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July 22, 2020

Airborne-Unmanned 07.22.20: EASA Drone Regs, Swift HALE, Helo v UAV

Also: UAVOS Joins HAPS, Schiebel Monitoring Ship Emissions, US–Swiss Drone Agreement, EHang 216 Sightseeing Demos

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency has published a proposal of airworthiness standards for the certification of the vast majority of light unmanned aircraft. These standards will greatly contribute to the safe operation of drones for a wide variety of services, such as parcel delivery in urban environments, railways and power lines inspection or delivery of essential supplies into crisis zones. The proposed standards, now open for public consultation, are known as Special Condition Light UAS and will be applicable to unmanned aircraft under 600 Kg... In partnership with NASA's Ames Research Center, Swift Engineering's high altitude long endurance (

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Airborne-Unmanned 07.08.20: FAA UAS Symposium, UAVOS UVH-170, Console Drone Sim

Also: DDC's Sparrow Drone, Altitude Angel, Korean Drone Show, Deuce Drone, Registration Renewal

It starts today... The annual FAA UAS Symposium, which is co-hosted by the FAA and AUVSI, brings together industry and safety professionals, technology experts and regulators to share safety information and updates among the UAS community. Originally set for June 16 to 18 at the Baltimore Convention Center, the symposium will now be conducted as a two-part virtual event. Episode I of the event is scheduled for July 8 to 9 with a focus on UAS traffic management (UTM) and international UAS integration. UAVOS&rs

MAX NPRM Imminent... Could Put Birds Back In Air This Fall

In the near future, the FAA plans to issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for an Airworthiness Directive (AD) affecting the Boeing 737 MAX. In keeping with our commitment to remain transparent, the NPRM will provide 45 days for the public to comment on proposed design changes and crew procedures to mitigate the safety issues identified during the investigations that followed the Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines accidents. The agency continues to follow a robust certification process. In addition to the standard FAA certification team, the 737 MAX Technical Advisory Board (TAB) continues to provide valuable review and consultation. While the posting of the NPRM is an important milest

Astronauts Completed A Number Of Tasks Designed To Upgrade ISS Systems

NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Chris Cassidy concluded their Tuesday spacewalk at 12:41 p.m. EDT, after six hours and 29 minutes. The two NASA astronauts completed a number of tasks designed to upgrade International Space Station systems. They began by installing a protective storage unit that includes two Robotic External Leak Locator (RELL) units the Canadian Space Agency’s Dextre robot can use to detect leaks of ammonia, which is used to operate the station’s cooling system.

Programs Avoid Involuntary Furloughs

Pilot leaders from the Alaska Master Executive Council (MEC), represented by ALPA, have reached agreements on a number of incentivized leave and early retirement programs. Strong pilot participation in these voluntary programs has effectively avoided the threat of pilot furloughs at Alaska Airlines. “The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on our industry and our pilots,” said Capt. Will McQuillen, chairman of the Alaska MEC.

American Made Vehicle Completes Landmark First Flight

In partnership with NASA's Ames Research Center, Swift Engineering's high altitude long endurance (HALE) unmanned aerial system, completed its maiden flight. The only US-made platform in its class, Swift's flight team, performed a full-system check, validating the vehicle's configuration for high-altitude continuous surveillance missions. Through the collaboration with NASA, the successful flight trials took place at New Mexico's Spaceport America. Designed to operate unmanned at 70,000 feet, The Swift HALE UAS offers 24-hour persistent and stable upper atmosphere operations for commercial and military surveillance, monitoring, communications, and security applications.

Electric Aviation Group Unveils Hybrid Electric 70+ Seater A/C

Expects First Aircraft To Be In Service By 2028

A pioneering design for a Hybrid Electric Regional Aircraft which will deliver a technical and commercial entry point for sustainable mass air transport is being unveiled today. The disruptive design has been developed by the Electric Aviation Group (EAG), the UK-based engineering and development firm, which expects its first aircraft to be in service by 2028. EAG has optimised the latest technology, economics and operational parameters to create the design for the Hybrid Electric Regional Aircraft (HERA), to ensure it can solve the challenges of decarbonisation and mass transportation.

From 2019: One Man's Journey To An Award-Winning Vintage Airplane

When Michael Maniatis came across the 1928 de Havilland Gipsy Moth he brought to AirVenture 2019, it was in pieces in a barn in Canada and was barely recognizable as an airplane. This year, it was one of the stars in the Vintage area, and became an award-winner. Maniatis did a lot of research to be able to make his airplane as authentic to the original as possible. He said he was given a lot of plans for the airplane when he bought it, but while he had much of the basics, he was not provided with information of many of the small deta

Officially Takes On The Job On January 1, 2021

Albert Berchtold, D-27832, has been selected as USPA’s next executive director, officially taking the job on January 1, 2021. After an eight-month search process, USPA’s board of directors affirmed the decision this week. Berchtold is currently marketing manager at Performance Designs, a parachute manufacturer in DeLand, Florida, where he has worked for 14 years. Berchtold serves on USPA’s board of directors, where he was first elected to the board as the Southeast Regional Director in 2012 and won reelection in 2015.

...The Airplane Touch Down On The Nose Wheel. It Then Bounced, Flipped, And Landed Upside Down

On July 1, 2020, about 1030 eastern daylight time, an Evektor-Aerotechnik Sportstar, N820NG, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Leeward Air Ranch Airport (FD04), Ocala, Florida. The sport pilot was fatally injured. The light sport airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to local law enforcement officials, the pilot was returning to her home airfield following a morning flight to Williston, Florida.

AD 2020-14-07 Prompted By Reports Of Considerable Wear Of The Timing Chain...

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Austro Engine GmbH model E4 and E4P diesel piston engines. This AD was prompted by reports of considerable wear of the timing chain and failure of fuel injectors on these engines. This AD requires replacement of the timing chain and fuel injectors on the affected Austro Engine GmbH model E4 and E4P diesel piston engines. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. This AD is effective August 25, 2020.

Aero Linx: Aviation Working Group (AWG) Aviation Working Group (AWG) is a not-for-profit legal entity comprised of major aviation manufacturers, leasing companies and financial institutions that contribute to the development of policies, laws and regulations that facilitate advanced international aviation financing and leasing.

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (07.22.20): VOR

VOR A ground-based electronic navigation aid transmitting very high frequency navigation signals, 360 degrees in azimuth, oriented from magnetic north. Used as the basis for navigation in the National Airspace System. The VOR periodically identifies itself by Morse Code and may have an additional voice identification feature. Voice features may be used by ATC or FSS for transmitting instructions/information to pilots.

"The partnership with NASA's earth science team is significant. Using the agency’s mission cases, we developed a cost-efficient power and propulsion system that can withstand harsh temperatures, radiation, and stratospheric conditions, while providing and storing enough energy to enable persistent long-duration flights. The calculations from the flight test validates all of our safety and design requirements." Source: Andrew Streett, Vice President of Technology at Swift Engineering, discussing a partnership with NASA's Ames Research Center, after Swift Engineering's high altitude long endurance (HALE) unmanned aerial system, completed its maiden flight. The only US-made platform in its class, Swift's flight team, performed a fu