Warm Conditions Take Their Toll on Frozen Lake’s Surface Integrity

A 1983 Cessna 185F Skywagon practicing touch-and-go's at Ogden, Utah's Pineview Reservoir broke through the ice, stranding the two occupants with a partially-submerged aircraft. The occupants safely got out of the plane, trekking across the frozen lake on foot. Luckily, they exited the cockpit before it had completely submerged, meeting up with first responders ashore for much-needed warmth and a quick checkout at the local hospital.

Bomber Boys - WWII Flight Jacket Art Blends Photography With History

Those interested in the history of the European bomber campaign, military surplus collecting, or never-before-published anecdotes from WWII can pick up a recently published book, Bomber Boys - WWII Flight Jacket Art by John Slemp. The coffee table book hits all the right bases, focusing on the most visible, unusual piece of issue gear for the guys in the ETO: Their now classic pilot's jackets. As pilots soldiered on in theater, they began to decorate their uniforms with homespun art, pinups, and designs that have remained a pop culture icon to this day. Slemp goes through a bevy of those still intact enough to study today, recreating their details in full color, sumptuous ph

Lobbyist Corrects Record with BizJet Use Under Fire in Corporate Media

Score one for our side... National Business Aviation Association head Ed Bolen issued a letter responding to a Wall Street Journal article on the increase of corporate jet use for executives called "The $65 million Perk for CEOs: Personal Use of the Corporate Jet Has Soared". In a letter to the Journal, Bolen said that the article "missed a broader point about business in the pandemic's aftermath, and why companies understandably allow for such use".

'Permitting Delays' Blamed

Organizers of the Pacific Coast Dream Machines show said this year's event, planned for April, will not be going ahead due to "delays in the permitting process through the FAA". The board issued a statement, saying “With a heavy heart we must inform you that our beloved Pacific Coast Dream Machines Event will not be moving forward this year. After seven months of pre-planning, we must cancel the event due to aberrant delays in the permitting process with the FAA. We are no longer able to continue moving forward for a 2024 event at the Half Moon Bay Airport.”

Company Continues Aiming for Pole Position in Lithium Battery Installations

Airwolf Aerospace received FAA STC approval for the installation of True Blue Power's TB17 Lithium-ion batteries across 5 makes and 10 models of Helicopters. The approval now allows them to apply trusty, improved, lithium-battery power to the Airbus H125, AS350, AS355, EC-120, H130, and EC130; Bell's 206A, 206B, and 206L; Enstrom's 480B, Hiller's UH-12E, and MD Helicopters 369 and 500 models. The STC allows the installation in the baggage compartment in some models like the AS350, further improving handling by putting the smaller, lighter battery closer to the aircraft's center of gravity.

Also: Collier Nominations, Electra Orders, EcoMine Lunar Facility, Army Recon Drone

A nearly decade-long project involving the Naval Postgraduate School and Naval Research Laboratory has come to a close, bearing out the utility of the Platform Vanilla UAV and its own flight planning software in the Arctic North. The collaborators integrated the NPS' flight path planning software named POTION (Path Optimization) with Platform Aerospace's Vanilla UAV, putting the combination to the test in the "daunting North Slope of Alaska, making the best of a narrow weather window." General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, has capped its 1st test flight of the upcoming Gray Ea

Also: F-35 v Flashlight, Air India Training, Spirit Airlines Downgraded, Akasa Orders Boeing

Van's Aircraft, after weeks of working through their bankruptcy process, have published a business update... and as usual, not everyone is happy. Van's notes that, "...We’ve processed a large volume of kit reorders and continue to handle related emails and phone calls. We’re shipping kits to customers every day, and we’ve started sending replacement parts to some customers with kits that contained laser cut parts. We’re also currently finalizing the plan for customers who have open orders for Lycoming engines, Rotax powerplant kits, propellers,

Theoretical Design to Provide On-Site Resources for Moon Operations

The Space Lab EcoMine will "offer an environmentally safe and more profitable way to obtain building materials needed for Lunar development", using bioleaching and photosynthesis to recover minerals and continuously recycle air and nutrients. EcoMine will, if it results as promised, be more energy efficient than traditional mining approaches used on earch, not needing chemical washes or high-intensity smelting to sift desired minerals and elements from the lunar regolith. A circuitous recycling system will allow EcoMine operators to make the most of the resources they have on-site, and should defray any need to have continuous chemical shipments sent out from earth.

EFB Pioneer Remembered by Grateful Industry

Horst Berbmann, a 40-year Jeppesen exec, passed away on January 21st, 2024, reminding the aviation industry around the world of the extent of his impact. Bergmann reportedly laid the foundation for the modern-day electronic flight bag, joining the German arm of Jeppesen & Co. after serving in the West German Luftwaffe. Rising through the ranks from his 1963 hire date, Bergmann eventually took the help of president and CEO in 1988, only retiring in 2003.

Also: F-35 v Flashlight, Air India Training, Spirit Airlines Downgraded, Akasa Orders Boeing

Van's Aircraft, after weeks of working through their bankruptcy process, have published a business update... and as usual, not everyone is happy. Van's notes that, "...We’ve processed a large volume of kit reorders and continue to handle related emails and phone calls. We’re shipping kits to customers every day, and we’ve started sending replacement parts to some customers with kits that contained laser cut parts. We’re also currently finalizing the plan for customers who have open orders for Lycoming engines, Rotax powerplant kits, propellers,

Also: Virtual Ultralight Days, Aeronca Nation, Pivotal Helix, MDM-1 Fox/Fox-P AD

There are but a few days left to comment on the MOSAIC NPRM, but the EAA has helped aviators weigh in on the FAA's proposed MOSAIC changes ahead of next week’s January 22nd cutoff, publishing a guide to draft effective comments. The body will put forth some comments of its own regarding the proposed changes, but individual concerns and logical tacks can only really be had in the comfort of a private comment. DeltaHawk Engines has disclosed that engineering and development are now underway on a firewall-forward installation package for the company's new DHK series of FA

Also: Virtual Ultralight Days, Aeronca Nation, Pivotal Helix, MDM-1 Fox/Fox-P AD

There are but a few days left to comment on the MOSAIC NPRM, but the EAA has helped aviators weigh in on the FAA's proposed MOSAIC changes ahead of next week’s January 22nd cutoff, publishing a guide to draft effective comments. The body will put forth some comments of its own regarding the proposed changes, but individual concerns and logical tacks can only really be had in the comfort of a private comment. DeltaHawk Engines has disclosed that engineering and development are now underway on a firewall-forward installation package for the company's new DHK series of FAA-cer

From 2017 (YouTube Version): Caravan Floats Updated With Oil Bath Wheels For Reduced Maintenance…

Wipaire Floats was founded in the 1960s, and over the years has come to offer a line of products for everything from small recreational airplanes to large commercial aircraft, including firefighting airplanes. At NBAA-BACE in Las Vegas last month, Clint Clouarte, VP of Marking and Sales for Wipaire, said one of the most recent developments is the introduction of oil bath wheels on new production Wipline 8750 amphibious floats for Cessna Caravans, eliminating

Search And Rescue Efforts Were Initiated That Located The Deceased Pilot In A Lake In About 44 Ft Of Water

Analysis: The non-certificated pilot departed in the powered parachute on a local flight. When the pilot did not return for landing, search and rescue efforts were initiated that located the deceased pilot in a lake in about 44 ft of water. The aircraft was not located. Flight track information for the flight was not available. The pilot never held a medical certificate, and no pilot or maintenance logbooks were made available to the investigation.

Aero Linx: Seaplane Pilots Association The Seaplane Pilots Association is the only organization in the world solely focused on representing the interests of seaplane pilots, owners and operators. SPA is dedicated to promoting safe seaplane operations, and to protecting the sharing of our nation’s waterways with other user groups.

Minimum En Route IFR Altitude (MEA) The lowest published altitude between radio fixes which assures acceptable navigational signal coverage and meets obstacle clearance requirements between those fixes. The MEA prescribed for a Federal airway or segment thereof, area navigation low or high route, or other direct route applies to the entire width of the airway, segment, or route between the radio fixes defining the airway, segment, or route.

“With a heavy heart we must inform you that our beloved Pacific Coast Dream Machines Event will not be moving forward this year. After seven months of pre-planning, we must cancel the event due to aberrant delays in the permitting process with the FAA. We are no longer able to continue moving forward for a 2024 event at the Half Moon Bay Airport.” Source: From a statement by the Organizers of the Pacific Coast Dream Machines show, who said this year's event, planned for April, will not be going ahead due to the FAA's inability to accomplish their tasks....