Aerospace
News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.
Regulations and Government
Draft AC Published on Datalink Use
Draft Advisory Circular would apply to pilots, certificate holders, operators and program managers conducting datalink communication operations.
Airports
Projects Will Temporarily Close Boston Logan Runway
Runway 4R/22L at Boston Logan Airport is scheduled to be closed from May 15 through late June to enable the repaving and marking of the runway.
Regulations and Government
DOT IG Auditing FAA Drone Operation Waivers
Audit objectives will be to assess FAA’s processes for granting waivers, and its risk-based oversight of UAS operators with waivers.
Avionics
Eagle Cap Simplifies Charts Layers in Aviation Apps
Eagle Cap Software's Aviation Charting Service will greatly simplify creating map-based aviation software applications.
ATC
Eurocontrol Implements New ATC Sectors
Overall European air traffic is expected to increase by 14 percent between 2016 and 2023, according to Eurocontrol.
Safety
ICAO Punts on Airspace Risk Assessment
The agency’s limitations in this role have been “revealed” since launching its conflict zone information repository after the 2014 downing of flight MH17.
Regulations and Government
EASA: U.S. Operators Can't Use MMEL in Europe
U.S. Part 91 twin turboprops and jets flown in Europe must now operate with a Minimum Equipment List (MEL) developed for that specific aircraft
ATC
Push-button Communication Comes To Miami ATC
Miami is the latest ATC facility to go on line with digital communications, bringing to 55 the number of airport towers operating with Data Comm.
ATC
FAA Cautions about Transponder and ADS-B Testing
In one instance, an ADS-B OUT system ground test created a false airborne target that generated a TCAS resolution advisory on an airliner on approach.
Engines
Safran Bullish On Zodiac Deal, Silvercrest and Leap Engines
French aerospace group Safran reported revenue and profit group for 2016.
Aircraft
Airbus Bolstered by Strong Commercial Backlog
New airliner sales fell in 2016 but the overall backlog of almost 6,900 aircraft is strong.
Aircraft
Boeing Rolls Out First 787-10 Assembled in South Carolina
The ceremony at Boeing's facility in North Charleston, S.C., featured a speech by President Donald Trump.
Aircraft
Machinists Union Fails in Bid to Organize Boeing South Carolina
Employees of the 787 Dreamliner final assembly facility voted against joining the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers.
Maintenance and Modifications
Fulcrum Labs Rolls out New A&P Technician Prep Course
Developed in conjuction with the Aviation Institute of Maintenance, the computer-based course offers self-paced progress.
Avionics
Coming Soon: Crowd-sourced Wx Radar
Honeywell expects to debut its new EFB-based realtime weather reporting service this year.
Regulations and Government
Opioids Being Added To FAA Drug-testing Rules
Hydrocodone, hydromorphone, oxymorphone and oxycodone would be added to the FAA’s urine testing requirements for commercial pilots and aircraft mechanics.
Aircraft
Safran To Buy Zodiac Aerospace for €8.5 Billion
Deal expected to accelerate recovery of Zodiac’s seats and interiors business
Regulations and Government
FAA To Hold Meetings on New SoCal Satnav Routes
Airspace improvements in Southern California that will replace dozens of existing conventional air routes with new satellite-based routes.
Engines
Rolls-Royce Settles Corruption Case with $812 Million in Fines
The UK's Serious Fraud Office found that intermediaries gave improper payments and gifts to secure orders for Rolls-Royce engines.
ATC
SpaceX Launch Begins Era of Space-Based ADS-B Tracking
SpaceX successfully launched a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base carrying the first 10 Iridium Next satellites with ADS-B payloads.
ATC
Eurocontrol Handles Civil, Military Traffic in German Airspace
Controllers at the Maastricht Upper Area Control Center in the Netherlands take responsibility for high-altitude traffic over northwest Germany.
Aircraft
China Developing Homegrown 'Blue Whale' Tiltrotor
Unlike tiltrotors such the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey or Leonardo AW609, the "Blue Whale" is a quad proprotor design.
Rotorcraft
Leonardo Assumes Ownership of Unmanned Helicopter Maker
The Italian industrial concern acquired the remaining 60 percent of shares in a joint venture that developed the SD-Hero unmanned helicopter.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
NASA Drives Vision of Air Traffic Management for Drones
The NASA-led UAS Traffic Management (UTM) research effort is shaping the rules and capabilities of this coming low-altitude ecosystem.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
FAA’s National Drone Registry Marks First Anniversary
Registration is required for drones weighing 250 grams to 55 pounds.
Safety
UAS Training Program Offers Law Enforcement Discount
The Unmanned Safety Institute looks to help the Airborne Law Enforcement Association's members in their UAS safety training
Safety
Study: 12% of Pilots Could Be Suffering from Depression
Seventy-five participants, or 4.1 percent, reported having suicidal thoughts within the past two weeks before taking the survey.
Avionics
EFVS Final Rule Allows ‘No Natural Vision’ Landings
Under the new FAA rule pilots can continue the approach to landing using only the images displayed by the EVS on the HUD.
Aerospace Icon Senator John Glenn Flies West
On Feb. 20, 1962, strapped into a cramped Mercury capsule, 40-year-old Glenn became the first American to orbit Earth.
Maintenance and Modifications
Georgia Aviation Maintenance School Draws FAA Fire
Atlanta Technicial College had the plug pulled on its aviation maintenance technology program after the FAA uncovered shoddy record keeping.
