New Floor Plan Splits The Difference Between Freighter and Passenger Operations

Textron has been granted certification of a new interior conversion for passenger-layout SkyCouriers, allowing operators to carry 9 pax and a load of cargo at the same time. "This newly certified combi kit adds to the growing list of options for the versatile Cessna SkyCourier," said Lannie O'Bannion, senior vice president, Global Sales and Flight Operations. "The Combi will allow operators to use the aircraft for an even broader range of missions globally and quickly change configurations to best serve their needs."

Failed Parachute on NS-25 Adds Some Excitement to the Journey

Blue Origin's seventh passenger flight ended with a smidgeon of drama when one of its 3 parachutes failed to fully deploy, forcing it to rely on its remaining 2 units. That's not the worst system failure in the world, since the triple-chute system sports redundancy as a baseline, but it's always a little discomfiting to rely on a backup whenever parachutes are involved. The chute appears to have simply failed to inflate, and will no doubt be dissected six ways from Sunday in the coming months as Blue Origin looks to prevent it from ever happening again.

Agriculture Association Takes Little Whirlybirds Seriously

The National Agricultural Aviation Association (NAAA) Board of Directors held a vote to bolster their activities in the uncrewed sphere, coming away in favor of creating an Uncrewed Aerial Application System (UAAS) Committee. The Committee will advise the Association on uncrewed aircraft systems issues, development, and regulation, as well as give them a useful way to weigh in on the topic in the public eye. The Committee will "ensure the low-altitude airspace is safe for crewed and uncrewed aircraft as the number of UAS in low-altitude airspace grows", while becoming the local expert on all things uncrewed within the NAAA.

Improvements Stack as Brand Readies for Mass Production

Samson Sky updated followers on its flying car progress, describing some of the travails of the wind tunnel as they get closer to production. Recent tweaks have largely revolved around realistic production alterations designed to bring the Switchblade to a more achievable production rate, with little nips and tucks to the design and materials involved. That final inch is always a rewarding one, since those finishing touches can go on to be darn near set in stone once the production line spins up to full output. In the update, Samson Sky Captain Sam Bousfield reported that their 3d-printed prototyping worked out perfectly.

MH-60 Rescue Took Place off Samana Cay, Bahamas

Coast Guard aircrews located and rescued two missing boaters off the coast of Samana Cay, Bahamas, Monday, after their vessel became disabled. The Royal Bahamas Defence Force notified the Coast Guard, Sunday, that two men were reported overdue and were last seen departing Samana Cay, May 15, in an 18-foot recreational vessel.  Aircrews aboard an HC-144 Ocean Sentry plane from Coast Guard Air Station Miami and an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter forward-deployed from Air Station Clearwater to Operation Bahamas Turks and Caicos were launched to assist.

Also: VAI v Anti-Heli Actions, Electric Aircraft Symposium, 2024 FAA Drone/AAM Symposium, Gravitymaster

Blue Origin's seventh passenger flight ended with a smidgeon of drama when one of its 3 parachutes failed to fully deploy, forcing it to rely on its remaining 2 units. That's not the worst system failure in the world, since the triple-chute system sports redundancy as a baseline, but it's always a little discomfiting to rely on a backup whenever parachutes are involved. Women in Aviation International (WAI) members and friends will honor the valiant service of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) by visiting their graves and leaving an appropriate

Also: ALPA Warns, Aviation Meteorology Reference, Jennifer Homendy Re-Ups, CAF Tampa Bay

The court has approved Van's Aircraft's bankruptcy reorganization plans, settling a stressful period for the company with some pretty optimistic news. Van's Aircraft filed its Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization back in March, setting up their ideal path to recovery amidst some very expensive challenges. One of the remaining icons of the World War II fighter pilot community has gone west... Bud Anderson, at the age of 102. Brig. Gen. Bud Anderson shot down 16 German planes over Europe in World War II and became America's last li

Also: AMA National Fun Fly, Skyfire SF2, Echodyne Gets BVLOS, Av Meteorology Reference

General Atomics' run at developing the Liberty Lifter ground effect aircraft has been put to rest, with their competitor, Aurora Flight Sciences, retaining theirs for the time being. The Liberty Lifter is one funky duck, as far as prospective military projects go. Looking forward to a contentious Pacific theater, DoD planners see a dire need for seaborne transport, beyond the old school's island-hopping and airstrip-chopping. Hybrid eVTOL manufacturer, or better said, developer, showed off its latest flight test using a smaller scaled version of its high-wing Cavorite

Deal Expands Fleet With New Helos for Variety of Missions

Airbus Helicopters managed to grab itself a pretty big order for a change, inking a deal with LCI and Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing Company, Limited (SMFL) for 21 of its latest generation helicopters. It's good news for the brand, since the rotary wing industry often survives on much smaller orders, but this time around they even got the better of the firm:option breakdown. Of the 21 aircraft 'ordered', 14 are firm, with 7 options should Sumitomo decide to exercise them later on. The purchase includes a mix of options, with a pair of Airbus' light twin H145, a medium twin H160, and their oddly named 'super medium' H175.

Another Episode of Movin' Metal Gives the Point to Airbus

Saudia Group signed off on an order for 93 A321neo planes and a dozen A320neo aircraft. Saudia will put them into business with their low-cost carrier flyadeal (all lower case, gotta give the marketers their due) as they get their legs under them. Saudia remains the flag carrier for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, allowing flyadeal to go out and compete with the rest of the smaller guys running narrowbody aircraft. All in all, Saudia Group has 144 aircraft on order throughout the A320neo family.

Also: Paramotor Champ's, Electric Ultralight, ICON BK Update, Burt Rutan at Oshkosh!

The Popular Rotorcraft Association is reaching out for help in rebuilding their private runway in Mentone, IN -- the home of the PRA, itself. "We are reaching out to you today on behalf of the Popular Rotorcraft Association because we need your help. We are dangerously close to losing a critical resource that if lost, will have a negative and lasting effect on the gyro community..." An interesting surprise occurred this week as Wag-Aero customers logged on to their site in order to order a few things...no Wag-Aero. Instead, the site was redirected to Aircraft Spruce, which ha

Also: Axon Acquires Dedrone, 'Space Weather', SOCOM Goodies, Pivotal Awards

UVify is claiming a new Guinness World Record for the most unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) airborne simultaneously. This event took place in Songdo, Korea, where UVify orchestrated a display of 5,293 IFO drones that lit up the night sky. The fleet of IFO drones created intricate patterns and visuals above the crowd, showcasing UVify's programming and drone control technology. The record-breaking feat exceeded the previous record. Airbus has completed the acquisition of US-based Aerovel and its unmanned aerial system (UAS), Flexrotor. Flexrotor is a small tactical unmanned aerial

Also: 'Space Weather', USAF Rescue, Atlanta Warbirds, WestJet Encore Pilots Vote NO

The Perris SkyDive DC-9 is ALIVE! Following initial test flighta and practice landings that were flown by a flight crew that had to be brought in all the way from Florida, the California DZ put the DC9 back in service and made at least three jump runs on Saturday, taking about 60 jumpers each to about 15K'. An interesting surprise occurred this week as Wag-Aero customers logged on to their site in order to order a few things...no Wag-Aero. Instead, the site was redirected to Aircraft Spruce, which has apparently bought out the once popular Wag-Aero operations short

Also: Flt School Security, G600 Steep-Approach, Honduran Aid, PW545D Cert

Two aircraft performing at the Fort Lauderdale Air Show clipped wings during a routine last Sunday, spooking onlookers. The aircraft were performing as a part of the Polaris Ghost Squadron, a team of urban-camo milsurplus jets hailing from across Eastern Europe. The Polaris Ghost Squadron features an eye-catching MiG-29, a trio of Alpha Jets, and a quartet of Albatros L39s. The US Air Force won't be bringing back a damaged B-2A Spirit bomber, further whittling away at the irreplaceable fleet of strategic aircraft. The plane in question was contrasted against one that had a minor cr

Pilot Most Likely Experienced An Acute Cerebrovascular Event

Analysis: The 84-year-old pilot and the passenger made two attempts to take off on a cross-country flight. According to the passenger, once she and the pilot boarded the airplane, the pilot said he forgot where they were going and had to ask the name of the airport. After informing the pilot of their destination, the pilot taxied to the runway and began to accelerate for takeoff. The pilot aborted the takeoff because he thought the passenger’s door was open. The door was secured, and the pilot taxied back to the runway. Just before taking off again, the pilot asked a second time where they were going. The passenger again had to tell the pilot their destination.

From 2016 (YouTube Version): What's Holding YOU Back From Your Dream Of Flight?

While at the U.S. Sport Aviation Expo 2016, ANN CEO and Editor-In-Chief, Jim Campbell, shares a conversation with us that he had with Sean O'Donnell, a pilot and representative for Able Flight. In this video, we see an interesting airplane called the Sky Arrow, and we also hear the fantastic and poignant story of an organization called, Able Flight. The Sky Arrow has been around for a while as an early entry into the field of light sport aircraft. It's a great little plane, but it also has one particular feature that made it perfect for the missio

Make Sure You NEVER Miss A New Story From Aero-News Network

Do you ever feel like you never see posts from a certain person or page on Facebook or Instagram? Here’s how you can turn on “post notifications” that will send you an update when new stories are posted on the Aero-News Network Facebook or Instagram pages.

Aero Linx: International Aviation Fire Protection Association (IAFPA) IAFPA was first formed in 2000 by a group of airport fire officers in the UK.  From the initial UK site, the work of IAFPA spread throughout the Asia Pacific and the Middle East.  In March 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic hit the world and affected almost all economies on the world stage especially aviation and the hospitality industry. With this major impact, the Council decided that to be relevant in the fast changing times and to be mission ready in the post-Covid era, IAFPA needed to restructure itself going forward. 

LAHSO An acronym for “Land and Hold Short Operation.” These operations include landing and holding short of an intersecting runway, a taxiway, a predetermined point, or an approach/departure flightpath. 

"We have been working on production engineering for the Switchblade and are tweaking the design to get the improvements needed for production vehicles. After First Flight of the prototype last November, we finalized a handful of important improvements to be made before we go into production. A key area to improve was our speed targets - and after much investigation found that we would not be able to do so with the single large ducted fan in the rear. We worked quickly to get an alternate method of propulsion, which we accomplished, and added in the rest of the improvements we had slated for production vehicles." Source: Samson Sky Ca

Construction Work Poses Risk to West 30th St Heliport

Vertical Aviation International Regional Rep Josh Rousseau briefed VAI members at the Eastern Regional Helicopter Council about the group's work on preserving infrastructure and airspace access throughout the often contentious New York City and New Jersey markets. One item of interest is the Gateway Project, a planned phased expansion of the Northeast Corridor rail line between NJ and NYC. That project would add new rail bridges and tunnels under the Hudson River, building on existing tunnel work from a century prior. The improvements should double rail passenger capacity throughout the Northeast US, rendering yet another challenge to aerial supremacy as the go-to for the high-falootin' of

Young Eagles Gives Blueprint for Recruiting Success

Chapter 534, a particularly active bunch under the EAA's umbrella, showed off a program best described as "Young Eagles, but for older pilots", showing the effects that a passionate group of enthusiasts can have on a community. The 'Flying Start Program' is designed to be a little introduction to the fun and breadth of flying, just as the Experimental Aviation Association's Young Eagles program is for the under-18 crowd. Flying Start lets adult participants do the same, try out the basics of flight and get a taste for joining the ranks of pilots the world over.

Eagle Engine Proves to Be a Capable Partner for Hypersonic Ambitions

Hypersonic startup Hermeus provided an update on their engine testing, describing some of the progress made on their F100 engine installation. The big deal lately has been integrating the Pratt & Whitney F100 into their 'Quarterhorse Mk 2', and understandably daunting issue given the excessive heat generated by pretty much every aspect of supersonic flight. Lately they've focused on cooling, developing a pre cooler to increase the max output of the F100 by chilling its pre-intake air. 

Growing Membership Leads to Increased Outreach for Women on the Corporate Side

Women in Corporate Aviation has announced the recipients of its Spring Scholarship Program, noting that they've had a record amount of applications in the last year. All in all, WCA saw more than 300 applicants for the scholarship, meaning the group also needed a record number of graders to assess just who was most deserving of the honors. Winners of the Spring 2024 scholarships run the gamut from piloting, maintenance, flight attendant, and regulatory themes, with a variety of amounts and donors. 

Robust Adventure Piece Gets an Upgrade

While it seems to be a ride of passage for young pilots to snag one of many slide-rule pilot watches, those who want something ready for a more rough-and-tumble lifestyle tend to jump for something a little more robust like the Casio Gravitymaster, a design that has been updated with all the latest and greatest from the brand. Sure, it doesn't have the same busy, nearly inscrutable-for-old-eyes look of classics like the Navitimer, Skyhawk, or Flightmaster, but that's the point: Casio wanted to give travelers everything they'd actually use in a flight watch, and nothing they don't. Out is the tiny 1-inch E6b, and in comes a world clock, bluetooth connectivity, and a nigh impenetrable case of carbon fiber armor

Color Docs Help Keep Tabs in Student Progress (For a Small Price Tag)

ASA has updated its lineup to accommodate for the new Airman Certification Standards that go into effect on May 31st, providing refreshed Student Flight Records for Instrument and Commercial Airplane, as well as the same for Private, Instrument, and Commercial Helicopter ratings. The new documents include elements for fixed wing and helicopter operations. The first, Instrument Rating and Commercial Pilot Student Flight Record (SFR-IC7), complies with Airman Certification Standards (ACS) for Commercial Pilot Airplane (ACS-7B) and Instrument Rating Airplane (ACS-8C). 

First LEED-Certified Facility in the Works for 2027 Opening

Canada's air regulator NAV CANADA and the Airport Authority of Victoria Airport have announced the groundbreaking of their new control tower, which is expected to enter service in 2027. The final tower will sport a height of 90 feet and more than 8,500 square feet of floor space for operations, providing operators there a decided improvement in keeping the Victoria show running safely. The new tower will sport NAV CANADA's first 'Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design or LEED certification, thanks to drawing its power from local British Columbia Hydro. 

From 2016 (YouTube Version): Audio Panels Engineered for Pilots with Features that Make Sense…

At EAA AirVenture 2016, PS Engineering Inc. was talking about, and showing, their PMA450A and PMA8000G audio panels for aircraft. While audio panels started off as simply a box that allowed switching between a couple of radios, we are now a long way from that starting point. About the only thing these audio panels don’t do is start your morning coffee, and we’ll have to see if that shows up next year.

Event Coordinators Informed Pilots That 360° Turns In The Traffic Pattern Were Prohibited

Analysis: A gyroplane and helicopter collided midair while maneuvering for landing in day visual meteorological conditions. The aircraft were participating in a fly-in event that provided daily pilot briefings on flight operations and procedures. During the briefings, event coordinators informed pilots that 360° turns in the traffic pattern were prohibited. Flight track information, witness statements, videos, and damage to the aircraft indicated that the gyroplane impacted the left side of the helicopter while performing a prohibited 360° turn on the base leg of the visual approach.

Aero Linx: KC-46A Pegasus

The KC-46A is the first phase in recapitalizing the U.S. Air Force's aging tanker fleet. With greater refueling, cargo and aeromedical evacuation capabilities compared to the KC-135, the KC-46A will provide aerial refueling support to Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and partner-nation receivers.

But Take A Moment To Do It The Right Way

While broadband has become very much the default internet connection everywhere from homes to offices and coffee shops, there are still a lot of places where a high-speed connection is not available, or you're stuck tethering to your phone with only one "civilization bar" to get your Aero-News. ANN goes through a lot of trouble to make the graphics flashy and cool and an integral part of the story. But let's face it, they're bandwidth-intensive. So here are a couple of thoughts on how to get the most out of Aero-News in the least amount of time.

ACCAS (usually pronounced ACK-kis) - AltoCumulus CAStellanus; mid-level clouds (bases generally 8 to 15 thousand feet), of which at least a fraction of their upper parts show cumulus-type development. These clouds often are taller than they are wide, giving them a turret-shaped appearance. ACCAS clouds are a sign of instability aloft, and may precede the rapid development of thunderstorms.

"Airbreathing engines are critical to Hermeus' goal of operationalizing hypersonic aircraft. By making a full-range, air-breathing hypersonic engine, Hermeus is setting the stage for aircraft that are capable of taking off from a regular runway and accelerating up to hypersonic speeds. No rockets or motherships required."

Source: Hermeus Co-Founder and Chief Technologist, Glenn Case, as the Hypersonic startup Hermeus provided an update on their engine testing, describing some of the progress made

NS-25 Punches Through The Karman Line With Six Crew Onboard

Blue Origin has successfully completed its seventh human spaceflight and the 25th flight for the New Shepard program. The crew included: Mason Angel, Sylvain Chiron, Kenneth L. Hess, Carol Schaller, Gopi Thotakura, and former Air Force Captain Ed Dwight, who was selected by President John F. Kennedy in 1961 as the nation’s first Black astronaut candidate but never had the opportunity to fly. New Shepard has now flown 37 people into space, including the most recent crew. 

Flight Training Milestone Achieved for Association’s Most Flexible Assistance

The EAA Ray Aviation Scholarship program has seen its 500th student pilot graduate helped along the way, marking off a significant milestone for the group's most widely useful scholarship. The Ray Scholarship is funded by the Ray Foundation, but managed by the EAA. That allows it to source candidates through its network of EAA chapters, each with their own culture and community. That's a fine way to find those who have a passion for flight, but may not be able to swing the expensive costs of training on their own. Through their chapter, suitable youths can see up to $11,000 in assistance to cover their flight training expenses. This year the Ray Foundation has disb

And Then There Was One: Aurora Flight Sciences Continues on Ground-Effect Aircraft Development

General Atomics' run at developing the Liberty Lifter ground effect aircraft has been put to rest, with their competitor, Aurora Flight Sciences, retaining theirs for the time being. The Liberty Lifter is one funky duck, as far as prospective military projects go. Looking forward to a contentious Pacific theater, DoD planners see a dire need for seaborne transport, beyond the old school's island-hopping and airstrip-chopping. The Liberty Lifter will be, if it all goes well, a gargantuan seaplane designed to fly within the cozy cushion of ground effect and debark its cargo without needing specialized dock facilities.

Event To Take Place At the U of Wisconsin Oshkosh Culver Family Welcome Center

It's ON... again! Building on last year's highly successful symposium, the Vertical Flight Society will present this year's 18th Annual Electric Aircraft Symposium (EAS), in person (and also online), in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, on July 20-21, 2024 — the weekend prior to Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) AirVenture 2024. Last year's rendition was a huge success with nearly 200 in-person attendees plus 38 virtual, and learning from some 50 experts. Video recordings and presentation slides are still available.

2024 Ray Aviation $11,000 Scholarship Awarded By EAA Chapter 534

By Ted Luebbers Isaiah Kadletz of Mount Dora, FL has received the 2024 Ray Aviation $11,000 scholarship awarded by the Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 534. A formal award presentation was held on May 11, 2024 at the Leesburg International Airport prior to the chapter’s monthly Young Eagle rally to honor this conscientious young man. Isaiah has been active in Chapter 534’s aviation youth program, Squadron 534 for several years. He attends regular Saturday work sessions in the chapter’s hangar and works closely with several of his adult mentors.

This Year’s Theme Is 'Connected Skies / Connected Communities'

This year's FAA Drone and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Symposium will focus on how the FAA continues (or tries...) to safely integrate these aircraft while creating a framework to accelerate advanced operations. The event, which runs from July 30 – Aug 1 at the Baltimore Convention Center in Maryland, will bring together representatives from the FAA, other government agencies, international aviation experts, industry leaders and academia. 

From 2017 (YouTube Version): A New Way To See Where Your Drone Is Going…

One of the new entrants into the FPV world is the Cinemizer, which the company says is a versatile and comfortable way to see where your drone is going. Annette Tindall, Sales and Marketing director for Cinemizer, USA, told ANN's CEO and Editor in Chief Jim Campbell, at the Sebring Sport Aviation Expo in January, that the new FPV device is made by a 160-year-old German optics company. They are designed to be very comfortable for the wearer, and feature a focu

(Witness) Observed An Airplane “Falling Out Of The Sky, Twirling” And Descending Below The Clouds Until He Lost Sight

On April 12, 2024, about 1633 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-32R-301, N9236J, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Knoxville, Tennessee. The commercial pilot was fatally injured. The flight was operated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. According to the pilot’s spouse, the pilot was returning to home on the day of the accident. Preliminary flight track data obtained from the Federal Aviation Administration showed that the airplane departed from St. Petersburg, Florida, about 1130 and landed at Mc Ghee Tyson Airport (TYS), Knoxville, Tenne

Aero Linx: International Airline Medical Association (IAMA)

The International Airline Medical Association, formerly known as the Airline Medical Directors Association (AMDA) was founded in 1935 to provide a forum for doctors who were employed by or contracted to international and/or regional airlines. The aim is to share information about aviation medicine with the goal of providing the best possible up-to-date medical advice concerning an airlines employees both aircrew and ground crew and also to advise on the health of airline passengers.

Blind Speed The rate of departure or closing of a target relative to the radar antenna at which cancellation of the primary radar target by moving target indicator (MTI) circuits in the radar equipment causes a reduction or complete loss of signal. 

Choose How YOU Want To View Your Aero News: Headlines And Teasers

We're all pretty excited about the new website design here at ANN, but we HAVE heard from some of you that you liked the way that content was displayed on the old site.  We hear you, and before you chuck your bitgrinder out a 5th story window, you should know that there are several ways that you can view your Aero-Content.

“Many aspiring pilots fall short of their goal due to the cost of flight training, so EAA working with the Ray Foundation helps relieve some of the financial pressure and make the goal of becoming a pilot even more accessible for future generations. The high completion rate of our scholars demonstrates the impact of a supportive environment provided by EAA chapters.” Source: Rick Larsen, EAA’s vice president of communities and member programming, in comments made as the EAA Ray Aviation Scholarship program celebrates its 500th student pilot graduate helped along the way, marking off a significant milestone for the group's most widely useful scholarship.