The Way of the Cudgel

The federal government could take action against U.S. airlines on behalf of customers, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said Saturday. After months of indifference to mounting public outcry over cancelled flights and slow refunds, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg—the day after his own flight from Washington D.C. to New York was cancelled—threatened federal action against U.S. airlines on behalf of customers.

Emerald Isle Drone Offers Intelligence and Flexibility

The ZenaDrone 1000 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is a clever synthesis of machine-learning software, artificial intelligence (AI), and aerospace engineering. The vehicle was created to serve the agricultural sector but has since been successfully deployed in industries as diverse as weather prediction, power and pipeline inspection, search and rescue, livestock management, and wind-farm maintenance.

Lucky Seventh Test-Flight Gets Roc Out of a Hard Place

Stratolaunch—the Seattle-based aerospace concern providing high-speed flight-test services—has announced the completion of the seventh flight-test of Roc, the company’s aerial launch-vehicle and world’s largest flying aircraft. In its latest Mojave test-flight, Roc remained aloft just over three-hours and reached an altitude of 27,000-feet—a new altitude record for the aircraft. Following a less than perfect, 09 June, sixth flight that was cut short following atypical, inflight vibrations and the failure of a wing sensor, the seventh flight succeeded in expanding Roc's flight-envelope subsequent the addition of an eight-thousand pound, 14-foot pylon to the immense

777-200ER to Evaluate Emergent Technologies

Boeing has unveiled its 2022 ecoDemonstrator aircraft—a Boeing-owned 777-200ER—that, over the coming months, will test a number of emergent technologies with the aim of improving the safety and sustainability of the aerospace industry. The ecoDemonstrator 777 will sport a special livery commemorating the program’s tenth-year and denoting both its objectives and achievements.

Also: Electra Acquires Airflow, Mars Helicopter AOG, AirDialog, Aviation Comm Simulator

Political theater? The Biden Administration may name Democrat standby and aviation industry neophyte Phil Washington its nominee to run the FAA. Originally from the Altgeld Gardens housing projects on Chicago’s South Side and conspicuously light on aviation experience, Washington exemplifies the Administration’s practice of predicating critical appointments on standards other than experience and ability. In yet another shortsighted move, East Hampton, NY town officials have begun the process of permanently closing the East Hampton Airport after litigation preve

Heavy Lifting via Heavy Thinking

Aergility—the Florida-based company that develops and builds autonomous, long-range, high-payload, cargo-carrying, hybrid-electric, vertical takeoff and landing, unmanned aerial vehicles—has unveiled a prototype of its ATLIS UAV. The vehicle’s long-range, heavy-lift capabilities are conducive to humanitarian, disaster-relief, military, and industrial missions conducted in areas where ground transportation is impossible, impractical, or flat-out dangerous.

Tales and Tails from the Heartland

Boeing has completed final assembly of its T-7A Red Hawk prototype for the United States Air Force. In a June statement, the aerospace titan announced the aft section of the T-7A Red Hawk’s fuselage—produced by Swedish aerospace and defense company Saab—was mated to the aircraft’s forward structure in less than thirty-minutes. The completion of the prototype marked the end of the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) phase of the T-X program—of which the T-7A derives.

Changing of the Guard at U.S.C.G. Air Station San Francisco

Coast Guard Capt. Christopher Huberty has replaced Capt. Thomas Cooper as the commanding officer of Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco. Coast Guard Rear Adm. Brian K. Penoyer presided over the change-of-command ceremony which was held in San Francisco on Friday 17 June 2022. Huberty takes command of approximately 175 Air Station San Francisco personnel and eight MH-65 Dolphin helicopters, which conduct search and rescue, law enforcement, homeland security and maritime environmental protection missions throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, as well as similar operations in the greater Los Angeles region with aircraft and crews working from the unit’s Forward Operating Base Po

AD 2022-11-17 Prompted By Reports Of Internal Corrosion On The Inboard Flaps

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc., Model BD-700-1A10 and BD-700-1A11 airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of internal corrosion on the inboard flaps found prior to regularly scheduled maintenance checks. This AD requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate a certain aircraft maintenance manual (AMM) task. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. This AD is effective July 22, 2022. 

Accident Flight Was A Test Flight Following Recent Maintenance

On June 9, 2022, about 1045 mountain daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Rans Designs S-21 airplane, N46JH, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Fairfield, Utah. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that the accident flight was a test flight following recent maintenance.

Aero Linx: The Colorado Pilots Association The Colorado Pilots Association was incorporated as a Colorado Nonprofit Corporation in 1972. It is a statewide organization with over 700 members dedicated to making Colorado a better, safer, and more desirable place to fly. Objectives of the organization are to promote aviation and flight safety, to protect the rights of pilots, and to be of assistance to the general public in aviation matters. Most organizational activities are administered from central offices located in the Denver area. Officers of the association are elected by the membership at an annual meeting in November of each year. The officers and appointed committee chairpersons make

Radar Point Out An action taken by a controller to transfer the radar identification of an aircraft to another controller if the aircraft will or may enter the airspace or protected airspace of another controller and radio communications will not be transferred.

“ … a success story of the Stratolaunch team's ability to increase operational tempo to the pace desired by our customers for performing frequent hypersonic flight-test … the team reached a new altitude record of 27,000 feet, thereby demonstrating the aircraft performance needed for our Talon hypersonic vehicle to reach its wide design range of hypersonic conditions." Source: A few of Stratolaunch Chief Executive Officer and President Dr. Zachary Krevor's comments about the ROC's most recent test flight.