Tag Archives: Rockwell Collins

469 Hurricane Disaster Relief

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:19:27 — 36.4MB)

General aviation and hurricane disaster relief, flight simulation, the need for more mandatory pilot training, United Technologies purchase of Rockwell Collins, and geared turbofan engines.

GA providing hurricane disaster relief., courtesy Nicholas Rizzo.

GA providing hurricane disaster relief., courtesy Nicholas Rizzo.

Guest

Nicholas Rizzo is a Flight Training Technology Designer at Redbird Flight Simulations, Inc. Recently, Nicholas has been flying supplies into the areas hardest hit by Hurricane Harvey: Rockport, Orange, Houston, and Beaumont Texas. Nicholas tells us about general aviation providing hurricane disaster relief.

As a youngster, Nicholas was fascinated by planes and he turned to home flight simulation flying X-Plane. In fact, he’s Chief Captain at X-Plane Junkies. Last year, he decided to become a real flying junky and he has logged 250 hours since last September obtaining his private pilot’s license and Instrument rating. Nicholas plans to pursue his Commercial, CFI, and CFII over the next few months.

Nicholas tells us a little about Redbird, including Guided Independent Flight Training (GIFT) for private pilots. This simulator-based maneuvers training supplement is designed to help pilots achieve their goals faster and for less money.

GA and Hurricane Disaster Relief

Pilots Rush to Aid Storm Victims (AOPA)

AOPA Preps for Hurricane Irma Relief Efforts

Hurricane Harvey Deluges Texas, Closed Airfields: GA Pilots Needed for Relief Efforts

Organizations mentioned in articles and/or active in the relief effort: AeroBridge, Operation Airdrop, Cajun Air Force, Angel Flight SouthCentral, Air Charity Networks, NOAA Aircraft, Remote Area Medical, Texas Wing of the Civil Air Patrol.

Aviation News

AIN Blog: Could Mandatory Training Lower the Accident Rate?

The author believes, “The FAA’s attitude about mandatory training for larger and more complex airplanes is surprisingly lackadaisical.” We discuss our viewpoints.

United Technologies to Buy Rockwell Collins

United Technologies chairman and CEO Greg Hayes confirmed his company will purchase Rockwell Collins for $30 billion. The new company is to be called Collins Aerospace Systems. Rockwell shareholders get $140 per share in cash ($93.33) and UTC stock ($46.67). Current Rockwell Collins chairman Kelly Ortberg is to become CEO, and UTC Aerospace Systems’ president David Gitlin is to become president and COO.

New record: aerospace gearbox reaches 70,000 horsepower

Rolls-Royce confirmed that their Power Gearbox for the next-generation UltraFan engine has reached 70,000 horsepower on a test rig. Their goal is a gearbox capable of 100,000 horsepower. The Ultrafan is expected in 2025.

Mentioned

Whirly Girls

Flyers for Fairness

Credit

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

465 Richard Aboulafia Returns at Last

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:30:24 — 41.4MB)

Richard Aboulafia gives us his insights on the Boeing “middle-of-the-market” airplane, pilotless airliners, a comeback for Midwest Express, ATC privatization, United Technologies Corporation interest in Rockwell Collins, seat pitch, Russian and Chinese airliner programs, the Mitsubishi MRJ, and the HondaJet.

Guest

Richard Aboulafia

Richard Aboulafia

Richard Aboulafia is Vice President of Analysis at Teal Group. He manages both commercial and military consulting projects, and he analyzes broader defense and aerospace trends. Richard’s insights appear on television and radio programs, and in almost every major publication through his columns, his articles, or because he is being quoted. Richard writes and edits Teal Group’s World Military and Civil Aircraft Briefing forecasting tool that covers over 135 aircraft programs and markets.

Aviation News

New Boeing plane moves closer to reality, and North Charleston campus could build it

A Boeing “middle-of-the-market” commercial plane (or 797) would fill the gap between the 737 and the twin-aisle 787. It would compete with the Airbus A321.

Pilotless Airliners Could Save Carriers Billions, UBS Says

Swiss Bank UBS performed an analysis and concluded that pilotless airliners could improve safety, they could save airlines as much as $35 billion per year, but would the public accept such a plane?

Group working to bring back Midwest Express Airlines

The Midwest brand disappeared in 2010 when Republic Airways Holdings, the parent company of Midwest Airlines merged that airline with Frontier Airlines. Now, a group of business and airline professionals have plans to bring the brand back. The Midwest Express website asks, “Remember when flying was hassle-free? It can be again!”

Sully’s misleading statements on US ATC reform

Previously, we pointed out Alliance for Aviation Across America videos featuring “Sully” Sullenberger arguing against ATC privatization. Karen Walker, the Editor-in-Chief at Air Transport World, thinks Sully is using his status to mislead people.

General Electric: Time to Worry About United Technologies & Rockwell Collins?

Reportedly, United Technologies Corporation (UTC) is interested in buying avionics and information technology systems company, Rockwell Collins.

American’s Terrible New 737 MAX Is Now On Sale

American Airlines has 100 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft on order, and looks to a high density configuration.

Airline Story of the Week

Conrad Rond: A positive airlines story

Southwest Airlines helps a couple who went to the wrong airport.

Mentioned

The Northeastern Pennsylvania Air Show

National Aviation Day, NASA’s 10 Favorite Ways to Celebrate National Aviation Day, and 6 Ways to Celebrate National Aviation Day.

The Prebuy Guys, and the Airplane Intel Podcast

Southern California Logistics Airport, Victorville, CA, USA (KVCV) – May 2017 from aviation photographer Paul Filmer:

Victorville by Paul Filmer

A few of the Victorville photographs by Paul Filmer. Click for more.

Russian surveillance plane soars over the Pentagon, Capitol and other Washington sites. See also Treaty on Open Skies.

The man behind the camera and the Ken Hackman flyer.

AirVenture 2017 photos from listener Richard:

AirVenture 2017 Slideshow-Videos from Mike Smith:

Credit

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

Episode 224 – Wings & Thighs

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (33.3MB)

787 at the gate by Brian Coleman

From time to time we take the week off, usually because of a holiday when we want to spend time with our families. But because we don’t want to leave you without your weekly dose of the Geeks, we do something we usually call Bits & Pieces. Each of us comes up with some kind of recording and we mash them all together into an episode.

So this is one of those Bits & Pieces occasions as we prepare for the Thanksgiving holiday in the U.S. Last episode some co-host said instead of calling it Bits & Pieces, “it’s a Wings and Thighs” episode, hence the title.

Here’s what we have for you:

Rob Mark speaks with Josh Baynes, senior PR specialist at Rockwell Collins, and also Bryan Rennekamp, senior marketing manager for the Heads Up Guidance system. They discuss the HGS Flight app we’ve been talking about the last few episodes, and also the real thing you might find in an airplane. See the Rockwell Collins Head-up Guidance (HGS) with Synthetic Vision video on YouTube.

David Vanderhoof was at the Space Shuttle swap this past summer at the Smithsonian’s Udvar-Hazy Center. He brings us interviews with:

Jim Sokolic, Operations Manager at NASA Dryden
Jay Estes, Deputy for Flight Test Integration in the Orion Program
Orfield Tigue from the Office of Education, NASA DC Headquarters
Paul Rodrian and Jeff Pollett, Lockheed Martin Denver, Human Space Flight
John Yembrick, NASA Social Media Manager

Steve Vischer and Grant McHerron have an extended Australia Desk that focuses on the insanity of politics around the Sydney Airport and the potential for using Canberra as the second Sydney airport.

Our European contributor Pieter Johnson sent in an uncut conversation with Tim Gresty, Managing Director of Cognitio, a marketing company with extensive airline experience. They chat about ways that airlines market themselves, how the press releases in the news section of their websites reflect their strategies, Ryanair going after Aer Lingus, and bacon buttys. Tim relates a story about launching Hapag Lloyd Express in the UK.

The 787 GEnx by Brian ColemanThe 787 GEnx by Brian Coleman

Mentions:

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