical matters mandated by the Executive including all the issues related to ECA and IFALPA.

Circle-To-Land Maneuver A maneuver initiated by the pilot to align the aircraft with a runway for landing when a straight-in landing from an instrument approach is not possible or is not desirable. At tower controlled airports, this maneuver is made only after ATC authorization has been obtained and the pilot has established required visual reference to the airport. 

"We have successfully completed the most rigorous certification program in company history with the G700. I'd like to thank our world-class team of flight test, certification, and engineering professionals, along with the many others at Gulfstream who have contributed to this accomplishment. The G700 brings a new level of performance and cabin comfort to business aviation while meeting the highest certification standards our industry has ever seen." Source: Mark Burns, president of Gulfstream, as the company announced that its all-new Gulfstream G700 has received FAA type certification.