The ‘Galactic 06’ Flight Window Will Open January 26, 2024

Virgin Galactic's ‘Galactic 06’ flight window will open Friday, January 26, 2024. This will be the Company’s 11th 'spaceflight' (keep in mind that the VG flight do not exceed the altitude established as the border of space, commonly called the 'Karman Line') to date and will follow a year of what they report to be unprecedented human spaceflight achievements that included six suborbital 'spaceflights' in six months. Four private astronauts from three different countries will journey to 'space' on Virgin Galactic’s sixth commercial spaceflight.  

After Years of Negotiation, Pilots Gain 29% Raise with Stepped Increases

Southwest Airlines pilots ratified their tentative agreement to the tune of 93% in their recent vote, solidifying the last of the 'Big Four' in domestic airlines. The deal stands for a 5-year contract, which will grant an immediate 29.15% increase in pay rates upon ratification, followed by yearly increases of 4% in 2025, 2026, and 2027. That drops to a smaller 3.25% bump in 2028. All in all, it adds up to a 50% pay raise over contract term.

FAA Reauth On the Way

The National Business Aviation Association has published a letter in support of the pursuit of a long-term, bipartisan and commonsense FAA reauthorization bill. The body signed its name on a letter with 25 more industry bodies pushing for the US Senate to get the FAA fully funded and authorized anew. Currently, the regulatory body operates on an extension, which is set to expire on March 8 2024.  

Gyro's Will Be Leased To A Pilot Training School And An Aerial Service Operator

ARC Aerosystems has reported to ANN that it has finalized a transaction for the sale of five Pegasus aircraft to a Scottish investor to lease to a pilot training school and an aerial service operator, with ARC committed to delivering all units by the first quarter of 2026. The Pegasus is reportedly the first Non-helicopter VTOL aircraft to receive FAA certification. Understanding the eVTOL landscape, ARC looks to leverage the Pegasus potential as a solution to modern challenges in rural transport and various civil contingencies. The Pegasus allegedly offers several advantages over current eVTOL models: notably lower power consumption, increased safety, and reduced

H-Series Continues to Find Buyers Around the world with 410 Orders Logged

Airbus Helicopters showed off its performance for 2023, showing a total of 410 gross orders (for new rotary-wing products throughout the year. With a net order count of 393, Airbus Helicopters did quite nicely for itself, though in typically understated fashion it described it as a "steady market recovery with a strong performance". Total orders came from 179 customers in 47 countries. In terms of Deliveries, the Airbus arm tendered 346 helicopters, snagging itself a 54% market share in the civil and 'parapublic'niche. Their top seller? The H145 at 186 units, with the H125 trailing it at 108.

Stephen Kurtzahn Resigns At End Of January

If you're looking for a VERY interesting gig (and are qualified), Stephen Kurtzahn, IAC Executive Director, will be leaving the EAA/IAC team on January 31, 2024 and IAC will need a replacement. Stephen has answered the call to return as pastor within the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. Previous to coming into the IAC job, he had served in pastoral ministry for 36 years and is responding to a tremendous need for pastors in his denomination. In a letter to the IAC Board of Directors, Stephen expressed his appreciation to them in hiring him in October of 2019. “This has been a great place to work, with many wonderful and professional people. It has indeed been a privilege to be part of

Contract Reached After More Than Three Years of Negotiations

Air Borealis pilots have ratified their first-ever collective agreement with Air Borealis, a subsidiary of the Exchange Income Corporation. Of the 92 percent of eligible Air Borealis pilots who cast ballots, 87 percent voted in favor of the agreement. The three-year contract includes improved scheduling measures and working conditions, competitive compensation, stronger job-security protections, and improved benefits.

At Least Klyde Has Rochester All Figured Out...

FMI: www.klydemorris.com

Also: Winter Drone Guidelines, AERODrones Exhibition, ZeroAvia Inks Deal, Vapor 55 MX

Airbus Helicopters and Aerovel have signed an agreement that will bring Aerovel into the Airbus fold. The new acquisition will add Aerovel's Flexrotor to the Airbus portfolio, falling neatly into the company's desire to strengthen its portfolio of tactical unmanned solutions. The Flexrotor platform is a small tactical UAS designed for intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance missions at sea and over land. No more CGI for the next-gen x-plane from NASA and Lockheed Martin now that the duo has finally debuted the quiet supersonic aircraft live in

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The Annual 'Living Legend of Aviation dinner takes place later this week and at least one recent announcement is causing quite a fuss... namely that of pronouncing Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, as an aviation 'legend' -- strangely placing him among the likes of Armstrong, Hoover, Yeager, Aldrin and others. This has not gone down well with a number of aviation luminaries, and has been further complicated by another award for Amazon Boss Jeff Bezos' fiancee... Planning for the D-Day Squadron’s 2024 Legacy Tour continues, with an announcement that the Western Airli

Also: Winter Drone Guidelines, AERODrones Exhibition, ZeroAvia Inks Deal, Vapor 55 MX

Airbus Helicopters and Aerovel have signed an agreement that will bring Aerovel into the Airbus fold. The new acquisition will add Aerovel's Flexrotor to the Airbus portfolio, falling neatly into the company's desire to strengthen its portfolio of tactical unmanned solutions. The Flexrotor platform is a small tactical UAS designed for intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance missions at sea and over land. No more CGI for the next-gen x-plane from NASA and Lockheed Martin now that the duo has finally debuted the quiet supersonic aircraft l

From 2018 (YouTube Version): New Zealand Company Tracks Over 6,000 Aircraft Every Day

The idea for Spidertracks took root in 2005, when a high-profile New Zealander crashed his helicopter and couldn’t be found for two full weeks. The question became, why wasn’t there a better and more affordable way to locate downed aircraft? Not long after that incident, the first Spider made its way into the world. It became clear that they had tapped into something the market needed — and since that day in early 2007, Spidertracks ha

ADS-B Information Revealed The Ground Speed Was About 200 Kts For The Entire Flight Until About 1210

On December 31, 2023, at 1213 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-46R-350T, N539MA, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Mooresville, North Carolina. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. A family member reported that the pilot was taking the airplane for a short flight then refueling it in advance of a family trip planned for the following day. According to preliminary Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) data, the airplane departed from runway 32 at Lake Norman Airpark (14A), Mooresville, North Carolina, about 1152

Aero Linx: South Carolina Aviation Association Airports in South Carolina support the state’s economy and are themselves economic generators. Residents, businesses, and visitors also rely on the airport system for health, welfare and safety needs. Further, South Carolina’s military airfields are also important to our national security. All types of businesses in South Carolina rely on aviation––through both commercial service and general aviation airports––for the efficient transport of people and goods. Airports are a critical part of the transportation infrastructure needed to retain and attract business development in the state...

Descend Via An abbreviated ATC clearance that requires compliance with a published procedure lateral path and associated speed restrictions and provides a pilot-discretion descent to comply with published altitude restrictions. 

"Our air transportation system is complex and we need to ensure that our airspace continues to be the safest aviation system in the world... To maintain this global gold standard in safety, the FAA must have the stability and direction provided for by a multi-year reauthorization bill. If the FAA is not promptly reauthorized, the national airspace system will not have the proper staffing and infrastructure to keep aviation moving." Source: From a letter by the National Business Aviation Association, in support of the pursuit of a long-term, bipartisan and commonsense FAA reauthorization bill.