AVWEB

Out Of Gliding Distance

The earth's surface is about 71 percent water. Most of us will never pilot a personal aircraft long distances over oceans, but eventually flying over some body of water while beyond gliding distance to land is almost a certainty. When we do that in a single-engine aircraft, the adverse consequences of an engine failure increase […] The post Out Of Gliding Distance appeared first on AVweb.

Electric Beaver Makes First Flight

Canadian seaplane company Harbour Air announced that its modified all-electric DHC-2 de Havilland Beaver has successfully completed its first flight. The six-passenger “ePlane,” which the company is calling the world's first all-electric commercial aircraft, took off from the Fraser River at the Harbour Air Seaplanes terminal in Richmond, British Columbia, on Tuesday morning. The aircraft […] The post Electric Beaver Makes First Flight appeared first on AVweb.

Stop Doors-Off Helo Flights: NTSB

The NTSB says doors-off helicopter flights where passengers are secured with safety harnesses should stop. This recommendation comes after reviewing the March 2018 accident where five passengers perished in New York's East River and includes the board urging the FAA to close a loophole that allows such flights under the guise of aerial photography. “These […] The post Stop Doors-Off Helo Flights: NTSB appeared first on AVweb.

FAA Picks Drone Test Administration Advisors

The FAA has selected twelve organizations to advise the agency as it develops test administration requirements for an aeronautical knowledge and safety test for recreational Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS/drone) operators. Among the organizations that will be advising the FAA are Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, DJI, King Schools, the Unmanned Safety Institute, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association […] The post FAA Picks Drone Test Administration Advisors appeared first on AVweb.

Retired Sabreliner Lives On

Northrop Grumman will let a 1972 Sabreliner live on after retirement, though it won't be sleeping in and playing golf. The twinjet has been donated to Maryland's Anne Arundel County public schools as an “aviation training aid … to support AACPS' new Aviation Maintenance Technician program for high school students pursuing formal certification in airframe […] The post Retired Sabreliner Lives On appeared first on AVweb.

Aviation Safety

Download The Full December 2019 Issue PDF

The post Download The Full December 2019 Issue PDF appeared first on Aviation Safety.

New Aviation Safety Website

We're pleased to present to you Aviation Safety's brand-new website. On the site, you'll find our accident reports and flying articles from 1999 to today. The archived content on the site is free and open to all users. Recently published articles as well as our issue PDFs, are available to paid subscribers only. To subscribe, […] The post New Aviation Safety Website appeared first on Aviation Safety.

Download The Full November 2019 Issue PDF

During a routine training flight, the right engine was intentionally shut down to demonstrate inflight restarts. After a normal shutdown and securing procedure, the engine master switch was switched back to on per the checklist. Usually, this drives the propeller out of feather, and the restart procedure is continued. Instead, the propeller did not unfeather, even after attempting several troubleshooting procedures. The flight returned safely on the left engine. The post Download The Full November 2019 Issue PDF appeared first on Aviation Safety.

Failure To Communicate

I try to fly our airplane at least once every two weeks because just as its not good for a plane to just sit in a hangar, its also not good when a pilot doesnt practice their skills. Sometimes, even on clear days, I will fly instrument approaches at a nearby Class C airport. I do this for several reasons: to verify that all of the navigational instruments work properly, to practice working with ATC and if things dont work, I am in VFR conditions and am at very little risk. The post Failure To Communicate appeared first on Aviation Safety.

Propeller Problems

During a routine training flight, the right engine was intentionally shut down to demonstrate inflight restarts. After a normal shutdown and securing procedure, the engine master switch was switched back to on per the checklist. Usually, this drives the propeller out of feather, and the restart procedure is continued. Instead, the propeller did not unfeather, even after attempting several troubleshooting procedures. The flight returned safely on the left engine. The post Propeller Problems appeared first on Aviation Safety.

FAA

FAA Air Traffic Report

Today's Air Traffic Report:Low clouds, wind and snow could delay flights today in Boston (BOS), the New York area (EWR, JFK, LGA), Philadelphia (PHL) and the Washington, D.C. area (BWI, DCA, IAD). Low clouds and rain could slow traffic in San Francisco (SFO) and Seattle (SEA).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.

Recreational Drone Flying Aeronautical Test Moves Forward

WASHINGTON To advance public safety of the largest segment of drone operations, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today announced the organizations selected to advise the agency in developing test administration requirements for the recreational Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) aeronautical knowledge and safety test.A law passed in 2018 requires that recreational drone flyers pass an online aeronautical knowledge and safety test and carry proof of test passage with them while operating a drone. There are more than one million FAA registered recreational drone flyers. To ensure that flight operations are conducted safely, the FAA is developing a test to increase the aeronautical knowledge of recreational drone flyers.On September 17, the FAA issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking to work with stakeholders on the administration of a new aeronautical knowledge test for recreational drone flyers. Based on their responses to the RFI, the organizations below were selected to advise the agency in developing the test administration process.Embry Riddle Aeronautical UniversityDrone Launch Academy Southeastern UniversityScience Applications International Corp. (SAIC)DJIHorizon Hobby, LLC.Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) CoachKing SchoolsUnmanned Safety InstituteFirst Person View (FPV) Freedom CoalitionAircraft Owners and Pilots AssociationAcademy of Model AeronauticsDrone Racing LeagueThe above organizations will make recommendations to the FAA on the safety test administration requirements. From these recommendations, the FAA will develop the final requirements that potential test administrators must meet. These requirements, and any associated selection criteria for test administrators will be announced on FAA.gov.The test must be administered electronically by the FAA, community-based organizations, or others designated by the FAA. The FAAs objective is to work with third party entities to allow them to administer the knowledge training and test content on various platforms for the recreational flyer community.Section 44809 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 (PDF) requires new conditions to operate recreational drones. Many drones can be flown today with minimal training or knowledge of aviation rules or safety practices. The statute provided an opportunity to educate recreational flyers on UAS safety and to bring new flyers into the existing aviation safety culture.

FAA: Do Not Aim Laser-Light Displays at Sky

WASHINGTON The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a warning today that holiday laser-light displays aimed at houses become potentially dangerous when aimed into the sky.The agency receives reports each year from pilots who are distracted or temporarily blinded by residential laser-light displays. This creates a serious safety risk to pilots and their passengers flying overhead.The extremely concentrated beams of laser lights reach much farther than might be realized. People with laser-light displays that affect pilots will be asked to adjust them or turn them off. A refusal to do so could lead to a civil penalty.The warning comes as laser strikes against aircraft continue to increase. From January 1 to November 23 this year the FAA recorded 5,486 laser incidents, up from the 4,949 incidents recorded during the same period last year.Intentionally aiming a laser at an aircraft is a serious safety risk and violates federal law. The FAA works with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to pursue civil and criminal penalties against individuals who purposely aim a laser at an aircraft. The agency may impose civil penalties of up to $11,000 per violation. Civil penalties of up to $30,800 have been imposed by the FAA against individuals for multiple laser incidents.

LAANC Drone Program Expansion Continues

WASHINGTON The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today announced two important expansions of the Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC), which automates the application and approval process for drone operators to obtain airspace authorizations.Four airports Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, Dulles International Airport, William P. Hobby Airport in Houston and Newark Liberty International Airport joined the list of approximately 400 air traffic facilities covering about 600 airports where LAANC is available. Access to the service is provided through one of the FAA-approved UAS Service Suppliers. The seven companies listed below are the latest to enter into partnerships with the agency, bringing the total to 21.AirspacelinkAvisionBotlinkCollins AerospaceDrone UpSimulyzeSkygridLAANC, a collaboration between the FAA and the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) industry that directly supports the safe integration ofUAS into the nations airspace, expedites the time it takes for drone pilots to receive authorizations to fly under 400 feet in controlled airspace. The service is accessible to all pilots who operate under theFAAs small drone rule(Part 107).LAANC began as a prototype in 2017. To date, there have been more than 170,000 approved authorizations through LAANC. The program was expanded in July to provide near real-time airspace authorizations to recreational flyers.The programs continued expansion further increases the ability of drone pilots to gain safe and efficient access to controlled airspace nationwide.For updates to LAANC capabilities, visit our website.

FAA Seeks Comments on Draft Environmental Assessment for Las Vegas Metroplex Project

WASHINGTON-The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is seeking public comment on the Draft Environmental Assessment (Draft EA) for the Las Vegas Metroplex Project, which proposes to use cutting-edge satellite navigation to move air traffic more efficiently through Southern Nevada.While the airspace around Las Vegas is already safe, its not as efficient as it could be. The FAA proposes to address the inefficiencies by implementing new routes that are more direct, automatically separated from each other, and have efficient climb and descent profiles. The potential benefits of these routes can include reductions in pilot-controller communications, miles flown, fuel burn and CO2 emissions.The project includes new and replacement arrival and departure routes for McCarran International Airport, Henderson Executive Airport and North Las Vegas Airport.The FAA released the projects Draft EA on Nov.18 for public review. There will be a 32-day public comment period on the document from Nov.18 through Dec. 20, 2019.The document is posted on the Las Vegas Metroplex website. The Draft EA indicates the project would not have any significant environmental impacts under federal environmental law.Also available on the website are Google Earth images that allow people to compare current and proposed routes, and see the noise analysis the FAA conducted at more than 172,000 grid points throughout the project General Study Area.The FAA will host five public workshops for the Draft EA between Monday, Dec. 9 and Friday, Dec. 13, 2019. The workshops will feature informational videos and display boards that show existing and proposed routes and explain the inefficiencies in the current system. FAA representatives will be available to answer questions and demonstrate the Google Earth features.The workshops will be open-house format, where people can attend any time during the posted times to learn about the project. Free parking will be available at all locations.The workshop dates and locations are as follows:Dec. 9, 20195:00 p.m. 7:30 p.m.Clark County Government Center Pueblo Room500 S. Grand Central Pkwy., Las Vegas, NV 89155Dec. 10, 20195:00 p.m. 7:30 p.m.North Las Vegas Airport Grand Canyon Conference Room2730 Airport Drive, North Las Vegas, NV 89032Dec. 11, 20195:00 p.m. 7:30 p.m.Desert Breeze Community Center Meeting Room8275 Spring Mountain Road, Las Vegas, NV 89147Dec. 12, 20194:45 p.m. 7:15 p.m.Windmill Library Meeting Room7060 Windmill Lane, Las Vegas, NV 89113Dec. 13, 20195:00 p.m. 7:30 p.m.Henderson Executive Airport North/South Meeting Room3500 Executive Terminal Drive, Henderson, NV 89052People can submit comments on the project online at 9-las-metroplex-ea@faa.gov, in person at the public workshops, and by writing to:Las Vegas Metroplex Draft EA Federal Aviation AdministrationWestern Service CenterOperations Support Group2200 S. 216th StreetDes Moines, WA 98198-6547After evaluating and responding to all substantive public comments, the FAA could adopt the entire proposal, adopt portions of it, or modify it.Additional information about the project, including previous public outreach activities, is available on the FAAs Las Vegas Community Involvement website.