Also: XPONENTIAL Goes Virtual, Hurricane Hunters, ALPA: FedEx Hong Kong Pilots, FCC Fines Hobbyking $2.8M

The FAA has confirmed that severe issues of an unspecified nature are causing them to force as many as several hundred pilots to be retested for checkrides they may have taken over the course of some 11 years. The FAA states, "This notice provides current guidance to FAA aviation safety inspectors (ASI) on program policies and procedures for reexamining individuals holding pilot certificates with various ratings who were tested by Michael A. Puehler of Cincinnati, Ohio. The reexamination will ensure that these individuals meet the standards of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 61 to hold their certificates and/or ratings." The Commemorative Air Force’s FM2 Wildcat is set to participate in the upcoming 75th Anniversary Commemoration of the End of World War II event

Swegle Is Assigned To The “Redhawks” Of Training Squadron (VT) 21

The U.S. Navy’s first Black female tactical air (TACAIR) pilot received her Wings of Gold July 31, marking a significant milestone for Naval Aviation. Virginia native Lt. j.g. Madeline G. Swegle was designated a naval aviator and received her Wings of Gold with 25 classmates during a small ceremony at Naval Air Station (NAS) Kingsville, Texas. Swegle is assigned to the “Redhawks” of Training Squadron (VT) 21 under Training Air Wing 2 at NAS Kingsville and completed her final undergraduate TACAIR training flight in a T-45C Goshawk jet trainer aircraft July 7.

Splashdown Scheduled for Sunday Afternoon... 1442 ET

They're on their way. Following an on-schedule undock from the ISS, Saturday, Astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley are looking forward to real gravity just after lunchtime, Sunday. Weather permitting, NASA and SpaceX are targeting 2:42 p.m. EDT Sunday, Aug. 2, for the splashdown and conclusion of the Demo-2 test flight mission, which is part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft, named Endeavour, lifted off May 30 on the company’s Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Everyone's Looking For Government Bailout Money... Again

Capt. Larry Payne, chairman of the Hawaiian Airlines Master Executive Council of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), issued the following statement in response to potential involuntary pilot furloughs: “On the evening of July 29, ALPA received a federally mandated notice from Hawaiian Airlines’ management stating that the company intends to involuntarily furlough up to 226 of the airline’s approximately 850 pilots..."

Private Pilot With Desire To Give Back To The Aviation Community Receives $2,500 Award

Jeff Goodsill of Sudbury, MA, is the recipient of Sporty’s latest $2,500 flying scholarship awarded through his membership in Sporty’s Flight Crew program. Jeff is a Private pilot working toward his Instrument Rating and is flying a Cessna 172 Skyhawk through the Aero Club of New England at the Hanscom Field Airport in Bedford, MA (KBED).

From 2017: Heavy-Duty Industrial Drones Do More Than Provide Images…

Sometimes it seems like the popularity of small drones circles around the drone’s capability of providing photographic imagery but that’s not all they are used for. While at the Consumer Electronics Show held in Las Vegas in January 2017, ANN CEO and Editor-In-Chief, Jim Campbell, talked with a company by the name of Drone Volt that shows us the incredible capabilities that drones provide in other industrial applications.

Further Workforce Adjustments Made to 'Align with Lower Market Demand'

Spirit AeroSystems announced that it will again reduce employment at its facility in Wichita, Kan., as a result of the most recent rate reduction on the 737 MAX and the ongoing global pandemic, which continue to impact the demand for new commercial aircraft and the airline industry as a whole. "Our production rates for commercial aircraft have fallen from historic highs to significantly lower volumes in a matter of months," said Tom Gentile, President and CEO, Spirit AeroSystems.

'Unable To Correct The Movement, And The Lower Left Wing Struck The Ground'

On July 5, 2020, about 1124 Pacific daylight time, a Boeing B75, N61445, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Chino, California. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that during a landing roll on runway 26R in a tailwheel equipped airplane, at a groundspeed of about 25 miles per hour, the left wings "dipped" and he applied control inputs to counteract.

AD 2020-16-10 Requires Removing Comfort Clips From Service And Inspecting The Seat Belt Shoulder Harness

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bell Textron Inc. (Bell) Model 204B, 205A, 205A-1, 205B, 212, 214B, 214B-1, 412, 412CF, and 412EP helicopters. This AD was prompted by a report of a shoulder harness seat belt comfort clip (comfort clip) interfering with the seat belt inertia reel. This AD requires removing comfort clips from service and inspecting the seat belt shoulder harness (harness) for a rip or an abrasion. The actions of this AD are intended to address an unsafe condition on these products. This AD is effective September 3, 2020.

AD 2020-15-15 Prompted By A Mechanical Deformation Found On The Protective Cover Of The “SHEAR” Control Pushbutton

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Helicopters Model EC225LP helicopters. This AD was prompted by a mechanical deformation found on the protective cover of the “SHEAR” control pushbutton installed on a copilot collective stick. This AD requires modification of the helicopter by replacing the protective cover and re-identifying the part number of the pilot and copilot collective sticks. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. This AD is effective September 3, 2020.