Tag Archives: Rolls-Royce

885 Aircraft Dispatcher

Guest

Mike Karrels is an aircraft dispatcher and air traffic manager for the Southeast U.S. with a major U.S. carrier, and he’s also a pilot. That combination gives him a unique view of how decisions get made when things don’t go as planned.

Mike describes the aircraft dispatcher as the captain’s partner on the ground. The two share responsibility for operational control of the flight, which means they work together to decide if a flight should continue, divert, or turn back. When an unplanned event hits, the dispatcher is often the first one building the big-picture view: what’s happening, who it affects, and what options are actually realistic.

Sometimes the disruption is regional. An airport closes, weather rolls in, military operations pop up, or a space launch creates airspace that suddenly can’t be used. In those cases, it’s not just about one flight. Crews and aircraft can end up scattered in the wrong places, the passengers need to be taken care of, and the operation has to be reassembled. Aircraft dispatchers and other teams work together to untangle that mess and put airplanes and people back where they need to be.

Other times, it’s just one airplane with a problem. Maybe a mechanical issue, a medical situation, or conditions deteriorating at the destination. The aircraft dispatcher has to make a decision. Divert to another airport? Return to the origin? Each choice has tradeoffs.

Mike walks through the kinds of factors that come into play. Beyond passenger impact and safety, aircraft dispatchers look at things like whether there’s ground staff at the diversion airport, what kind of ground transportation is available, and how quickly the airplane can be turned around and put back into service. Crew duty and rest rules are another major piece: a decision that solves the immediate problem might leave a crew out of legal flying time later, stranding passengers or aircraft.

On top of government regulations, airlines often layer on their own rules. For example, there may be company policies about diverting into an uncontrolled field, even if it’s technically legal. Dispatchers have to navigate both sets of requirements while still making timely decisions in a dynamic situation.

Getting to that level of responsibility takes serious training and certification. Aircraft dispatchers are required to understand aircraft performance, weather, navigation, regulations, and company procedures. They also need to stay aware of the geopolitical environment. Overflight restrictions, conflict zones, and international rules all shape where a flight can and should go on a given day.

Spaceflight adds yet another wrinkle. Mike talks about the Aircraft Hazard Area, or AHA, around space launches: the region where debris might fall if something goes wrong. Those areas can close significant chunks of airspace and affect routes and alternates, even for flights that seem far from the launch site.

Mike owns a share of a vintage 1963 Beechcraft Musketeer. He produced the Flying and Life podcast, where he shared stories and perspectives from both sides of the cockpit door. The back catalog of those episodes is still available for anyone who wants to dive deeper into the world of flight dispatch and everyday aviation life.

See:

Aviation News

Rolls-Royce remains unconvinced that open-rotor benefit outweighs integration risk

What type of engine (or engines) will be offered on next-generation single-aisle aircraft? Will it be an open-rotor (an unducted fan) or a conventional ducted fan engine? What will the airframers want and what will the engine OEMs offer? All those questions are unanswered.

In wind tunnel tests ten years ago, RR looked at open-rotor noise and high-speed performance. More recently, the company validated its previous work and sees propulsion efficiency advantages. RR sees two areas of concern: risk and integration issues.

Integration issues include: engine noise entering the cabin that would have to be attenuated, protecting against a blade-out event, aerodynamic interaction with the wing, and the effect on overall aerodynamics.

Rolls-Royce director of research and technology Alan Newby says the company is unconvinced the open-rotor is the way to go, saying, “I can do windtunnel work. I can do simulations, if you like, and I can go and fly on an A380. But the time you realise whether it works or not is when you run that first engine on your production aircraft. That’s a long way down the road. That discovery of risk is a long time in the process.”

After considering performance and risk, Newby says Rolls-Royce favours the ducted fan configuration: “We’ve gone into it with our eyes open. We’ve looked at the previous data. And, on balance, we’re sticking with what we’ve got. We think it’s the right solution.”

Rolls-Royce makes a play for narrowbody aircraft engines with £3bn UltraFan 30 programme

In February 2026, Rolls-Royce revealed a mock-up of the ducted UltraFan 30 concept with a geared turbofan. The company is looking for up to £200 million in UK government support to help fund development and testing of a scaled demonstrator. More than £500 million has already been invested. The overall program could cost around £3 billion.

The Rolls-Royce UltraFan 30 narrowbody engine is a 30,000 lb thrust-class geared turbofan derived from Rolls-Royce’s UltraFan architecture. It features a 90-inch fan and targets up to 20% better fuel burn than current engines. Ground testing is from 2028, with entry into service targeting 2035.

Pilots Petition Starlink Following Shift to New Speed Tiers

Airlines are switching to SpaceX Starlink service on their airplanes. Many GA pilots use the compact Mini dish and a Roam plan because it gives them the ability to use phone and tablet applications for real-time weather access, flight planning updates, and communications.

SpaceX has changed its Starlink in-motion service offerings, which moves many GA pilots into a higher-priced plan. A change.org petition, Request reinstatement of Starlink roaming plans for pilots has been created and signed by thousands of pilots:

“For those of us in general aviation, Starlink has been nothing short of a revolution. As a general aviation pilot, having Starlink service on board has dramatically enhanced my flying experience, improving not only my situational awareness but also my ability to access up-to-date weather and airport safety information while airborne. These capabilities are critical to ensuring the safety and efficiency of our flights, and allow us to maintain communication with others while traveling, providing peace of mind to both pilots and our loved ones.”

“However, Starlink has recently made the disappointing decision to raise the cost of the plans serving general aviation by 5 times, while providing less than half of the data of the previous plans simply based on the speed that our planes travel. Many of us are not commercial operations nor traveling near the speeds that these plans are targeting.”

“We urge Starlink to reconsider their decision and reinstate the roaming plans with a speed that accommodates general aviation…”

The Current in-motion speed limits for Roam, Local Priority, and Global Priority (land/sea use) are up to 100 mph in motion. Above that, Starlink expects you to move to an aviation plan. The new Aviation 300MPH plan is $250 per month and includes 20 GB of data, with overage billed at $10 per GB. The new Aviation 450MPH plan is $1,000 per month and includes 20 GB of data, with additional data billed at $50 per GB. Includes land and ocean coverage.

NTSB board member Inman says he was fired by White House

A Republican member of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board said on Sunday he was fired on Friday ‌by the White House without any explanation. Todd Inman, a former chief of staff to Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, was fired ‌by the White House, at the time without any explanation. Inman had served on the NTSB since April 2024.

White House says NTSB member was fired for inappropriate alcohol use, harassment

After the firing, a White House statement said, “The White House lawfully removed Todd Inman from the NTSB after receiving highly concerning reports of inappropriate alcohol use on the job, harassment of staff, misuse of government resources, and failure to attend at least half of NTSB meetings.

Inman told Politico, “I categorically deny the allegations made in the White House statement. It has become increasingly obvious this action was a political hit job. While not my original intent, I look forward to defending my reputation through all legal means possible.”

Lufthansa Softens Violin Policy After Backlash Over “Naked Violin” Incident

Lufthansa strictly limits carry-on baggage item dimensions to 55 x 40 x 23 cm. At the same time, the airline allows violins and other small musical instruments to travel in the cabin free of charge. However, many standard violin cases are greater than 55 cm in length. That means the options are to check the instrument or purchase a second seat. The classical music community exploded after a viral video of a musician carrying a violin onboard without the case.

Lufthansa now says airline staff can exercise more flexibility to allow small instruments in the cabin. The combined dimensions of the hand luggage cannot exceed 125 centimeters.

In the United States, federal law requires airlines to allow small instruments such as violins onboard if they can be safely stowed in the cabin. Europe has no equivalent rule, leaving each airline to develop its own policy.

See:

Tom Paxton – Thank You, Republic Airlines (1985)
Dave Carrol & Sons of Maxwell (2009) – United Breaks Guitars
Carlton Cases

Multiple Planes Performed ‘Flights to Nowhere’ After Air Traffic Controllers Stage Shock Walkout

After an unsanctioned strike by air traffic controllers, the Barbados Ministry of Tourism and International Transport said that the airspace over the country was shut down for about seven and a half hours. The March 7, 2026, job action left passengers at the island’s Grantley Adams International Airport stranded. The controllers were protesting a number of grievances, including staff shortages. These have caused controllers to assume additional responsibilities without extra compensation.

An emergency meeting was held with the Barbados Workers’ Union and the National Union of Public Workers, which represent air traffic controllers. They returned to work, and another meeting is scheduled for March 11, 2026.

Delta, United, Air Canada, JetBlue, and WestJet flights to Barbados were impacted.

Hosts this Episode

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

818 D.B. Cooper

The mystery of D.B. Cooper with the host of The Cooper Vortex podcast. In the news, automatic takeoffs from Embraer, Southwest’s business improvement plan and the reaction by the activist Elliott hedge fund, the airship crash in Brazil, the Rolls-Royce electric propulsion unit, and the bad air travel decisions allegedly made by the Mayor of New York City. We also hear from Hillel and a listener about the Boeing Starliner, and from several listeners about executive jets.

D.B. Cooper artist sketches. — D.B. Cooper artist sketch.

Guest

Darren Schaefer is the host of the The Cooper Vortex podcast. Darren grew up in Woodland, Washington next to where D.B. Cooper is believed to have landed, and had been passionate about the mystery for a decade. In the podcast he started years ago, Darren interviews experts who have something to contribute to the conversation about the mystery, such as authors, pilots, aircrew, paratroopers, and skydivers.

D.B. Cooper hijacked Orient Airlines Flight 305, a B727, on November 24, 1971. Cooper said he had a bomb and demanded $200,000 in ransom. Upon landing in Seattle, Cooper requested parachutes, released the passengers, and told the crew to refuel the aircraft and fly to Mexico City after refueling in Reno, Nevada. During that flight, Cooper opened the airplane’s aft door and parachuted into the night over Washington state. He was never seen again. This remains America’s only unsolved skyjacking.

Darren helps us understand why the public remains intrigued with D.B. Cooper after decades have passed, how “Dan Cooper” became “D.B. Cooper,” and how that helped the FBI weed out those who claimed to be Cooper.

Darren tells us about Cooper copycats, available physical evidence, and changes to commercial aviation made to reduce airliner hijacking. That includes the “Cooper vane” which locks the B727 aft stairs. (Darren wants one so contact him if you know a source.) He also describes how the three segments of the DB Cooper community (aviation people, skydivers, and true crime fans) view the mystery. We note D.B. Cooper’s thoughtfulness toward the passengers and crew, and his apparent technical knowledge suggesting an aerospace background.

Darren will be the master of ceremonies at CooperCon 2024 the annual DB Cooper Convention being held at the Seattle Museum of Flight November 15-17, 2024.

Books of interest:

The Skies Belong to Us, Love and Terror in the Golden Age of Hijacking by Brendan I. Koerner.
Skyjack: The Hunt for D. B. Cooper, by Geoffrey Gray.

See FBI Records: The Vault, D. B. Cooper and Key piece of evidence in D.B. Cooper investigation to be displayed at Tacoma museum.

Aviation News

Automatic takeoffs are coming for passenger jets and they’re going to redraw the map of the sky

Along with other improvements announced at Farnborough, Embraer is introducing the “E2 Enhanced Take Off System,” an automated takeoff system designed for the company’s E2 jets. Embraer says “This automatic take off system produces a more precise and efficient rotation moment and flight trajectory, reducing the required field length and pilot workload; meaning more payload and more range from challenging airports. This gives the E2 best in class performance from airports like London City, Florence, and Santos Dumont. Adding 350NM in range from LCY for example.” Embraer has started flight testing and aims for approval by aviation authorities in 2025.

Southwest Airlines to cut service and staffing in Atlanta to slash costs

According to a company memo seen by CNBC, for the April 2025 bid, Southwest is planning to reduce service in Atlanta and cut as many as 140 pilot and 200 flight attendant jobs. Southwest will reduce Atlanta gates to 11 from the current 18. Activist hedge fund Elliott Investment Management continues to call for Southwest CEO Bob Jordan to resign.

The CEO of Southwest Airlines called an activist investor’s criticisms ‘inane’

Southwest CEO Bob Jordan said it is inane that Elliott (which holds an 11% stake in Southwest) would call the airline’s plan to improve its business “rushed and haphazard.” At an investor day presentation, Elliott said “I hope you can tell that the plan that we presented today was intentful, the plan was detailed, the plan was well constructed.”

Airship crashes into residential building in Brazil

On September 26, 2024, an airship hired by a football club deflated while flying over a Sao Paulo suburb. The Brazilian-made ADB 3-3 airship is produced by Airship do Brasil (ADB). It measures 49 meters long and 17 meters tall and is capable of speeds up to 85 km/h (53 mph). It can carry five passengers and two crew.

Video: Blimp Crash Shocks Brazil: Airship Plummets into Homes, One Injured!

Rolls-Royce Shuts Down Electrical Propulsion Business

In November 2023, Rolls-Royce announced a restructuring plan that included selling off non-core assets and refocusing on its turbofan business. One victim of the plan was Rolls-Royce Electrical. In December, Rolls admitted they had a potential buyer, and now the company says they have “now moved that process to the next step,” with no additional details.

New York City Mayor Faces Wrath—of Frequent Fliers

Subtitle: “Airline points enthusiasts sift through indictment, say Eric Adams made litany of rookie travel mistakes; ‘It’s mind-blowing.’” Jason Rabinowitz commented, “If you’re going to get indicted in large part because you were taking illicit upgrades to business class, at least do it with an airline that has a better product.”

Boeing Starliner

Listeners and the hosts comment on the Boeing Starliner. Hillel Glazer provides an opinion piece about NASA’s role in Starliner failures.

Star-Crossed Starliner Flight Test Comes To A Close

Chatter: The Inside Story of the Challenger Disaster with Adam Higginbotham.

Houston We Have a Podcast, Episode 355, Call Sign: White Flight.

Mentioned

Wilson, T. A. (1921-1999) the CEO of Boeing from 1969-1986.

Hosts this Episode

Our Main(e) Man Micah and Max Flight standing with a P3 propeller. — Our Main(e) Man Micah and Max Flight.

Max Flight, our Main(e) Man Micah, and David Vanderhoof.

806 Fly-In

A look at the fly-in at the Spurwink Farm grass field. In the news, the EASA AD for Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines, Boeing and DOG agree to a plea deal, 737 oxygen generators, United travel delay messages, 107-II/CH-46 helicopter upgrade, and air travel complaints.

Spurwink Farm Fly-In

Our Main(e) Man Micah attended the 2024 Spurwink Farm fly-in and interviewed attendees and others.

A V-tail Bonanza landing at the Spurwink Farm Fly-in. — V-tail Bonanza landing.

Micah and 3 air bosses at the Spurwink Farm Fly-in. — Micah and the air bosses.

Aviation News

EASA Issues Airworthiness Directive Over Boeing 787 Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 Engine Parts

EASA (the European Union Aviation Safety Agency) has issued an updated airworthiness directive (2019-0286R1) for Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines. The AD pertains to Low Pressure Compressor front cases installed on Boeing 787 airplanes:

Engineering analysis has identified that 38 LPC front cases have non-optimal material properties. This could inhibit the intended function of the LPC front case to contain certain engine failures. This condition, if not corrected, could, in case of fan blade failure, lead to high energy debris release, possibly resulting in damage to, and reduced control of, the aeroplane.

The corrective action is to remove and replace the fan case for certain serial numbers. However, RR updated the population of affected parts to allow some to remain in service with inspections of LPC front case thickness at 16 locations.

Boeing to plead guilty to criminal fraud charge

The US Department of Justice and Boeing agreed to the previously reported plea deal. Boeing will plead guilty to a criminal fraud conspiracy charge and pay a criminal fine of $243.6m. The judge has to accept the deal. DOJ pointed out that the deal does not grant immunity to individuals.

FAA orders inspection of 2,600 Boeing 737s over oxygen mask issue

The passenger service unit oxygen generators can shift out of position due to a problem with a retention strap. The strap adhesive has been found to allow the generators to move.

Your Flight Is Delayed. Would More Details Make You Feel Better?

United Airlines is sharing a lot of flight delay and cancellation information via mobile alerts, texts, and emails.

Columbia and Piasecki Partner on Upgrade for 107-II and CH-46E Helicopters

Columbia Helicopters and Piasecki Aircraft Corporation (PiAC) are collaborating on a program to upgrade the Model 107-II tandem rotor helicopter to create a CH-46 107-III variant. Columbia holds the 107-II type certificate and intends to implement a phased series of STCs (supplemental type certificates) to upgrade the engines, introduce modern avionics, and make other improvements.

Air travel is getting worse. That’s what passengers are telling the US government

The DOT received so many complaints in 2023 that it took them until July to compile the numbers. Last year, the DOT received almost 97,000, just about a 13% increase over 2022. About 1.2% of flights were canceled in 2023, compared to 2.3% in 2022.So far this year, cancellations are around 1.3% In 2023, delays were about 21% of all flights, the same as this year. The DOT partly attributed the increase in complaints to greater consumer awareness of how to file a complaint.

Air Travel Service Complaint or Comment Form (Not Related to Airline Safety or Security Issues)
How flying got so bad (or did it?) In this Planet Money Podcast episode, NPR traces air travel’s evolution over the past century to discover if flying today is worse or better.

Mentioned

Land use around airports:

Aviation News Talk

The Journey is the Reward

Hosts this Episode

Max Flight, David Vanderhoof, our Main(e) Man Micah, and Max Trescott.

741 Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance

We look at how the Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance advances an aerospace cluster. In the news, the American Airlines flight attendant union asks for compensation increases, the last year for the air races at Reno, and the first Boeing Dreamliners to leave service are being parted out. Also, an Australia News Desk report, the State of NASA, hydrogen fuel, Rolls Royce F130 engine testing, an Aerospace Media Awards call for nominations, and Boeing 747-400 N401PW.

Guest

Nikki Malcom photo. Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance CEO and Executive Director. — Nikki Malcom

Nikki Malcom is the CEO and Executive Director of the Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance (PNAA), a non-profit trade association that promotes the growth and global competitiveness of the Pacific Northwest aerospace cluster. The PNAA holds conferences and educational events, provides market intelligence, conducts B2B meetings, and provides networking opportunities.

The region is attractive for aerospace companies because it has a built-in “ecosystem” and offers sustainability advantages for the industry. The workforce is skilled but Nikki feels that diversity needs to be taken more seriously by the industry. She also comments on the conservative and risk-averse reputation that aerospace holds, and the ongoing supply chain challenges.

Nikki encourages others to join the aerospace industry, and volunteers on multiple trade school advisory boards and STEM education programs in an effort to promote the message that “Aerospace is for Everyone.” To support the effort of encouraging more women and girls to join the aerospace industry, she registered National Women in Aerospace Day for May 20th and is continuing that campaign to celebrate all of the cutting-edge work being done by women to advance the industry past, present, and future.

Nikki has spent the past 23 years dedicated to the aerospace industry. She has had roles in supply chain, business development, and executive leadership in companies ranging from materials to manufacturing and testing. She’s obsessed with all things aviation and aerospace, including manufacturing, and is also president of NFM Enterprises, LLC. Nikki is looking forward to chasing her dream of pursuing her private pilot’s license this year!

See: Washington state aerospace companies take off for AVALON airshow and exposition in Australia this week.

From the Washington State Dept. of Commerce: Aerospace & Aviation.

Aviation News

American Airlines Flight Attendants Demand 35% Hike in Hourly Pay Rates and Boarding Pay in Latest Contract Proposals

The Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) represents about 23,000 members at American Airlines. They are demanding a 35 percent hike in hourly pay rates, boarding pay of 50% of the standard hourly rate (the same as Delta), pay increases for galley work and night shifts, increased per diem allowance rates, a “me too” clause that would automatically increase allowances if pilots won a higher rate, and an hourly pay rate increase of 6 percent in each of the three contract years.

Reno Stead Airport to Hold its Final National Championship Air Races Event in 2023

The Reno Air Racing Association issued a statement saying, “While we knew this day might come, we had hoped it wouldn’t come so soon. Citing the region’s significant growth amongst other concerns, the Reno Tahoe Airport Authority has made the decision to sunset the event. However, we are confident the event will continue. In fact, we are currently exploring several other possible locations to host the event in the future.” The National Championship Air Races have been taking place outside Reno since 1964. See To Our Loyal Fans and Passionate Community.

Two 10-year-old Boeing 787 Dreamliners are already being scrapped

Two former Norwegian Air Shuttle Boeing 787-8s are being parted out at Prestwick Airport near Glasgow, Scotland. These were delivered in June and August 2013 and are the first Dreamliners to be retired. The Dublin-based EirTrade Aviation is managing the disassembly. The planes were coming up to their 12-year heavy maintenance check.

Australia News Desk

ATSB releases preliminary report from on-going Gold Coast helicopter mid-air collision investigation

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) this week released a preliminary report into the collision of two EC130 helicopters on January 2nd, at the Gold Coast in Queensland, resulting in the loss of four lives. It is important to note that this is not the full finding of the investigation – only a preliminary, high-level overview. The full findings will be many months away, or longer.

Straddie ‘brewairy’ flight takes beer tasting to new heights

Grant’s found a new air-charter operation further north in Queensland which combines his love of flying with his other great passion….beer! The company is called Brewairy and allows tourists to climb on board a Cessna and sample a few local ales while making the short hop to Stradbroke Island. At last news, Grant was hightailing his way north to file a first-hand report…

More flying coffees forecast as Google to expand drone tech

Switching from beer to coffee, Australians could see many more of them flying around the suburbs after Google announced plans to test technology designed to load its drones and boost the number of airborne deliveries.

Mentioned

Alyssa Carson – Future Mars Walker, creator of the Blueberry Foundation. Find her on LinkedIn. The Spring 2023 Issue of Let’s Go Aerospace magazine has an article about Alyssa.

Inside the world of aviation, space and defense news with the team behind Hype Aviation – The GeekWire Podcast talks with Isaac Alexander and Robin Koenig of Hype: Aviation, Defense and Space News.

Video: 2023 ‘State of NASA’ Address from Administrator Bill Nelson

Hydrogen colours codes

Video: Rolls-Royce Begins F130 Dual Pod Engine Test For B52 Aircraft

The 2023 Aerospace Media Awards, Fourth Call for Nominations, closing date – 31st March.

Delta Flight Museum, Boeing 747-400

Hosts this Episode

Max Flight, Rob Mark, and Max Trescott. Contributions by Grant McHerron and Steve Visscher.

692 ADSBexchange

Our guest is the president and founder of ADSBexchange, a flight data aggregation co-op. In the news, some lawmakers want civil action against Boeing over the 737 MAX, Nexflix releases a 737 MAX documentary, United Aviate Academy will use Cirrus aircraft for training, a GA electric/gas hybrid takes flight, technology export from Icon Aircraft is probed, the FAA Administrator announces he’ll leave the post early, and an autonomous Blackhawk helicopter.

Guest

ADSBexchange president and founder Dan Streufert. — Dan Streufert

Dan Streufert founded ADSBexchange in 2016 as a “hobby project.” Since then, it has grown to encompass 7500+ volunteer-run ADS-B receivers throughout the world, ingesting 500,000 – 900,000 ADS-B messages per second. Although ADSBexchange has grown from its initial small beginning, it remains focused on the aviation enthusiast. The service has none of the “paywalls” associated with some other flight tracking services and does not filter its traffic display.

Dan explains that ADSB signals are broadcast unencrypted over the air and anyone can receive them. ADSBexchange was mainly developed for hobbyists and others who want to know what’s flying, but commercial customers and some NGOs benefit from the information as well.

Some interests don’t want ADSB transmissions to be used to track their flights. They may be legitimate commercial companies that want to mask their activity for competitive reasons, governments, those engaged in criminal operations, or even military flights. Dan describes two FAA programs that seek to mitigate at least some of the privacy concerns:

With Limiting Aircraft Data Displayed (LADD), aircraft owners or designated representatives may request limiting aircraft data displayed (formally referred to as blocking) or unblocking of flight tracking data. Flight tracking services that draw the data from FAA agree to block the information.

More recently, the FAA initiated the Privacy ICAO Aircraft (PIA) program to improve the privacy of eligible aircraft by enabling aircraft owners to request an alternate, temporary ICAO aircraft address, which will not be assigned to the owner in the Civil Aviation Registry (CAR).

Both an “Airplane Geek” and a “Tech Geek” at heart, Dan is a commercially-rated, multi-engine pilot with instrument rating and currently flys a 1967 Piper Comanche 260B out of Falcon Field in Mesa, Arizona. Prior to devoting his full-time attention to ADSBexchange, Dan spent 12 years leading the IT department at Viant Medical, a $1 billion global medical manufacturing firm.

Aviation News

Lawmakers Demand Fresh Investigation into FAA Decision Not to Penalize Boeing for MAX Failures

The U.S. House Transportation chair and the aviation subcommittee chair want civil action taken against Boeing, and even individual employees for the 737 MAX crashes. Rep. DeFazio, D-Ore., and Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Everett sent a letter to DOT Inspector General Eric Soskin saying, “We respectfully request that you review FAA’s refusal to exercise proper oversight over Boeing’s apparent misconduct.”

Downfall: The Case Against Boeing

Netflix premiered the documentary film that details the 18-month investigation by House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair Peter DeFazio into the causes of the Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crashes, which resulted in the deaths of 346 people.

Cirrus Aircraft Equips United Aviate Academy with a Fleet of TRAC SR20 for Ab-Initio Pilot Training

Cirrus Aircraft announced that the United Aviate Academy (UAA) has purchased a fleet of twenty-five TRAC SR20 aircraft for its program. The Academy is part of United’s pilot career development program offering pilots the most direct path to a United flight deck. They have option and purchase rights to fifty more TRAC SR20 aircraft.

First general aviation aircraft with hybrid power plant has been successfully flown

Rolls-Royce, Tecnam, and BRP-Rotax announced the December 2021 flight of the first general aviation aircraft powered by a parallel hybrid propulsion system. The modified Tecnam P2010 H3PS was powered by a 104 kW Rotax 915 IS internal combustion engine and a 30 kW Rolls-Royce electric power system for a total power output of 134 kW in a parallel hybrid configuration. H3PS stands for “High Power High Scalability Aircraft Hybrid Powertrain.”

Video: Tecnam P2010 H3PS Hybrid first flight

Chinese Stake in Icon Probed by Gov’t Panel

The Wall Street Journal reported that the FBI and a U.S. government panel are looking into accusations of illegal technology transfer to China. Shanghai Pudong Science & Technology Investment Co. holds a nearly 47% stake in Icon Aircraft and is Icon’s largest shareholder. Some Icon shareholders raised a red flag to the U.S. Committee on Foreign Investment alleging that Shanghai Pudong sent its technology to China with the potential for military applications.

U.S. FAA administrator says he was not pressured to step down

FAA Administrator Steve Dickson announced he is leaving the FAA effective March 31, 2022. Dickson is a pilot and former Delta Air Lines executive appointed by President Donald Trump in 2019. He cited family reasons for his decision.

A Black Hawk helicopter flew for the first time without pilots

With the flick of a switch, the DARPA S-70 Blackhawk helicopter goes from piloted to unpiloted. In this first flight, the S-70 autonomously completed a pre-flight checklist, started its engines, spun up its rotors, and took off with no crew on board. The ALIAS system (Aircrew Labor In-Cockpit Automation System) on-board sensors provided real-time obstacle data as the helicopter navigated through a simulated cityscape.

Video: First Uninhabited Black Hawk Flight

Israeli News Desk

Eyal Shay describes the emergency landing of a Piper AZTEC PA23-250F registration 4X-CCM. The airplane took off from Haifa airport (LLHA) with an instructor and student pilot. When they came back to the pattern, the right main gear failed to open. After some unsuccessful attempts to solve the problem, or to retract the landing gear, the plane was rerouted to Ben-Gurion airport (LLBG). The pilot made a perfect landing, managing to cutoff the right engine and bring the two-blade propeller to horizontal position when at short final. The plane successfully kept near the center line and just veered from the runway direction at his final stop. The pilot and passenger were unharmed.

Eyal and Hillel meet in Israel. — Eyal and Hillel

Mentioned

The Journey is the Reward

The Great Aero Recovery, a webinar with Richard Aboulafia from the National Aviation Hall of Fame. Registration.

The brains that launched GPS

Savvy Maintenance – Cold starts are a culprit in engine damage

Utah’s Gail Halvorsen, the ‘Berlin Candy Bomber,’ dies at 101

Gail Halvorsen, the Utah farm boy who became a hero in post-World War II Europe for fastening candy to handkerchiefs and dropping them from his U.S. Air Force cargo plane to the children of West Berlin, earning him the nickname the “Berlin Candy Bomber,” has died. He was 101.

Bagley Cartoon: Candy Bomber

American Helicopter Museum

Airplane Geeks listeners can enjoy a one-year individual membership at a 50% discount. For $25.00 (normally $50.00) you get:

Unlimited admission to the Museum for one year, including the March 4 event, “The Helicopter and the Presidency.”
Two One-Day Guest Passes.
Admission to FamilyFest and SantaFest.
Invitations to Member Receptions.
10% discount on gift shop purchases.

The offer is good through May 31, 2022, at this link.

Hosts this Episode

Max Flight, David Vanderhoof, Max Trescott, and Rob Mark. With contributions from Brian Coleman and Eyal Shay.

680 F-14 Tomcat

A former F-14 Naval Aviator communicates the military aviation experience through his novels, videos, and writing. In the news, the Rolls-Royce all-electric airplane appears to have set three world records, an F-35B crash, flight attendant bonuses for the holiday travel season, flying under the influence, and an open rotor engine demonstrator program. Plus, an Across the Pond segment.

Guest

Ward Carroll is a former F-14 Naval Aviator who spent 20 years as an F-14 Radar Intercept Officer. He is the author of the bestselling Punk trilogy about life in an F-14 squadron. Punk’s Fight, Punk’s War, and the new Punk’s Wing are widely considered to be realistic portrayals of naval aviators in the context of a techno-thriller.

In his novels, Ward creates characters that are recognizable as representatives of real people doing real jobs. As an example, through his female character, Ward confronts the issues surrounding the integration of women into the Tomcat community.

Ward’s YouTube channel has grown to be very popular and gets much of his focus these days. He talks, as he says, about “airplanes, music, and writing . . . but mostly airplanes.”

In our aviation news segment, Ward shares the perspectives of a Naval Aviator as we discuss the recent F-35B crash after takeoff from a British aircraft carrier.

Outside the Navy, Ward has extensive experience as a military journalist. He was editor of Military.com and Approach magazine, and writes for the US Naval Institute. Besides his passion for aviation, Ward is a lover of music and plays in the band MiLES FRoM CLEVeR.

Find Ward at his YouTube channel. The Punk’s books are available on Amazon.com and on the U.S. Naval Institute website.

Video: The Real Truth About F-14 Tomcats and the Achille Lauro Hijacking

Mentioned: C.W. Lemoine’s YouTube Channel

Aviation News

Rolls-Royce says its all-electric aircraft ‘is world’s fastest’

In test runs, the Rolls-Royce “Spirit of Innovation” electric airplane has flown 387.4 mph (623 km/h). The company believes they have set three all-electric world records and await verification from the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI): top speed over 3 km of 345.4 mph, top speed over 15 km of 330 mph, and time to climb to 3,000 meters of 202 seconds.

Video: Rolls-Royce | Spirit of Innovation – the world’s fastest all-electric aircraft

The ‘Spirit of Innovation’ is part of the ACCEL (Accelerating the Electrification of Flight) project and is based on the Nemesis NXT airframe.

F-35 From The Carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth Has Crashed Into The Sea

The pilot safely ejected from the F-35B (the STOVL version) in the eastern Mediterranean shortly after takeoff from the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth. See: Probe after British F-35 fighter crashes in Mediterranean.

Other F-35 crashes:

JetBlue dangles $1,000 attendance bonuses for flight attendants ahead of holiday rush

According to a company memo, JetBlue Airways flight attendants could earn a $1,000 attendance bonus if they don’t call out through early January. Meanwhile, if they meet attendance goals, Southwest Airlines will provide flight attendants and some other operations employees 120,000 points in the airline’s frequent flyer program. American Airlines flight attendants can earn pay bonuses for peak holiday trips as well as for meeting attendance goals through early next year. $1,000 bonuses are available to other staff and regional airline subsidiaries.

Drunk airline pilot who nearly flew from UK to US was four times legal limit

A 63-year-old United Airlines pilot was arrested after being found four times over the legal limit. After drinking whiskey at a Glasgow pub during a 2019 layover, the man became fall-over drunk. A concerned member of the public tipped off the airline with a Tweet. The pilot was sentenced to 10 months in jail.

RISE Tech Plan Could Feed CFM Leap-1 Upgrades Through 2020s

GE Aviation and Safran launched the Revolutionary Innovations for Sustainable Engines (RISE) initiative in 2021. This open-fan demonstrator program anticipates a mid-2030s application. It could also feed technologies to the LEAP-1 turbofan engine. The open rotor design features a second stage of fixed variable pitch stators, a fan-drive gear system, a compact high-pressure core for increased thermodynamic efficiency, waste exhaust heat used to preheat combustion air, and ceramic matrix composites in the hot section.

Across the Pond

Aviation from the European perspective with Pieter Johnson.

Two Vickers Varsity T Mk 1 aircraft – Copyright BAE Systems and Ron Smith

Trusted Traveler Programs

Our Main(e) Man Micah recently wrote a piece for Johnny Jet explaining the five Trusted Traveler Programs available in the USA through Homeland Security, and an announcement about NEXUS appointments:

Hosts this episode: Max Flight, David Vanderhoof, Max Trescott, Rob Mark, and our Main(e) Man Micah.

672 Leonardo AW609 Tiltrotor

The Head of Tiltrotor Marketing at Leonardo describes the world’s first commercial tiltrotor. In the news, a United stationary tail strike, Congress steps in on the controversial FAA flight training policy, DOJ files an antitrust suit over the American Airlines-JetBlue alliance, an industry-wide no-fly list is proposed, and Rolls-Royce wins the contract to re-engine the B-52 fleet.

Guest

William M. (Bill) Sunick is Head of Tiltrotor Marketing at Leonardo. Their AW609 is the first commercial tiltrotor to enter the market and the world’s first pressurized cabin tiltrotor. The AW609 is well-positioned to serve a number of markets, including VIP, corporate, search and rescue, emergency medical services, and offshore energy exploration, as well as government roles.

Bill describes how the AW609 tiltrotor was designed to commercial standards, and how it offers the speed, range, and altitude of a fixed-wing turboprop airplane with the vertical take-off and landing versatility of a helicopter. We learn that the lower vibratory environment and pressurized cabin of this tiltrotor offer advantages for medical flights. Bill explains the FAA certification requirements for this aircraft, which falls into the new Powered Lift category.

Bill is responsible for the development of marketing and business strategies that create new opportunities, shape emerging markets, and influence customer thinking and actions. Prior to joining Leonardo Helicopters, Bill held numerous leadership positions at The Boeing Company within Strategy, Marketing, Sales, Market Development, and Engineering. He was also a member of the Presidential Helicopter team while at Sikorsky Aircraft in 1992.

Bill’s educational background includes a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Drexel University and a master of business administration degree in Marketing from Saint Joseph’s University.

Aviation News

United 737 Tips on its Tail During Offloading

A United Airlines Boeing 737-900ER experienced a “stationary tail strike” on the ground at Lewiston (LWS Idaho) after a flight from LAX. United explained:

United flight 2509 flying from Los Angeles, California to Lewiston, Idaho landed without incident. Due to a shift in weight and balance during the offloading process, the tail of the aircraft tipped backward. No injuries were reported among our customers, crew or ground personnel. The return flight was on a different aircraft as originally planned.

See Boeing Tail Strike Avoidance for takeoff and landing risk factors.

House Passes Amendment to Reverse FAA on Flight Training Policy

The U.S. House of Representatives approved a bipartisan amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that clarifies that a flight instructor providing student instruction, flight instruction, or flight training shall not be deemed to be operating an aircraft carrying persons or property for compensation or hire. If passed, this would reverse the FAA’s recent flight training policy for certain types of aircraft.

Justice Department Sues to Block Unprecedented Domestic Alliance Between American Airlines and JetBlue

DOJ filed an anti-trust suit challenging the American Airlines-JetBlue alliance

American and JetBlue strike back against DOJ complaint over Northeast alliance

The DOJ claims the American Airlines-JetBlue Northeast Alliance eliminates competition in New York and Boston and harms air travelers nationwide:

The U.S. Department of Justice, together with Attorneys General in six states and the District of Columbia, sued today [September 21, 2021] in the District of Massachusetts to block an unprecedented series of agreements between American Airlines and JetBlue through which the two airlines will consolidate their operations in Boston and New York City. The civil antitrust complaint alleges that this extensive combination, which they call the “Northeast Alliance,” will not only eliminate important competition in these cities, but will also harm air travelers across the country by significantly diminishing JetBlue’s incentive to compete with American elsewhere, further consolidating an already highly concentrated industry.

American Airlines CEO Doug Parker said, “They’re wrong and we’ll prove it. It’s entirely pro-competitive.” Parker argued that the alliance allows the two airlines to compete against Delta and United, which are largely entrenched in the Northeast market, while American and JetBlue would otherwise not be able to mount enough of an offense on their own.

Airlines Weigh Unruly No-Fly List

Delta is suggesting a national “no-fly” list (different from the government’s No-Fly List, which is terror-based). Delta’s own blacklist includes more than 1,600 people. A Delta VP said their list doesn’t work if the person can just hop on another carrier.

Vietnam’s Bamboo Airways to sign $2 bln deal with GE for engines on Boeing jets

In this deal, Bamboo Airways will purchase nearly $2 billion worth of General Electric GEnx engines to power Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. The Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 and General Electric GEnx-1B compete on the 787. Bamboo will operate its Dreamliner fleet on non-stop routes between Vietnam and the United States.

Rolls Royce Will Provide Long-Awaited New Jet Engines For The B-52 Bomber Fleet

The U.S. Air Force selected Rolls-Royce’s North American division to re-engine the fleet of B-52H bombers with F130 engines. The Drive reports: “Rolls-Royce’s new contract from the Air Force is valued at $500,870,458 over the next six years but could grow to over $2.6 billion if all of its options are exercised.” Work will be performed at the Rolls-Royce facility in Indianapolis and is expected to be completed by September 2038.

Mentioned

Tuskegee Airmen Exhibit at the American Helicopter Museum.

Honeywell and Wood introduce groundbreaking technologies to support efforts toward carbon-neutral sustainable aviation fuel

Sustainable Aviation Fuel Grand Challenge

671 Pilot Mental Health

An airline captain focuses on pilot mental health and tells us what she is doing to bring that conversation into the light. In the news, another aerial refueling tanker competition, a Rolls-Royce electric airplane first flight, an X-Wing at the Smithsonian, a criminal charge stemming from the 737 MAX probe, the Cranky Dorkfest you missed, and emergency landings in Maine. Also, checked baggage issues and gifts for flight attendants.

Guest

Reyné O’Shaughnessy was a commercial airline pilot for over 34 years with a Fortune 50 company. She was a captain on the B767 and logged over 10,000 hours of total heavy jet flight time. In addition to the B767, her experience includes the A300/310, B727, and B747. Notably, thirty-four years ago she was one of the first women to be B747 qualified.

Now retired, Reyné founded Piloting 2 Wellbeing (or P2W) with a mission to create awareness about pilot mental health and mental wellness in the aviation industry. P2W serves individuals, schools, and corporations that want to implement supportive and practical training, experience compassionate forums, and be part of creating a better aviation world.

Reyné explains why the aviation community is so averse to talking about pilot mental health. We look at the need to normalize the conversation about pilot mental health and teach airlines and pilots a more holistic approach to wellbeing, that being a factor in safety performance. Companies need to support their employees with mental health training but the regulator is not currently forcing this. Reyné argues that reaching student pilots with information early in their career will help normalize mental health. The top flight schools are focused on technical training, but they need to incorporate wellness training into their programs.

Reyné’s new book, This is Your Captain Speaking: What You Should Know About Your Pilot’s Mental Health is available on Amazon.com. It looks at stress, anxiety, and depression in the aviation community.

Pilot mental health book This is Your Captain Speaking

Aviation News

Lockheed reveals new LMXT refueling tanker, firing the opening salvo in US Air Force competition

The U.S. Air Force has a bridge tanker competition coming up, also known as the KC-Y, and they released a sources-sought notification in June. The Boeing KC-46 is the incumbent, but they don’t have a lock on it. Lockheed Martin has just announced they will offer their LMXT aerial refueling tanker, based on the Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT).

Rolls-Royce’s all-electric ‘Spirit of Innovation’ takes to the skies for the first time

We previously reported Rolls-Royce’s intentions to build an all-electric airplane and use it in a world-record attempt reaching speeds of 300+ MPH (480+ KMH). They’ve built the plane, which they call the “Spirit of Innovation,” and succeeded in flying it for the first time. Power comes from a 400kW (500+hp) electric powertrain. Rolls-Royce says it has “the most power-dense battery pack ever assembled for an aircraft.”

Spirit of Innovation, courtesy Rolls-Royce.

Why There’s an X-Wing Flyer at the Smithsonian

The National Air and Space Museum has a Star Wars X-wing on loan from Lucasfilm. Dr. Margaret Weiteka, Curator and Department Chair of the Space History Department, explains why they have it and how it is being prepared for display.

Video: Why There’s an X-Wing Flyer at the Smithsonian

What You Missed at Yesterday’s Cranky Dorkfest

Cranky Flier reports on the event.

Former Boeing Pilot Expected to Face Prosecution in 737 MAX Probe

The Wall Street Journal reports that Federal prosecutors plan to criminally charge Boeing’s chief technical pilot during the 737 MAX development. Mark Forkner was Boeing’s lead contact with the FAA concerning pilot training for the jet. In a criminal settlement with prosecutors earlier this year, Boeing admitted that two unnamed employees conspired to defraud the FAA about 737 MAX training issues in order to benefit themselves and the company.

Bangor airport to close for 2 days in early October for runway repairs

Bangor International Airport will shut down for runway repairs. Concrete runways can degrade as a result of an alkali-silica reaction, which is sometimes called concrete cancer. Since BGR is the last US airport for emergency landings eastbound over the Atlantic, and the first westbound, any emergencies will have to land elsewhere.

Prerecorded

In Defense of the Flight Attendant by Joe A. Kunzler.

Brian Coleman’s gifts to cabin crew.

Why Brian doesn’t check bags.