Has Raised Over $460,000 Of $500,000 Fund-Raising Goal

We may have a glimmer of good news concerning the much-anticipated next edition of the Reno Air Races. Cancelled in 2020 over worldwide concerns with the growing COVID pandemic, they reached out to the aviation community for donations to provide temporary funding so that the organization could survive to more promising times. The Reno folks have divulged that, "We’re excited to announce that the National Championship Air Races are scheduled to return for its 57th year on September 15-19, 2021, pending COVID-19 restrictions. After canceling the 2020 event we found ourselves with a significant financial loss that we knew would be a tremendous challenge to overcome. To make up for this, we launched a fundraiser campaign to 'Save the Races.' Thanks to the support and generosity of the air racing community, we raised over $460,000 of our $500,000 goal!"

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ANN received official confirmation that COVID concerns have again halted a sport aviation event. And lets face it this was something many of us were looking forward to. The January 30th DeLand 'Flyway to Highway' event, under the direction of the folks who conduct the annual DeLand Sport Aviation Showcase, which was was designed to be an interim event to help the industry gather a bit before their main event next November, BUT, it’s now officially OFF.  It was a beautiful thing to see... Blue Origin successfully completed its 14th mission to space and back, Thursday, for the New Shepard program. On a gorgeous Thursday morning, the Blue Origin team conducted another test of the New Shepard/Blue Origin system as they edge closer to the advent of manned flight operations... which may come this year.

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The flight school business is one of the few that seems both intent and surprisingly successful surviving even during a pandemic. As such, the community is readying a critically important get-together to takes notes and learn from each other as well as a great line-up of speakers and instructors in just a few more weeks. Flight school operators, chief flight instructors, and persons considering opening a flight school should take special note of the upcoming International Flight School Operators Conference. Attendees will have over 25 multi-track sessions to choose from during mornings and afternoons March 4-5. Citing inadequate training of a pilot whose plane crash resulted in 11 deaths, the NTSB has called on the FAA to better monitor the effectiveness of flight instructors. Three safety reco

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Draganfly has been awarded a new patent for a VTOL cargo delivery drone with variable center of gravity. The design may be ideal for BVLOS and for transporting goods in hard to reach areas or flight over people at night. US Patent No. 10,807,707 is a UAS configured for both VTOL and fixed-wing flight operations includes  forward, and aft wing assemblies mounted to the fuselage, each wing assembly including port and starboard nacelles terminating in motor-driven rotors powered by an onboard control system. The 60th Security Forces Squadron, in collaboration with Easy Aerial, have launched the first automated drone-based perimeter security system for the Air Force, Dec. 11. The small unarmed aircraft initiative redefines on-base perimeter security systems to potentially advance warfighting capabilities, en

In Proper Observance Of The Federal Holiday...

Monday is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.... ANN will observe the Federal holiday, but will still be active with some news and info, due to the potential criticality of that info to the aviation community. To that end, the Aero-News staff will not be publishing an edition of our Airborne video news program on Monday. On our website, you might find a fewer stories on Monday than you might expect otherwise. But; we'll be back to a full complement of stories on Tuesday.

Airline Industry Losses Top $370 Billion

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) said that as seating capacity fell by around 50 per cent last year, that left just 1.8 billion passengers taking flights through 2020, compared with around 4.5 billion in 2019. That adds up to a staggering financial loss to the industry of around $370 billion, “with airports and air navigation services providers losing a further 115 billion and 13 billion, respectively”, said ICAO. As the coronavirus began its global spread, the air industry came to a virtual standstill by the end of March. Following widespread national lockdowns, by April the overall number of passengers had fallen 92 per cent from 2019 levels, an average of the 98 per cent drop-off seen in international traffic and 87 per cent fall in domestic air travel.

Klyde Adjusts To New Realities

FMI: www.klydemorris.com

From 2018: Touch-Screen Technology Specifically Designed For The Experimental Category

BendixKing had its new xVue Touch, a primary flight display for experimental aircraft, on display this summer at AirVenture. The new cockpit technology provides builders and pilots with a powerful and intuitive touchscreen flight display built with superior craftsmanship, at a very affordable price. The new flight display represents a major milestone for BendixKing as its first product specifically launched for experimental category aircraft.

Designed to Ease Access to Aviation Safety Guidance

The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) has applauded the FAA introduction of the Dynamic Regulatory System (DRS). Developed at the recommendation of and in collaboration with NATA and other industry stakeholders, the online tool eases access to Office of Aviation Safety guidance materials through a new, centralized portal. “When it comes to safety, both speed and reliability are imperative. NATA is pleased to participate in initiatives that greatly improve the access to and consistency of valuable safety information and guidance. The Association has always promoted continuous improvement as a key to success in safety management and the DRS will provide a means for achieving this goal throughout the industry,” stated NATA Vice President of Regulatory Affairs John McGraw.

Deadline to Apply is 2/28 -- Two AMFA Scholarships For 2021 Will Be Awarded

The AMFA National Executive Council (NEC) has announced that it is accepting applications until February 28, 2021, for two AMFA Scholarships for 2021. Scholarships will be $2500 and will be payable to each recipient’s institution of higher learning. Last year’s scholarships were awarded to students at the Aviation Institute of Maintenance in Norfolk and Embry-Riddle in Daytona Beach South. “Contributing to the education of the next generation of Aircraft Maintenance Technicians is one of AMFA’s ambitions,” said Bret Oestreich, AMFA National Director. “We are honored to be offering this opportunity as costs have risen to obtain a FAA Airframe & Powerplant license.”