AVWEB

Is A 406 ELT Worth It? Reduce Expectations

Every other summer, I torture myself with the $1500 biennial ELT switch flip. I install the required 24-month battery, wait for the minute hand to sweep past the top of the hour and press the test switch with bated breath. The crisp woop-woop of the truly ancient EBC 121.5 MHz beacon makes the Cub legal […] The post Is A 406 ELT Worth It? Reduce Expectations appeared first on AVweb.

2020 Collier Trophy Finalists Announced

The National Aeronautic Association (NAA) announced the seven finalists competing for the 2020 Robert J. Collier Trophy on Wednesday. This year's nominees are the Bell V-280 Valor, Boeing Confident Travel Initiative, Garmin Autoland, Reliable Robotics Remotely Operated Aircraft System (ROAS), SpaceX Falcon 9 & Dragon 2, U.S. Department of the Air Force Green Propellant Infusion […] The post 2020 Collier Trophy Finalists Announced appeared first on AVweb.

Boeing Begins T-7A Red Hawk Production

The T-7A Red Hawk advanced military training jet has officially entered the production line, according to an announcement from Boeing on Tuesday. The aircraft, originally called the T-X, was designed entirely using the company's 3D model-based definition and data management systems. It is intended to replace the U.S. Air Force's 60-year-old T-38 fleet and it […] The post Boeing Begins T-7A Red Hawk Production appeared first on AVweb.

Piston Deliveries Hold On In A Down Year For GA Sales

The General Aviation Manufacturers Association released the final 2020 numbers showing piston aircraft suffering a small loss of less than 1 percent compared to 2019, while business jets and piston helicopters both fell by more than 20 percent. Other sectors were down as well, resulting in a drop of just under 10 percent for fixed-wing […] The post Piston Deliveries Hold On In A Down Year For GA Sales appeared first on AVweb.

Commercial Aviation Needs Proactive Safety Steps: FAA Admin Steve Dickson (Updated)

FAA Administrator Steve Dickson headlined an Aviation Safety Town Hall today that looked ahead to a post-COVID-19 landscape, saying the industry needs to take “proactive safety steps” to ensure the accident rates remain low as the airlines emerge from the pandemic downturn. “This town hall is part of a continuing dialogue that will help us […] The post Commercial Aviation Needs Proactive Safety Steps: FAA Admin Steve Dickson (Updated) appeared first on AVweb.

Aviation Safety

Download The Full March 2021 Issue PDF

PRACTICING APPROACHES Breaking Bad Habits Ask Yourself This The Wrong Surface Shoulder Harnesses To continue reading this article or issue you must be a paid subscriber Subscribe   Subscribe to Aviation Safety Start a subscription to Aviation Safety for just $18. And access all of our online content - over 5,000 articles - free of charge. Subscribe today and save 39. It's like getting 2 months FREE! Already Subscribed? Click Here to Sign In | Forgot your password? | Activate Web Access The post Download The Full March 2021 Issue PDF appeared first on Aviation Safety.

Landing Gear Troubles

The following information is derived from the FAA's Service Difficulty Reports and Aviation Maintenance Alerts. Cessna 210L Centurion Intermittent Indications On liftoff, the green gear indicator light went off. The pilot tried to retract the gear, but nothing happened. He put the gear in the down position but did not get a safe indication. The […] To continue reading this article or issue you must be a paid subscriber Subscribe   Subscribe to Aviation Safety Start a subscription to Aviation Safety for just $18. And access all of our online content - over 5,000 articles - free of charge. Subscribe today and save 39. It's like getting 2 months FREE! Already Subscribed? Click Here to Sign In | Forgot your password? | Activate Web Access The post Landing Gear Troubles appeared first on Aviation Safety.

That's How It Happens

The morning's mission was to pop down to a non-towered airport on the Gulf of Mexico to meet some friends for lunch. Naturally, I got a late start, so I stayed high as I neared the destination until tucking the nose down and keeping the power up in an attempt to make up a minute […] To continue reading this article or issue you must be a paid subscriber Subscribe   Subscribe to Aviation Safety Start a subscription to Aviation Safety for just $18. And access all of our online content - over 5,000 articles - free of charge. Subscribe today and save 39. It's like getting 2 months FREE! Already Subscribed? Click Here to Sign In | Forgot your password? | Activate Web Access The post That's How It Happens appeared first on Aviation Safety.

NTSB Reports

December 2, 2020, Lufkin, Texas Cessna 551 Citation II/SP At 0843 Central time, the airplane was substantially damaged when it departed the runway while landing. The airline transport pilot sustained minor injuries; two passengers were not injured. Instrument conditions prevailed; the flight was arriving on an IFR flight plan. After an uneventful flight and approach, […] To continue reading this article or issue you must be a paid subscriber Subscribe   Subscribe to Aviation Safety Start a subscription to Aviation Safety for just $18. And access all of our online content - over 5,000 articles - free of charge. Subscribe today and save 39. It's like getting 2 months FREE! Already Subscribed? Click Here to Sign In | Forgot your password? | Activate Web Access The post NTSB Reports appeared first on Aviation Safety.

Scud Running At Night

From time to time, pilots are confronted with a set of circumstances posing a significant challenge to their ability to complete a mission. It might be a mechanical problem, but it most often involves uncooperative weather. The time-honored act of launching into poor weather to “take a look” sometimes works out, but the chances of […] To continue reading this article or issue you must be a paid subscriber Subscribe   Subscribe to Aviation Safety Start a subscription to Aviation Safety for just $18. And access all of our online content - over 5,000 articles - free of charge. Subscribe today and save 39. It's like getting 2 months FREE! Already Subscribed? Click Here to Sign In | Forgot your password? | Activate Web Access The post Scud Running At Night appeared first on Aviation Safety.

FAA

FAA Air Traffic Report

Today's Air Traffic Report:Wind could slow flights today in Boston (BOS), Las Vegas (LAS), the New York area (EWR, JFK, LGA), Philadelphia (PHL) and the Washington, D.C., area (BWI, DCA, IAD). Snow and clouds are expected in Denver (DEN) and in ski country (ASE, EGE). Evening thunderstorms are possible in Dallas (DAL, DFW), and rain and clouds are predicted for Houston (HOU, IAH).Pilots: Check out the new Graphical Forecasts for Aviation (GFA) Tool from the Aviation Weather Center.For up-to-the-minute air traffic operations information, visit fly.faa.gov, and follow @FAANews on Twitter for the latest news and Air Traffic Alerts.The FAA Air Traffic Report provides a reasonable expectation of any daily impactsto normal air traffic operations, i.e. arrival/departure delays, ground stoppages, airport closures. This information is for air traffic operations planning purposes and is reliable as weather forecasts and other factors beyond our ability to control.Always check with your air carrier for flight-specific delay information.

FAA Announces Application Period for LAANC

The FAA announced the application period for entities to become FAA Approved UAS Service Suppliers of the Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC). The application period opens on May 3, 2021.LAANC is a collaboration between the FAA and the drone industry that directly supports the safe integration of drones into the nations airspace. Launched in 2017, the capability covers 80 percent of controlled National Airspace at 400 feet or below and expedites the time it takes for drone pilots to receive near real-time authorizations to fly in this space. All drone pilots operating in LAANC-enabled areas under the FAAs small drone rule or under the exception for limited recreational operations can access the capability through FAA Approved LAANC Service Suppliers.LAANC provides drone pilots with industry developed applications to obtain near real-time airspace authorizations for operations in a controlled airspace below 400 feet. LAANC does not provide entities with the authority to regulate the airspace or grant access without FAA approval.The Schedule is:Application Period: May 3 June 4, 2021FAA Submission Review: June 7 July 9, 2021Technical Interviews: June 12 August 13, 2021Formal Onboarding: August 16 October 15, 2021The FAA is announcing the application date more than two months in advance to help applicants prepare, as they must have a mature product at time of application. Information on requirements and the onboarding process can be found on FAA.gov.

FAA Statement on Pratt & Whitney Engine Emergency Airworthiness Directive

The FAA issued an Emergency Airworthiness Directive (AD) tonight that requires U.S. operators of airplanes equipped with certain Pratt & Whitney PW4000 engines to inspect these engines before further flight.The FAA is taking this action as the result of a fan-blade failure that occurred Saturday on a Boeing 777-200 that had just departed from Denver International Airport. Although the aircraft landed safely, the failure resulted in damage to the engine, an in-flight engine fire, and damage to the airplane.After reviewing the available data and considering other safety factors, the FAA determined that operators must conduct a thermal acoustic image (TAI) inspection of the large titanium fan blades located at the front of each engine. TAI technology can detect cracks on the interior surfaces of the hollow fan blades, or in areas that cannot be seen during a visual inspection.As these required inspections proceed, the FAA will review the results on a rolling basis. Based on the initial results as we receive them, as well as other data gained from the ongoing investigation, the FAA may revise this directive to set a new interval for this inspection or subsequent ones.The previous inspection interval for this engine was 6,500 flight cycles. A flight cycle is defined as one takeoff and landing.This AD is effective immediately upon receipt. The FAA will share this information with other international civil aviation authorities.

FAA Seeks TRUST Administrators for Drone Pilot Test

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today opened the application period for entities interested in serving as test administrators for The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST). Potential test administrators must submit their applications by March 31, 2021.The FAA will designate qualified third parties to administer the test and make it accessible to all recreational drone flyers. Entities involved with recreational pilots such as educational institutions, manufacturers and aeromodelling organizations are encouraged to apply.Interested parties are encouraged to review the selection criteria on the FAA website. The FAA will announce selected test administrators in June 2021 and expects selected test administrators to begin offering the test to recreational drone pilots at that time.TRUST will provide recreational drone flyers with information on best practices and educational resources to ensure safe drone operations.The test was developed with input from the drone community in response to requirements included in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 that required development of a test to demonstrate a recreational flyer's understanding of aeronautical safety knowledge and rules for operating unmanned aircraft.As drones become more popular and accessible, the FAA is committed to ensuring that the public is aware of regulations and how to operate safely in the nations airspace.

U.S. DOT Announces $76 Million in Airport Improvement Grants

DOT announces first three grants for infrastructure projects through the FAA's FY 2021 Airport Improvement Program.