High-Powered Laser Proliferation, Tech, Increases Contacts

The FAA has noted the increase in laser strikes for aircraft in 2021, as the industry sees the highest number of incidents since 2016. The FAA has received 7,186 reports of laser contacts, already exceeding the 2020 total of 6,852. The FAA warning reminds operators that sufficiently powerful lasers can “completely incapacitate” and temporarily blind pilots, a dangerous enough proposition for common general aviation targets surrounded by suburbs- but far more perilous when occurring to an airliner carrying hundreds of passengers. Those found shining their lasers at aircraft face FAA fines of $11,000 per violation with a cap of $30,800 for multiples. The FAA has only issued

Government Quest for Quieter, More Efficient Aircraft Continues

De Havilland Aircraft of Canada has announced the approval of their Dash 8-400 turboprop as the first regional aircraft, and only turboprop, to meet the newer, more stringent ICAO chapter 14 noise emission standards. The aircraft is also now certified to stage 5 standards set by the FAA, making it an attractive offering for regional routes that overfly densely populated, noise-sensitive areas. The Dash 8-400 features six-bladed Dowty propellers on Pratt & Whitney PW150A engines, with an Active Noise and Vibration Suppression (ANVS) system that reduces the effective propeller noise inside the cabin for maximum passenger comfort. With extensive acoustic engineering to mitigate

Experience(d) A Right (No. 2) Engine Bird Strike And Subsequent Engine Fire During Takeoff Roll

On October 2, 2021, about 17:14 eastern standard time, an Airbus A320-271N neo, registration number N922NK, operated by Spirit Airlines as flight number 4922, and powered by two International Aero Engines PW 1127G-JM turbofan geared engines experience a right (No. 2) engine bird strike and subsequent engine fire during takeoff roll from the Atlantic City International Airport (ACY), Atlantic City, New Jersey. The flight crew reported receiving an No. 2 engine fire warning, discharged both fire bottles, aborted the takeoff at a groundspeed of about 90 knots and stopped the airplane on the runway.