AVWEB

Garmin Further Expands GFC 500 Autopilot Applications

Garmin has added five Piper models and three variations of the Cessna 177 Cardinal to its STC list for the GFC 500 autopilot. Announced today, the company has added the Piper Cherokee 235 as well as new Piper Saratoga models (including the 301, 301T, 301FT and 301XTC) to its STC. In addition, Garmin now covers […] The post Garmin Further Expands GFC 500 Autopilot Applications appeared first on AVweb.

Secondhand Safety: Homebuilt Risks for Non-Builder Pilots

There's only one thing wrong with "homebuilt" (Experimental/Amateur-Built) aircraft: They take so gosh-darn long to build. But a lot of people have found the ultimate "quickbuild" alternative: They buy homebuilts that are already flying. The post Secondhand Safety: Homebuilt Risks for Non-Builder Pilots appeared first on AVweb.

SpaceX Launches 60 Sats, Dunks Another Booster

After a day's delay, SpaceX successfully placed another 60 of its Starlink satellites into orbit, but it was unable to recover the first stage to its customary floating platform. Video depicts the rocket returning from its mission but does not show that it “landed softly next to the platform,” as SpaceX representatives claim. Nevertheless, the […] The post SpaceX Launches 60 Sats, Dunks Another Booster appeared first on AVweb.

Garmin Updates Pilot App

A seamless transition from tablet to cockpit is the theme of Garmin's updates to the Pilot app announced today. In particular, the new features in Version 10 allow pilots to load instrument procedures—approaches, arrival and departure procedures—directly into the Pilot app and then connect with a range of connected panel-mount navigators. The app's new features […] The post Garmin Updates Pilot App appeared first on AVweb.

F-117A Nighthawk For Sale (Sort Of)

Looking for the ultimate driveway ornament or something special for your local airport's transient parking apron? Look no further than a decommissioned Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk stealth fighter. If you have a government email address that permits you access to the GSAXcess.gov site, check on item FJ2353001608278. It's an “extensively cannibalized” F-117A in “scrap” condition. The […] The post F-117A Nighthawk For Sale (Sort Of) appeared first on AVweb.

Aviation Safety

Download the Full February 2020 Issue PDF

The post Download the Full February 2020 Issue PDF appeared first on Aviation Safety.

Top Ten Tips For Managing Risk

Everyone talks about the weather but no one ever does anything about it. (Stop me if youve heard that before.) The same could be said about managing the risk of general aviation. We-both this magazine and the industry as a whole-spend a lot of time preaching to pilots about the mechanics of understanding weather forecasts, determining if the aircraft is capable, and making honest evaluations of our own performance in considering how and when to conduct a flight. But once we identify the need to mitigate a risk, we sometimes have little space left over to describe the tools we can use. Lets try to fix that. The post Top Ten Tips For Managing Risk appeared first on Aviation Safety.

The No-Go Decision

The mission was a simple day trip from my home field in southwest Florida to a familiar destination in north-central Georgia of 407 nm, planned to take 2+30 one-way. Spend a few hours on the ground visiting with an old friend, grab a late lunch, then hop back home later the same day. The airplane was ready and willing. But the weather wasnt cooperating as I wanted. The destination airport offered its own challenges. And while I was instrument-current, I wasnt as proficient with low IFR as I would have liked. The post The No-Go Decision appeared first on Aviation Safety.

Negligent Maintenance

Vintage aircraft often have vintage owners. Familiarity being a source of contempt, long-time owners of aircraft seeing little activity may also see little need to perform preventive maintenance or conduct regular inspections. It was just fine when I parked it; what could possibly have broken while it was sitting in a hangar? can be a familiar refrain to pilots who have owned the same airplane for a significant time. After a while, the pilot/owner is so familiar with the aircraft, he or she can tell somethings wrong just by the slipstream noise. The post Negligent Maintenance appeared first on Aviation Safety.

Fresh Out Of The Paint Shop

A few years ago, an engineer, friend and pilot shared a story about retrieving his Cessna 182RG from the paint shop. Before he took the plane out for a run-up and test flight, he asked his even more meticulous engineer-spouse do the preflight. When she did, she discovered something rather important. The bolts and nuts that connected the elevators were just hand-tightened, unsecured by cotter pins. The bolts and nuts securing the primary pitch control surfaces were essentially ready to fall out. Not good. My friend managed a major nuclear facility in Idaho, and he shared the story with his workforce as an example why operators should trust, but verify others work. The post Fresh Out Of The Paint Shop appeared first on Aviation Safety.

FAA

FAA Air Traffic Report

Today's Air Traffic Report:Low clouds could delay flights today in Atlanta (ATL), Boston (BOS), Charlotte (CLT), Denver (DEN), Houston (HOU, IAH), the New York area (EWR, JFK, LGA) and Philadelphia (PHL). Isolated thunderstorms also are possible in Atlanta.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.

Mark Your Calendar for the 2020 UAS Symposium

WASHINGTON The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) will co-host the 5th Annual FAA Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Symposium on June 16-18, 2020, at the Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, MD.The Symposium will bring together representatives from the FAA, other government agencies, industry, and academia. The presenters and panelists will discuss the latest information and advancements related to the diverse uses of unmanned aircraft, and how these new entrants are being safely integrated into the National Airspace System.Like in previous years, the FAA will operate an on-site resource center to respond to questions from UAS owners and operators. Subject matter experts will be on hand to answer questions about airspace authorizations, waivers, the Part 107 small UAS rule, changes in hobbyists drone operations, the Remote Identification rulemaking,and other policies and regulations.With interest in UAS technology, uses and operations at an all-time high, the Symposium is an opportunity for commercial remote pilots and drone enthusiasts to get the latest information on the burgeoning industry from leading experts in the field.To receive updates on event programming and registration please visit the symposium website.FAA Contact: Marcia Alexander-Adams; Email: marcia.adams@faa.gov; Phone: 202-267-3488AUVSI Contact: Tom McMahon; Email: tmcmahon@auvsi.org; Phone: 571-255-7786

Novel Coronavirus Update

The current outbreak of 2019 novel coronavirus originated in China but has now spread internationally, impacting an increasing number of countries. In the coming days and weeks, we expect more confirmed cases in the United States, including more person-to-person spread.The goal of an aggressive ongoing public health response is to prevent spread of this virus in the community in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provide the following guidance to the public:What You Should DoStay informed CDC is updating its website daily with the latest information and advice for the public. (www.cdc.gov/ncov)Currently, there is no vaccine to prevent 2019-nCoV infection.CDC recommends routine preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses.These are everyday habits that can help prevent the spread of several viruses.These actions include:Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.Avoid close contact with people who are sick.Stay home when you are sick.Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.CDC also has specific guidance for travelers.The federal government has our best people working on this problem.And we have one of the strongest public health systems in the world.What You Should Not DoCDC does not currently recommend the use of facemasks for the general public. This virus is not spreading in the community. While it is cold and flu season, we dont routinely recommend the use of facemasks by the public to prevent respiratory illness and we certainly are not recommending that at this time for this virus.We understand the recent recommendations including avoiding travel to China and the quarantine of U.S. citizens returning from Wuhan is concerning. The actions the federal government is taking are science-based and with the aim of protecting the health and safety of all Americans.Please do not let fear or panic guide your actions. For example, please dont assume that just because someone is of Asian descent that they have this new coronavirus. There are about 4 million Chinese-Americans in the United States.Guidance for Air Carriers and Crews

FAA Announces Super Bowl LIV Safety Plan

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)is working with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, the aviation community and the National Football League to ensure safe, secure, and efficient operations before, during and after Super Bowl LIV, on Feb 2, 2020, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, FL.The agency expects more than 2,500 additional take-offs and landings and nearly 1,300 additional aircraft parked at South Florida airports during Super Bowl week. Special procedures, includingTemporary Flight Restrictions(TFR) and aNo Drone Zonewill limit flights around Hard Rock Stadium before, during and after the game.The game day TFR will go into effect at approximately5:30 p.m. EST. It will cover a 30-nautical mile (34.5 miles) ring, centered over the stadium and from the ground up to 18,000 feet in altitude, before expiring at approximately11:59 p.m. EST. Drones are also prohibited inside the TFR. The FAA has establishedadditional TFRs torestrict drone flightsfor roughly onenautical mile around the Miami Beach Convention Center andBayfront Park up to an altitude of 2,000 feetfrom January 25 to February 1during daytime hours.Pilots must be aware of thelatest TFRs and checkNotices to Airmen (NOTAM)before flying. Pilots and drone operators who enter the TFRs without permission could face civil penalties that exceed $30,000 and potential criminal prosecution for flying drones in the TFR. The FAA encourages drone operators to check allnoticesto determine where drones may fly.The TFR will not affect regularly scheduled commercial flights at Miami International Airport (MIA) andFort LauderdaleHollywood International Airport (FLL). Emergency, medical, public safety and military operations may fly in the TFR while it is in place, in coordination with air traffic control.The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) enforces TFRs in real time, but the FAA may also take enforcement action against drone or aircraft pilots who violates the TFR.

South Florida is a "No Drone Zone" During Super Bowl LIV

MiamiHard Rock Stadium near Miami is a No Drone Zone for Super Bowl LIV on Feb. 2, 2020. Drones also are prohibited around the Miami Beach Convention Center for the NFL Super Bowl Experience and Bayfront Park for Super Bowl Live during the days leading up to the event.The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will establish a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) on game day that will prohibit drones within a 30-nautical-mile radius of the stadium up to 18,000 feet in altitude. The TFR will be in place from 5:30 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. EST. Drones are also prohibited for one nautical mile around Hard Rock Stadium on February 2 from 9 a.m. until the TFR for the game takes effect. Further details are available in the drone TFRs.The FAA will restrict drone flights for roughly one nautical mile around the Miami Beach Convention Center and Bayfront Park up to an altitude of 2,000 feet from January 25 to February 1 during daytime hours. Pilots and drone operators who enter the TFRs without permission could face civil penalties that exceed $30,000 and potential criminal prosecution for flying drones in the TFR.Detailed information for general aviation and drone pilots is available on the FAA's Super Bowl LIV web page.Drone pilots should check the FAAs B4UFly app to determine when and where they may fly. To highlight the No Drone Zone, watch the FAAs videos in English and Spanish encouraging fans to enjoy the game and leave their drones at home.