SpaceX is fighting a puzzling lawsuit filed by the U.S. DOJ, which alleges they mainntain discriminatory hiring practices. SpaceX asserts the DOJ’s lawsuit is unconstitutional and has countersued. The DOJ charged: “The lawsuit alleges that, from at least September 2018 to May 2022, SpaceX routinely discouraged asylees and refugees from applying and refused to hire or consider them, because of their citizenship status, in violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act.” Last week, an Airbus A320 then operating as Ural Airlines flight U6-1383 departed Russia’s Black Sea resort city of Sochi bound for the south-ce
SkyDrive has continued to expand its foothold in its surrounding markets, this time inking a deal for 50 of its electric VTOL aircraft to Solyu of Korea. The sale - or, more accurately, a memorandum of understanding - would/could provide Solyu with a new AAM aircraft well-suited to those passengers looking to ride far above the congested, gridlocked streets below. Should the firm go through with the agreed-upon preorder, Solyu will purchase "up to" 50 SkyDrive 3-seater eVTOL aircraft. The aircraft is in the midst of acquiring its Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) certification.
The wreckage of a U.S. Marine Corps F-35B fighter jet gone missing after its pilot ejected from the aircraft on Sunday, 17 September 2023 has been located in rural northeastern South Carolina. The debris field resultant of the aircraft’s coming to ground was discovered in the Palmetto State’s Williamsburg County—some sixty-nautical-miles northeast of Joint Base Charleston. The downed F-35B was assigned to U.S. Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501, which is based at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina and falls administratively under Marine Aircraft Group 31 and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing.
Company’s Overall Mission Completion Record Remains Excellent
Rocket Lab USA, Inc. experienced an as-of-yet undisclosed issue during the 19 September launch of the company’s 41st mission. Following lift-off from Rocket Lab’s New Zealand Launch Complex 1, the rocket completed a first-stage burn and stage separation, as planned, before an abnormality was observed at approximately two-minutes and thirty-seconds into flight. The nature of the abnormality resulted in the mission’s premature termination. Rocket Lab expressed regret, apologizing to customer Capella Space for the mission’s loss.
SpaceX is fighting a puzzling lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), which alleges the world’s leading private space-launch concern maintains discriminatory hiring practices. SpaceX asserts the DOJ’s lawsuit is unconstitutional and has responded to such with a compelling countersuit. On 24 August 2023, the Biden DOJ set forth: “The lawsuit alleges that, from at least September 2018 to May 2022, SpaceX routinely discouraged asylees and refugees from applying and refused to hire or consider them, because of their citizenship status, in violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act.”
September 2024 marks the one-year anniversary of the debut of Lightspeed Aviation’s flagship safety headset, the Lightspeed Delta Zulu. Since September 2022, upwards of ten-thousand pilots have benefited from the forward-thinking safety features engineered into Lightspeed’s premium Active Noise Reduction (ANR) headset. To celebrate the one-year anniversary of its Delta Zulu headset, Lightspeed is offering $100 off of the product’s retail price. The offer is good through 09 October 2023 and is available worldwide through all authorized Lightspeed dealers or directly from the Lightspeed website.
North Carolina Employers Out in Force Hunting for Fresh Faces
Charlotte Douglas International Airport, is hosting a job fair for associated tenants and partners on September 23 at the Urban League of Central Carolinas, in North Carolina. The move is an attempt to replenish their numbers at nearly every level of airport operation, from operations in CLT's own Aviation Department to friends like American Airlines, and large-scale concessions companies. Those putting on the fair plan on seeing "Hundreds of full- and part-time, seasonal and temporary positions" at every level, in everything from entry jobs to management.
Acme Aerofab Black Ops Gear and Suspension Impress
The viability of a backcountry aircraft is a function of numerous purpose-built components and systems functioning synergistically in service of utility and occupant safety. To at least the same degree as a robust airframe and a reliable powerplant, a rugged, resilient landing-gear system determines the fitness of an aircraft design for the rigors of backcountry flying. As part of its continuous improvement of the long-running, eminently proven Kitfox aircraft family, Kitfox Aircraft LLC and Acme Aerofab have partnered for the purpose of offering the backcountry sector a superior landing
F-16 Remains the Belle of the Ball Despite her Age
Now that the Falcon is a hot commodity, interested aviation nerds have watched the allocation of new production aircraft, seeing Lockheed work through its backlog of customers for the latest iteration of the F-16 Falcon. The first Slovakian Block 70 Falcon was delivered in early September, shown off in some very orthodox (i.e. boring) F-16 livery. The delivery follows a year-long delay from the intended handover date in 2022, timelines stretched by the usual rationals of logistics and pandemic responses. Slovakia is the first in Europe to obtain the top-of-the-line F-16, bolstering their defensive posture with a capable, proven performer.
Also: Matternet-UPSFF, Wisk In DC, General Atomics-DARPA, Volatus MOU w/LEO
The FAA has granted uAvionix approval to conduct BVLOS drone flights utilizing Vantis, North Dakota’s first-of-its-kind UAS system. uAvionix, with support from the Northern Plains UAS Test Site, demonstrated to FAA personnel that it had established adequate risk mitigations to satisfy requisite safety standards for the specified BVLOS operation within the NAS. The FAA has issued a brief statement in which they state that they have closed the SpaceX Starship Super Heavy mishap investigation. The final report cites multiple root causes of the April 20, 2023, mishap and 63 c
Nose Gear Collapsed, A Propeller Strike Occurred, And The Airplane Came To Rest Upright On The Runway
On September 3, 2023, about 1904 central daylight time, a Van’s Aircraft RV-12iS airplane, N321BT, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Crystal, Minnesota. The pilot sustained minor injuries and the passenger sustained no injury. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The light-sport airplane departed from the Major Gilbert Field Airport (4R5), La Pointe, Wisconsin, about 1725, for the cross-country flight. The intended destination was the Crystal Airport (MIC), Minneapolis, Minnesota. During the landing to the dry asphalt of runway 24R at MIC,
Aero Linx: Air & Space Forces Association
Our mission is to promote dominant U.S. Air and Space Forces as the foundation of a strong National Defense; to honor and support our Airmen, Guardians, and their Families; and to remember and respect our enduring Heritage.
The process whereby an aircraft is aligned with the runway centerline and the aircraft is moving with the intent to take off. For helicopters, this pertains to the act of becoming airborne after departing a takeoff area.
“We are working closely with the FAA and supporting agencies as the investigation into the root-cause commences. The Electron rocket has previously delivered 171 satellites to orbit across 37 successful orbital missions. We will identify the issue swiftly and implement corrective actions and return to the pad shortly.”
Source: From a statement by Rocket Lab USA, as it experienced an as-of-yet undisclosed issue during the 19 September launch of the company’s 41st mission.
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