Welcome to the Avionics Program that would not die…

Like all of you, we would much rather have, a couple of weeks ago, have been presenting The 2020 AEA New Product Introduction Live Programming (known as the 'NPI') we were preparing so carefully, as well as an additional seven or eight hours of live interviews. But it appeared that somebody upstairs was bound and determined to give us their best version of the Zombie Apocalypse, and so here we are. One of the hits of our Annual AEA LIVE Coverage was the opening day's presentation of dozens of new product 'reveals' showcased, in rapid-fire, exciting, succession all the cool new things that were to come for the next year... it was proof positive that the avionics industry was one of the most innovative on Planet Earth. We missed providing that to you... until now. Over the last few several days, the best of the ANN staff, (which frankly is pretty much all of them), has put together what we call "NPI – Plan B."

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After rerouting from the cancelled Sun N’ Fun airshow, the very first F2-LSA has arrived at Flight Design USA headquarters in Connecticut. The F2 has completed ASTM and US LSA compliance testing, and serial production has started. The next F2’s are expected to arrive in the US by June 2020. F2 CS-23 and the F2 UL for Europe are expected to be certified by October 2020. The F2 series represents a next-generation effort for Flight Design as it expands its light aircraft offerings. F2 is an EASA CS-23 certified aircraft with an MTOW of 650 kg, or if flown as an SLSA or Ultralight -- 600 kg MTOW. Stratolaunch, a company that was founded by the late Paul Allen, is shifting its focus to hypersonic test beds carried aloft by its purpose-built aircraft. The Stratolaunch aircraft had originally been built f

Yes, We Will Recover From This… But Have Little Doubt That Aviation Will Never Be Quite The Same

  Hi folks… I don't know about the rest of you but I have the unmistakable impression that I’ve just been hit by a truck… We entered 2020 about as optimistic as we've ever been… We had a major new marketing initiative (the TYS Program… more on that, another time) that was setting the world on fire, we had some new people coming into the mix that were really raising our capabilities, and we were very much on the path to greater things. Actually; we should have been on our way to the best year we've had in over a decade. We also spent some serious money (for which I'm now kicking myself) and had completed massive upgrades in some of our video gear, especially our live streaming capabilities in anticipation of AEA 2020, we were getting ready to field our most aggressive coverage of the Sun n Fun Fly–In, we had major changes already underway for ANN, and it was just plain

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MVT Geo-solutions and Iris Automation have been granted the first BVLOS Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC) by Transport Canada using only onboard Detect-and-Avoid (DAA). The approval was granted based on the utilization of Iris Automation’s DAA system, called Casia, which provides commercial drones with automated collision avoidance maneuvers. The waiver permits flights within the UAS Center of Excellence’s controlled airspace Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) test range in Alma, Quebec. This is the first BVLOS flight at the location leveraging only onboard DAA for air risk mitigation, and does not require ground-based observers or radar. UPS Flight Forward (UPSFF) will collaborate with German drone-maker Wingcopter to develop a next generation of package deliv

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The FAA has posted a Request for Information (RFI) seeking input from the manned aviation community regarding whether and/or how they can potentially receive and use UAS remote ID information to further enhance safety, by reducing collision risks at lower altitudes. The FAA says the posting is not an RFP. Drones can do many things, but avoiding obstacles is not their strongest suit yet – especially when they move quickly. Although many flying robots are equipped with cameras that can detect obstacles, it typically takes from 20 to 40 milliseconds for the drone to process the image and react. It may seem quick, but it is not enough to avoid a bird or another drone, or even a static obstacle when the drone itself is flying at high speed. This can be a problem when drones are used in unpred

Will Continue To Implement Additional Health And Safety Measures At Its Facilities To Protect Employees

Boeing is extending the temporary suspension of production operations at all Puget Sound area and Moses Lake sites until further notice. These actions are being taken in light of the company's continuing focus on the health and safety of employees, current assessment of the spread of COVID-19 in Washington state, the reliability of the supply chain and additional recommendations from government health authorities.

Covers A Range Of Topics Of Interest To The Aviation Industry

The FAA has issued guidance to FAA inspectors about factors to consider when determining how to best utilize assets outlined in the CARES act.

Most Recent Prototype 'Failed Spectacularly' During Cryogenic Proof Testing

SpaceX suffered another setback in the development of its Starship reusable spacecraft when a third prototype suffered what was described as a "catastrophic" failure during cryogenic proof testing last week.

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Billionaire Michael Bloomberg has announced that he will start his own commercial space company in an effort to spend the money he has earmarked for his Presidential campaign. But rather than start from scratch, he is making a bid for NASA. Bloomberg joins a small but growing club of billionaires who have made their fortune in the tech industry and then started launching rockets into space. But rather than build something from the ground up, Bloomberg is exploring what it would take to buy NASA from the U.S. Government. The NBAA has announced that Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders has been added to the roster of business aviation boosters as part of its “No Plane, No Gain” campaign. Sanders, a self-proclaimed democratic socialist, has made extensive use of corporate jets in his run

NBAA: Many Have Simply Closed Their Doors For The Duration

Shelter-in-place, or “stay-at-home” orders – now issued by 30 states and a growing number of localities – directly impact 75% of all Americans, restricting activities to essential needs only, such as grocery shopping and seeking medical attention. These orders also are having a direct negative impact on flight schools and other small aviation businesses.