CATEGORIES

EASA introduces eVTOL policy changes

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has published new proposed regulations governing the operation of vertical-take-offand-landing (VTOL) aircraft, including drones and eVTOL air taxis, in Europe's cities.

Testing of Boom technology demonstrator proceeding apace

Boom Supersonic, the American company about the highly speculative business of designing and producing a supersonic airliner dubbed the Boom Overture, has reportedly achieved a number of milestones vis-à-vis the development of its XB-1 Baby Boom, a one-third-scale technology demonstrator devised to vet technologies salient to the planned airliner.

NASA astronaut sets spaceflight milestone

On Wednesday 13 September 2023 during an Earth-to-Space call at 12h05 EDT, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy spoke with agency astronaut Frank Rubio about his record-breaking number of consecutive days in space.

DroneX DroneX - Tradeshow & Conference is returning to the ExCeL London on 26 and 27 September 2023.

The show brings together the key innovators, pioneers, suppliers and buyers from across four key sectors who will all come together to provide the most comprehensive show on record including:

Bristow Group - secures early deliveries of five Elroy Air Chaparral cargo drones

Houston-based Bristow Group, which achieved its start as an international operator of helicopters but now bills itself as a vertical flight solutions provider, is looking to speed up the introduction of new vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft to its fleet.

The US Army's LIDS: A sure shot against drones

Raytheon's KURFS radars and Coyote® effectors have teamed up to defeat evolving, proliferating unmanned aircraft systems threat. The KuRFS radar and Coyote® effector deliver essential detect and defeat capabilities in the defence against unmanned aircraft systems, or UAS, also known as drones.

W Autonomous Systems (WAS) makes history landing on Royal Navy carrier at sea

A pilotless plane has flown on and off a Royal Navy aircraft carrier for the first time. The W Autonomous Systems (WAS) drone flew from the Lizard Peninsula and onto the deck of HMS Prince of Wales off the Cornish coast, delivered supplies and then flew back in a milestone flight which points the way to the future of naval aviation.

Aviation's hydrogen shift: Exploring test and validation for hydrogen propulsion

Asourclimateworsens, decarbonisation becomes an increasingly pressing imperative for aircraft, manufacturers. Coventry University and engineering services company FEV co-created the Centre for Advanced Low-Carbon Systems to develop the varied propulsion technologies this endeavour demands.

Pipistrel flies liquid hydrogen demonstrator

On Friday 8 September 2023 Textron subsidiary Pipistrel Aircraft flew the first piloted liquid hydrogen-powered electric aircraft. The HEAVEN project HY4 demonstrator took off from Maribor, Slovenia with two pilots onboard and 'demonstrated safe and efficient operation throughout multiple flight tests, the company said.

FAA approves - BVLOS operations for three UAS companies

Recently three United States companies received Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) authorisation to fly unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) where their operators cannot see them.

AMPAIRE FLIES hybrid-electric Cessna to Alaska in milestone flight

On 13 August Ampaire revealed that following a 3,400-mile series of flights from Southern California, its hybrid-electric aircraft successfully landed at the Fairbanks International Airport (FAI). The EEL is a platform for the development of scalable technology and certification processes.

uAvionix and Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma complete first US flights

Operating at the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma (CNO) Emerging Aviation Technology Center, uAvionix completed the first true Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) flight in non-segregated airspace using aviation protected C-Band in the United States.

EHang unmanned aircraft cloud system approved by CAA

EHang, an autonomous aerial vehicle (AAV) technology platform company, announced that its EHang Unmanned Aircraft Cloud System (UACS) has been officially approved by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) for UACS trial operations.

TITANIUM HOW WAR HAS RESHUFFLED SUPPLY OF A KEY AEROSPACE MATERIAL

An essential component of modern aircraft manufacture is the element Titanium, chemical symbol Ti. From sections of the fuselage frame and engine blades to landing gear and the numerous bolts and fasteners that hold sections of the aircraft together, the list of aircraft components containing titanium alloys is extensive.

IS ACCIDENT REPORTING MAKING US ALL CRAZY?

If an aviation accident happens, say, 1000 times a year or about three times a day, is it worth reporting as news? This is the calculus on aviation accidents, which we report on within AFRICAN PILOT.

B-25 RESTORATION SPANS 40 YEARS

On 06 June 1944, a date that ought mean a great deal to all the world's free-ish people some 150,000 US, British and Canadian troops stormed the beaches of Normandy as Operation Overlord roared into action and the great Allied campaign to retake Western Europe from the Nazi aggressor got underway.

AIRLINE DEMANDS ARE SQUEEZING THE SUPPLY OF BUSINESS AVIATION PILOTS

The ability of airlines to attract pilots away from business aviation with lucrative contracts continues to have a deleterious effect on corporate flight department rosters. At the same time, industry experts agree the costs of pilot training remain a serious impediment to addressing the supply shortage, but clearly, this is a good time to be a pilot.

AIR INDIA UNVEILS NEW GLOBAL BRAND IDENTITY AND AIRCRAFT LIVERY

Air India, a Tata Group-owned airline, has unveiled a modern new brand identity and new aircraft livery that capture the essence of a bold new India. The new look reimagines the iconic Indian window shape, historically used by Air India, into a gold window frame that becomes central to the new brand design system, symbolising a 'Window of Possibilities'.

HALO AVIATION

Halo Aviation is headquartered at the Ultimate Helipad near Johannesburg, South Africa. Halo's ICU air ambulance fleet consists of Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) and fixed-wing aircraft, which are among the most technologically advanced on the continent and are equipped with advanced lifesaving equipment.

BLACKHAWK AEROSPACE'S CARAVAN UPGRADE

Blackhawk Aerospace's Caravan Engine+ Upgrade multiplies your power and revenue generation capability and delivers serious return on investment.

AVISYS AVIATION SYSTEMS

As an established Aircraft Maintenance Organization (AMO1089) with SACAA and other African Countries CAA accreditation to perform component maintenance and overhaul capabilities under its Category B rating, AviSys Aviation Systems is equipped to cater for its customer's needs as per the SACAA approved capability list and operational specifications on the following:

BOEING STRETCHES THE 777X-8

Boeing has changed the technical specifications of the 777X-8, stretching the aircraft, which has in turn increased its passenger capacity and range.

LUXAVIATION AFRICA SETTING NEW HEIGHTS WITH A GROWING FLEET

Luxaviation Africa, a subsidiary of the renowned Luxaviation Group, is taking the African private aviation industry by storm. With a commitment to safety, luxury and innovation, Luxaviation has recently expanded its fleet, solidifying its position as a leading player in the continent's private aviation landscape.

LYCOMING LECTRONIC IGNITION SYSTEM (EIS)

For many years motor vehicles have been using trouble free, electronic ignition systems. Why not Aircraft you say? Well just imagine if this were to change and after simply pressing the start button the engine surges into life. This and much more, is what the Lycoming Certified Electronic Ignition System offers.

FLYING LEGENDS 2023

After three years Flying Legends made a successful return to the skies over Northern England on 15 and 16 July 2023. Enthusiasts were drawn from all over the UK, and Europe to the former Royal Air Force airfield of Church Fenton, Yorkshire, United Kingdom, in July to witness an exhilarating weekend at the new home of Flying Legends.

Fireblade Aviation EMPOWERS YOUNG WOMEN WITH 'GIRLS IN AVIATION DAY' EVENT

On 10 August 2023 Fireblade Aviation hosted a successful Girls in Aviation Day event in partnership with the Netherlands Airport Consultants (NACO), a division of international consulting engineers, Royal HaskoningDHV, with the aim of promoting aviation as a viable and exciting profession for young female students.

Charter Broker Vertis says AFRICA IS NOW 'ON THE MAP'

Last week at EBACE Swiss charter broker Vertis Aviation CEO Jeffrey Emmenis said Africa remains an important part of the business of, which saw its best-ever year in 2022. Several factors drove the company's increased business, he said, including the number of customers traveling for leisure. \"That was very big for us,\" Emmenis noted \"Customers on the business side, particularly in Africa, flying to more remote locations. We look after a number of heads of state and there was a lot of travel as governments started opening up and doing business. I see a little bit of softening in 2023, but it will still be quite impressive.\"

US NAVY CONTRACTS SIKORSKY TO BUILD 35 CH-53K HELICOPTERS

The US Navy has awarded Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, a US$2.7 billion contract to build and deliver 35 additional CH-53K helicopters, the largest procurement to date for this multi-mission aircraft.

NORTH-WEST REGIONAL AEROBATIC CHAMPIONSHIP KLERKSDORP

The most recent aerobatic competition on the Sport Aerobatic Club calendar took place in Klerksdorp on 18 and 19 August was the north-west regional aerobatic championship.

CASSIE DE LA ROCHE FLIES AT 99

It is not every day in life that someone calls me to with a proposal to undertake a really good news story and this happened in August when Andreas Siebold contacted me to record the flight of Cassie La Rouche (born 15 October 1923) and who at 99 years of age was an amazing person to meet.