Testing Changes Floated to Decide Path Forward

The Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority is inviting feedback on a proposal that "seeks to formalise 2 testing options for colour vision deficient pilots who are not able to pass currently prescribed clinical colour vision tests through a legislative instrument." The proposed tests are the Australian Operational Colour Vision Assessment (AOCVA) and the Colour Assessment and Diagnostic (CAD) test. Those who pass either one of them will be deemed fit to hold a Class 1 or Class 2 medical for color vision and be issued a certificate without any vision restrictions or endorsements.

‘Flying Car’ Market Continues to Simmer as Competition Moves Towards Production

Aviterra of Dubai has signed off on a deal to purchase more than a hundred PAL-V flying cars for its regional aviation ops in Dubai. Under the deal, the Jetex relative stressed the appeal of the convertible-use aircraft for 'last-mile' solutions and regional air mobility. Mouhanad Wadaa, Aviterra managing director, said "The PAL-V is the perfect tool for our customers’ regional travel requirements, offering a combination of flying and driving. It’s truly an innovation that will change mobility as we know it.”

Next Phase to Continue Evaluation of RPA Caravan's Tech, Applicability to USAF Operations

Reliable Robotics has been selected for the USAF AFWERX Tactical Funding Increase Program, granting them additional funding in their efforts to "facilitate the delivery of strategic capabilities for the Department of the Air Force". Reliable says it was "competitively chosen for the award from a large list of providers during the funding evaluation", but there may not have been too much competition given how mature, polished, and operable their remote-piloted Caravan is.

Melding Multiple Comms Channels Could Prove Key to Hassle-Free Drone Ops on the Frontier

uAvionix, has been awarded a Broad Agency Announcement contract from the FAA to "advance the commercial use of Uncrewed Aircraft Systems in the National Airspace System." The contract looks to create a reliable command & control network for BVLOS ops across terrain with greater vertical development and variation than existing networks allow. To that end, uAvionix has joined hands with the University of Alaska Fairbanks UAS Test Site. They'll use that sandbox and begin mashing up their toys and tools, starting with their proprietary Link Executive Manager to fuse LTE, Iridium SATCOM, and C-Band communications links into a single, uninterrupted, reliable lin

Main Kids Benefit from a Legacy of Flight

A multipurpose service provider is commemorating its deceased CEO and founding figure with the Allyn Caruso Scholarship Fund, offering Maine youth a chance to pursue a career in the field. “The only thing Al loved as much as aviation and his family was encouraging others to become part of the aviation family,” said Brigitte Miller, MAC Air Group’s CFO. “Establishing the scholarship fund is the best way we can honor Al’s memory--encouraging young folks just as Al did, and passing on his passion for aviation and helping others.”

NOAA Partnership, New Training Equipment Puts School on Track to Bolster Aviation Learning in Kansas

Kansas State University got some good news in the form of more federal funding for its Salina Aerospace and Technology Campus, and now plans a large $28 million expansion with $5.5 million set aside for aviation training gear. The news came by way of US Senator Jerry Moran, friend of the industry, who announced the "transformational federal grant" to build the new educational hub for several of Kansas State Salina's programs. The training equipment will be selected to "amplify the training partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

New Training System Designed With Help of CAE

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems bragged about adding "new capabilities to its Predator Mission Trainer" weapon system with some new 'enhanced operating software' "in a move that will be welcomed by many of its international customers. The Predator Mission Trainer (PMT) simulator inside GA-ASI's North Dakota training center tested out the PMT Plus software, designed by CAE-USA in tandem with the manufacturer. That will allow international flight crews to train on the latest iteration of the Operational Flight Program (OFP) software in use on real-world airframes, in addition to getting experience with the Automatic Takeoff and Landing Capability (ATLC).

From 2017 (YouTube Version): Fun and Fantasy through Drone Technology…

Drones come in all shapes and sizes, and we’re finding out that their design purpose is almost limitless. In this video we find a series of small drones that are based on the Star Wars movie series. While at the Consumer Electronics Show held in Las Vegas in January 2017, ANN CEO and Editor-In-Chief, Jim Campbell, talked with Jack Bishop, who is the Head Development Pilot for Propel RC. While these drones are obviously aimed at the market of fun and fantasy, the technology involved in their design and controllability is stunning. During the discussion Bishop goes into det

About 30 Minutes Into The Flight, Smoke Entered The Cockpit And The Engine Noise Changed

On March 14, 2024, at 1442 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Glasair Sportsman 2+2, N76TG, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Fort Meade, Florida. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, he and his passenger departed Lakeland Linder International Airport (LAL), Lakeland, Florida, at 1430 to return to Fly In Ranches Airport (FD25), Vero Beach, Florida. About 30 minutes into the flight, smoke entered the cockpit and the engine noise changed.

Aero Linx: Air Care Alliance (ACA) The Air Care Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public service organization representing a nationwide network of volunteer pilot groups that deliver impactful and inspiring service through aviation. ACA encourages volunteerism among pilots, helps patients access the free air transportation they need, and ensures that charitable aviation remains a viable resource to those who need it most.

Breakout A technique to direct aircraft out of the approach stream. In the context of simultaneous (independent) parallel operations, a breakout is used to direct threatened aircraft away from a deviating aircraft. 

"The PAL-V is the perfect tool for our customers’ regional travel requirements, offering a combination of flying and driving. It’s truly an innovation that will change mobility as we know it.”

Source: Mouhanad Wadaa, Aviterra managing director of the Dubai company, that has signed off on a deal to purchase more than a hundred PAL-V flying cars for its regional aviation ops in Dubai.