Federal Charges Allege Pilot Recklessly Operated Drone

Using data from the remnants of a drone that hit an LAPD helo last September and other evidence, the Feds believe they have found the operator of the errant aircraft. Special agents with the FBI this week arrested a Hollywood man on a federal charge alleging that he recklessly operated a drone that crashed into a Los Angeles Police Department helicopter. The drone damaged the LAPD aircraft and the pilot was forced to initiate an emergency landing. The drone also damaged a vehicle when the unmanned aircraft fell from the sky after the crash.

Diamond Has Formed A Revitalized Partnership With Aviation Unlimited

Since 1983, Aviation Unlimited has had a rich history as one of Canada's longest continuously operating general aviation companies. The company has been directly affiliated with Diamond Aircraft since 2004, and now most recently, Aviation Unlimited will fill the role as Canada’s exclusive Diamond Aircraft dealer. A family owned business - specializing in high performance, technically advanced, owner-flown aircraft – Aviation Unlimited prides itself on its ability to work with clients over multiple aircraft transactions and multi decade relationships. “Diamond Aircraft and the team in London, ON have always been close to our hearts” said Isaac Capua, V

NASA Comments on NSF’s Planned Controlled Decommissioning of Arecibo Radio Telescope

On Nov. 18, NASA was informed by the National Science Foundation (NSF) that, after careful assessment and consideration, they have decided to decommission the 305m radio telescope at the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico, which recently sustained structural damage from failed cables. The planetary radar capability at Arecibo, funded by NASA’s Near-Earth Object (NEO) Observations Program, has served as one of two major planetary radar capabilities. It has allowed NASA to fully characterize the precise orbits, sizes, and shapes of some NEOs passing within radar range after they are discovered by wide-field optical telescope survey projects.

From 2017: Connectivity Provided Through Iridium Satellite Network…

Airtext solves the problem of staying connected electronically to business, friends, and family without the high cost of a traditional internet option. Airtext allows up to 16 passengers the ability to send and receive SMS messages anywhere in the world. On the ground or in the air. Using the iridium satellite network, AirText has designed a product that allows connectivity through your cell phone while on the airplane. At NBAA-BACE 2017 in Las Vegas, David Gray, CEO and founder of Send Solutions/Airtext, told Aero-News that

TH-73A Will Train Student Aviators From The US Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard

Leonardo has certainly welcomed an announcement made by the U.S. Department of Defense to award AgustaWestland Philadelphia Corp. a 171 million USD modification to the previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract for the US Navy’s Advanced Helicopter Training System. This modification exercises options for the production and delivery of an additional 36 TH-73A aircraft, with work expected to be completed in December 2022 in Philadelphia, PA.

uAvionix Is Also Contributing To The Overall Low-Altitude Airspace Surveillance Picture

uAvionix is participating in the deployment of Vantis, North Dakota’s statewide Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) infrastructure and network led by the Northern Plains UAS Test Site. As a strategic partner to Thales’ TopSky Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) platform, uAvionix is deploying terrestrial command and control (C2) infrastructure and a cloud-based C2 service, enabling centralized management, coordination, and C2 handoffs which will enable BVLOS missions across the key-site deployment area of McKenzie County, ND.

At The Time Of The Accident He Was Transporting A Large Toolbox At The End Of A 100-Foot External Load Line

On October 27, 2020, about 1133 Hawaiian standard time, a Hughes 369D, helicopter, N58251, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Honolulu, Hawaii. The pilot was not injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 133 external load flight. The pilot reported that the helicopter was being used to support powerline maintenance operations, by transporting personnel and equipment to remote sites along the powerline route. He said that at the time of the accident he was transporting a large toolbox at the end of a 100-foot external load line that was attached to the helicopter’

AD 2020-23-06 Requires Inspecting The Main Rotor (M/R) Hub Assembly (Hub) Phonic Wheel Lock Washer

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Airbus Helicopters Model AS332C, AS332C1, AS332L, and AS332L1 helicopters. This AD requires inspecting the main rotor (M/R) hub assembly (hub) phonic wheel lock washer (lock washer) for correct installation and depending on the outcome, repairing or replacing the M/R hub. This AD was prompted by reported occurrences of M/R revolutions per minute (“NR”) sensor fluctuations. The actions of this AD are intended to address an unsafe condition on these products. This AD is effective December 24, 2020.

AD 2020-23-13 Prompted By False Activation Of The Stall Warning System

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all ATR-GIE Avions de Transport Regional Airplanes Model ATR42-200, -300, and -320 airplanes. This AD was prompted by false activation of the stall warning system due to wiring damage on the wire bundle between an angle of attack (AOA) probe and the crew alerting computer. This AD requires a one-time inspection for discrepancies of the wire bundles between the left- and right-hand AOA probes and the crew alerting computer, and, depending on findings, applicable corrective actions, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address

Aero Linx: Airlines for America (A4A) Airlines for America (A4A) advocates on behalf of its members to shape crucial policies and measures that promote safety, security and a healthy U.S. airline industry. We work collaboratively with airlines, labor, Congress, the Administration and other groups to improve aviation for the traveling and shipping public. Annually, commercial aviation helps drive nearly $1.7 trillion in U.S. economic activity and more than 10 million U.S. jobs. A4A vigorously advocates on behalf of the American airline industry as a model of safety, customer service and environmental responsibility and as the indispensable network that drives our nation’s economy and global comp

Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) A radio transmitter attached to the aircraft structure which operates from its own power source on 121.5 MHz and 243.0 MHz. It aids in locating downed aircraft by radiating a downward sweeping audio tone, 2-4 times per second. It is designed to function without human action after an accident.

"Despite the evasive efforts, the drone stuck the helicopter, forcing the pilot to initiate an emergency landing. The drone damaged the helicopter’s nose, antenna and bottom cowlings. According to the complaint, 'if the drone had struck the helicopter’s main rotor instead of the fuselage, it could have brought the helicopter down.'” Source: Quoted from a portion of the Federal criminal complaint filed against a drone pilot whose drone struck an LAPD helicopter as it was responding to a burglary call.