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Dogs and other animals that fly, an update on unmanned aerial vehicles, charitable aviation organizations that provide transportation to those in need, the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation Wirraway, and flying GA in the US and Europe.

Guest

Victoria Zajko is a pilot and she works in the aviation insurance business, supporting general, corporate, and business aviation needs. She is a Co-Host on the Stuck Mic AvCast, blogs at The Pixie Pilot, and is Coauthor of the new Turbo the Flying Dog book series.

Turbo flies everywhere with her, and the dog has a Facebook page and is on Twitter. Victoria thought the adventures of Turbo would make a good children’s book that focused on family and overcoming fears. Now we have Turbo the Flying Dog, the first book in a series.

We talk about crowdfunding the book, hurdles to publishing, and the positive role of social media and the aviation community.

News

FAA on drones: Security always a concern

In this CNN video, FAA Administrator Michael Huerta talks about security threats from commercial drones, especially to planes.

CNBC on Drones

A discussion between Jetwhine Publisher Rob Mark and Duke University professor Missy Cummings about whether or not drones pose a safety problem to passenger carrying aircraft.

Senators don’t like where the FAA’s headed on drones

U.S. lawmakers want the FAA to speed up the integration of drones into the national airspace.

Huerta Says UAS Rules Stress Certification, Pilot Standards

FAA Administrator Michael Huerta told CNN’s State of the Union that the NPRM planned for this month on sUAS will focus on aircraft certification and “qualifications” of pilots.

Endangered Sea Turtles Need GA Transport

Migratory turtles spend the summer in the waters off New England, then swim south in winter. But this year, wind and water temperatures have stranded more than 400 of them along beaches on Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

According to Leslie Weinstein, a board member for the Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research at the University of Florida, they need transportation to aquariums. Weinstein is working an aviation rescue effort with the Air National Guard, but also with volunteer groups like Pilots N Paws to solicit help from general aviation pilots.

Wrigley heiress charters private jet to fly Marine’s dogs home

This 2013 article describes a Marine serving in Afghanistan who rescued two Anatolian Shepherd mixes, Dusty and Wyatt. He was able to get the dogs to the U.S with the assistance of an animal rescue organization when his tour of duty ended.

Later, the Marine was transferred across the country and the airlines were unable to provide transportation. Wrigley gum heiress Helen A. Rosburg stepped in and chartered a private jet. Rosburg is the founder of animal rescue organization, On the Wings of Angels Rescue.

Op-Ed: Media and industry sneering at service animals must stop

By Contributing Editor John Walton on the RunwayGirl Network.

NATA And Its Members Raise More Than $30,000 For Our Nation’s Veterans

The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) announced the donation of more than $30,000 to veterans’ organizations raised through the 2014 NATA Flag Pins for Veterans Project. Earlier this year, NATA and its members developed the project to expand our support of our Nation’s veterans. Donations from this year’s project will support the Veterans Airlift Command and the Medal of Honor Foundation.

SMAC083 – Live From The National Business Aviation Association Convention 2014

Carl Valeri talks to the volunteer Veterans Airlift Command (VAC) which transports post-9/11 veterans for medical and other compassionate reasons outside the airline system. Carl also spoke with a veteran and passenger of Veterans Airlift Command.

The Australia News Desk

Back in September, the Australian National Aviation Museum at Moorabbin in Victoria, celebrated the 75th anniversary of the first flight of their CAC (Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation) Wirraway.

The museum’s Wirraway (A20-10) was built in 1939 and saw service as a trainer for the RAAF for nearly two decades.  We sent Anthony “The Infrequent Flyer” Simmons (Max’s favourite Australian) out to chat with Ewan McArthur and James Kightly about the significance of this particular aircraft

Across the Pond

Pieter talks with Neil Bradon, once a student pilot on the show back in 2011 and now a well respected GA pilot in both Europe and the USA. Neil has returned from living and working in the USA to Ireland where he explains the differences in the GA sector and offers some advice based upon his experiences. Neil blogs at getmyppl.blogspot.com.

Mentioned

Some  charitable aviation organizations:

Pilots and Paws

Angel Flight

Angel Flight Australia

Air Care Alliance

Volunteer Pilots Association

Corporate Angel Network

Hope Air

Find Max’s list at airplanegeeks.com/charity.

Aviation Geekfest 2015 – February 21st and 22nd, 2015 in Seattle.

SkyFunder – Crowdfunding just for aviation purposes.

ZZ331 Royal Air Force Airbus KC2 Voyager (A330-243MRRT), CPH Departure [HD]

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