Tag Archives: helicopter

891 Airline Ticket Pricing

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Dynamic airline ticket pricing, Blackhawk helicopter altitude instrumentation, a U.S. Government equity position in Spirit Airlines, the NTSB preliminary report on the fatal LGA accident, capacity cuts at airports, AI-enabled ATC, the Digital Tower Technology Coalition, and SpaceX Starlink in-motion aviation plans.

Aviation News

JetBlue sued over claims it uses customers’ personal data to set ticket prices

JetBlue logo

Airline executives have told Congress that personal data is not used to dynamically set ticket prices. However, a complaint has been filed in federal court alleging that JetBlue uses “trackers” and shares data with third parties to dynamically set prices. This stems from an exchange on X where a passenger complained about a ticket price increase and JetBlue responded by saying the passenger should try “clearing your cache and cookies or booking with an incognito window.” JetBlue later stated that the response was incorrect and added that “fares can change at any moment as seats are purchased or as inventory is adjusted based on demand”.

Army aviation chief: D.C. crash ‘wasn’t about’ outdated Black Hawk cockpit

At a media briefing on Bell’s MV-75 tiltrotor, The Air Current asked the commanding general of Army Aviation, Maj. Gen. Clair Gill, whether last year’s fatal midair collision between a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines regional jet changed the Army’s thinking about fielding the Black Hawk’s partial replacement. Gill answered, “No, it’s completely unrelated.” The MV-75 will have “a more advanced cockpit, but the D.C. crash really wasn’t about whether or not it was an advanced cockpit or not.” This implied that faulty altimeters and outdated avionics in the accident helicopter did not substantially contribute to the crash.

The NTSB found that altitude exceedances on the Washington, D.C., helicopter routes were likely exacerbated by inaccurate altimeters on older UH-60L “Lima” Black Hawks, including the one involved in the crash.

Possible Spirit rescue fuels new fears about government involvement in business

The Federal government is considering an equity deal to keep Spirit Airlines afloat. Under the proposal, the airline would receive $500 million, providing additional liquidity as Spirit works to emerge from bankruptcy. The U.S. government could own up to 90% of the airline, according to sources.

Reportedly, the government would charge Spirit a reasonable interest rate and move to the top of the debtor list. CBS News says, “The loan would be protected by Spirit assets that would exceed the government’s costs, and would provide taxpayers with a warrant — the right to own 90% of the company after it emerges from bankruptcy.” Also, “The Pentagon would use Spirit’s excess capacity for transporting troops, military cargo, or other missions. The airline would then likely be sold to another carrier.”

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NTSB Report LGA Air Canada Incident [PDF]

On March 22, 2026, Jazz Aviation LP flight 646 (operating as Air Canada flight 8646), a CRJ-900, was substantially damaged after it collided with Rescue 35 (R35), an Oshkosh Striker 1500 aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) vehicle, while landing on runway 4 at LaGuardia Airport. The captain and first officer were fatally injured. 

Of the 2 flight attendants, 72 passengers, and 2 crew of the ARFF vehicle, 39 were transported to local hospitals with 6 serious injuries reported. The airplane was a Part 129 scheduled flight from Montréal–Trudeau International Airport (YUL), Montreal, Quebec, to LGA.

A review of the ASDE-X system data by the FAA determined that the system did not generate an aural or visual alert on the ASDE-X displays in the LGA ATC tower to warn controllers of the potential runway conflict.

FAA orders Chicago O’Hare International Airport to cut over 300 planned flights daily between May and October

The FAA is ordering flight reductions at Chicago O’Hare International Airport over the summer travel season. 3,080 daily flights were scheduled for peak summer days in 2026. Now O’Hare flights will be restricted to 2,708 per day from May 17 to Oct. 24. This change is motivated by capacity and operational delay concerns.

The FAA said it intends to bring in more air traffic controllers, speed up controller training, reduce delays by optimizing routes and airspace, and increase communication between the agency, the airport, and airlines during high-risk periods.

FAA quietly developing AI enabled air traffic management system

The Strategic Management of Airspace Routing Trajectories (SMART) is an artificial intelligence-powered software tool designed for air traffic management. People familiar with the project say it could fundamentally change how the U.S. airspace system operates.

Palantir, Thales, and Airspace Intelligence (ASI) are competing on the initiative. Operational start could be as early as later this year. The system could enable the FAA to plan for bottlenecks and anticipate schedule conflicts before an aircraft even leaves the ground. This contrasts with today’s human-centric, reactive ATC structure.

Digital Tower Technology Coalition Pushing Remote ATC

Digital Tower Technology Coalition logo

The Digital Tower Technology Coalition “is an alliance of stakeholders advocating for the FAA’s implementation of the digital tower program, as outlined in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024. By leveraging U.S. airports, regional partners, air traffic controllers, original equipment manufacturers, and federal partners, our coalition seeks to ensure an efficient and transparent process while strengthening U.S. global competitiveness in cutting-edge aviation technology.”

See the Press Release: Introducing the Digital Tower Technology Coalition, Representing Bold Commitment to Innovation in Effort to Modernize U.S. Aviation [PDF]

SpaceX Cuts Starlink Aviation Prices – New GA Plans Start at $200/Month

When SpaceX imposed a 100 mph speed cap on all non-aviation plans, general aviation pilots were forced to switch to more expensive aviation-specific tiers. That generated an outcry from the flying community, including a petition with over 9,500 signatures. GA pilots had been using Starlink Roam for $50 per month with a 100GB data cap. Now SpaceX has made some changes to its in-motion aviation plans.

Aviation 300MPH is renamed General Aviation Local 50GB, the price is lowered to $200 per month (from $250), and the monthly data limit is increased to 50GB (from 20GB). Additional data can be purchased in 50GB blocks for $25 (from $10 per GB).

The Aviation 450 MPH plan is now General Aviation Global 50GB, which is still $1,000 per month, but the monthly data cap has been increased to 50GB (from 20GB). Additional data can be purchased in 50GB blocks for $100 (from $50 per GB).

Mentioned

Swiss cheesemakers allowed to artificially make holes in Emmental cheese

Hosts this Episode

Max Flight, our Main(e) Man Micah, and Rob Mark.

887 Runway Incursion

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A runway incursion at LaGuardia results in a fatal crash, new helicopter safety regulations are introduced near airports, Airbus voices frustration with Pratt & Whitney, the second NASA X-59 test flight ends prematurely, A-10 Warthogs see combat over the Strait of Hormuz, and Essential Air Service is considered for Presque Isle Airport.

Aviation News

Decades of aircraft and ground vehicle near misses at LGA preceded fatal crash

Air Canada CRJ900 operated by Jazz.
CRJ900, courtesy Air Canada.

A tragic runway incursion at New York’s LaGuardia Airport on March 22, 2026, ended in disaster when an Air Canada Jazz CRJ900 landing there collided with an airport rescue and firefighting vehicle on the runway. The crash claimed the lives of both pilots and left dozens seriously injured.

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FAA tightens helicopter safety rules near major airports

The FAA now requires air traffic controllers to use radar to manage aircraft and helicopters in close proximity. The interim general notice (Notice (GENOT) JO 7110.801 – Interim Helicopter Separation Procedures) suspends the use of visual separation between airplanes and helicopters in Class B and Class C airspace, and Terminal Radar Service Areas (TRSAs).

The DOT said, “Many helicopter operators who are used to obtaining immediate approval to transit through certain areas may have to adjust their flight routes or be delayed while controllers ensure they maintain safe distance from other aircraft. When helicopter pilots, conducting urgent medical or LEO missions, request to fly through these heavy-traffic areas, airline operations to those airports may be disrupted in order to allow these missions priority clearance.”

Exclusive: Airbus seeks Pratt & Whitney damages over engine delays, sources say

Airbus is frustrated with Pratt & Whitney over the slow delivery of GTF engines for the A320 family. The issue stems from an allocation crunch, with demand coming both from Airbus for new aircraft and from airlines waiting on repairs to get problem engines back in service. Reports suggest Airbus may be seeking potential damages.

This stems from a manufacturing problem where contaminants were introduced into the nickel-based powdered metal used to forge certain rotating engine components. (Turbine disks and some HPC parts.) These engines face an increased risk of microscopic cracks and premature failure, particularly those produced roughly between late 2015 and 2021. Instead of waiting for routine shop visits, these engines required accelerated inspections and life‑limit reductions.

NASA Second X-59 Flight Cut Short from Warning Light

The second flight of the NASA X-59 supersonic demonstrator ended after nine minutes when a warning light illuminated shortly after takeoff. An unrelated caution light indicated an issue prior to the flight, but after a system reset, the flight was approved to proceed.

The first flight took place on October 28, 2025, when the demonstrator reached 12,000 feet and 200 knots. The second flight was intended to last an hour and reach 20,000 feet and 225 knots, but ended up matching the first flight.

A-10 Warthogs Are Prowling For Iranian Boats In The Strait Of Hormuz

The Pentagon has long sought to retire the A-10 Warthog, but Congress has kept it flying. In the meantime, A-10 pilots have been training for a maritime mission: attacking Iranian fast boats in the Strait of Hormuz. AH-64 Apache attack helicopters are also now performing this mission, as well as shooting down Iranian drones. The A-10 has long been considered a close air support aircraft for ground forces, but it also has a maritime role.

JetBlue and American Airlines Bid to Serve Presque Isle Airport

The U.S. Department of Transportation has received proposals from JetBlue and American Airlines for the next Essential Air Service contract for Presque Isle International Airport. JetBlue has provided the service since 2024 with seven weekly round-trip flights to Boston. The 140-seat Airbus A220s depart early in the morning and return late at night. The airline is proposing to continue that service.

American Airlines is proposing at least 12 round-trip weekly flights on a 65-seat jet, split between Boston and Philadelphia. American is seeking a two-year contract with an average annual subsidy of $8.2 million. JetBlue is seeking an $11,521,129 in each of four years, or a two-year contract worth $11,745,899 annually.

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U.S. Air Force to Update U-2 Dragon Lady Defensive System

The U-2 Dragon Lady first flew 70 years ago, and it’s still being used as an ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) platform. Recently, BAE Systems was awarded a contract by Robins Air Force Base in Georgia to support and sustain the U-2’s AN/ALQ-221 Advanced Defensive System (ADS).

In a press release (BAE Systems to modernize Advanced Defensive System for the U.S. Air Force U-2 reconnaissance aircraft), BAE said, “Under the contract, BAE Systems will provide continuous field service support for the aircraft’s electronic warfare (EW) system, complete repairs to maintain system availability, and provide software updates so it can detect and engage new threats.”

Mentioned

Stories about Flying. Flight Instructing is About More Than Just Logging Hours.

China Clipper (1936) movie.

Hosts this Episode

Max Flight, our Main(e) Man Micah, Rob Mark, and Erin Applebaum.

651 Ingenuity Flies on Mars

Ingenuity becomes the first aircraft to make a powered, controlled flight on another planet. Also, green aviation initiatives from IAG, Southwest Airlines, and Universal Hydrogen; the F-15EX gets a new name; a museum reopens and a major GA event is canceled; a recap of the 2021 Sun ‘n Fun Aerospace Expo; and a Lego story.

Aviation News

Ingenuity Becomes the First aircraft to Fly on Another Planet

The NASA solar-powered Ingenuity Mars helicopter has become “the first aircraft in history to make a powered, controlled flight on another planet.” The first flight flew 3 meters above the Martian surface for 39 seconds. The second flight was 5 meters for 51.9 seconds. The third flight was also to 5 meters then Ingenuity flew downrange 50 meters reaching a top speed of 2 meters per second.

Ingenuity Mars helicopter gets official international call-sign

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has established official designations for Ingenuity and Wright Brothers Field where it operates from on Mars. The Ingenuity first flight has been given the IGY three-letter designator and the call sign INGENUITY. Wright Brothers Field is designated JZRO for Jezero Crater.

IAG to power 10 percent of its flights with sustainable aviation fuel by 2030

International Airlines Group (IAG) intends to purchase one million tons of sustainable jet fuel every year. This would lower annual emissions by two million tons by 2030. That’s the equivalent of taking one million European cars off the road each year. IAG encompasses British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Iberia Express, LEVEL, and Vueling. IAG plans to work with its suppliers so they can achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 for the products and services they provide to IAG. The company is investing US$400 million over the next 20 years and partnering with sustainable aviation fuel developers LanzaJet and Velocys.

Southwest Airlines Continues Its Support of Sustainable Aviation Fuel Research to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Southwest Airlines is supporting the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory. The NREL plans to utilize a biorefining process to develop low-carbon, low-cost, high-performance sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) created from wet waste, such as food. Southwest wants to be carbon neutral by 2050 and sees SAF as having an important role.

Universal Hydrogen raises $20.5m to accelerate hydrogen aviation

Universal Hydrogen secured $20.5m in new funding and is targeting 2025 for the first commercial regional aircraft flights. Investors include Fortescue Future Industries, Coatue, Global Founders Capital, Plug Power, Airbus Ventures, JetBlue Technology Ventures, Toyota AI Ventures, Sojitz Corporation, and Future Shape. Universal Hydrogen intends to build and test full-scale hardware for hydrogen commercial aircraft.

The F-15EX Has a New Name

At a rollout and naming ceremony at Eglin Air Force Base, the F-15EX was named the Eagle II.  The F-15C/D fleet is to be replaced by at least 144 F-15EXs. The older fleet has an average age of 37 years. Structural strain is becoming an issue.

Udvar-Hazy Center To Open May 5. Six Other Smithsonian Museums Plus The Zoo To Also Open In May!

The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center will reopen on Wednesday, May 5 – the 60th anniversary of the first U.S. human spaceflight by Alan Shepard. Timed entry passes will be required for all visitors and face coverings will be required for all visitors ages two and older. Some artifacts will not be on view and other restrictions apply.

Corona crisis forces Messe Friedrichshafen to cancel AERO 2021

Aero Friedrichshafen canceled for the second year in a row.

Mentioned

Sun ‘n Fun Aerospace Expo

Lego Boeing 747 Cockpit

Bye eFlyer 800 will fly you and 7 of your closest friends 500NM at 320 knots, or more with solar

Air Force unveils new mission statement

The Air Force released its new mission statement: ‘To fly, fight, and win…airpower anytime, anywhere.” This change emphasizes the primary competitive advantage and capabilities airpower provides to the nation and joint operations.

Video: “Weird Al” Yankovic – Mission Statement

491 Igor Sikorsky III

Igor Sikorsky III joins us and talks about the history of his grandfather, aviation pioneer Igor Sikorsky. Our airplane of the week is the Sikorsky VS-300. We also look at Boeing’s belief that the industry has put its cyclic business nature in the past, new fees proposed for air travelers, and the International Trade Commission report denying Boeing’s claim against Bombardier.

Igor Sikorsky's plane in front of the Bradford Camps lodge.

Igor Sikorsky’s plane in front of the Bradford Camps lodge.

Guest

Igor Sikorsky III gassing up at Munsungan Lake.

Igor Sikorsky III gassing up at Munsungan Lake.

Igor Sikorsky III is the grandson of aviation pioneer Igor Sikorsky and he conducts the annual “Sikorsky Weekend” at The Bradford Camps in the North Maine woods. It’s an opportunity to immerse yourself in the history of Igor’s grandfather with family memorabilia, stories, and videos.

Igor gives us a few slices of the Sikorsky history, including how his grandfather was inspired at age 12 by a dream he had of flying over an ocean. We talk about the early days in Russia when the family entrusted their savings to him and then his time in Paris. That was the hub of early aviation where designers and other dreamers congregated to try and build flying machines. We learn about Sikorsky’s emigration from Russia to the U.S. where other Russian immigrants worked with him, sometimes without pay, to develop early aircraft.

Igor is a pilot himself and owns a Skyhawk on floats, which he uses regularly to ferry visitors to his camp and to fishing spots in Maine. We talk about the unique aspects of flying in the North Maine woods, and how having an airplane is critical to the life Igor and his wife Karen lead.

Igor tells us how he thinks his grandfather would have felt about the 2015 sale of Sikorsky Aircraft by United Technologies Corporation. We also learn about the Russian Imperial Stout that Two Roads Brewing Company produces each year to honor Sikorsky and Stratford, Connecticut.

Learn more about the annual Sikorsky Weekend at The Bradford Camps website, and be sure to visit the Igor I. Sikorsky Historical Archives.

Igor Sikorsky III plane at Munsungan Lake, Maine.

Does it get any better than this?

News

Boeing CEO: Aerospace now viewed as an industry with ‘long-term sustained growth’

Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg says the industry has gone “from being a high-cycle business in the past” to now becoming “a long-term sustained growth business.”

New Aviation Fees Could Cost Travelers $3 Billion

The proposed 2019 Federal budget released on February 12, 2018, increases Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) fees, which could potentially cost consumers up to an additional $3 billion. Industry trade group Airlines for America (A4A) urged Congress to reject all TSA and CBP fee increases and instead return the billions of dollars now collected by the TSA and CBP and used for non-aviation related purposes.

U.S. ITC details why it rejected CSeries duties, says Boeing not hurt

The International Trade Commission published their 194-page ruling that rejected Boeing’s claim against Bombardier, saying “Boeing lost no sales or revenues.”

The Airplane of the Week

David tells us the history of the Vought Sikorsky VS-300 (Sikorsky S-42), the first practical helicopter in the United States and the model for most helicopters that were to come.

The Sikorsky VS-300. Credit: unknown (Smithsonian Institution)

The Sikorsky VS-300. Credit: unknown (Smithsonian Institution)

Mentioned

New England Air Museum

Xtended Episode 79

The Fighter Pilot Podcast

Imperial notifies Transport Canada of potential aviation fuel quality issue

Accident: Spirit A20N near Fort Lauderdale on Jan 28th 2018, fumes on board, crew feeling increasingly incapacitated

Air Force Special OPS plane carrying US Commandos makes “surprise” landing in Libya

Leaping elk crashes low-flying research helicopter in Utah

North Korea Military Parade 2018: Best Moments – Parada Militar na Coreia do Norte 2018

Credit

Outtro by Bruno Misonne from The Sound of Flaps.

 

482 Helicopter Association International

Our guest is the president of Helicopter Association International. In the news, we look at the role of helicopters as well as local airports in times of emergencies, medical reform around the globe, Boeing 787 Dreamliner woes, and how Aurora Flight Sciences can make any rotary-wing aircraft fly autonomously. We also have the return of the history segment.

Guest

Matthew Zuccaro, president of Helicopter Association International.

Matthew Zuccaro, president of Helicopter Association International. HAI Photo.

Matt Zuccaro is president of Helicopter Association International. HAI provides support and services to its members and to the international helicopter community. They have their headquarters Alexandria, Virginia, and HAI members fly more than 5,000 helicopters some 2.3 million hours each year.

Matt has been in the helicopter industry for 50 years and president of HAI since 2005. He held several executive levels and operations management positions with commercial, corporate, air tour, scheduled airline, and public service helicopter operations in the northeastern United States. During his tenure with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, he served in operations management positions at Kennedy International Airport and the Port Authority’s public and private heliports.

Matt received his initial helicopter flight training as a U.S. Army aviator and served with the 7/17 Air Cavalry unit in Vietnam.  He was subsequently assigned as a flight instructor at the Army Flight School at Fort Rucker, Alabama.

Matt holds Airline Transport Pilot and Instrument Flight Instructor certificates for both airplanes and helicopters. He is a recipient of HAI’s 10,000-Hour Helicopter Pilot Safety award, as well as many other industry awards for his efforts and commitment to the helicopter industry.

Find Helicopter Association International at rotor.org and on Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Also, follow Heli-Expo on Twitter and use the hashtag #HAI_EXPO18.

Aviation News

LA Fires Prove Importance of Santa Monica Airport

The City of Santa Monica plans to shorten the single runway at SMO to restrict airport usage to small airplanes. When the airport closes in 10 years, there won’t be anywhere to base firefighting helicopters and other vital equipment.

Medical Reform Going Global

Medical reform in the shape of BasicMed came to the U.S. in 2017, and now Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) announced “Basic Class 2” medical for piston aircraft with up to five non-paying passengers, during daytime visual flight rules. AOPA and AOPA Australia together urged CASA to undertake reforms similar to BasicMed.

LA Helicopter Crews Navigate Through Smoke to Save Homes From Skirball Fire

Devastating fires are again plaguing California and response teams include a variety of aircraft, including helicopters. The Weather Network published a dramatic video shot from a helicopter as it navigated through heavy smoke over a residential area.

Boeing Dreamliner’s Lithium-Ion Battery Fails On United Flight To Paris

A United Airlines Boeing 787 experienced a lithium-ion battery failure on approach to Charles de Gaulle Airport on November 13. United Flight 915 was at the end of a seven-hour flight from Washington’s Dulles Airport when pilots received a warning that the main battery was overheating.

Airlines are grounding 787s for urgent maintenance

Airlines are grounding Boeing 787s for urgent maintenance as one of the engines on Air New Zealand Boeing 787 flight NZ99 failed in-flight this week. The photos of failed engine show damage to turbine blades, suggesting a part broke off and traveled through the engine.

Aurora Makes Any Helicopter Autonomous

A system developed by Aurora Flight Sciences can be installed on any rotary-wing aircraft and enable it to fly autonomously. Dennis Baker, AACUS [Autonomous Aerial Cargo Utility System] program officer said this “gives revolutionary capability to our fleet and force. It can be used as a pilot aid in degraded visual environments, or allow fully autonomous flights in contested environments, keeping our pilots out of harm’s way.”

The Airplane of the Week

Our aviation historian David Vanderhoof tells us about the Douglas X-3 Stiletto. Just because an aircraft looks fast doesn’t mean it is. The X-3 is a lesson that disappointment does not necessarily mean failure.

X-3 Stiletto by David Vanderhoof.

X-3 Stiletto by David Vanderhoof.

Commercial Aviation Story of the Week

TSA Pre-check travelers will only need ID at Austin airport

If you use TSA Pre-check, you’ll notice a change when you go through the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. The TSA started testing a new technology for pre-check travelers that only requires a photo ID. The Credential Authentication Technology is expected to verify the authenticity of a passenger photo ID and validate information from the ID against TSA’s Secure Flight vetting system.

Mentioned

City in the Sky on PBS

This Woman Has Been an American Airlines Flight Attendant for 60 Years

The Waldron’s Dilemma Educator’s Kit – the educator’s companion to the award-winning film, South Dakota Warrior.

Credit

Intro music courtesy Brother Love from his Album Of The Year CD. Outtro by Bruno Misonne from The Sound of Flaps.

443 Heli-Expo 2017

Interviews from Heli-Expo 2017, a Boeing 797 might be in our future, a hybrid/electric powered vertical takeoff airplane is taking shape, companies attend the 2017 International Women in Aviation Conference looking to hire, some post-merger developments for Alaska and Virgin America, and a flight instructor who really was not. Also, a report on EAA at SXSW, and another memorable flight from a listener.

An MI-24 was displayed at the 2017 Heli-Expo. Courtesy Cold War Air Museum.

An MI-24 was displayed at the 2017 Heli-Expo. Courtesy Cold War Air Museum.

Heli-Expo 2017

Helicopter Association International says over 17,000 people attended Heli-Expo 2017 in Dallas, Texas, with 731 exhibiting businesses and organizations, and 62 aircraft on display. Our Airplane Geeks Reporter-at-Large “Launchpad” Marzari attended the event and recorded a number of interviews.

Mat Noble, U.S. Customs and Border Protection. CBP is looking to hire pilots. Apply at USAJOBS.gov and search for agency 1881. See also CBP Frontline Careers.

Charles Schneider, CEO of MyGoFlight. This company offers iPad flight apps and accessories, and introduced a HUD concept product.

Emmanuel Davidson, President of AOPA France, talks about bringing medical certification reform to Europe for light planes, and the role of IAOPA, the International Council of Aircraft Owner and Pilot Associations.

Bill Thompson from Embry-Riddle was at the show to support their graduates.

John Batey from the Cold War Air Museum (CWAM) brought one of their Mi-24 helicopter gunships. The museum is located on Lancaster Airport, 20 minutes south of Dallas.

Giovanni Mazzoni, AW609 program manager, describes the twin-engined tiltrotor VTOL aircraft with a configuration similar to the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey, and aimed at the civil aviation market.

And then Launchpad ran into an aviation journalist named Rob Mark.

Aviation News

Boeing’s talking with airlines about a ‘797,’ and they like what they hear

There has been talk of a so-called “B757 replacement.” Something between the single-aisle 737 and the widebody 787. It’s been called the MOM airplane (Middle of the Market) and the NMA (either New Mid-sized Airplane or New Market Airplane). Now Steven Udvar-Hazy, chairman of Air Lease Corporation, says, “Call it a 797. That’s what it’s going to be.”

Companies form alliance for hybrid aircraft

XTI Aircraft Company is teaming up with Bye Aerospace to develop a hybrid/electric powered prototype of their TriFan vertical takeoff airplane. XTI says that because of cost and weight reductions, the first TriFan prototype will be a full-size rather than the 65% scale version that had been planned.

Women in Aviation 2017: We’re Hiring

The 2017 International Women in Aviation Conference was held March 2-4, 2017 and Dr. Peggy Chabrian, president and co-founder of WAI noted that, “Major airlines have been coming to WAI for the past four years and hiring WAI members in significant numbers, but this year the companies accepting résumés seem to be more diverse.

If You Thought the Alaska/Virgin America Merger Was Anti-Competitive, Take a Look at San Francisco

Since its merger with Alaska, Virgin America has added a number of new destinations from San Francisco. It looks like a strategy shift with Virgin America now adding mid-sized markets (as Alaska was successful doing) instead of the large-market approach that characterized Virgin America.

Fake flying instructor convicted

A 25 year old man represented himself to North Weald Airfield (EGSX) in Essex, England as a pilot and flight instructor. Suspicious work colleagues investigated and found he was not. After the man plead guilty to several counts, he was sentenced to an eight-month jail sentence suspended for 14 months, 140 hours of unpaid work, and costs.

Listener Recording

Listener John tells us about his most memorable flight.

Mentioned

Visit AvGeekFests.com for a calendar of aviation events where AvGeeks can meet up and participate in aviation events.

Episode 186 of The UAV Digest features the AOPA Senior Director for UAS Programs Kat Swain talking about why AOPA is welcoming drone pilots to the organization.

After Heli-Expo, Launchpad Marzari travelled to SXSW, visited the EAA Spirit of Aviation Mobile Experience, and spoke with Trisha Rothermel. This mobile unit is sponsored by NATCA and is touring throughout the United States in 2017. See Catch the Spirit of Aviation During EAA’s Mobile Unit National Tour.

Applications now being accepted for AOPA scholarships

Titan Missile Museum

96-year-old WWII pilot takes flight again in Tampa

Credit

Intro music courtesy Brother Love from his Album Of The Year CD. Outtro by Bruno Misonne from The Sound of Flaps.

 

AirplaneGeeks 326 Aviation Job Boards

Airbus seating in the round

Finding employment through aviation job boards, a new airline seating idea, KLM caters to avgeeks, bribing your way to airline upgrades, and challenges to flying on the airlines.

Guest

Tim Kirkwood has been a flight attendant for 38 years. He’s President of the aviation jobs board AviaNation.com, an online aviation employment board and recruitment site with aviation jobs in all job categories, worldwide.

Tim is author of The Flight Attendant Career Guide, now in its fourth edition. This book is a career resource for U.S. and Canadian flight attendant applicants.

Tim is also Executive Director for Women in Corporate Aviation, a non-profit organization of mentoring, networking and scholarships for men and women in corporate aviation.

You can follow @AviaNation on Twitter and Facebook, and Tim is also GeezerStew on Facebook.

We’re also joined by aviation journalist Jason Rabinowitz. Jason is also Data Research Manager for Routehappy, the product differentiation platform for air travel. Follow Jason on Twitter at @AirlineFlyer.

News

Bye-Bye, Rows? New Airplane Design Has You Sitting in a Circle

We’ve seen a number of patents in the last few months from Airbus. Some a little wacky. This patent application shows an airplane that looks like the designs we’ve seen from Boeing for a blended wing body. But the seating arrangement is in the round.

For Airline Geeks Only: Win A Night In A Parked KLM MD-11

KLM continues to provide interesting opportunities for aviation enthusiasts, this time a contest where the prize was to spend the night inside one of its retired MD11s parked at Schiphol.

The Under-the-Tray-Table Upgrade

On a recent trip from Los Angeles to Chicago, the writer of the article decided to try for his own upgrades. At every opportunity, he discreetly offered cash to airline employees, Transportation Security Administration employees and fellow passengers in exchange for a better seat or faster service.

The worst thing about flying? These people

JetBlue announced they will reduce leg room on some flights and they plan to introduce baggage fees. We’ve seen incidents involving seat reclining disagreements that resulted in flight diversions. What’s going on here?

David Vanderhoof’s History Segment

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, David tells us Martin’s Story.

The Australia News Desk

Aside from helping explain where “Jabiru” comes from, the boys also give an update on CASA’s “Jabiru Consultation Draft,” discuss JetGo’s decision to not fly Sydney to Roma (before it even starts), and enjoy the fact that Brisbane West Wellcamp airport in Toowoomba has gone from bare dirt to accepting its first commercial airline operation in less time than Brisbane Airport took to negotiate who’d pay for their third runway.

Across the Pond

Qatar Executive

Pieter talks further with Oussama Salah about Qatar Executive and their business jets, as well as Saudia Airlines. See Oussama’s posts on his Oussamas Take Blog.

Listener Recording

Evans Heli Flight

Listener Evan Schoo tells us a little story about his one and only helicopter trial instructional flight. He also sends the link to a video from the flight.

Mentioned

How to make your flight attendant like you, by George Hobica.

Lainey’s first airplane ride

Assignment of Title

Title transfer documents for the orbiters, signed at the formal, public hand-over ceremonies.

Chinese J-10B Crashed in Front of Commercial Building

Ace Abbot’s Rogue Aviator: In the Back Alleys of Aviation book signings.

Aspiring young pilot

 

AirplaneGeeks 294 – A Huge Hole in the Airport Fence

Tomorrow's Aeronautical Museum

Guest Robin Petgrave has over 10,000 hours of flight experience, and is Chief Pilot and President of Celebrity Helicopters, providing helicopter tours, charters, flight training, helicopter ferrying, and entertainment industry production work.

Robin is also the Founder of Tomorrow’s Aeronautical Museum, which mentors young, economically deprived future aviators. T.A.M. offers hands-on involvement with static displays, aircraft simulators, and youth programs that use aviation and Robin’s success to show kids that they have unlimited potential to do whatever they love to do.

Through an after-school outreach program, students earn credit for real flight lessons by performing community service.

The week’s aviation news:

  • MH370 Update

David Vanderhoof’s Aircraft of the Week:  From Failure to Success, Part 2, The P-3s the Americans.

In this week’s Australia Desk:

Grant’s back on deck (mostly) after an intense couple of weeks dealing with health issues and a CASA audit. He joins Steve to review the following news items:

787s in Melbourne

  • Royal Brunei have started flying their 787s from London to Melbourne.

  • Air NZ’s new 787-9 looks fantastic!

  • United converting the LAX to Melbourne route from 747s to 777s but their 787-9s will be here by the end of October.

How about some UAVs in the news?

Find more from Grant and Steve at the Plane Crazy Down Under podcast, and follow the show on Twitter at @pcdu. Steve’s at @stevevisscher and Grant at @falcon124.

Ron Smith flying his rebuilt Tipsy Trainer

Ron Smith flying his rebuilt Tipsy Trainer ©RonSmith

In this week’s Across the Pond segment:

This week Pieter goes back to visit Ron Smith, co author of ‘Two Up‘ to look at Ron’s amazing flying history and his extremely comprehensive aviation collection of photo’s and books. With over 760 hours flying time in 36 different aircraft type (650 hours are in tail wheel aircraft), we hear about his flying experiences, owning aircraft and re building his beloved Tipsy Trainer.

Find Pieter on Twitter as @Nascothornet, on Facebook at XTPMedia, and at the Aviation Xtended podcast.

Ontario F22 by Ian Kershaw

Ontario F22 by Ian Kershaw

Mentioned:

By Errol Cavit

By Errol Cavit

Listen to the NBAA Flight Plan podcast from the National Business Aviation Association.

Opening and closing music courtesy Brother Love from the Album Of The Year CD. You can find his great music at www.brotherloverocks.com.

John Arvin at Luke Airforce Base Airshow

John Arvin at Luke Airforce Base Airshow

Episode 252 – The Airplane Geeks Turn Five

Panshanger showing its heritage

We celebrate five years of Airplane Geeks episodes. Courtney Miller, Steve Visscher, and Grant McHerron join in and we recall some early moments.

The week’s aviation news:

Australia Desk:

Find Grant and Steve at the Plane Crazy Down Under podcast, and follow the show on Twitter at @pcdu. Steve’s at @stevevisscher and Grant at @falcon124. Australia Desk archives can be found at www.australiadesk.net. Also streaming 9:00am Saturdays on Kinglake Ranges Radio, a community radio station covering the greater King Lake area.

Dean Mcbride - Fighting to save our Heritage at Panshanger

Dean Mcbride – Fighting to save our Heritage at Panshanger

In this week’s Across the Pond segment:

Having solo’d from Panshanger in a Piper Tomahawk 13 years ago, the airfield has a very special place in Pieter’s heart, but it has a much richer heritage. He talks to Dean Mcbride about ‘Holwell Hyde’ and its role as a decoy airfield during the Second World War and how he is desperately trying to gain recognition for the role of the airfield as it faces the inevitable threat from development and encroachment from housing. Maybe this is not youir airfield but it could be soon.

Links: Petition, Website, Facebook.

Find Pieter on Twitter as @Nascothornet, on Facebook at XTPMedia, and at the Aviation Xtended podcast.

Mentioned:

Opening and closing music courtesy Brother Love from the Album Of The Year CD. You can find his great music at www.brotherloverocks.com.

Episode 235 – Lynda and Jodi

Two U.S. Navy North American RA-5C Vigilantes

Two U.S. Navy North American RA-5C Vigilantes, David’s Aircraft of the Week

We welcome Lynda Meeks and Jodi Brommer to the podcast. Lynda is Executive Director of Girls With Wings, Inc. and has been our guest in the past. Jodi is an avid listener and former US Navy Seabee. She also served as a convoy 240B gunner in Iraq, with 143 missions. Taking advantage of the GI Bill, Jodi is continuing her education and helicopter training.

Since both Lynda and Jodi have flown them, we talk about flying helicopters. Jodi is now training in the Bell 206, having gotten her private in the R-22, and instrument rating in the R-44. Lynda is moving to Hong Kong to become an Airbus simulator instructor for an airline. Girls with Wings continues on, in fact they are in their Spring scholarship session for flight training right now.

We talk about the non-profit Institute for Women Of Aviation Worldwide and the Women of Aviation Week with events planned for March 4, 2013, which you can follow at Twitter hashtag #woaw2013. The iWOAW is an independent consortium of businesses and organizations that seeks to foster diversity and thus growth in the air and space industry.

The week’s aviation news:

David’s Aircraft of the Week is the North American A-5/RA-5C Vigilante.

In this week’s Australia Desk report:

Virgin Australia & Tiger Airways still facing Australian Consumer & Competition Commission concerns over their merger leading to an airline duopoly in Australia.

Qantas announces that it’s pushing ahead with 787 procurement an anticipates no delays…just as Boeing announces production delays.

Qantas and British Airways deny any tension over recent route network changes.

Air Pacific is searching for a new CEO as David Pflieger announces his impending departure.

Aviation Australia, a Brisbane based training organisation, looks to Asia for new business.

The RAAF marks 10 years of C130 operations in the Middle East.

Find more from Grant and Steve at the Plane Crazy Down Under podcast, and follow the show on Twitter at @pcdu Steve’s at @stevevisscher and Grant at @falcon124. Australia Desk archives can be found at www.australiadesk.net.

In this week’s Across the Pond segment:

Pieter relates the initial findings from the Red Wings Tupolev Tu-204 crash while attempting to land at Moscow Vnukovo on December 29, 2012. Then he asks Rob for his thoughts on why this happened. It’s a story about landing gear compression, reverse thrusters that could not be deployed, and brakes that couldn’t stop the aircraft.

For more, see: Crashed Tu-204 powered forward as pilots tried reversing thrust and TU-204 Plane crash-lands into Moscow highway.

Find Pieter on Twitter as @Nascothornet, on Facebook at XTPMedia, and at the Aviation Xtended podcast.

Rob at Simple FlightRob at SimpleFlight.net

Rob Mark provides a clip from the SimpleFlight.net show: JetWhiner & AirplaneGeek at Heart!

Opening and closing music courtesy Brother Love from the Album Of The Year CD. You can find his great music at www.brotherloverocks.com.