Info Warehouse Page 10

6/12 FAA Administrator Nominee Appears at Senate Committee Hearing - HERE    6/12 AIR INDIA CRASH 200+ FATALITIES - HERE    6/8 President Trump’s nominee for FAA Administrator set to face Senate grilling - HERE    6/08 Former NTSB Vice Chair Sues Trump Over Removal - HERE    6/7 Trump lifts US supersonic flight ban, says he's 'Making Aviation Great Again' - HERE     6/06 Retrofitting Qatari jet as Air Force One for Trump to cost hundreds of millions of dollars, Air Force says - HERE    6/6 Washington DC airport says flights to be suspended during Trump's Army parade - HERE    6/04 Review: Santa Clara Aviation Commission G100UL Meeting - HERE    6/5 Senators Set Hearing Date for Trump’s FAA Nominee - HERE    06/03/2025 New fiber optic cable in place to fix communications problems plaguing flights to Newark, DOT says - HERE    6/03 U.S. Restricts Sale Of Aviation Tech To China - HERE    6/2 FAA Faces Staffing Crisis Amid Wave Of Departures - HERE    5/30 FAA investigating close call incident at San Francisco Airport - HERE     5/30 FAA demands an accident investigation into SpaceX's latest out-of-control Starship flight - HERE    5/28 SpaceX Starship experiences 'rapid unscheduled disassembly'- HERE    5/26 Runway lights were out before San Diego plane crash, NTSB says - HERE

Here is our Website's Shelf Space - Page 10

A Vast Amount of Data on this Page

Important Safety Messages can be found here!  Featured and Important Stories from SCAUWG.ORG that remain valuable sources of pertinent content can now be accessed here!

Our INFO Warehouse is designed to be a living reference area where certain previously published HOTNEWS articles and previously published aviation data can be memorialized and referred to, so that the message conveyed can continue to benefit site users.

Do you have comments/suggestions/submissions/opposing positions for this page?  They are   welcomed.  Just drop a message for us at SCAUWG@Earthlink.net

 

New Posts begin after Preface

Preface:     

(Preface Updated 3/15/25)

VECTORS FOR SAFETY LOGOVectors for Safety - a wonderful source for Aviation News, Professional Commentary and Accident Analysis is published monthly by Gene Benson and is now a permanent "Top of the Page" feature of our INFO WAREHOUSE.

To View the June '25 Vectors for Safety CLICK HERE

 

        Selected CHARTING NOTICES              FAA Safety Alerts and Charting Notice List Here.

Aeronautical Charting Meeting  (Charting Group)

                   

                      MANUALS You May Need:

 

        NEWEST AERONAUTICAL CHART USRS GUIDE

The Chart Users' Guide is updated when there is new chart symbology or when there are changes in the depiction of information and/or symbols on the charts. It will be published in accordance with the 56-day AIRAC schedule.

Effective Date: 12 June 2025

Introduction

This Chart Users' Guide is an introduction to the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) aeronautical charts and publications. It is useful to new pilots as a learning aid, and to experienced pilots as a quick reference guide.

The FAA is the source for all data and information utilized in the publishing of aeronautical charts through authorized publishers for each stage of Visual Flight Rules (VFR) and Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) air navigation including training, planning, and departures, enroute (for low and high altitudes), approaches, and taxiing charts. Digital charts are available online at:

Paper copies of the charts are available through an FAA Approved Print Provider. A complete list of current providers is available at http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/flight_info/aeronav/print_providers/

The FAA Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) Pilot/Controller Glossary defines in detail, all terms and abbreviations used throughout this publication. Unless otherwise indicated, miles are nautical miles (NM), altitudes indicate feet above Mean Sea Level (MSL), and times used are Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).

The Notice to Air Missions Publication (NOTAM) includes current Flight Data Center (FDC) NOTAMs. NOTAMs alert pilots of new regulatory requirements and reflect changes to Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs), flight restrictions, and aeronautical chart revisions. This publication is prepared every 28 days by the FAA, and is available by subscription from the Government Printing Office. For more information on subscribing or to access online PDF copy, http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/notices/

In addition to NOTAMs, the Chart Supplement and the Safety Alerts/Charting Notices page of the Aeronautical Information Services website are also useful to pilots.

Keep Your Charts Current

Aeronautical information changes rapidly, so it is important that pilots check the effective dates on each aeronautical chart and publication. To avoid danger, it is important to always use current editions and discard obsolete charts and publications.

To confirm that a chart or publication is current, refer to the next scheduled effective date printed on the cover. Pilots should also check NOTAMs for important updates between chart and publication cycles that are essential for safe flight

Reporting Chart Discrepancies

Your experience as a pilot is valuable and your feedback is important. We make every effort to display accurate information on all FAA charts and publications, so we appreciate your input. Please notify us concerning any requests for changes, or potential discrepancies you see while using our charts and related products.

FAA, Aeronautical Information Services
1305 East-West Highway
SSMC4, Room 3424
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3281

Telephone Toll-Free 1-800-638-8972
Aeronautical Inquiries: http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/flight_info/aeronav/aero_data/Aeronautical_Inquiries/

 

        AVIATION MX HUMAN FACTORS QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER

The Aviation MX Human Factors Quarterly is no longer published but was written by maintenance human factors professionals dedicated to identifying and optimizing the factors that affect human performance in maintenance and inspection and is still relevant.

2021

  • September (PDF), Volume 9, Issue 3
  • June (PDF), Volume 9, Issue 2
  • March (PDF), Volume 9, Issue 1

For a COMPLETE LIST of  MX HUMAN FACTORS QUARTERLY NEWSLETTERS 2021-2013 and ARTICLES on TOPICS that Include, Past Issues of the MX Fatigue FOCUS NEWSLETTERS,  GENERAL FATIQUE, MAINTENANCE FATIQUE, & FATIQUE RISK MANAGEMENT -  CLICK HERE.

 

        FATIQUE RISK MANAGEMENT

Publications and Articles - View publications and articles about human fatigue, shift work, maintenance personnel fatigue, and fatigue risk management.

      General Fatigue and Maintenance Fatigue Papers   Collection of Important Information from FAA.GOV.  CLICK HERE

Also, see FAASAFETY.GOV Human Factors Training Courses:  ALC-731

 

        IFP Announcements and Reports

The ILS Procedures and Components List (below) is a full list of ILS procedures and related components within the NAS. This list includes all Category I, II, III approaches as well as Special Authorization Category I and II. The sortable list can be downloaded and is updated with the normal instrument procedure charting cycle. The information contained in the ILS Procedures and Components List is extracted from Aeronautical Information Services databases. It should not be used for navigation or flight planning. Information on GPS/WAAS approaches.

 

            Los Angeles County Aviation Commission - Meeting Agendas 2025

The Los Angeles County-owned airports, Brackett Field Airport in La Verne, Compton/Woodley Airport in Compton, San Gabriel Valley Airport in El Monte, General William J. Fox Airfield in Lancaster, and Whiteman Airport in Pacoima not only play a vital role within the nation's integrated system of airports, they are also an integral part of YOUR community, serving the diverse constituents of the County of Los Angeles.   Contact Us: Staff to the Commission:  Van Tran(626) 300-4870  - ACCESS LA County Aviation Commission Meeting CALENDAR HERE  -  AGENDAS HERE  -  ACCESS Commission Meeting Minutes HERE.

 

              Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors - Serving The County of LA Since 1892

Meetings of the Board of Supervisors are held on Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m. at 500 West Temple Street, Room 381B, at the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration in Los Angeles. The regular meeting of the Board held on the last Tuesday of the month is primarily for the purpose of conducting legally-required public hearings on zoning matters, fee increases, special district proceedings, property transactions, etc.  ACCESS Meeting AGENDAS HERE, -  ACCESS Board Meeting MINUTES HERE

 

NEW!                   What is the Airport Compliance Program?

The FAA Airport Compliance Program is contractually based; it does not attempt to control or direct the operation of airports…rather, the program is designed to monitor and enforce obligations agreed to by airport sponsors in exchange for valuable benefits and rights granted by the United States…
[FAA Order 5190.6B, 1.5]

An Airport Sponsor meets its commitments when:
• Federal obligations are understood
• A program is in place that the FAA deems adequate to carry out the sponsor’s commitments (e.g., preventative maintenance, leasing polices,    rules/regs, minimum standards)
• The sponsor satisfactorily demonstrates that such a program is being carried out
• Past compliance issues have been addressed
[FAA Order 5190.6B, 2.8b

AIP Grant Assurances:

Commitments by airport in exchange for airport
development grant funds
• There are 39 grant assurances (37 based in
statute) (49 U.S. Code § 47107)
• Included in Airport Improvement Program (AIP)
grant application
• Committed when AIP grant is signed
  – Typically in effect for 20 years
  – Exception land grant (forever)

Read: ACO's Role and Compliance Overview FULL Document - FAA - Click arp-aco-airports-compliance-workshop-2024-compliance-overview

05/11/2025   FAA airport grant assurance changes include protection for 100LL - From AOPA - The FAA is standing up for 100LL. The agency posted a notice in the Federal Register regarding several changes to airport grant assurances, including the addition of Grant Assurance 40, which mandates the availability of 100LL fuel through 2030 or a possible earlier date when an FAA-authorized unleaded replacement fuel becomes available. Read More About this Here.

 

NEW!                    FAA Land Use Change Policy

Presented to: ARP National Compliance Workshop:

  • This session is about federal obligations on land -- not ALP approval
  • Protection of aeronautical use through federal obligations

Types of Airport Property – Federally Acquired

Land that was acquired with Federal funds including:
– Airport Improvement Program (AIP'),
– Federal Aid to Airports Program (FAAP),
– Airport Development Aid Program (ADAP), or
– as part of an AP–4 agreement.

• It also includes airport sponsor-acquired land that:

– was used for the airport sponsor match for an AIP project, or
– was swapped for AIP purchased land.

Read: The Detailed FAA Land Use Policy FULL Document - FAA -  Click arp-aco-airports-compliance-workshop-2024-land-use-policy-change

 

NEW!                    House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and Aviation Subcommittee Members

Get the list of new Republicans and New Democratic Members and the Committee Members   -   CLICK HERE

This Page [latest] was added on 01/12/25  -  See Pages  IW 1-9 for Previous Posts  -  Thank You! 

Let's Begin:

06/10/2025    Clearing Customs along the Alaska Highway - from AOPA - "Pilots flying into Alaska along the Alaska Highway this summer should pay close attention to details regarding Customs. -

For northbound aircraft entering Alaska from Canada, Northway has been a popular location to clear U.S. Customs before proceeding on to other destinations in the state. - Inspection services by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for Northway Airport are managed out of the Alcan Highway station, located about 50 road miles away from the airport. Pilots planning to clear customs in Northway need to call the Alcan station well in advance to arrange for arrival. - According to CBP’s website, Customs hours at Northway Airport are currently 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., seven days a week; however, you may call the Alcan port any time as it is open 24 hours a day. If the weather forecast looks promising, file a flight manifest through the Electronic Advance Passenger Information System (eAPIS) and call to secure permission to land the evening before you plan to depart. Be prepared to be flexible: To manage staffing, CBP may need to group several aircraft arrivals at similar times to justify sending an officer to the Northway Airport." More Details Here.

06/10/2025    Emerging Airport Technology Aims to Reduce Runway Incursions - From NBAA -  "Aviation continues to be the world’s safest form of transportation, but, as the FAA reports five U.S. runway incursions on average every day, recent headlines have put this critical airport safety issue into sharper focus. - On Feb. 25, 2025, video from Chicago Midway (MDW) captured a business jet crossing Runway 31 Center in front of a Boeing 737 on approach. Seconds before touching down, the airline flight crew noticed the smaller aircraft on the ground and initiated a go-around. The NTSB is investigating. - While most runway incursions aren’t close calls, the safety issue is concerning. An international runway incursion study led by ICAO, the Flight Safety Foundation and Eurocontrol said runway incursions are “among the most persistent threats to aviation safety.” Read More Here.

06/10/2025   Mass FAA Staff Departures Aren’t Making a $31 Billion Air Safety Overhaul Any Easier - From AIRGUIDES - "Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy recently announced a plan to modernize the country’s outdated air traffic control infrastructure, with an estimated cost of $31 billion. While Duffy and other Trump administration officials are quick to claim that they inherited a broken system from President Joe Biden, they have only compounded the issue. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is now grappling with the fallout from the loss of over 1,200 employees through the Trump administration’s deferred-resignation program, a cost-cutting initiative aimed at shrinking the federal workforce.

An internal FAA presentation obtained by the Wall Street Journal in early May revealed the significant impact of these departures, particularly the loss of critical institutional knowledge and experience. The situation contrasts sharply with the narrative pushed by the White House when the program was introduced in January, which downplayed potential consequences, suggesting that the resignation or early retirement of non-air traffic controller personnel would not affect safety."  Finish Reading Here.

06/09/2025   Satellite Navigation — GPS/WAAS Approaches - FAA - Latest Data Here.

06/08/2025    3 Often Overlooked Safety Factors Impacting Single-Pilot Operations -From NBAA - "Few people will argue that single-pilot operations are among the most challenging. We asked three highly experienced single-pilot operators to identify some of the most overlooked factors impacting safety during single-pilot ops and what pilots can do to mitigate them." Find Them Out Here

06/08/2025    NTSB Final Report Points to Breakup in Fatal Air Ambulance Crash - From FLYING - "Agency releases details of 2023 Pilatus accident in Nevada that killed five. - Investigators reported that based on the evidence and the ADS-B track, it appears the pilot was attempting to hand-fly the aircraft and entered a graveyard spiral when he became disorientated while flying in night IMC, resulting in an in-flight breakup. Contributing to the accident was the disengagement of the autopilot for undetermined reasons, as well as the operator’s insufficient flight risk assessment process and lack of organizational oversight."  Read what happened Here.

06/07/2025   U.S. Army Overhauls Pilot Training Amid Safety Concerns - From AVweb - "The U.S. Army is overhauling its pilot training program to improve safety and restore fundamental flying skills after a string of aviation accidents. - The U.S. Army is launching an overhaul of its pilot training program aimed at restoring fundamental flying skills and improving safety, Defense News reported. - The changes come as Army leaders have acknowledged growing concerns about pilot readiness following fatal incidents—including the Jan. 29 collision between a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines jet near Washington, D.C. - According to Defense News, as part of the revamp, the Army is shifting away from current LUH-72A Lakota training helicopters and instead replacing them with simpler, single-engine aircraft like the Robinson R66 or Bell 505 to improve basic stick-and-rudder skills and reduce costs. - The Army is also exploring a contractor-owned, contractor-operated (COCO) model, where private industry would take over day-to-day training responsibilities. Companies like Bell and Lockheed Martin have already shown interest. - While the Army currently..."  Finish Reading Here. 

06/03/2025   Early Analysis - Citation 550 Crash in San Diego - VIDEO - From AOPA - "On May 22, 2025, at 3:47 a.m. local time, a Cessna Citation 550 crashed into a residential neighborhood in San Diego as it was preparing to land at Montgomery-Gibbs Executive airport (KMYF) in thick fog. All six occupants of the aircraft died. Miraculously, no one on the ground was seriously injured or killed, but almost a dozen homes and numerous cars were damaged or destroyed in the post-crash fire. The accident forced more than 100 people to evacuate."  View the Video Here.

06/03/2025   GA Call to Action - FAA - In early March 2025, the FAA held an Aviation Safety Call to Action to identify concrete steps to address recent safety incidents and make general and business aviation safer. As part of our commitment to aviation safety, we are reminding general and business aviation pilots about the tools and resources available to them during their pre-flight, in-flight, and post-flight activities. -  About GA Call Learn More to Action

06/03/2025   Reminder: Avoid Complacency by Following Pre-Flight Checklists - FAA - Did you know that maintenance-related problems are one of the deadliest causes of accidents in general aviation? Contributing to this is a pilot’s failure to identify maintenance discrepancies because of a lack of knowledge, complacency with checklists, or improper techniques used during the preflight of the aircraft.

Advanced preflight is a practice that helps aircraft owners and pilots become more aware of all the safety-related data pertaining to their aircraft. In addition to using the preflight checklist, it focuses on being more cognizant of who maintains your aircraft and how to apply a detailed approach to your preflight inspection based on a review of the aircraft’s maintenance history.

The foundation of any effective preflight inspection is knowledge: knowledge of your aircraft’s history, its systems and components, and its propensity for possible failures or vulnerabilities — the sometimes-inconspicuous items not always covered in an Airworthiness Directive (AD) or a manufacturer’s Service Bulletin. -  Learn how to spot the red flags and mitigate them with a more rigorous preflight inspection at https://medium.com/faa/perfecting-your-preflight-inspection-17a2b6f2d21a.

06/03/2025   Emerging Entrants Bulletin 25-02, Testing and Demonstrating Autonomous Ground Vehicle Systems (AGVS) at Federally Obligated Airports (PDF) - This Bulletin provides information on safely testing/demonstrating Autonomous Ground Vehicle Systems (AGVS) on airports. In addition, this Bulletin includes a checklist that airport sponsors may use as a tool to verify safety considerations prior to initiating AGVS testing/demonstrations.

06/03/2025    May 29 FAA Space Report - Space Operations and Airspace Safety: Debris Response Areas 

As more and more commercial space operations occur, the FAA is sharing how it protects the flying public, including during an anomaly with debris. - The FAA creates Aircraft Hazard Areas (AHAs) to prohibit aircraft from flying in the closed airspace around the path of a launch or reentry. The agency also may establish Debris Response Areas (DRAs) to cover airspace beyond the AHAs. A DRA is a contingency response and is activated when a space launch vehicle experiences an anomaly that generates unplanned debris in the airspace.

Read more about Debris Response Areas.
Watch the Debris Response Area video.
Learn how the FAA safely integrates space operations into U.S. airspace.

FAA Seeks Public Comments on Part 450 Flight Safety Systems 

The FAA is asking for public comment on an Advisory Circular that provides guidance for commercial space operators on how they can demonstrate compliance with the Part 450 Reduced Reliability Flight Safety System (RRFSS) provision of the commercial space launch and reentry licensing regulation. - The Advisory Circular would present one, but not the only, acceptable means of compliance with §450.143. The guidance should address the design, test and documentation of a RRFSS to ensure there is no increased risk to the public beyond nominal safety-critical system operation.

The public comment period closes on June 13, 2025.

Part 450 Update: Ground Safety Services Equivalent Level of Safety 

The FAA published a General Notice clarifying when a commercial space operator can demonstrate an Equivalent Level of Safety (ELOS) for ground safety services provided by a federal site under the Part 450 launch and reentry licensing regulations. - This opportunity to streamline the licensing process applies to a commercial space operator seeking to launch from or reenter at an FAA-licensed commercial spaceport on land owned by the federal government.

Eligible locations include the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, and the Space Florida LC-46 site at the Department of the Air Force’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. - Ground safety services include preventing unauthorized access to the site, coordinating all hazardous activities, adhering to the explosive site plan, issuing various required notifications, and other activities.

Did You Know? FAA and Space Weather 

The FAA Space Weather program seeks to improve the information used to support safer and more efficient aviation and space operations.

Space Weather refers to the variable conditions on the sun and in the space environment such as adverse solar flares, solar radio bursts, solar energetic particles, galactic cosmic rays, and geomagnetic disturbances. - These events can influence the performance and reliability of systems such as navigational aids and radio transmissions used in U.S. airspace as well as radiation exposure for those aboard aircraft and spacecraft.

06/02/2025   FAA Faces Staffing Crisis Amid Wave Of Departures - From AVweb - "More than 1,200 employees—including senior leaders and technical experts—are leaving, raising concerns about the agency’s ability to maintain key safety and regulatory functions. - The Federal Aviation Administration is facing a surge in resignations and retirements, driven in part by a Trump-era program to cut labor costs, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday.

A May 7 internal presentation obtained by the Journal outlined widespread departures across the agency, affecting employees at all levels—including senior leaders, technical specialists and mission-support staff. A separate report from FAA human resources tallied more than 1,200 exits under the program."   Read More Here.

06/01/2025   Center for Environmental Health brought legal action that resulted in a consent agreement with aviation gas suppliers at airports that fuel GA aircraft.  The action requires that when unleaded fuel for the fleet is commercially available, that it would be made available.  Last year they brought another action asserting that it now is.  Their motion was denied. See the court denial Here.

06/01/2025   NATA Response to the CEH ruling (above)   The points NATA authored follow:

  • P. 14 – “It is not reasonable that the parties intended to preclude the operation of certain aircraft in California.  That was not the purpose of the Consent Judgment.  The Court interprets the phase ‘approved for aviation use’ to mean that the fuel is approved by the FAA for general aviation use by all aircraft types in the general aviation fleet.”
  • P. 15 – “The Court, however, finds that there are safety and compatibility issues that need to be vetted.  The Court further finds that material industry stakeholders, including significant manufacturers of aircraft and engines with which G100UL will be used, need to have their concerns addressed and satisfied before a general consensus on safety, compatibility, and efficacy can emerge.”
  • PP. 15-16 – “Further, regulations in the general aviation industry refer to ASTM standards.  The transparency required by the ASTM standard setting process would permit the public-private infrastructure to adequately vet the fuel and to make informed decisions regarding the fuel’s safety, compatibility, and efficacy with particular aircraft and their components.  The parties presumably did not intend the Consent Judgment to create fundamental safety and compatibility issues.”
  • P., 16 – “The STC certification excludes helicopters and other aircraft and does not approve the use of G100UL for all aircraft types in the fleet.  Helicopters are used regularly for matters of significant public health and safety, including emergency responses and policing . . . . Even though helicopters form only about 1.5% of the fleet, they have an outsized importance to public health and safety.”
  • P. 18 – “[T]he opposition to a Court order requiring G100UL is widespread and cuts across different interests, including independent and competing OEMs, trade associations, and at least some pilots.  The Court finds that the declarations by the independent OEMs and trade groups are sufficiently credible to make the findings set forth herein.”

The Court acknowledged that lead exposures are a serious issue but rejected CEH’s argument that the public health inquiry ends there.  “Removing leaded Avgas from California would undoubtedly benefit the public health.  But using this Prop 65 Consent Judgment to impose that change on this record poses significant consequences that also affect the public’s health and safety as well as the operations of the entire general aviation industry and social and economic sectors that depend on the industry.”

05/31/2025   Southwest Flight Diverted After Smoke From Battery Charger - VIDEO - From Today - "A Southwest Airlines plane going from Baltimore to Tampa was forced to divert to Myrtle Beach after a battery charger on board appeared to catch fire mid-flight. The plane landed safely and no injuries were reported. NBC’s Tom Costello reports for Saturday TODAY." - View the Story Here.

05/31/2025   US Transport Department Pauses Planned Workforce Cuts Due to Litigation - From Bloomberg - "The US Transportation Department said it’s pausing planned cuts to its workforce while it waits for resolution in pending legal battles over the Trump administration’s efforts to significantly reduce the size of the federal government.

A spokesperson for the department said Friday that it’s holding off on reduction-in-force and reorganization plans due to ongoing litigation and will revisit the matter once those issues are worked out. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told employees in a town hall earlier this month that he expected the layoffs to begin at the end of May."- "The buyouts have resulted in several notable departures, including the head of the US Federal Aviation Administration’s commercial space office, as well as the agency’s top air traffic official."  Read More Here.

05/29/2025    ASTM Publishes White Paper On UAS Airworthiness Standards - From AVweb - "ASTM International announced today (May 27) that its administrative committee on autonomy design and operations in aviation (AC377) has published a new white paper, “A Safety Intent-Based Application of Part 23 ‘Pilot’ and ‘Flight crew’ Requirements for Uncrewed Aircraft.” The paper “outlines how designers of highly automated, remotely piloted, optionally piloted, and uncrewed aircraft can meet the safety intent of current regulations,” according to ASTM. - The paper puts emphasis on how airworthiness standards are able to be satisfied without regard for where or how functions are designed to be performed. “The aircraft must consistently demonstrate safe, predictable performance, whether by a human or by automated systems,” ASTM wrote."  Read it Here.

05/28/2025   Special Federal Aviation Regulation No. 73—Robinson Helicopter Company, Robinson R-22/R-44 Special Training and Experience Requirements - What is SFAR 73?  - VIDEO -   Helicopter Accident observer: "I’m not a pilot but I hope to be one day! For those who don’t know, this is a very common thing with these Robinson’s. Due to the twin blades and design of the rotor head, If you make low g maneuvers incorrectly the blades can come down and chop your tail boom right off! You can see at the beginning that the tail rotor is already gone. The FAA actually requires a special rating to fly Robinson helicopters because of this. I believe it’s called SFAR 73." - @benmarcotte701   Read SFAR Here.  See the Helicopter accident that probably saved the pilot's life Here.

05/28/2025   Twin Commander Empennage Cracking Concern - Notice Number: NOTC4435

The FAA received numerous reports of empennage fuselage station (FS) and vertical stabilizer skin cracking on numerous models of Twin Commander Aircraft. The FAA previously issued Airworthiness Directive (AD) 95-13-02 to require inspections of the empennage FS 409 frame and adjacent vertical stabilizer exterior skin to prevent failure of the vertical stabilizer due to cracks, which if not detected and corrected, could result in loss of control of the airplane. Twin Commander Aircraft Corporation Service Bulletin 218 provided terminating action to AD 95-13-02 through modifications to the airplane empennage FS 409 frame and adjacent vertical stabilizer exterior skin.

The FAA is aware of continued crack growth in FS 409 as well as the vertical stabilizer skin extending beyond the original areas of concern identified in AD 95-13-02. Operators have also reported additional structural cracking on FS 386 and FS 429 frames, with several instances of cracking being identified in visually inaccessible empennage locations. Service Letter 345 installed access panels which may allow limited observation of the areas of concern, but other areas require more extensive work to gain access.

The FAA is distributing this ACS to both notify owners, operators, and maintainers of these cracks and request feedback and additional in-service data within 10 days to assist the investigation of the potential safety concern.

To view this Airworthiness Concern Sheet click on this link: https://www.faasafety.gov/files/notices/2025/May/ACS_Twin_Commander_Empennage_Cracking.pdf

For questions or to reply to this message contact:

Lekebis Russell, Aviation Safety Engineer (Airframe), East Certification Branch, 1701 Columbia Ave,  Atlanta, Ga 30337, (404) 474-5510
Lekebis.M.Russell@faa.gov

05/24/2025   Personal Minimums: Know When to Say No - From Business Aviation Insider - "It’s essential for pilots to regularly assess their skills, experience, health and comfort levels in an effort to improve safety, reduce stress and heighten decision-making abilities during flight operations." Read it Here.

05/24/2025   Bird Strike - Real Pilot Story - VIDEO - From AOPA - Transcript Credit - "It was a nice VFR day—not a cloud in the sky—as the twin climbed out of the pattern at Casa Grande, AZ. The pilot was settling down on the last leg of a long cross-country flight from Bartow, Florida to Camarillo, California when he noticed the birds... Experience the pilot coming eye to eye with a four pound red-tailed hawk and how he dealt with the ensuing mayhem his uninvited feathered passenger caused."  View the adventure Here.

05/24/2025   FAA: NOTAM Modernization Rollout Planned for Fall - From NBAA - "“We need to get to the modern age,” he said to webinar attendees. “The [current] NOTAM system originated from the paper-based system, and we need to embrace what’s possible today. To effectively use the new system, it will require change and support from you.” -   "Malcolm Andrews, the FAA’s enterprise services director, said the new NOTAM system needs to be thoroughly tested, feature redundancies to avoid future disruptions and use agile development processes to allow for efficient implementation. It will improve accuracy of and accessibility to critical information and ultimately improve the safety of the National Airspace System.  -  The FAA team reported it is on track for users able to test the new system with their own software systems as early as July, with initial operating capability in September. In October, the FAA plans to launch the system for use by all users."   Read the entire article Here.

05/24/2025   NBAA Lauds Inclusion of Industry Priorities in House-Passed Budget Bill - PR  Release -  "Washington, DC, May 22, 2025 – The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) today welcomed passage by the U.S. House of Representatives of multiple initiatives supporting the growth, safety and sustainability of the nation’s aviation industry and infrastructure included in a budget reconciliation bill. - The bill includes $12.5 billion to fund airport and air traffic control (ATC) projects over the next four years. These include replacement of aging radar systems, control towers and terminal radar approach control facilities, as well as expanded controller recruitment and training.

The air traffic funding provision, unveiled by House leaders in April, has the support of NBAA and more than 50 other industry stakeholders, including international aviation associations, trade unions, manufacturers and others united in a newly formed “Modern Skies” coalition launched to support the plan. - “We commend the House for recognizing the importance of improving ATC infrastructure and strengthening the controller workforce to enhance safety and efficiency in the National Airspace System,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “Business aviation’s ability to serve citizens, companies and communities is only possible because the U.S. leads the world in aviation. The strategic priorities identified in this provision will be key to preserving our global leadership in the years to come.”

The House reconciliation legislation also contains a provision for reinstatement of 100% immediate expensing on purchases of factory-new and pre-owned aircraft. Part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, the percentage of claimable depreciation is currently phasing down to zero in 2027. - "Immediate expensing for purchases of capital equipment, including business aircraft, has been included in bipartisan congressional tax policy for decades, reflecting a longstanding consensus among leading economists that it helps American companies upgrade assets they rely on to be competitive in a global marketplace,” Bolen said.

Bolen noted that the policy also fosters job creation in business aviation, an industry that supports 1.3 million high-skill, high-paying manufacturing and service jobs, accounts for $340 billion in economic activity each year and makes a positive contribution to the nation’s balance of trade. - The reconciliation bill also includes an extension by four additional years of the Section 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit incentivizing production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to 2031. This credit is among the initiatives that contributed to the doubling of U.S. SAF production from December 2024 to February 2025.

“Clearly, this provision has proven critical to the increased production, availability and use of SAF as part of business aviation’s goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050,” Bolen said. “Equally important, the creation of clear incentives for suppliers and producers of SAF will give the U.S. a competitive edge in this promising global sector. - “As the House reconciliation bill moves to the Senate for consideration, we look forward to working with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to advance these forward-looking provisions that bolster an essential industry, support countless workers and promote American competitiveness,” Bolen concluded.

05/24/2025   Montana’s ADS-B Privacy Bill Signed Into Law  - From AERO News Network -"On May 8, a bill to limit frivolous use of ADS-B tracking data was signed into law by Montana Governor Greg Gianforte. This legislation battles the recent trend of US airports using ADS-B information to impose landing fees on general aviation planes.

Specifically, House BIll 571 states that “no entity, whether a division of government or a private company or corporation, may use information broadcast or collected by automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast systems, whether that data originates from ADS-B In or ADS-B Out, as a means for calculating, generating, and collecting fees from aircraft owners or operators who operate aircraft within the geographic boundaries of the state.”

The bill was presented and sponsored by Representative Shane Klakken. As a pilot and long-term AOPA member, he set out to protect other Part 91 general aviation pilots with aircraft weighing up to 9,000 pounds."  - Read More.

05/24/2025   Business Aviation Accidents Offer Lifesaving Lessons Learned - From NBAA - "Every day, the industry continues its unending safety journey toward zero accidents. If aviation is to continue to be history’s safest form of transportation, it is incumbent on the entire community to learn from its mistakes." -  "Aviation’s continuous, unending journey toward zero accidents requires operators to learn from mistakes. While it remains frustrating that most aircraft accidents result from any one of a series of familiar factors, ranging from continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), to improper responses to unexpected problems with aircraft engines or systems, findings from the NTSB offer important lessons for pilots that offer potentially lifesaving takeaways." Click HERE to Learn More.

05/24/2025   There I was... (AOPA PODCAST) -  This podcast invites you into the cockpit with pilots across the aviation community. We fly with them as they encounter unpredictable scenarios and we learn from the knowledge and skills they utilize to fly safely out of them. There I was... honors the tradition and heritage in aviation to leverage “hangar flying” as an avenue to pass along knowledge and experience. - This episode is #83 "Stuck Stick." -  A pilot recalls experiencing severely limited motion in the control stick of his Thorp S–18 while departing Tampa Executive Airport. (Photo courtesy of Mujahid Abdulrahim.) Continue  -  You are invited to view our site's PODCAST PAGE found under the COMMENTARY tab for this and many more aviation podcasts.

05/24/2025   The Airport Data & Contact Information web page of the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). -  The information available from this page has been updated to the Effective Date of May 15, 2025, data from FAA's Aeronautical Data Team.

05/24/2025   The Quiet Revolution: How Software-Defined Avionics Are Rewiring the Skies - From Aviation Today - "In the world of aerospace innovation, buzzwords like artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomous flight tend to dominate headlines. But beneath the radar (so to speak), a quieter revolution is reshaping the cockpit: Software-Defined Avionics (SDA) powered by Modular Open Systems Architecture (MOSA). -  In April, the Taiwanese manufacturer TSMC introduced the world’s most advanced microchip: the 2 nanometre (2nm) chip. Mass production is expected for the second half of the year. TSMC’s new chip represents a major step forward in performance and efficiency, and it has been accompanied by similar announcements this year from other chipmakers. As I explain below, chip advancements like these are exponentially boosting avionics capabilities.  -  This shift isn’t just about replacing hardware; it’s about redefining how..."  Finish reading Here.

05/24/2025   PR Release: Washington, DC, May 14, 2025 – From NBAA - While the National Airspace System (NAS) remains the world’s safest, recent equipment outages across one of the nation’s busiest sectors have rattled pilots and air traffic controllers (ATC) alike. As the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) works to resolve these challenges across the Northeastern U.S., the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) urges business aviation flight crews to approach the situation with level heads and work strategically within established procedures.

On May 12, Transportation Sec. Sean Duffy announced the formation of a “tiger team” task force dedicated to resolving issues in the Philadelphia Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON Area C) sector that controls airspace overlying multiple New York City-area airports. - Solutions in the works include adding three new, high-bandwidth feeds between the New York-based Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System (STARS) and the Philadelphia TRACON to provide greater speed, reliability and redundancy. The FAA is also deploying a temporary backup system to maintain communications, with plans for a dedicated STARS hub for the Philadelphia location.

Additional controllers are also part of the solution. The FAA noted Area C currently has 27 fully certified controllers and supervisors on duty, with an additional 21 in training. Of the latter, 10 are receiving on-the-job training to cover additional sectors but are already certified on at least one position, with three certified on multiple positions. - In the near term, however, flight crews should expect possible traffic management initiatives in the region, which may impact operations to and from some of the area’s busiest general aviation airports including New Jersey’s Essex County Airport (CDW), Morristown (MMU) and Teterboro (TEB).

“NBAA is in direct dialogue with the FAA to work through this situation,” said Heidi Williams, NBAA senior director of air traffic services and infrastructure. “We encourage business aviation flight crews to consider their alternatives before wheels up. Think strategically, as always, but remain flexible in your plans.”

For example, congestion at TEB may drive crews to file Westchester County Airport (HPN) as an alternate, leading to similar delays at that New York airport. “Consider and plan for additional alternatives outside the immediate area or drop and go operations could be an option,” Williams said. “Pilots may also consider tankering additional fuel in the event of delays or reroutes.” - NBAA also urges pilots to utilize flight planning resources available from both NBAA and the agency. That includes subscribing to Airspace/Airport Alerts from NBAA Air Traffic Services, and staying updated on the status of the National Airspace System through nasstatus.faa.gov.

Additionally, NBAA will host a live News Hour webinar featuring expert guidance on the procedures and tools in place to manage operations in the near term and how to ensure business aviation flights in the sector support the highest levels of safety. - Williams stressed crews should not attempt to deviate from established airspace procedures. “We recognize the challenges and strongly encourage crews to keep level heads, exercise patience and thorough preflight planning, and we’ll get through this together.”

05/24/2025  NBAA Urges Strategic Thinking, Decision-Making in Navigating Northeastern Airspace Challenges - From NBAA - "

05/24/2025   Program Guidance Letters (PGLs) and Program Information Memorandums (PIMs) for the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) - This page includes the following guidance for the Airport Improvement Program:

05/24/2025   Duffy Will Allow Air Traffic Controllers to Work Past 56 - From FLYING - Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said he will use authority to grant exemptions for the mandatory air traffic controller retirement age. - Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said he will use authority given to him by Congress to allow air traffic controllers to continue working past the current mandatory retirement age of 56. - In an interview on NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday, Duffy told host Kristen Welker that he has the power to issue exemptions to air traffic controllers (ATCs) that permit them to continue working until they turn 61. When Welker asked Duffy if he would use that power, he said he plans to. - “Oh, 100 percent,” he replied. “I’ve already told the union I’ll do that.” Read More Here.

05/23/2025   New Risk Assessment Tool Introduced For Ag Pilots - From AVweb - "The National Agricultural Aviation Association has launched a new Flight Risk Assessment Tool (FRAT) to help ag pilots evaluate safety risks before each mission. - The tool is designed to help ag pilots evaluate risks before each mission, with questions categorized by how frequently they should be reviewed—annually, periodically or before every flight. - While the FRAT is intended for all ag pilots, NAAA emphasizes its importance for less experienced aviators who may be overwhelmed by the fast-paced, high-pressure nature of aerial application work. Fatigue and time constraints during the busy season can heighten risk, making tools like the FRAT especially vital. The NAAA highlighted two high-risk scenarios: when new pilots operate in unfamiliar territories without adequate supervision, and when seasoned pilots are sent to unsupervised satellite locations." The new specialized Flight Risk Assessment Tool (FRAT) is aimed at improving safety in agricultural aviation. You can read the full article here.

05/23/2025   FAA Prepares For Busy Summer Of Air Traffic - From AVweb - "New sectors added in Florida to help with the load.- The FAA announced earlier this week it is “gearing up” for a busy summer of air traffic, starting with this weekend. Memorial Day is traditionally the fourth busiest travel period of the year, and more than 54,000 flights are expected today. That would match the busiest travel date so far this year, April 17. - The number of daily flights is expected to increase through the summer, peaking at the end of July. Six additional 54,000-flight days are expected through August, with Thursday being the busiest day of the week, on average. The FAA said it has stood up new ultra-high sectors at the Jacksonville, Florida, Air Route Traffic Control Center to help accommodate increased traffic in the region. - The FAA blames weather as the leading cause of..."  Finish Reading Here.

05/23/2025   Panic, And How Not To - From AVweb - "Losing focus in an emergency likely will make it worse. Training and practicing emergencies build confidence If you ask a pilot, “Have you ever panicked while flying?” and they respond, “No,” watch them closely. They’ll probably lie to you about other things, too. Speaking for myself, the times I experienced panic were a little more, uh, “justified,” maybe, and they hit me right quick. - Just what is this thing called “panic?” What happens if you do panic? And how can you not panic to start with? - Even Famous Pilots Panic - Let’s look at a famous pilot who panicked. This was back before he was famous, in the 1800s. - The young, still-learning “cub” steamboat pilot was Samuel Clemens. Perhaps you’ve heard of him. Yes, Mark Twain. - Twain’s pilot boss played a trick on him to teach him a lesson on how to overcome panic. He conspired with..." Read Story and Lesson Here

05/15/2025    Overrun Accident Traced to Pilot Fatigue, Other Factors - From AVweb - "After 18 hours of wake time, the captain activated the wrong control on landing. - A confluence of errors and misfortune characterizes the accident report from Transport Canada on a Boeing 737-800 operated by low-cost Canadian operator Flair Airlines. There were no injuries among the 140 on board after the aircraft departed the runway on landing at Waterloo Airport (CYKF) on Nov. 25, 2022. It started with the captain (who was the pilot flying) having accrued significant sleep debt over the week before the flight, which began late on Nov. 24 as an overnight “red-eye” trip. - The initial outbound flight from Waterloo departed at 8:13 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, landing at Kitchener (CYVR) at 1:18 a.m. The return flight to CYKF departed at 2:38 a.m. with 134 passengers and..."  Finish reading Here.

05/15/2025    Senator Urges Caution With Auctioning Frequencies - Radio altimeters and other vital avionics could be at risk. - From AVweb - "...Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, sent a letter (posted below) to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy concerning risks to aviation safety related to possible auctioning by the Department of Defense (DoD) of federal spectrum bands that could compromise frequencies vital to the National Airspace System (NAS). - The senator’s concerns included several spectrums up for possible auction, including the “upper C-Band,” which is close to the frequencies used by aircraft radio altimeters. Current radio altimeters are not certified to operate with high-power emissions at such proximity on the spectrum. According to the Senate committee statement, “[A]viation industry and government studies have shown these emissions would compromise the safe functioning of these systems.”  Continue Here.

05/11/2025   Flying over water - A little prep goes a long way - How to do it! - "Some of the best flying destinations on the planet require flying over water to get there. And it can be done in a safe and sane way in single-engine airplanes with some preparation. - Whether it’s a 26-mile trip to Catalina Island off the California coast, a 70-nautical mile crossing of Lake Michigan on the way to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, a 300-mile flight from Florida to the “out islands” of the Bahamas, or a 1,000-nautical-mile trek to Puerto Rico, flying over water really is different."  Continue Here.

05/11/2025   InFO 25004, Transition from Outside the Contiguous United States (OCONUS) Text Area Forecasts (FA) to the Graphical Forecasts for Aviation (GFA), is now published. - This InFO provides information on changes to National Weather Service (NWS) FAs and details on how to access and use the GFA. - The InFO can be viewed by downloading the attached .pdf files or by clicking on the following link,
https://www.faa.gov/other_visit/aviation_industry/airline_operators/airline_safety/info/all_infos/

Or, Click or Tap: InFO25004.pdf

05/11/2025   Special Airworthiness Information Bulletins (SAIB) - 2025-04.pdf - Issued. Supported by  EAGLE that has called on pilots to report unleaded experience - Coalition seeks to help FAA validate safe options -  Unleaded fuel usage sought.  Details Here.

05/11/2025   AIRMAN TESTING (issued 4/29/2025)  - The April ATCA is now available on the Airman Testing webpage.

05/11/2025   Mexico Customs Tighten Rules for Travelers, Flight Crews - From AIN - "Stricter enforcement affects private aviation crews - Travelers and flight crews flying to Mexico will encounter stricter customs regulations for laptops and tablets, as well as vaping devices and prescription drugs, according to flight information provider OpsGroup. In a recent report, it warned, “OpsGroup advises flight crews and passengers to be especially cautious when transporting items such as prescription drugs or electronic devices, and to decline handling unknown goods.” -- Mexico customs enforcement has expanded to cover electronic cigarettes and vapes. As of January 17, these items have been banned from import, sale, and use in Mexico. Possession may result in fines of more than $1,000 or potential criminal charges for multiple devices. - Additionally, customs officials are enforcing a one-device limit per traveler for laptops and tablets. Exceeding the limit can result in a 19% import tax, with no exemptions for crewmembers or electronic flight bags."  Continue Here.

05/11/2025   FAA airport grant assurance changes include protection for 100LL - From AOPA - The FAA is standing up for 100LL. The agency posted a notice in the Federal Register regarding several changes to airport grant assurances, including the addition of Grant Assurance 40, which mandates the availability of 100LL fuel through 2030 or a possible earlier date when an FAA-authorized unleaded replacement fuel becomes available. Read More About this Here.

05/11/2025   What Happens When Autopilots Fail? - From FLYING - "Accidents can occur if workload exceeds an aviator's capacity. - On July 26, 2024, about 1:04 p.m. MDT, a Pilatus PC-12/47E was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Recluse, Wyoming. The pilot and six passengers were killed. - Before the crash, the pilot reported to Salt Lake City Center the loss of the autopilot and declared an emergency. The pilot then advised he was trying to get control of the airplane, and the controller asked if he needed additional assistance. There was no further response from the pilot." Finish reading Here.

05/11/2025   Business Aviation Insider: Safety Issue  - "The 2025 May/June Safety Issue of Business Aviation Insider is now available, including a cover story with critical insights gained from a trio of fatal business aircraft accidents. This edition of BAI also offers helpful guidance for pilots about setting personal minimums. In another feature article, experts share possibly lifesaving tips on fighting inflight cabin fires."

05/11/2025   Ask the A&Ps Ep. 45 – Electrical gremlins - From AOPA Podcasts - "Our experts probe an electrical mystery, help pick an appropriate tire and debate shutting down one of an Aerostar's engines for training. - Full Story: YouTube (3/19) 

05/11/2025   In too deep - From AOPA - VIDEO - Accident Case Study - "A noninstrument-rated private pilot erred into instrument conditions, with tragic consequences. Continue"

05/11/2025   Brush up on light gun signals - From AOPA - "What do you do if you lose your radio near a towered airport? Review light gun signals with this printable card and keep it in your flight bag for reference."

05/08/2025   New FAA Safety Briefing available: Weather Tech and Automation - Notice Number: NOTC4400 - Read the Latest Issue!

Weather Tech and Automation - The May/June 2025 issue of FAA Safety Briefing magazine focuses on the variety of tools and technology pilots use to safely avoid and mitigate risk during flight.

Feature articles cover some of the FAA’s latest weather research work and programs and provide important tips on how to properly “tame” your technology. We also explore the many benefits of participating in the annual GA and Part 135 Activity Survey.

  • Feature Articles

The Foundation of Forecasting - How FAA Research Has Helped Redefine Access to Weather Technology

Giving Color to Aviation Safety - New Graphics Enhancements Debut on 1800WxBrief.com

The Dangers of Overreliance on Automation - Safety Concerns and Mitigation Strategies for Pilots

Just in Time Weather - Using Technology to Help Navigate Fickle Flight Weather

Appraising Aviation Activity - How the GA Survey is Making Your Voice Heard

  • Departments

Taming Technology - Jumpseat: an executive policy perspective

Building the Right Team - Aeromedical Advisory: a checkup on all things aeromedical

Outside Your Comfort Zone? - Checklist: FAA resources and safety reminders

The Fast Pass for Drones - Drone Debrief: drone safety roundup

The Care and Keeping of Batteries - Nuts, Bolts, and Electrons: GA maintenance issues

Weather or Not - Vertically Speaking: safety issues for rotorcraft pilots

On the Upgrade - On Final: an editor’s perspective

James Kenney, FAA's Flight Technologies and Procedures Division - Faces: FAA employee profile

DOWNLOAD the MAGAZINE HERE

 

05/07/2025   In-Flight Abnormal Bell 206L Vertical Vibrations - Notice Number: NOTC4399 - The FAA has received reports of severe vertical vibrations occurring during flight on Bell 206L series (L, L-1, L-3, L-4) helicopters and is investigating the concern. The FAA is aware of at least one event where continued vibration resulted in substantial damage to the helicopter’s tail boom, but the aircraft was able to land safely. To assist in the FAA’s investigation, the FAA is interested in receiving any information from operators on occurrences of abnormal in-flight vertical vibrations on the Bell 206L series helicopters, including the conditions/configurations of the helicopter at the time of the event. - To read the Airworthiness Concern Sheet select this link:  -  https://www.faasafety.gov/files/notices/2025/May/FAA_ACS_-_206L_Series_Vertical_Vibration.pdf

For questions or to provide feedback please contact:

James Guo, Aviation Safety Engineer
AIR-772
3960 Paramount Blvd, Suite 100
Lakewood, CA 90712
562-627-5357 james.guo@faa.gov

05/07/2025   Going Below Minimums - From AVweb - "You break out at minimums, see the runway, and think you’ve got the landing made. Really? Are you sure you’ve thought all this through? - Operations below minimums on an instrument approach can be quite simple if the ceilings and visibilities are significantly above minimums. But when the chips are down along with the ceilings and visibilities, things aren’t quite so simple. Let’s take a deep dive into what it takes to get an airplane on the ground after a successful instrument approach."  More Here.

05/07/2025   Colorado Addresses Mountain Flying Challenges - From  AVweb - "Unique character of mountain passes leads to selecting safe waypoints. - ...Also, the effort in Colorado focused on the safest and most widely used routes through the mountains rather than the more difficult and dangerous areas. Pilots are trained and advised to avoid those more challenging routes in the name of safety."  Continue Here.

05/06/2025   How to Buy an Aircraft Safely - From FLYING - "So, I did a search of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) database using phrases such as "recently purchased," and sure enough, I found a boatload of accident reports. So many in fact that I created a presentation that I gave several times called, "How to Buy an Airplane and Not Crash on the Way Home."  -

  • "27 percent involved experimental aircraft.
  • 25 percent were stalls that occurred either during takeoff or landing.
  • 23 percent occurred on the first flight, often on a long trip to bring the aircraft home.
  • 18 percent involved mechanical difficulties.
  • 15 percent occurred at night.
  • 15 percent had a CFI on board.
  • 15 percent were weather related...."  More categories to follow.

Read this summary of the best practices to consider and those if accepted would have kept several buyers alive.  Read it Here.

05/05/2025   Helicopter Pilot Ghosts Tower, Disrupts DC Airspace (ANOTHER ONE!) - From Captain Steeve - "On May 1st in Washington D.C., a helicopter pilot operating as Pat 23 failed to check in with the control tower after landing — causing serious confusion in the airspace and forcing two separate go-arounds at the airport. In this video, Captain Steeeve breaks down the event, explains what went wrong, and why radio discipline is non-negotiable in controlled airspace. - With lives in the sky and coordination on the line, this wasn’t just a communication error — it was a complete breakdown of basic aviation protocol. Captain Steeeve doesn’t hold back in his critique of the helicopter pilots involved. - Watch to learn how a single missed call can unravel airport operations — and what every pilot should take from this." - Helicopter Pilot Ghosts Tower, Disrupts DC Airspace

05/05/2025   Loose Screw May Have Led To Rob Holland Crash - From AVweb - "A modification of Holland’s aircraft may have played a role in his fatal April 24 crash.- A loose screw on a customized elevator counterweight receptacle may have led to the crash that killed airshow legend Rob Holland a week ago. The NTSB issued a preliminary report on the crash that occurred at Langley Air Force Base on April 24 and noted the screw, which Holland used to adjust the amount of weight to alter control feel of the MXS depending on the kind of routine he intended to fly. The screw was found about 10 feet from the wreckage and had red paint on it, suggesting it..."   Read More Here.

05/04/2025   Margins of Safety: Low Altitude Maneuvering - VIDEO - From AOPA - "Made possible by the Tom Davis Fund. Description: Maneuvering an aircraft at low altitude is something we do on every flight, without giving it much thought. While it’s not much different than maneuvering at altitude, the slow speed and low altitude decrease the margins for error. In this video, we’ll talk about how to safely maneuver aircraft down low."  Watch it Here.

05/04/2025   NTSB probing aborted landings at Reagan National Airport prompted by nearby Army helicopter - From CNN - "The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the aborted landings of two commercial flights approaching Reagan National Airport on Thursday as a US Army Black Hawk helicopter was approaching the Pentagon nearby. - Helicopters near the airport have been under intense scrutiny since the January 29 midair collision of American Airlines Flight 5342 and an Army helicopter from the same unit. The crash killed 67 people.

The Federal Aviation Administration, which is also investigating, said air traffic controllers instructed Delta flight 1671 and Republic flight 5825 “to perform go-arounds at the Reagan Washington National Airport due to a Priority Air Transport helicopter inbound to the Pentagon Army Heliport” around 2:30 p.m. ET on Thursday. - In a statement, US Army spokesperson Capt. Victoria Goldfedib said, “A UH-60 Blackhawk was directed by Pentagon Air Traffic Control to conduct a ‘go-around,’ overflying the Pentagon helipad in accordance with approved flight procedures. As a result, DCA Air Traffic Control issued a ‘go-around’ to two civil fixed wing aircraft to ensure the appropriate deconfliction of airspace.”   Continue Here.

05/03/2025   Ask the A&Ps Ep. 45 – Electrical gremlins - VIDEO - From AOPA/Savvy Aviation - "Electronics are a mystery to many pilots and mechanics. Mike, Paul, and Colleen try to help an owner solve his charging issue. Plus, tire ply ratings, engine shutdown in training, and oil coolers." - Watch it and Learn Here.

05/03/2025   FROM THE ARCHIVES | The Terrible Truth About Wire Strikes (1995) - VIDEO - From ASI - "Pulled from the AOPA Air Safety Institute archives, this VHS provides great tips for seeing and avoiding towers and wires which are still relevant today. Original Press Release from 1995: ASF Produces New Training Video on Avoiding Wire Strikes The AOPA Air Safety Foundation has produced a new video to teach pilots how to avoid wire strikes. The Terrible Truth about Wire Strikes debunks many misconceptions about these accidents."  Watch the presentation Here.

05/03/2025   Training and Safety Tip: Wind is relative - From AOPA - "Your aircraft is not a bloodhound: Its nose often doesn’t point in the direction of flight—which is super important when it comes to understanding relative wind, a component of stall theory. -Relative wind is defined in the FAA’s Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge as the “direction of the airflow produced by an object moving through the air,” which “flows in a direction parallel with and opposite to the direction of flight.” - "That can be hard to picture, so let me illustrate that for you. Imagine yourself sitting on the wing of a glider on the ground, soaking in some rays on a calm day. There’s not a breath of wind. But..."  Learn about what might save your life Here.

05/03/2025   House introduces ATC modernization proposal - From AOPA - "Much needed downpayment’ to begin updating our nation’s air traffic system - The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee introduced a proposal on April 29, that would provide billions of dollars to jump-start the modernization of the U.S. air traffic control system.- Under the proposal, more than half of the money would go to replacing outdated communications and radar systems. It also includes significant money for refurbishing airport tower and terminal radar facilities, recapitalizing air route traffic control centers, as well as $1 billion for expanding recruitment, retention, and training of air traffic controllers."  Continue Here.

05/01/2025   FAA recently added the following to the Draft Airports Advisory Circulars page on the FAA website: DRAFT AC 150/5370-10J, Standards for Specifying Construction of Airfields - This AC includes guide specifications related to materials and methods used for construction on airports. These guide specifications need to be edited for use on individual projects. Items covered in this AC include general provisions, earthwork, flexible base courses, rigid base courses, flexible surface courses, rigid pavement, fencing, drainage, turf, and lighting installation. - Comments are requested by June 13, 2025. Please visit the page to access the draft AC and read procedures for submitting comments.

05/01/2025   Runway Safety from AOPA  -  A Page filled with Runway Safety Online Courses, Videos, and Quizes, and More!  Take a look! Click Here.

04/30/2025   GPS facilitates ocean rescue - From AOPA - Swimming pilot, passenger located quickly - A Canadian pilot hired to fly an ocean wildlife survey off the coast of the Baja peninsula in Mexico was rescued April 18 with his passenger just a little more than two hours after ditching their Cessna 182 a few miles from shore. - MacDonald reported on Facebook the aircraft sank “like a lawn dart” minutes after they ditched, taking with it the life raft stowed in the cargo compartment, along with his passport and other documents. He found his logbook floating..."  Read More about this ditching story Here.

04/30/2025

FAA Space Report
April 30, 2025

FAA Approves More SpaceX Falcon 9 Operations from California

In November 2024, the Department of the Air Force issued a Final Environmental Assessment (EA) that analyzed an increase in SpaceX Falcon 9 operations from Vandenburg Space Force Base in California from 36 up to 50 per year.

In March 2025, the FAA adopted the Air Force’s Final EA and independently issued a Finding of No Significant Impact/Record of Decision. As a result, SpaceX’s current FAA-issued vehicle operator license is modified and authorizes the increased number of operations.

Read the FAA environmental documents.

New Dates: Environmental Review for SpaceX Falcon 9 Operations from Florida

The FAA previously issued a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) that analyzed SpaceX’s proposal to increase Falcon 9 operations from 50 up to 120 per year from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Space Launch Complex 40 in Florida. The draft EA also reviews the construction of a first-stage booster landing zone at the site with up to 34 landings per year.

Due to technical difficulties associated with a nationwide Zoom platform outage, the virtual public meeting scheduled for April 16, 2025, was cancelled. The new virtual meeting date is scheduled for May 8, 2025. In addition, the public comment period is extended and will close on May 15, 2025.

Registration is required to join the virtual public meeting. Those who registered for the cancelled meeting must re-register. Learn about registration, meeting and other details.

FAA Receives Part 460 Commercial Human Spaceflight Recommendations Report

In early April, the FAA received the final recommendations report from the Part 460 aerospace rulemaking committee that examined possible future commercial human spaceflight occupant safety regulations. The FAA plans to post the report after a comprehensive review.

Congress has limited the FAA's authority in specific ways regarding commercial human spaceflight safety. Under federal law, the FAA is prohibited from regulating the safety of individuals on board. This legislative "moratorium", originally established in 2004, and extended multiple times, is set to expire January 1, 2028.

Learn more about the FAA and commercial human spaceflight safety.

Learn about the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport

The Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport in Virginia is in the FAA Spaceport Spotlight. This series focuses on the unique capabilities of FAA-licensed spaceports. From launch and reentry sites to aerospace research, testing and technology centers, no two spaceports are the same.

04/30/2025   Deicing Omission Led To Embraer Phenom 300 Crash in Utah - From AIN - "Pilot didn't obtain deicing services or properly inspect wing surfaces, says safety agency - The pilot’s failure to deice an Embraer Phenom 300 and activate the aircraft’s wing and stabilizer anti-ice system led to an aerodynamic stall and fatal crash seconds after takeoff from Utah's Provo Airport (KPVU) on Jan. 2, 2023, according to the NTSB’s final report. The pilot flying, who held an airline transport pilot certificate, was killed. Two of the three passengers were seriously injured and one sustained minor injuries. -According to witnesses, the twinjet had..."   Continue Here.  -  Webmaster Note:  Don't let this happen to you!

04/30/2025    FAA Mandates 100LL Availability For Airport Improvement Program - From AVweb - "The FAA is proposing updates to its Airport Improvement Program grant assurances, including a new requirement that federally funded airports continue offering 100LL fuel." Continue Here.

04/30/2025    What Bizav Operators Should Know Before Flying to Canada - From Business Aviation Insider - "For business aircraft operators, a seamless trip to Canada includes researching the latest regulatory changes, making sure passengers and crew have all necessary documents and taking advantage of the country’s business aircraft entry program. - Although U.S. crews and operators should already be familiar with CANPASS, it’s important for everyone to be aware of this valuable program that enables business aircraft to clear customs and immigration quickly and securely at many ports of entry. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) program is restricted to aircraft carrying 15 or fewer people. - Applying for a CANPASS corporate card costs..."  More Here.

04/29/2025   FAA Calls for Continued Avgas in AIP Grant Assurances - From AIN - "FAA made several updates to its AIP grant assurances, including on DEI as well as avgas - The FAA is updating its Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grant assurances to incorporate mandates included in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, including a requirement surrounding the availability of 100-octane low lead (100LL) aviation gasoline through Dec. 31, 2030. The updates also eliminate several stipulations surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion and sustainability efforts, and instead reflect a series of new executive orders on those issues.  -  Modifications to the program took effect with a notice published in the April 25 Federal Register to expedite processing of fiscal year 2025 grants, the agency said. However, the FAA will still accept comments on the updates through May 9. “If necessary, in response to comments received, the FAA will consider appropriate revisions to these grant assurance modifications,” the agency added."  Continue Here.

04/26/2025   SAFO 25001, Risks Associated with Visual Approaches, is now published. - FAA - This SAFO reminds air carrier operators and pilots of risks associated with visual approaches. - The SAFO can be viewed by downloading the following .pdf file

04/26/2025   The Evolution of ATIS - From International Airport Review - "Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS) is a crucial component in modern aviation, delivering continuous, up-to-date essential airport and weather information to pilots."  ATIS fully explained Here.

04/26/2025   A Survivor’s Guide to Overseas AOG Emergencies - From Business Insider - "Dealing with an overseas aircraft-on-ground emergency comes with a mind-boggling number of potential pitfalls. Experts share their best practices for preventing a bad situation from getting worse. " Read about solutions Here.

04/23/2025   ADS-B Enforcement: Avoid It With A PAPR - From AVweb/Aviation Consumer - "An FAA Public ADS-B Performance Report is an easy way to know if your system is airspace compliant. This article originally appeared in Aviation Consumer Magazine. - When ADS-B Out became mandatory in some airspaces in 2020, I just assumed my aircraft was fully compliant. After all, it’s equipped with a modern Garmin avionics suite: a G500 PFD/MFD, GTN 750 and GTN 650 navigators and importantly—a GTX 33ES remote ADS-B transponder. Good to go, right? Apparently not. - A single radio call from Denver Center telling me they weren’t receiving my ADS-B Out data sent me spiraling down a rabbit hole of research, phone calls and unexpected lessons. Spoiler alert: Even the most advanced setups can fail compliance."  Learn what you might do Here.

04/22/2025    FAA To Roll Out More Reliable Notam Service in September - From AIN - "Service will be housed on the cloud with more flexibility and resiliency - The FAA is moving up the deployment of a modernized notam service to September. Internally targeted for the end of the year, the agency had used an accelerated schedule to shave off time for the new architecture to come online." - “A major notam system outage in January 2023 highlighted the fragility of the system and the need to speed up the modernization,” the FAA noted in announcing plans for deployment. That outage led to the passage of the Notam Improvement Act of 2023, which called on the FAA to implement..."  Find out More Here.

04/22/2025   Stabilized Approaches - FAAST - One of the most effective ways to prevent becoming a statistic is to GO AROUND if something is not right. If you choose to continue with an unstabilized approach, you risk landing too high, too fast, out of alignment with the runway centerline, or otherwise being unprepared for landing.  Read More Here  -  #FlySafe Printable Fact Sheet Archive  -   #FlySafe Topic Archive on Blog

04/20/2025   Engine Failure in IMC - Real Pilot Story - From AOPA - VIDEO "It was a perfect day for instrument approaches—but the engine wasn't up to the task. Would the pilot be able to find a field? Would the airplane shake itself to pieces before he did?" Watch it Here.

04/20/2025   Ask ATC: Why talk to ATC if I don't have to? - From AOPA - VIDEO - "In this new episode of "Ask ATC" listen to air traffic controllers' takes on why we as pilots should talk to ATC even when we don’t have to."  Watch the Video Here.

04/20/2025   Hazardous Attitudes - Accident Case Study- An AOPA Training presentation - "Join the AOPA Air Safety Institute as we follow the flight that four minutes after departure encounters instrument meteorological conditions—weather air traffic control had warned the pilot about." Learn More Here.

04/16/2025   FAA Drone Detection Testing - The FAA will conduct drone-detection testing in Cape May, New Jersey, between April 14-25.

The FAA’s Center of Excellence for UAS Research (ASSURE) will conduct the testing. The Delaware River Bay Authority Police and other local first responders will also participate.

The FAA will operate several large drones and more than 100 commercial off-the-shelf drones during the two-week period. Testing will take place over the water and near the Cape May Ferry Terminal during the daytime on weekdays only. The public should not fly recreational drones near this area during the test period.

The agency has been testing drone detection technologies at airports over the last few years and is expanding testing to off-airport locations. These tests will help determine the effectiveness of these technologies and whether they might interfere with FAA or aircraft navigation systems.

The FAA conducted the first of these off-airport tests in Alaska and will conduct additional testing in New Mexico, North Dakota and Mississippi later this year.  The FAA will provide b-roll next week.

      Additional Background - The FAA receives more than 100 drone-sighting reports near airports each month, and we want to send a clear message that operating drones around airplanes, helicopters, and airports is dangerous and illegal. 

On March 16, 2023, the FAA chartered the UAS Detection and Mitigation Systems Aviation Rulemaking Committee to advise the agency on safely integrating drone detection and mitigation systems. The ARC made 46 recommendations on ensuring systems do not interfere with the safe and efficient operation of the National Airspace System. We have incorporated many of the recommendations into our work to safely integrate them.

04/13/2025   For the Bell 206L crash in the Hudson River, there is the growing consensus the initial cause is “mast bumping,” The question is, what type of situation would cause a mast bump? Here’s some examples:

  • Turbulence
  • Control system failure
  • Engine mount failure
  • Tail rotor failure
  • Collision with an object (bird, drone, etc.)
  • Maneuvers that would cause near zero “G” effect to the semi rigid teetering rotor system
I’m a very firm supporter that investigations are to be studied by and solved by the professionals at the NTSB. They are the final authority on the cause of an accident.
Since I am unable to specifically find the referenced security camera video at the beginning of the following YouTube video. I’m posting it only to show the flight path of the Bell 206L up to the point of disintegration.
Please note the accompanied “video” of the Hudson river with the recorded ATC radio transmissions are CGI generated. Not an actual aerial video of the area in question. I confirmed this by rewatching the video on a 45” 4K LCD screen.
To SCAUWG.ORG From Wayne S.

 

04/13/2025   Mast Bumping - Causes and Prevention, Sent to SCAUWG.ORG by Wayne S. - U.S. Army, NTIS AVA11345VNB1, 1982 - This video will help Army pilots identify the warning signs of mast bumping and move to correct them before a bump occurs. Mast Bumping - Causes and Prevention

 

 

 

04/09/2025   GAMI UL100 UPDATE - A short YouTube Video  posted by Blancolirio - Webmaster Note:  The video depicts data that SCAUWG.ORG has not verified. You are reminded to check with your professional advisor for comment.  See the VIDEO Here.

< Cirrus Nose Wheel Part

 

04/08/2025   LAX AREA TRANSITION ROUTES - Announced today is that the Banner Tow Route offshore from LAX LOAs have been cancelled.  The offshore Helicopter Shoreline Transition, in use only when winds are from the west, will remain in place, but the Mini Route will not be available do to understaffing in the Tower cab.  The Mini Route will remain charted so that in the event of proper tower staffing it can be resumed. The last change will be the Sepulveda Route going from 1500 feet to 2500 feet.  The intent is to move the transition to a less congested area. The date of this change is still upcoming. - For more Airspace notes please see AIRSPACE on the Menu Task Bar.

04/07/2025   U.S. Wx Service Budget Cuts Threaten Forecasting Accuracy - From AIN - "National Weather Service is forced to curtail data-collection activities" Details Here.

04/07/2025   Notam modernization accelerating - "New distribution system expected by fall"  Learn More Here.

04/07/2025   Make sure the FAA can reach you - "AOPA offers mail notification service for applicants, certificate holders - Missing mail from the FAA can cause certificate holders—including pilots, aircraft owners, mechanics, and others—no end of headaches, including loss of privileges. A new service from AOPA will alert recipients when FAA mail arrives, including (but not limited to) notices with action deadlines tied to the mailing date." Continue Here.

04/07/2025   InFO 25002, Training for Pilots of Multi-Engine Helicopters on Simultaneous Dual-Engine Failures, is now published. - This InFO encourages operators and training providers to include simultaneous dual engine failure scenarios in both initial and recurrent ground and flight training for pilots of multi engine helicopters. -  The InFO can be viewed by downloading the attached .pdf files or by clicking on the following link,
https://www.faa.gov/other_visit/aviation_industry/airline_operators/airline_safety/info/all_infos/

04/07/2025   FAA Space Report from March 28, 2025 - Environmental Review for More SpaceX Falcon 9 Operations at Cape Canaveral

The FAA issued a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) analyzing SpaceX’s proposal to increase Falcon 9 operations from 50 up to 120 per year from Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The Draft EA also reviews the construction of a first-stage booster landing zone at the site with up to 34 landings per year. - The FAA also posted on behalf of the Department of the Air Force, a link to its Draft Finding of No Significant Impact for public comment. The FAA did this to assist the Air Force in meetings its National Environmental Policy Act requirements.  - A virtual public meeting is scheduled for April 16 and the public comment period closes on April 24.  

Part 450 became effective in March 2021 and overhauled and streamlined the commercial space launch and reentry regulations by consolidating four sections (Parts 415, 417, 431 and 435) into one. It replaces prescriptive safety requirements with performance-based requirements to provide more flexibility, allow more methods of compliance, and clear the path for innovation.

 Commercial Space Transportation Activities on Airports   - The FAA is receiving an increasing number of inquiries from private industry and airport sponsors to integrate commercial space transportation-related activities. This includes establishing commercial space launch/re-entry sites on or near airports.  - As more companies enter the market and look to existing airport facilities for operations and testing, it will become vital to understand the unique aspects of integrating commercial space activities into the airport environment.   - Airports interested in pursuing commercial space related activities including rocket engine fueling and/or testing must coordinate in advance with the local FAA Region or District Office planners and others. Learn more.   

04/07/2025   UK Investigators Want Better Whole Aircraft Parachute Placards - From AVweb - "The Air Accidents Investigations Branch says the parachute placards on this Cirrus are “barely discernible” in some conditions. - The UK's Air Accidents Investigation Branch has recommended that all aircraft with whole airframe parachutes be emblazoned with clearly visible and emphatic placards warning first responders of the potential danger inside. The recommendation came out of an investigation of a stall/spin crash last year in England in which the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS) deployed in the crash. The accident investigation resulted in the recommendation that the pilot's inexperience and lack of recency likely contributed to the fatal accident, which resulted from a bounced touch and go and go-around attempt in a flying club SR22. The pilot hadn't flown for 54 days before taking the Cirrus up for a few trips around the patch. - It was while picking through the "severely disturbed" wreckage that the investigators noticed just how inconspicuous the standard placarding on the panel over the rocket-powered parachute is. The only indication to..."  More Here

04/06/2025   LAX Flight Safety Issues:  The threat of minimal airspace separation and a resulting accident that echoes the misadventure at Reagan National, Washington D.C. has arrived here in the LA basin.  The first casualty is the Banner Tow route offshore near LAX,  The Banner Beach Transition has been flown at 150' MSL.  There is enhanced pressure on local authorities to continue the effort providing the utmost in flight safety. Future changes may be deemed warranted.

04/05/2025    Jamming: Can GPS Spoofing and we keep aviation on track? - From Air Traffic Technologies - "Spoofing is hard to spot, dangerous and here to stay, say leading experts in aircraft navigation - Incidents of GPS spoofing and jamming in or near conflict zones and other areas are on the rise and spoofing can be much more dangerous for civil aircraft operations than jamming. - Reports of GPS spoofing and jamming started in the Middle East, spread to the Black Sea region, then Eastern / Northern Europe including Finland. They are now being reported near airports in Seoul and Beijing as well as Myanmar and sporadic encounters in central Asia. - GPS spoofing can cause receivers to fail, resulting in degraded navigation capability. Since many aircraft systems receive their information from these receivers, additional failures of other critical systems such as the GPS Clock, Weather Radar, ADS-B, Terrain Warning Systems and others may follow. Getting a terrain warning flying at 40,000ft can be disconcerting, to say the least. - The flight management computer (FMC) can also receive erroneous data."  Read More.

04/05/2025   Flying to Catalina Island - AOPA VIDEO - "What does it take to fly to the Airport in the Sky? Find out how to do it safely with this AOPA Air Safety Institute video."

04/05/2025   VFR into IMC - AOPA VIDEO "VFR flight into instrument conditions is a leading cause of fatal accidents. This video re-creates one such accident and examines what we can learn."

04/05/2025    Business Aviation and the Contrail Conundrum - From NBAA - "Jet contrails are under the microscope. The industry is working to accurately predict them and find effective strategies to avoid them. - Some business jet operators flying in Europe may be required to add a new element to their flight planning and reporting documentation: impacts from contrail production. - “Starting Jan. 1, 2025, the European Union’s Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) requirements, which applies to existing U.S.-based flight departments if they have enough European flight activity to trigger compliance with the EU ETS (Emissions Trading System), will expand beyond CO2 impacts,” said Kennedy Ricci, president of 4AIR. “Their goal is to report ‘non-CO2 aviation effects,’ including your impact from contrail production to their [yearly] emissions report.” - "Although the new mandate is limited only to some business aircraft operations, it may be time for operators that fly internationally to consider approaches to mitigating contrails. - What’s Wrong With Contrails?"  Read this treatise and learn about Contrails Here.

04/05/2025    FAA Finds That Airports Can Not Prohibit the Sale of Leaded Fuel - Explained by Aviation Legal Experts KMA Zuckert LLP - "Aviation is a highly “federalized” industry. That is especially true for airports, which for capital financing are highly-reliant on the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Airport Improvement Program (AIP)– and thus are subject to the “strings” attached to AIP grants. -  The Airport Improvement Program was established in 1982, and is an essential source of funding for safety, capacity, security, and other improvements at airports. The allocation scheme for AIP grants is complex, but few of the more than 3,300 airports included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) do not routinely apply for and receive AIP grants. -  But AIP funding comes with conditions. Airports must comply with..."    You can  Finish Reading Here

04/02/2025   NTSB Smooths Accident Data Report - From AVweb - "A new accident reporting system will streamline data collection for investigations. The NTSB is making it easier for pilots to tell them all about what might be the worst day of their lives. The board has introduced a new user-friendly secure online portal to allow pilots and operators to submit data about incidents and accidents that the organization is investigating. It replaces a cumbersome fillable PDF that must be filled out and emailed to the NTSB." Find Out More Here.  More directly from the NTSB Here.

03/29/2025   FAA Registry to Withhold Aircraft Ownership Data - Notice Number: NOTC4340 - In accordance with 49 USC § 44114(b), the FAA is implementing a new process for requesting the withholding of aircraft owner information—such as name and address—from public dissemination, such as the publicly available FAA Registry website.  This change may impact how we handle and process aircraft ownership data. Please take a moment to review the current process and submission details at: Request to Withhold Aircraft Ownership Data  - If you have questions or need further assistance, please contact us at faa.aircraft.registry@faa.gov

03/28/2025   Fuel Pumps: Reliable, but Monitor - From AVweb - "In a world of pulling mags at 500 hours and turbos that last 1000, fuel pumps are a breath of reliability fresh air. So reliable, in fact, that it’s much more common for a pilot to have an engine stoppage because the pilot does not know the aircraft’s fuel system or misuses the boost/aux pump than because a pump fails.  - Pumps for moving liquids have been around for centuries, so one would expect the design and manufacture of such relatively simple devices to have been sorted out. - While most engine-driven fuel pumps are rotary pumps, just like vacuum pumps, the vanes are metal, rather than graphite, so there’s no expectation that they will come to pieces every 800 hours or so. Diaphragm fuel pumps are equally reliable.  - IS THERE A PUMP? - Whether you have to even be concerned about fuel pumps depends on..."  Read the conclusion Here.

03/28/2025   Laser Strikes on Aircraft Continue to be Dangerously High - FAA - "Pilots made nearly 13K reports in 2024; the most in California, Texas, and Florida - WASHINGTON -- Pilots reported 12,840 laser strikes to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) last year. While that is a 3 percent decrease from 2023, the numbers are still too high. -  Shining a laser at an aircraft poses a serious safety threat and is a federal crime. Lasers can incapacitate pilots, many of whom are flying airplanes with hundreds of passengers. Pilots have reported 328 injuries since the FAA began tracking laser strike reports in 2010.  - In 2024, pilots reported the highest numbers of laser strikes in the states listed  - California - 1,489 - To see the complete list and read more click/tap Here.

03/28/2025   NBAA - Most valuable stories from this month!  See them Here.

03/24/2025   Rune Aero uses Nvidia GPUs to cut virtual wind tunnel costs by 80% - From VentureBeat - "Rune Aero has revolutionized its aircraft development process using an interactive virtual wind tunnel powered by Physics AI, achieving an 80% reduction in early design costs while doubling payload capacity and cutting fuel consumption by 50%.   -   The groundbreaking digital twin technology combines Luminary Cloud’s Nvidia CUDA-X-accelerated CFD simulations with an Nvidia Omniverse Blueprint for real time computer-aided engineering digital twins. Ultimately engineers can observe aerodynamic  effects instantly as they modify designs. This transformative approach has compressed what  traditionally required months of iterative physical testing into a continuous, real-time optimization  process for the autonomous cargo aircraft startup."  Read More Here.

03/24/2025    The minutes form the March Arizona ASAG meeting (1st Class Flight Safety Information) are available Here.

Our next ASAG Zoom Meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, at 12:00 pm, MST (Arizona time). You can register in advance for the April meeting at: https://faavideo.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/iSETYNmWQkiwTPT5v_ifqw

03/22/2025   Clearing the Air: How Unleaded Aviation Fuel Is Gaining Approval - Part 3: The Role of Industry Consensus Standards in the Approval and Use of Unleaded Aviation Fuel

This is the third installment of a three-part series explaining how the next generation of unleaded aviation fuels may be authorized for use in specific engines and aircraft. The first installment covered Supplemental Type Certificates (STC) and Approved Model List (AML), while the second installment examined Fleet Authorization utilizing the Piston Aviation Fuels Initiative (PAFI). The development of a viable unleaded replacement for 100LL must address two fundamental needs: 1) FAA safety approval/authorization for operation of a new fuel in engines and aircraft and; 2) Stakeholder/marketplace understanding and confidence to produce, distribute, purchase, dispense, operate and support the use of a brand new fuel. Owner/operators must also be well-informed when choosing to use a new unleaded fuel.

In this final article, Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions (EAGLE) provides information on the critical role of industry consensus standards, such as those from ASTM International, to assist in the safe and consistent production, distribution, and use of aviation fuels.

Q: Why is a consensus-based specification for a new unleaded aviation fuel important to pilots and aircraft owners?
A consensus-based specification for a new unleaded aviation fuel undergoes a rigorous peer review of the required properties for the fuel and an assessment of which test procedures must be applied to determine if the fuel meets the requirements for its intended purpose. The specification is a governing document that is used to assess the quality of the fuel and provides assurances that it will perform in the aircraft as expected regardless of where the fuel is purchased. Industry consensus standards are developed by entities who bring together representatives and experts in a given field and provide the framework to develop proposed standards with appropriate supporting data which is then reviewed, discussed, questioned, and ultimately agreed upon by reaching consensus. If consensus is not reached, the issues are adjudicated through an established process with all members of the group having the opportunity to weigh in on the outcome.

Additionally, the consensus standards development process facilitates the understanding and acceptance of a fuel across a broad range of aviation and petroleum stakeholders.  During the development of the standard, and by reaching consensus, issues (beyond those of airworthiness considered by the FAA as part of an applicants’ STC application) are surfaced and addressed by the fuel sponsors. Examples include questions about the fuel’s fit for purpose, fuel handling and storage characteristics, and cosmetic impacts on aircraft that may not affect airworthiness but are of interest to manufacturers, maintainers, and aircraft owners.

Q: Why are consensus standards important to aviation as a whole?
Consensus standards help provide consistency in fuel quality and compatibility with existing infrastructure, facilitating a smooth transition to lead-free aviation gasoline.

There are several stakeholder organizations directly involved in making the business and financial decisions to take on the responsibility and risks of deploying a brand-new fuel. This includes decisions to produce the new fuel by bringing together petroleum and some new chemical components per the fuel production specification; distribute the new fuel by transporting via road, rail and barge infrastructure; store the new fuel at various transportation connection locations and airports; dispense the new fuel into customer GA aircraft ensuring safety and compliance for aircraft and personnel; and provide maintenance and manufacturer continued operational safety, technical and warranty support. These are marketplace decisions that must be made by several different stakeholder businesses that are not related to FAA issuance of a TC, STC, authorization or any other approval. Just as FAA must have the information necessary to determine compliance with 14CFR part 23 airplane and part 33 engine airworthiness requirements to make its approval decision, producers, distributors, fixed base operators (FBOs), airports, and engine/aircraft manufacturers require an adequate understanding of a new fuel to make business decisions on the risks of deployment.

Without consensus standards, each company in the supply chain would need to individually review testing data and the specifications derived from that data. This approach is costly, time-consuming, and lacks the benefits of broad industry subject matter expert peer review, input, and oversight.

A successful transition to a new unleaded fuel requires broad acceptance across the aviation and petroleum industries, relying on rigorous testing, stakeholder collaboration, and the establishment of robust specifications.

Q: How do industry consensus standards assist in fuel safety and reliability throughout production and distribution?
Fuel production, distribution, storage, and handling parameters are set by multiple consensus standards developed by a thorough analysis by leading experts. These standards, along with industry-supported consensus specifications, provide confidence in the fuel’s composition, properties, and quality throughout production, distribution, and delivery to the aircraft.

New fuels must be tested not only for engine compatibility but also for their interactions with materials used throughout the supply chain, including hoses, filters, gaskets, and other fuel system components. Materials compatibility evaluation serves as due diligence in helping to ensure that fuels do not degrade or contaminate equipment used in transportation and storage.

Consensus standards can help minimize risks for pilots, aircraft owners, airports, fuel distributors, and fixed-base operators (FBOs), and help to ensure that unleaded aviation fuels maintain their integrity from manufacture to aircraft. They also provide a framework for mitigating operational risks, so that new fuels can be used safely in both existing and newly developed fueling infrastructures.

Q: Who is ASTM International, and what role do they play in the introduction of new unleaded aviation fuels?
ASTM International, an independent, non-government organization, is a globally recognized standards development body that establishes and manages technical specifications for a wide range of products, including aviation fuels. Founded in 1898, ASTM brings together experts from various industries to create and maintain standards that ensure product quality, safety, and performance. In aviation, ASTM plays a key role in developing voluntary consensus standards for aviation fuels, including unleaded avgas, as well as motor gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuel, and biofuels.

The ASTM standard development process is a collaborative effort that includes developers, refiners, manufacturers, aircraft and engine producers, distributors, equipment makers, providers, and users. The process provides opportunities for chemists and engineers to review the data that supports either modifications to an existing standard or the development of a newly proposed standard. The review process allows for challenges to be raised and discussions to be held, facilitating the development of a standard that is relevant and technically sound with regards to fuel production, performance characteristics, and compatibility with existing aircraft and the fuel distribution infrastructure. These rigorous assessments are there so that, if the final specification is met, they will promote safe production of the fuel.

For pilots and aircraft owners, an ASTM fuel production specification —“ASTM spec”— provides assurances that modifications to an existing spec or to a proposed unleaded fuel specification have been rigorously reviewed in the context that it can be consistently manufactured and supplied to the end user. ASTM specs also help maintain fuel consistency, reduce potential maintenance issues, and protect aircraft engines from incompatibility concerns.

Q: Where else is an ASTM specification found?
Just about every fuel available for purchase today—even outside aviation—has an ASTM specification, including:

  • automobile gasoline and ethanol
  • truck diesel and biodiesel
  • home heating oil
  • kerosene
  • jet fuel
  • 100LL Avgas
  • UL94 Avgas
  • UL91 Avgas

Further, many regulatory bodies incorporate ASTM standards by reference. Read the ASTM D910-21 Standard Specification for Leaded Aviation Gasolines here.

Q: Does using the consensus standard process take longer than developing a producer developed standard?
The consensus process provides data and understanding about a fuel’s composition, performance and other important properties and specific test methods to measure those properties for peer review among subject matter experts in fuels, chemistry, test methods, production, distribution, aviation manufacturers and end users. This peer review process, combined with the ability for any stakeholder to ask questions and review additional data, provides interested stakeholders an understanding of a brand-new fuel. It also provides the opportunity to express confidence and acceptance through a voting process to adopt a new fuel production specification.

A consensus standard can take longer to complete than a producer-developed standard. There are multiple reasons for this, including:

  • The time it takes to develop a successful standard is determined largely by the sponsor’s ability to supply appropriate data to support their proposed standard and how thorough and responsive they are to addressing questions and issues raised through the balloting process.
  • Consensus requires an open and transparent discussion of the data that supports the proposed change to an existing standard or a newly proposed standard.
  • There is an adjudication process that allows an individual to raise a concern for consideration by the entire body of volunteers. If the concern is deemed relevant, it must be addressed to the satisfaction of the consensus body.

Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions (EAGLE) is a comprehensive government-industry initiative consisting of the aviation and petroleum industries and U.S. government stakeholders, and a wide range of other constituents and interested parties, all working toward the transition to lead-free aviation fuels for piston-engine aircraft by the end of 2030 without compromising the safety or economic health of the general aviation industry. To learn more, visit: https://flyEAGLE.org.

03/20/2025    -  From Feb 2025: Clearing the Air: How Unleaded Aviation Fuel Is Gaining Approval - Part 2: How Does an Unleaded Fuel Gain Approval Through the FAA Fleet Authorization Process?

This is the second installment in a three-part series explaining how the next generation of unleaded aviation fuels may be authorized for use in specific engines and aircraft. This segment focuses on the FAA’s Fleet Authorization process, developed utilizing the Piston Aviation Fuels Initiative (PAFI) along with the use of ASTM standards. The first installment (see Dec 2024 update below) covered Supplemental Type Certificates (STC) and Approved Model List STCs (AML STCs). The final installment will discuss the critical role of industry consensus standards, such as those from ASTM International, in ensuring the safe and consistent production, distribution, and use of aviation fuels.

Q: What is the FAA Fleet Authorization process, and why is it important to pilots and aircraft owners?
Pilots and aircraft owners should be aware that the Fleet Authorization process will result in the FAA, through PAFI, authorizing a qualified unleaded fuel for use in aircraft and aircraft engines. The makes and models of type certified and non-type certificated piston aircraft and aircraft engines that can safely operate with the qualified unleaded avgas will be compiled and published by the FAA in a document called the Eligible Fleet Authorization Summary Report (EFASR). EAGLE highlighted the FAA’s Fleet Authorization process in a recent Fact Sheet.

Q: How does the Fleet Authorization process work?
Under the Fleet Authorization process, the FAA collaborates with industry partners to conduct comprehensive testing of candidate unleaded fuels. This includes evaluating the fuel’s compatibility with various aircraft materials, engines, operational environments, and supply chain components. This data, along with an approved ASTM production specification, is required for a qualified replacement fuel. Once it is qualified and the EFASR is published, the FAA will issue a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) which will “identify the qualified fuel, specify the aircraft and engines eligible to use
the qualified fuel, and provide references and other information to accomplish the alteration necessary to enable the use of the fuel.” It should also be noted that type certificate applicants and holders, as well as owners/operators of non-type certificated piston-powered aircraft, may refer to the
EFASR and SAIB to determine whether the fuel can be safely used with their aircraft and engines. Owners of Special Light Sport Aircraft (SLSA) can also use the information provided to meet the operating limitations specified in 14 CFR §91.327(b)(5).

Q: What role does PAFI play in the Fleet Authorization process?
PAFI, or the Piston Aviation Fuels Initiative, is a collaboration between the FAA, industry stakeholders, and technical experts to identify and evaluate unleaded fuel candidates. Established in 2014, PAFI defines and executes comprehensive testing protocols to ensure that candidate fuels meet necessary safety, performance, and environmental standards. PAFI is required by the FAA to make fleet-wide authorization decisions, and it generates the technical data required to support the ASTM specification. Then, this data undergoes extensive peer review by aviation and fuel experts involved in avgas  production, distribution, storage, dispensing, operation, maintenance, and aircraft usage to ensure the fuel’s safety and reliability. The resulting data helps the marketplace determine whether approved fuels are viable not only for aircraft operation but also for long-term production and distribution.

Q: How does the Fleet Authorization process compare to the STC process?
While both the Fleet Authorization and STC processes aim to ensure safe fuel use, they differ significantly in scope and application: STC Process: The STC process requires FAA approval for each aircraft and aircraft engine model. In the STC process, fuel developers work directly with the FAA to conduct
required testing to collect data proving compatibility, safety, and performance for specific engines and airframes. This data is provided to the FAA for evaluation, determination of means of compliance, and authorization to approve the unleaded fuel for the requested aircraft and engines. Aircraft and engines each require their own STC. Once the fuel is authorized by the FAA, aircraft owners must then purchase the approved STC and work with a certificated mechanic to implement the required modifications. Fleet Authorization Process: As stated above, the FAA, through PAFI, collaborates with
industry partners to conduct comprehensive testing of candidate unleaded fuels. This includes evaluating the fuel’s compatibility with various aircraft materials, engines, operational environments, and supply chain components. This data, along with an approved ASTM production specification for the unleaded fuel, is required to have a qualified replacement fuel. Once there is a qualified replacement fuel and the EFASR is published, the FAA will issue a SAIB which will “identify the qualified fuel, specify the aircraft and engines eligible to use the qualified fuel, and provide references and other information to accomplish the alteration necessary to enable the use of the fuel.” This process may also require engine and other modifications to the aircraft.

Q: Is there information available regarding the PAFI test plans, including engines, airframes, and materials that will be tested?
Yes, this information is available at: https://flyeagle.org/resources/

Stay tuned for Part 3, where we will explore the role of industry consensus standards, such as those from ASTM International, in ensuring the safe, consistent production, distribution, and use of unleaded aviation fuels.

Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions (EAGLE) is a comprehensive government-industry initiative involving the aviation and petroleum industries, U.S. government stakeholders, and a wide range of other constituents and interested parties. Together, they are working toward the transition to lead-free aviation fuels for piston-engine aircraft by the end of 2030, without compromising the safety or economic health of the general aviation industry. To learn more, visit: https://flyEAGLE.org.

03/20/2025   Borescope Initiative: Savvy’s Latest Program - From AVweb - "Savvy Aviation’s successful program that tracks digital engine monitor data to predict engine problems now includes borescope imagery. This story originally appeared in Aviation Consumer Magazine in December 2023. -  Exhaust Valve Damage - In 2021 Savvy introduced an outgrowth of its engine analysis program called Failing Exhaust Valve Analytics (FEVA) based on scanning engine monitor data from more than 3,000,000 piston-engine aircraft flights to detect evidence of a burned exhaust valve. Savvy would then warn the aircraft owner that FEVA had found evidence of a burned exhaust valve and recommend a borescope inspection. - Engine Failures - In our opinion, FEVA has prevented engine failures by alerting owners to potential exhaust valve damage, leading those owners to borescope cylinders, detect burned exhaust valves and take appropriate action before things got truly ugly."  Read the entire very educational story Here.

03/20/2025   NATA on MODERNIZATION OF FLIGHT SCHOOLS - "On behalf of the University Aviation Association (UAA) and the National Air Transportation Association (NATA), hereinafter “the Associations,” we submit recommendations for modernizing 14 CFR Part 141 flight training regulations to enhance training efficiency, safety, and industry alignment".  -  "The Associations’ recommendations align with industry best practices and industry-supported efforts to enhance training and safety. UAA and NATA endorse comments submitted by the Aviation-Impacted Communities Alliance (AICA), Save Our Skies Alliance, and Groton Ayer Buzz (Comment ID FAA-FAA 2024-2531-0004) and the City of Phoenix Aviation Department (Comment ID FAA-2024-2531-0003)."  Read the Entire Document sent to the FAA Here.

03/20/2025   Worn Fuel Primer Pumps Lead to Loss of Engine Events on General Aviation Aircraft - Notice Number: NOTC4328 - The FAA is investigating a report of a worn fuel primer pump that may be installed in general aviation aircraft following a non-fatal accident on a Champion 7EC Traveler. During the initial takeoff climb, the pilot noticed a significant decrease in the engine rpm and lost full engine power shortly after. It was determined that the fuel primer pump in the accident was worn and unable to lock properly causing an overly rich fuel mixture. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and the fuselage. - To view the Airworthiness Concern Sheet select this link:  https://www.faasafety.gov/files/notices/2025/Mar/FAA_ACS_-_7EC_Fuel_Primer_Pump.pdf

03/16/2025   House prioritizes ATC modernization, staffing; dismisses privatization - Industry coalition called privatization a 'distraction' from needed changes in February letter - The House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure held a hearing March 4 focused on modernizing air traffic control equipment and hiring more controllers, while dismissing calls for privatizing ATC services. - Aligning with AOPA’s longstanding objection to privatizing the ATC system, representatives from the aviation industry and members of Congress suggested that the privatization debate must be put aside to make progress on modernization and hiring. - In February, a coalition of 34 aviation industry organizations, including AOPA, told members of Congress in a letter that privatization would be “a distraction from these needed investments and reforms.”  More Here.

03/16/2025    PIREPs Made Easy - GO BEYOND THE TEXTBOOK WITH THIS SKYSPOTTER SAFETY SPOTLIGHT  (Course) - From AOPA - "Pilot reports (PIREPs) are invaluable in the weather decision-making process. Not only do PIREPs provide pilots a clear snapshot of the actual weather aloft, but they also help air traffic control and improve weather forecasting products. For example, ATC uses PIREPs to re-route traffic and forecasters use them to validate weather reports and to issue, cancel, or change sigmets. So, you can see why we need your help to create more PIREPs! - Do you appreciate getting a PIREP but feel uneasy to provide one? Or are you unsure how to interpret a PIREP? Brush up on the basics so you don’t have to hold back; here’s how this spotlight will help." You'll review everything "Pirep" and you'll get a certificate of completion at Course end.  Details Here.

03/16/2025   Aircraft Maintenance: Understanding aviation greases - "Aviation greases are a mystery to many aircraft owners. However, using the correct grease can make the difference between a component lasting the life of the aircraft, or failing after just a few flights. - Aviation greases are semisolid lubricants designed to provide lubrication, block moisture penetration, and protect against corrosion. Grease’s most powerful property is its ability to stick to surfaces, resist evaporation, and withstand the elements. This is particularly advantageous for the various hinges, bearings, and bushings on aircraft, which have no oil flow or constant lubrication replenishment. - Although you might think of greases and oils as unrelated substances, they are actually just different versions of the same thing. Grease works by suspending a base oil in a thickening agent that holds the oil in suspension, like a sponge. Apply pressure or friction and the oil will seep out of the thickening agent, lubricating the part. The thickening agent acts as the reservoir and delivery mechanism, providing a time-release supply of lubricating oil to the mechanism."  Continue Here.

03/16/2025   Sheriff’s Department Deploys Drones To Patrol Eaton Fire Burn Areas - From Pasadena Now 2/10/25 - "Enhanced aerial surveillance system launches in fire-affected zones - The Altadena Sheriff’s Station, along with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Special Enforcement Bureau, is deploying drones in County areas affected by the Eaton Fire, according to official Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department communications. - The Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Bureau authorizes all unmanned aircraft system (UAS) deployments for the Department. These drones are restricted to emergency missions including fire response, search/rescue, and barricaded suspects. - Operating under Federal Aviation Administration visual line-of-sight requirements, the drones fly below 400 feet altitude and are equipped with non-recording cameras by default, with no payload capacity beyond sensors."  Continue Here.

03/16/2025   Lost Elevator - Real Pilot Story - VIDEO - From AOPA - Sometimes, we must make deliberate choices that may seem drastic but won’t jeopardize our health. Flying the airplane into the crash under control and having the fuselage absorb the subsequent impact is one such choice. - See it Here

03/16/2025   AOPA WISDOM -a well-produced SAFETY VIDEO. - From AOPA -

   Pilot Safety Announcement: Would you fly this airline?
   What if the airlines handled fuel management the way some general aviation pilots do? How would you feel if you were on this flight?
   WATCH NOW>>
 
03/15/2025   FAA Statement on NTSB Recommendations for DCA - Friday, March 14, 2025 - The FAA is taking a series of steps to improve safety around Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) that follows the NTSB’s recommendations. These include:
  • Permanently restricting non-essential helicopter operations around DCA and eliminating helicopter and fixed-wing mixed traffic.
  • Permanently closing Route 4 between Hains Point and the Wilson Bridge and evaluating alternative helicopter routes as recommended by the NTSB.
  • If a helicopter must fly through the airspace on an urgent mission, such as lifesaving medical, priority law enforcement, or Presidential transport, the FAA will keep them specific distances away from airplanes.
  • Prohibiting the simultaneous use of Runways 15/33 and 4/22 when helicopters conducting urgent missions are operating near DCA.
  • Limiting the use of visual separation to certain Coast Guard, Marine and Park Police helicopter operations outside the restricted airspace.

The FAA will continue to closely support the NTSB-led investigation and take action as necessary to ensure public safety.

Addressing Safety Risk at Other Airports

The FAA is continuing its analysis of airports that have high volumes of mixed traffic. That includes an assessment of the eight cities where we have charted helicopter routes. These cities are Boston, New York, the Baltimore-Washington area, Detroit, Chicago, Dallas, Houston and Los Angeles, some of which have multiple airports. The FAA is also assessing the U.S. Gulf Coast, including offshore helicopter operations. The FAA will have corrective action plans for any risks that are identified.  -  To make us more predictive, we are using machine learning and language modeling to scan incident reports and mine multiple data sources to find themes and areas of risk.

03/15/2025   The March/April 2025 issue of FAA Safety Briefing magazine explores the value of our nation's vast array of public-use airports and their importance to the communities they serve. Articles help raise awareness of runway safety and wildlife hazards and highlight the benefits of exploring new places to land. - Download the March/April 2025 issue or use the links below to read each article online.

03/13/2025   Should You Climb to Escape Freezing Rain While Flying IFR? -  From FLYING "Whether or not you should depends on the situation. -  Answer: It’s a common misconception that you should always climb when encountering freezing rain. Most pilots are trained that freezing rain occurs when snow is falling through a cold cloud and melts completely as it encounters a temperature warmer than 0 degrees Celsius (C), turning it into rain (this is usually courtesy of a temperature inversion or what meteorologists call a warm nose). Then, those raindrops..."  Continue Here.

03/12/2025   NTSB Report and Discussion re" DC Accident - Click Here.

03/08/2025   Elevating Safety While Flying Near Conflict Zones - From NBAA Business Aviation Insider - "If business requires flight operations near international conflict zones, there are numerous smart, critical steps operators can take to maximize safety and prevent problems. -The challenges of safely navigating around conflict zones seem to be increasing every day for international operators looking to conduct business in disrupted or unstable parts of the world, particularly in places such as Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

“Navigating the airspace of the Middle East has become a major headache for international operators,” said a November 18, 2024 report by the Opsgroup community of international operators. “In recent times, the risk to civil aviation in the region has changed at a pace we have never seen before. There simply is no ‘risk-zero’ route available.”  Get the information you need Here.

03/08/2025   A Survivor’s Guide to Overseas AOG Emergencies -From NBAA Business Aviation Advisor - "Dealing with an overseas aircraft-on-ground emergency comes with a mindboggling number of potential pitfalls. Experts share their best practices for preventing a bad situation from getting worse.- When business aircraft operators face unexpected maintenance issues during trips in foreign and unfamiliar countries tensions can rise and things can get complicated very quickly. Unless your operation has a solid, proactive, plan B ready to implement, your principals could end up stranded far from home. The international aircraft-on-ground (AOG) scenario happens more often than one might think. Beware of complacent behavior, as some AOG events are self-inflicted. Maintenance experts shared several critical considerations to keep in mind that might help prevent a major international incident."  Get the Survival Guide Here

03/08/2025   How Boom Supersonic Achieved ‘Boomless Cruise’ with Its XB-1 Demonstrator Aircraft - VIDEO - From AVweb - "Boom Supersonic’s XB-1 flight demonstrator has repeatedly broken the sound barrier without generating any audible sonic booms on the ground, proving that quiet supersonic flight over land is possible. Now, more than 20 years since the retirement of the Concorde, is supersonic air travel on the verge of a resurgence?  See it Here.

03/08/2025   FAA Takes Immediate Safety Steps Following General and Business Aviation Call to Action - From FAA - "WASHINGTON - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is taking immediate action on key safety issues identified during Thursday’s General and Business Aviation Call to Action.

The agency will communicate reminders to pilots through various outlets the importance of:

The FAA also will:

  • Initiate a safety-risk analysis of close encounters between pilots flying visually and pilots flying under air traffic control.
  • Increase FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam) outreach on radio communication phraseology, NOTAMs and operations in and around highly controlled Class B airspace.
  • Continue to work with Part 135 and air tour operators to implement mandatory Safety Management Systems (SMS) to meet the implementation dates in Part 5.
  • Explore additional tools for pilots to assess operational risk and their own performance.

Additional details and information regarding informative Speakers (NATA - NBAA - & More) on this topic announced Here.

03/04/2025   FAA investigates false collision reports while landing at Reagan National Airport - From CBS -  VIDEO -"The FAA is looking into the possibility of an external interference triggering collision avoidance " - Watch the VIDEO Here.

03/02/2025   ADS-B Data Being Used ‘Outside Intended Purpose,’ GA Pilot Group Says - From FLYING - "Pilots are facing ‘frivolous lawsuits,’ airport fees, and agency investigations based on data, according to the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. - When the FAA announced the requirement for the use of Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) for GA aircraft, pilots were told this technology would increase aviation safety, as it would replace radar as the primary means for ATC to manage traffic separation.  -  Instead of having a person watch a radar scope for targets, the GPS on board and ADS-B equipment self-report the aircraft's position and lets the pilot know the whereabouts of traffic around them. And it has been doing that since its implementation in 2020. - Some pilots, however, are complaining that the FAA's use of ADS-B information is a violation of privacy.

On Tuesday Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) president and CEO Darren Pleasance sent a letter to acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau "urging the agency to halt the use of ADS-B data in ways that go beyond its original intent." Pleasance said that AOPA initially supported the FAA’s ADS-B mandate in 2020, “as we were assured ADS-B would only be used to improve air traffic safety and airspace efficiencies." Continue Here.

03/02/2025   UTAH DOT (UDOT) has published a perspective for going forward with AAM. - From Eleanor Herman, President, UAM Geomatics, Inc. - "Utah has, since its inception, been known for its pioneering heritage, resilience, and innovation, a proud heritage which continues today. With only 3.4 million residents, the state is a national leader in numerous business and community achievements. It is highly likely that the same factors that have placed Utah on the top of the “Best Of” lists will ensure that it continues its leadership role in Advanced Air Mobility. - Utahns from all walks of life will benefit from new transportation options. AAM will create thousands of new jobs, boost GDP, and increase state revenues while reducing carbon emissions. - The high-tech applications for Utah’s AAM network will energize businesses, universities, and students in technical fields. New AAM Regional Air Mobility and cargo operations will revitalize small regional airports and their communities."  Read this well-organized treatise Here.

03/01/2025   FAA Weighing Starlink Contract For ATC Upgrades - From AVweb - "The FAA may terminate its contract with Verizon and is considering SpaceX’s Starlink to upgrade air traffic control communication systems. - The Federal Aviation Administration is reportedly on the verge of terminating its $2.4 billion contract with Verizon in favor of Elon Musk's Starlink to upgrade the communication system that supports the nation’s air traffic control network."  Full Article Here.

03/01/2025    SCT Letter to a Paraglider Club   re: Paragliders crossing paths with IFR Arrivals  -  "Greetings: In 2024, the FAA Southern California TRACON (SCT) air traffic control facility responded to multiple close-proximity events involving commercial IFR aircraft and paragliders in the vicinity of San Bernardino. As part of this response, SCT published a Letter to Airmen (LTA) to educate paragliders that may operate in close proximity with IFR aircraft.

I am writing to you as part of an outreach effort to review the information in this Letter to Airmen (LTA) and to explain how arrival aircraft operate in SCT airspace.

The close proximity events occurred when these IFR arrival flights were in a critical phase of flight, as they descend below 10,000’ MSL on their assigned standard terminal arrival routes (STARs). IFR arrival aircraft are typically cleared by ATC via a STAR to their arrival airport. These STAR procedures contain mandatory altitude crossing restrictions that have been carefully designed to safely route aircraft to airports across Southern California. The airspace within SCT is complex, with airports in proximity to each other and high terrain. Southern California is densely populated, and the airspace is used by many training GA and military pilots. The FAA designs these STARs, along with associated departure routes, to be procedurally separated with altitude restrictions at certain geographical points to allow air traffic to safely and efficiently  route IFR aircraft while maintaining separation standards. - I created a graphics utilizing the information for paragliding launch and landing locations that was provided on https://crestlinesoaring.org/forums/safety/.

In the graphics, depicted below, (the LTA) I also included three of the heavily utilized STARs. The graphics includes altitudes for these approaches. I have also attached the graphics as a .png file for your convenience.

SCT would be grateful if you could share this LTA with your members as a refresher for safety training. During my research I spoke to a few paragliding pilots who believed whole heartedly that an IFR piloted aircraft is required to give right of way to paragliders.

I was advised the reasoning for this thought was that a piloted aircraft can maneuver better than a paraglider. However, that information is erroneous and as such, on the attached LTA I included the relevant Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) as a gentle reminder that paraglider pilots are required to see and avoid when crossing paths with a piloted aircraft. - Thank you for your time, I appreciate your help in sharing this information with your members."

03/01/2025   Tips for Bizav Operators to Avoid CBP Fines and Loss of US Entry Privileges - From NBAA - "As U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) adopts a tougher stance against operators failing to comply with agency requirements to enter the country, business aviation flight crews must be diligent in verifying the correct information to avoid difficulties on arrival, steep fines and penalties that could affect their flying careers. - Common reported mistakes include erroneous..."  Continue Here.

03/01/2025   New GA Lifecycle Processing Guide Details Proper CBP Reentry Procedures - From NBAA -  "Following a recent upswing in reports of operators failing to comply with agency requirements to enter the country, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a new fact sheet intended to foster improved industry compliance with the reentry process. - The new General Aviation (GA) Lifecycle Processing Guide highlights four steps: feasibility check, pre-arrival processing, arrival processing and post-arrival analysis. Each step includes common questions and areas for discussion, as well as required forms and procedures. - “This practical resource outlines the key steps..."   Continue and view the guide HERE.

2/28/2025   Video shows planes nearly collide at Chicago airport -  From CNN - "A Southwest Airlines plane nearly collided with a private jet on the runway at Chicago Midway International Airport. CNN correspondent Pete Muntean describes what happened"  VIDEO HERE.

02/25/2025    SpaceX Eyes Friday Launch Of Eighth Starship Test - From AVweb  "Tweaks to the fuel system and addition of a fire suppression system expected to prevent a repeat. - SpaceX says it has fixed the issues that led to the intentional destruction of the upper stage of the seventh test of the Starship system on Jan. 16. The spacecraft automatically blew itself up and sent debris raining down over the Turks and Caicos about 10 minutes after launch from SpaceX's launch facility in southern Texas. SpaceX said leaking propellant lines caused fires in a space between the oxygen tank and the heat shield and that caused all but one engine to shut down. The self-destruct system activated shortly after, creating a spectacle that disrupted air traffic but little actual damage on the ground. Meanwhile, the company is getting ready to launch the eighth test as early as this coming Friday and has been implementing the hardware fixes. - The fuel lines have been reworked and the space in which the fires broke out, known as the "attic," has been given more venting and now..."   Read the story Here.

2/23/2025   LOS ANGELES WORLD AIRPORTS AND COUNCILMEMBER NITHYA RAMAN ANNOUNCE REVISED DEPARTURE PROCEDURES TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR SAN FERNANDO VALLEY RESIDENTS - From LAWA PR - "LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) and Councilmember Nithya Raman (Los Angeles 4th District) are pleased to announce the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) publication of revised and redesigned departure procedures for Van Nuys Airport (VNY). This update, scheduled to take effect on February 20, 2025, marks a significant step forward in partnering with the community to alleviate noise effects by securing modified flight paths. - The redesign stems from recommendations made by the Southern San Fernando Valley Airplane Noise Task Force in 2020. Following this guidance, LAWA submitted a formal request to the FAA to amend all three southerly area navigation (RNAV) departure procedures for VNY. Over the past four years, LAWA has worked closely with the FAA and local elected officials to ensure that these changes align with community needs and safety standards. - “After years of collaboration and..."  Continue Here.

02/23/2025   Delta Counters Crash Pilot ‘Disinformation’ - There were no fatalities in the crash of a CRJ 900 at Toronto Feb. 17. - From AVweb - "Delta Airlines has issued a statement countering what it says are "false and misleading assertions" about the experience and past performance of the pilots of the Endeavor Air CRJ 900 that crashed in Toronto on Feb. 17. Social media and YouTube has exploded with commentary and analysis, some of it centering on the fact that the pilot flying is a 26-year-old woman who graduated from the degree aviation program at the University of North Dakota two years ago. Some of the commentary has claimed that the pilot had only been flying for Endeavor for six weeks but she has been on the line since April of 2024 and "her flight experience exceeded the minimum" FAA requirements. Delta's full statement is copied below. - The commentary has also swirled around the pilot-in-command with some of it claiming..." Continue Here.

02/22/2025   Archer Aviation Secures FAA Approval For Pilot Training - From AVweb - "The company can now qualify and train pilots as part of its newly launched training academy. - eVTOL manufacturer Archer Aviation has received Part 141 Federal Aviation Administration approval to begin flight training operations—a key milestone as the company advances toward commercial air taxi services with its Midnight aircraft.

“With this certificate, Archer can now train and qualify pilots as part of its newly launched training academy, with plans to build a pipeline of pilots in preparation for its planned commercial air taxis services with its Midnight aircraft,” the company stated in a Feb. 18 press release."  Continue to Learn More Here.

02/15/2024   Subject: PEDs Can Cause Deadly Distractions (The Rotorcraft Collective) - "Not surprising these types of accidents are happening. We have two generations of youth that spend the majority of their time with tunnel vision, intensely focused upon and staring at little multicolored screens most of their day. Totally oblivious to anything around them, lacking any situational awareness of everything outside their field of view. This learned behavior is brought into the automobile behind the steering wheel and into the cockpit."

AVIATE, NAVIGATE, COMMUNICATE
"PEDs Can Cause Deadly Distractions (The Rotorcraft Collective) - Using a portable electronic device while flying can be distracting. Nonessential usage adds risk to your flight. The discussion here is not about the legality of using these devices in the cockpit; it's about when and under what circumstances to properly use them. Using an electronic flight bag for navigation is common these days, but it, too, can cause a distraction severe enough to wreck the situational awareness it's supposed to enhance. Watch this video for some tips on managing the use of portable electronic devices to a reasonable level."
 
Texting While Flying Investigated in Helicopter Crash

02/13/2025   FAA reinstates 'Notice to Airmen' pilot message name, reversing Biden decision - From Reuters - "WASHINGTON, Feb 10 (Reuters) - The Federal Aviation Administration said on Monday it is reversing a four-year-old decision to rename safety messages to pilots and reinstating the prior "Notice to Airmen" term. - In December 2021, the FAA under former President Joe Biden renamed the messages "Notices to Air Missions," commonly known as NOTAMs, saying it was "inclusive of all aviators and missions."" More Here.

02/12/2025    UPDATED: Navy Growler Crashes in San Diego Bay, Crew in Good Condition - From USNI -  "The crew of an EA-18G Growler is in good condition after their aircraft crashed on Wednesday during an attempted landing at Naval Air Station North Island, Navy officials told USNI News. - As of late Wednesday, “the aircraft remains submerged, and response teams are actively assessing the scene,” reads a statement from the Navy. “Harbor Security boats are on site securing the area, and a containment boom was placed around the crash site to minimize the spread of fuel and debris. Environmental and safety teams are working to mitigate any potential impacts. There are no reports of civilian injuries or damage at this time.” - "According to radio traffic at the time of the crash, the two-seat electronic attack aircraft was..."  Get the whole story Here.

02/05/2025   Open door factors in fatal RV–10 accident - From AOPA - "Witness accounts, evidence detailed in preliminary NTSB report - A witness who watched the Van's Aircraft RV–10 depart from Fullerton Municipal Airport in California on January 2 told investigators that the left-side gull-wing door was open after takeoff, and that he saw the pilot's arm reach up to pull it down. - The RV–10 was about 100 feet in the air after takeoff when this observation was made, and the eyewitness was unable to follow the action from there as the departing aircraft flew away, though others helped NTSB investigators piece together the sequence of events detailed in a preliminary report that focuses most of the attention on the open door." Read the story Here.

02/05/2025    Congress Calls On TSA To Adopt Higher Security Standards For Public Charter Flights - From Simple Flying - "Congress has called for the Transportation Safety Administration ( TSA ), which has several leadership roles still vacant following the inauguration of Donald Trump, to address security gaps concerning public charter flight operations in the US. - In a statement, Nick Langworthy, the Republican Congressman from New York, said that he, as well as fellow Republicans Jack Bergman and Marc Veasey and 52 other Members of Congress, called on the TSA to follow through with its intentions to address “security disparities for certain “public charter flight” (Part 135 operators) operations […].” - The goal was to ensure that Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Part 135 operators, better known as public charter airlines, would be held to the same safety standards as any other scheduled commercial carrier.,,,"   Read it Here.

02/04/2025    Approach for Reagan National’s Runway 33 is within feet of helicopter corridor - From Washington Post - "When visibility is good, pilots of regional airline jets bound for Reagan National Airport expect to hear a familiar request from air traffic control as they fly north up the Potomac River: Can the flight crew divert to Runway 33? - Pilots who agree initiate a swooping turn that on final approach brings them northwest and low across the river — the path American Eagle Flight 5342 was on last week when it and a U.S. Army helicopter collided.

While the primary approaches to the airport’s main runway provide jets with hundreds of feet of clearance over the busy helicopter corridors that run along the Potomac, there is no such cushion for Runway 33. - The charted approach for that alternative landing takes jets within 15 feet of the top of the Route 4 helicopter corridor as it is depicted in navigation maps, according to a Washington Post analysis of Federal Aviation Administration documentation."  Read More Here.

02/04/2025   "Learn to Turn" - VIDEO from Rich Stowell, Master Cfi, Aerobatic - Maybe the most knowledgeable spin expert and the creator of the Emergency Maneuver Training (EMT) program at CP Aviation produced and starred in this very important production that dispels the ideas that so many have about what causes their aircraft to turn. Imperative for Every Pilot to see.  View it Here.

02/01/2025   Flying Into the Dark - Night flying can be a wonderful experience, and you may even come to prefer it. However, factors can make it more challenging, like the lack of visual references and encountering visual illusions. Learn about what you need to fly at night in “Flying Into the Dark” at https://faasteam.medium.com/vampire-rules-7c1cc0205e5f  in the Jan/Feb 2025 issue of FAA Safety Briefing. And read the entire night issue at www.faa.gov/safety_briefing.

02/01/2025   The ILS Procedures and Components List (below) is a full list of ILS procedures and related components within the NAS. This list includes all Category I, II, III approaches as well as Special Authorization Category I and II. The sortable list can be downloaded and is updated with the normal instrument procedure charting cycle. The information contained in the ILS Procedures and Components List is extracted from Aeronautical Information Services databases. It should not be used for navigation or flight planning. Information on GPS/WAAS approaches.  Effective Date: 23 January 2025:  ILS_Master_20250123.xls

01/28/2025   Podcast: Essential Tips for Safe Winter Operations -  From NBAA FLIGHT PLAN - "Preparing for the scourge of winter is essentially a year-round process for airports and ATC. As the country experiences frigid temperatures, snow and ice, and all the associated challenges that come with winter flying, business aircraft operators need to be aware of possible impacts, even from storms hundreds of miles from their planned route. “The FAA has tools year-round that identify constrained areas, ground delay programs, aerospace flow programs [and] ground stops,” said Dean Snell with NBAA Air Traffic Services. “It’s good to keep an eye on those [and] maybe look at alternate plans or at least be aware of the likely delays.”

In this episode of NBAA’s “Flight Plan,” host Rob Finfrock speaks with:

  • Michael Fawaz, director of Willow Run Airport (YIP), the 2023-2024 recipient of the Balchen/Post Award for outstanding performance in responding to snow and icing conditions
  • Dean Snell, manager at NBAA Air Traffic Services

Download the Podcast HERE.

01/24/2025    CISA discloses security flaws in aircraft collision avoidance systems, Siemens industrial equipment -  From Industrial Cyber - "The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) released three advisories on Tuesday detailing current security issues, vulnerabilities, and exploits affecting industrial control systems (ICS) equipment.

In its advisory, CISA warned that Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) II, affecting Versions 7.1 and prior, collision avoidance systems contained reliance on untrusted inputs in a security decision, and external control of system or configuration setting. “Successful exploitation of these vulnerabilities could allow an attacker to manipulate safety systems and cause a denial-of-service condition,” it added. Full Story Here.

01/21/2025   INTO the NIGHT - FAA  SAFETY BRIEFING Magazine - "The January/February 2025 issue of FAA Safety Briefing magazine focuses on general aviation night operations. Feature articles cover what's required for night flights, how to mitigate visual illusions, and pro tips for overcoming your fear of the dark. "  It's an entire issue Jam-packed with Information and tips!  Download it by clicking Here.

01/21/2025    Pilot’s errors, other issues cited as probable causes in fatal NLV midair plane crash - From Las Vegas Review-Journal - "The board released a 23-page report on Friday detailing its investigation into the July 17 collision that involved a Piper PA-46-350P and a Cessna 172N. According to the report, the two planes collided in the air as they approached parallel runways named 30L and 30R while trying to land at the airport."  Story Here.

01/21/2025   CAUTION:   Little Drone, Big Damage - From AVweb - "Drone that bent this wing weighed less than half a pound." Picture and Story Here.

01/19/2025   Understanding the Private Pilot Check Ride Gouge - From FLYING - "Profiles are created from a debrief of applicants who have taken check rides with a particular DPE. - After the check ride, applicants are asked to write a narrative including details about questions the DPE asked, maneuvers they wanted to see, and scenarios they presented. In theory, as long as the applicant meets the Airman Certification Standards set forth by the FAA, they should pass the check ride, but sometimes an applicant’s nerves get the better of them, or they aren’t prepared for a quirk of the DPE. - One DPE, for example, always asks about..."  Continue Here.

01/19/2025   Aerial attack crucial to fighting Los Angeles fires - From AOPA - "Airports, pilots play key roles - The devastating fires in Southern California had Cal Fire and other cooperative firefighting organizations working around the clock to contain the quickly spreading flames. - When the wildfires broke out on January 7 across Los Angeles County, the unprecedented force of the Santa Ana winds delayed the aerial firefighting response. Although winds reached 100 mph at their peak, the grounding left many members of the public, mostly nonpilots, wondering why the aerial responders couldn’t fly. - The bottom line: Even if an aircraft can fly, weather conditions at the fire, which almost always differ from the wind conditions at the nearest airport, can make flying and dropping retardant or water inefficient and dangerous. - Cal Fire lead air tanker instructor and pilot Bradley Baker explained that much..."  Continue Here.

01/18/2025   GAMI Releases Video Of Fuel Drip Test - From AVweb - "Founder George Braly says they’ve been unable to replicate results that caused paint damage. - General Aviation Modifications Inc. has completed its own version of a 10-day simulation of a slow leak of its G100UL unleaded fuel and no paint damage resulted. In the video results below, GAMI founder and chief of engineering George Braly says the fuel was allowed to drip and evaporate on a side panel from a Bonanza with 20-year-old paint. The paint was stained by the dye in the fuel but GAMI was able to clean that up with normal shop techniques. - Article and VIDEO Here.

01/16/2025   Firmware Update Removes Geofencing From DJI Drones - From AVweb - "Move shifts full responsibility for drone incursions to operators. - China-based drone manufacturer DJI announced Monday that the latest firmware update to its “GEO” geofencing system reclassifies Restricted Zones (aka No Fly Zones) as Enhanced Warning Zones. The change means that drone operators are now responsible for monitoring their aircraft to ensure they do not encroach on FAA-designated flight restriction areas, as opposed to the automatic GPS-derived “fencing” that would not allow the drone to enter the restricted airspace. DJI said the changes align with similar changes implemented last year in Europe and place “control back in the hands of the drone operators, in line with regulatory principles of the operator bearing final responsibility.”

"The firmware update comes a few days after the collision of a DJI drone with a “Super Scooper” water bomber battling wildfires in Los Angeles. That investigation is ongoing, with the drone’s operators at risk of prosecution leading to heavy fines, prison time, or both.

According to the news website Hunterbrook, which is associated with an investment counseling firm of the same name, the U.S. Department of Defense recently added DJI to its list of Entities Identified as Chinese Military Companies Operating in the United States. According to the website, the U.S. House of Representatives last year passed the bipartisan Countering CCP Drones Act. Not yet signed into law, the law would add DJI to the Covered List of the Federal Communications Commission, which would effectively ban the sale of any new DJI drones in the U.S. According to reports, DJI currently controls some 90% of the drone market in the country."  Continue reading Here.

01/15/2025   Battle Underway in California to Keep Drones Out of Blaze-Affected Zones - From FLYING - "Fire officials have reported ‘multiple, unauthorized drones’ within the TFRs, according to the FAA. - The FAA, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), and other authorities have a simple but urgent message for drone pilots in the Los Angeles area: “If you fly, we can’t.”

The warning comes after an unauthorized drone punched a fist-sized hole in a Bombardier Canadair CL-415 firefighting aircraft, also known as a “Super Scooper,” that was dousing Los Angeles-area wildfires on Thursday. The aircraft landed safely, the FAA said. But CAL FIRE told The War Zone that the collision prompted a temporary grounding of all aircraft responding to the Palisades Fire. The FBI is searching for the drone pilot and has shared photos of the recovered drone."  Finish Here.

01/15/2025   Let it snow - Tips for flying in the white stuff - From AOPA - "Flying in snowy conditions presents a unique set of challenges and delights, and while it can be intimidating, snow doesn’t necessarily have to keep you grounded. - Whether you’re an experienced pilot or just starting out, understanding how to cope with this key component of winter weather is essential for safety and for more flying during the winter. Here are some tips for flying in snowy weather."  Read about them Here.

01/15/2025   FAA Updates Vertiport Design Standards for eVTOL Aircraft - From AIN - "Revised engineering brief seeks to harmonize eVTOL and helicopter infrastructure standards - The FAA has updated its guidelines for the design of vertiport facilities where eVTOL aircraft will be able to take off and land. Changes to the FAA document reflect the agency’s desire to harmonize guidance on eVTOL vertiports with its existing heliport design standards—a pivot driven by industry pressure, FAA officials acknowledged during a virtual “industry day” event on January 14.

Two years after the FAA published its initial vertiport design guidance in Engineering Brief (EB) No. 105, the U.S. air safety agency published a revised draft—dubbed EB 105A—to the Federal Register in September and requested feedback from the industry. After garnering more than 500 public comments, the FAA implemented substantial changes and quietly published a final version online on December 27. - For the “industry day” discussion, the FAA brought in its..."  Continue Reading Here.

01/15/2025   Instrument Flight Procedures (IFP) Inventory Summary  - Click Here.

01/13/2025   California Fuel Distributors File Unleaded Fuel Court Defense - From AVweb - "Fuel distributors and FBOs have filed their response to a motion that would stop them from selling leaded avgas. - California aviation fuel distributors say there are too many gaps in accessibility and too many questions about GAMI G100UL's suitability for some aircraft to make it the only high-octane choice at California airports. In their response to a motion by the Center for Environmental Health for the California Superior Court to enforce the terms of a 2014 settlement agreement regarding the sale of unleaded fuel (copied in full below), the fuel distributors and 17 FBOs covered by the settlement agreement say granting CEH's motion would "ground a significant portion of the general aviation fleet, including aircraft used for fighting fires, law enforcement, and other essential public services" and orphan tens of thousands of aircraft. - The businesses signed the settlement agreement in 2014 to end a..."  Continue Here.

01/13/2025   Podcast: A Regulatory Roadmap for Initial AAM Operations - NBAA -  "Unveiled at NBAA’s convention, the FAA’s powered-lift special federal aviation regulation (SFAR) outlines clear regulatory paths for the introduction of advanced air mobility into commercial service. It also is intended to be an interim document, allowing the industry to compile data to guide future operations. “We’re very happy with what was delivered,” notes Kristen Costello with BETA Technologies. “Looking at the timelines and the amount of ground covered here, the FAA did a phenomenal job.”

In this episode of NBAA’s Flight Plan, host Rob Finfrock speaks with:

  • Kristen Costello, aviation regulatory affairs lead for BETA Technologies
  • Ryan Naru, aviation policy and regulatory affairs lead at Joby Aviation

Download the Podcast Here.

01/13/2025   Taking Care of the Human Element - From Plane & Pilot - "Personal endurance, decision making, and the GA flyer. - As I sat down to write this column, I had just returned from an amazing trip to EAA AirVenture. - It was 19.7 hours of single-pilot IFR spread over three days, most of it between 8,000 and 10,000 feet, dodging cumulus buildups. I experienced dense morning fog, afternoon thunderstorms, and made a timely weather divert with the help of incredibly helpful air traffic controllers. - Most of my local flying where I live in North Florida occurs in the morning or early evening, well below 5,000 feet, and averages less than an hour and a half per flight. The Oshkosh trip reminded me that a full day in the air takes a toll on the human body and can have a significant impact on a pilot’s ability to make sound decisions."  Continue Here.

01/12/2025   FIREFIGHTING  VIDEO - YouTube - Click Here for Video 1   -   Click Here for Video 2  

01/11/2025    Federal Investigation Continues into Palisades Drone That Hit Water-Dropping Plane - From MyNewsLA.com - "A Federal Aviation Administration investigation was continuing Friday into a drone strike that damaged a water-dropping Super Scooper aircraft over Palisades Fire, putting it out of service during a crucial battle against various blazes in the area. - The aircraft was struck on Thursday and landed safely, and no crew members were injured. - Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said the crew aboard the plane was unaware that it had struck a drone, only learning of the collision after it landed to refuel at Van Nuys Airport."  Full Article Here.

01/10/2025   Air Traffic Disrupted as Wildfires Continue to Rage in Southern California - From FLYING - "FAA has established several temporary flight restrictions in the region to protect aircraft involved in the firefighting operations. - Calming winds allowed aerial firefighters to deploy in Southern California late Wednesday as wildfires continued to plague the region. - According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, the agency was able to utilize 12 helicopters and six airplanes to support the more than 1,100 firefighters assigned to the containment efforts. Several western states are also sending fire personnel, trucks, and aircraft to help combat the fires, officials said.

Wednesday, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that statewide more than 7,500 firefighting and emergency personnel had been deployed, including six air tankers and 31 helicopters from California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE). The California National Guard also deployed 10 rotary aircraft and two C-130 aircraft to stage for wildland firefighting operations."  Finish Reading Here.

01/06/2025    Open Letter to LA City & County Officials "Let the Good Times Roll" Won't Always Work! - SCAUWG.ORG - "Thousands of people have lost their homes. Firemen were stranded without water to fight structures that were ablaze. Orders were given for the fireman to stand down. The devastation could not be stopped. - Those assumed responsible have blamed wind and no permissible airborne firefighting, which has caused strain on public works resources rather than emergency planning. This speaks directly about how important our airports and our aircraft are. Now that the aircraft are in flight, firefighting has become successful. Pilot training and the availability of emergency services are unmistakably necessary!"   Continue Here.

01/09/2025   Virtually perfect -  A simulator attempts to revolutionize helicopter training - From AOPA  - "It’s rare that a technology comes along that’s so transformative it completely changes the way we think about training pilots. Virtual reality has that potential. - Loft Dynamics, a company specializing in VR simulation, recently earned FAA and European Union Aviation Safety Agency certification for its Airbus H125 helicopter flight training device, which it says was a world first. While some may think of VR as a toy with a market best aimed at teenagers, Loft Dynamics’ FTD provides an immersive experience unlike any other simulator in the segment."  Continue Here.

01/07/2025   Flying Tips for the Occasional Winter-Weather Pilot - From FLYING - "Those who fly in the beautiful snow-covered North know that the winter brings spectacular views and welcomed gains in performance. - The airplane’s engine, propeller, and wings, which have struggled all summer against the ravages of high temperatures and density altitude, are now in their happy place. Push the throttle forward for takeoff, and you might as well be in an F-15 Eagle roaring down the runway.

OK, maybe that is a bit much, but takeoff and climb performance in the colder climates is something to behold. And then once airborne, the snow-covered vistas below are breathtaking. Even a light dusting of snow seems to magically cover up all the imperfections, leaving the earth looking pristine, and the houses and people right out of a Currier and Ives print. OK, maybe that is a bit much, but takeoff and climb performance in the colder climates is something to behold. And then once airborne, the snow-covered vistas below are breathtaking. Even a light dusting of snow seems to magically cover up all the imperfections, leaving the earth looking pristine, and the houses and people right out of a Currier and Ives print.

Enough about the romance and rewards of winter flying. What are the gotchas that those of us who venture up north from warmer climates might need to know? I am glad you asked."   Learn about them Here.

01/07/2025    Business Jet Fatalities Drop Nearly 35% in 2024 -  From AIN - "Non-U.S. turboprop accidents stayed unchanged but fatalities increased - Fatalities from business jet accidents worldwide decreased from 32 in 2023 to 21 last year, according to preliminary data gathered by AIN. Five fatal accidents of U.S.-registered business jets resulted in 15 fatalities last year versus six accidents that claimed 23 in 2023. Non-U.S.-registered business jets experienced three fatal accidents that resulted in six fatalities last year versus three accidents and nine fatalities in 2023.

Two of the fatal business jet accidents last year occurred while on charter flights, while the six other fatal accidents involved private flights. The five N-numbered business jet fatal accidents were on February 7, a Hawker 900XP on a positioning flight (two fatalities); February 9, a chartered Bombardier Challenger 604 on approach (two fatalities); March 10, an Israel Aircraft Industries Westwind on approach (five fatalities); August 20, a Cessna Citation II on takeoff (two killed); and November 11, a HondaJet on takeoff (four fatalities plus one on the ground). - The three fatal accidents involving non-U.S.-registered business jets were..."   Continue Here.

01/03/2025   Textron Keeps G100UL Off Approved Fuel List, Wants More Testing - From AVweb - "Textron issues statements on unleaded fuel compatibility. -Textron says it won't add G100UL unleaded avgas to its approved fuel list until it has been more thoroughly tested. In statements released last Friday (one for singles, one for twins), the company said it won't be giving its stamp of approval to the fuel unless and until that more comprehensive testing has been done. It cites the Piston Aviation Fuel Initiative (PAFI) and the Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions (EAGLE) fuel evaluation process, of which it is an active participant, as the kind of "comprehensive testing of candidate replacement fuels for engine performance, materials compatibility, and operational safety" it's looking for. - GAMI said the statements in Textron's documents have been thoroughly debunked and all the engines in Textron's massive fleet are approved to run safely on G100UL.

“The two new Textron/Cessna Beechcraft “Piston Communiques’“ released as of December 19th ,  relating to Single and Multi-Engine Textron Aviation Aircraft, each contain claims and allegations about G100UL Avgas that have been repeated over and over again in the various statements from the PAFI/EAGLE participants.  Each of those claims about G100UL Avgas have previously been demonstrated by FAA-approved and witnessed testing, and other well documented tests, to not be true," GAMI said in a statement. "The reality is that every single [certified] spark ignition piston powered airplane is approved to use G100UL Avgas.  Without exception.  That approval covers about 98+% of all of the piston powered aircraft found in the FAA type certificate data base. “ - G100UL has an STC certifying its use in all piston engines powering..." Read the statements and More Here.

01/03/2025   New surveillance system built to prevent runway incursions - From General Aviation News - "Researchers at the Purdue Polytechnic Institute have developed a patent-pending, simplified light system to automatically indicate an airport runway’s status to pilots, pedestrians, and vehicle operators. - The solar-powered system is called Simple, Affordable, Flexible, and Expandable Runway Status Lights (SAFE-RWSL). It uses Automatic Dependent Surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) data and computer vision to activate runway lights in real time. - John Mott is a professor and Luigi Dy is a doctoral student in Purdue University’s School of Aviation and Transportation Technology. They developed SAFE-RWSL and the Purdue Innovates Office of Technology Commercialization has applied for a patent to protect the intellectual property. - A six-minute presentation about SAFE-RWSL in its earliest prototype form is available on Dy’s YouTube channel. His dissertation that covers the human-factor issues related to the effectiveness of SAFE-RWSL is published online."  Continue Here.

1/03/2025   FAA Taps Industry Association in Flight Training Modernization Bid - From FLYING - "Agency partnership with National Flight Training Alliance for Part 141 modernization is a first, organization says.  - The FAA has selected the National Flight Training Alliance (NFTA) to help modernize Part 141 training, the organization announced. - According to a media release, the NFTA has been selected by the FAA to work with flight training providers and GA industry leaders, coordinating the efforts to update the rule governing flight training.  -  Starting January 2, the FAA and NFTA will reach out to industry stakeholders and flight training providers across the country asking for input on best practices to modernize aviation training. Formal meetings will begin in March and be conducted both in person and virtually.

12/31/2024   FAA: The following items have been added to/updated on the Airman Testing webpage:

12/31/2024  The ILS Procedures and Components List - Effective Date: 26 December 2024 -

 

For Previous Posts - Please see Info Warehouse Page 9

Next edition file will be available on 24 January 2025.