In Flight USA July 2024 by Anne Dobbins

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Calendar of Events

To list your group’s event on a space available basis, please send your event notice with date, time, place w/city and state, contact name, and phone number to: Calendar, In Flight USA, P.O. Box 5402, San Mateo, Calif. 94402, or email 3rdavenue@embarqmail.com.

Note: Calendar includes only information available by our press date, Friday, June 28.Confirm the status before attending.

JULY

1 Ontario, Can.:Fete du Canada Day, Parliament Hill, canada.ca.

2 Chino, CA:Kilroy Coffee Klatch, 9 a.m. to noon, Planes of Fame Air Museum, (909) 597-7576.

3 Addison, TX:Kaboom Town - Addison Airport Air Show, 5 to 11 p.m., (972)450-6284, addisonkaboomtown.com.

Dubuque, IA: Dubuque Air Show & Firewooks, Lock & Dam #11, Mississippi River, (563) 589-4128, flydbq.com.

3—7 Battle Creek, MI:Battle Creek Field of Flight Air Show & Balloon Festival, see website for times, W.K. Kellogg Airport, fieldofflight.com.

4 Santa Rosa, CA:Hot Dog Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Pacific Coast Air Museum, Sonoma County Airport, (707) 575-7900, pacificcoastairmuseum.org.

4—5 Ridgedale, MO:Thunder Ridge Airshow, gates Thurs. 9 a.m./ Fri. 10:30 a.m., Thunder Ridge Nature Arena, thunderridgairshow.org.

5 Athens, TX:Thunder over East Texas, 6 to 9 p.m., Athens Municipal Airport, ccveteransfoundation.org

6 Tyler, TX:The Magnificent Warbird Expo, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Historic Aviation Memorial Museum, Tyler Pounds Regional Airport, ccveteransfoundation.org.

Tyler, TX:Thunder over Cedar Creek Lake Air Show, 6 to 9 p.m., Cedar Creek Lake, Mabank, ccveteransfoundation.org.

Chino, CA: Hangar Talk/Flying Demo, 10:30 a.m., Planes of Fame Air Museum, (909) 597-3722, planesoffame.org.

Vacaville, CA:Cupof Joe, 9 to 11 a.m., Rowland Freedom Center, (707)449-3402, rowlandfreedomcenter.org.

6—7 Hollister, CA: Antique Aircraft Display & Fly-In, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Frazier Lake Airpark, (408) 835-1694, frazierlake.com.

Johnson City, NY: Greater Binghampton Air Show, gates 9:30 a.m., Greater Binghamton Airport, binghamtonairshow.com.

Hamilton, Ont.:CWH Air Force 100 Weekend, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, 905-679-4183, warplane.com.

12—13 Pensacola Beach, FL:“Red White & Blues” Pensacola Beach Air Show, noon, visitpensacolabeach.com.

13 Goshen, IN:America’s Feeedom Fest, gates noon, Goshen Municipal Airport, (574) 536-4502, americasfreedomfest.net.

Delta, BC:Boundary Bay Airshow, gates 11 a.m., Boundary Bay Airport, czbb.com.

13—14 Knob Noster, MO:Wings over Whiteman, Whiteman AFB, whiteman. af.mil.

Geneseo, NY:Geneseo Airshow, gates (approximately) Fri. 11:30 a.m./ Sat. & Sun. 9:15 a.m., National Warplane Museum, Geneseo Airport, (585)243-2100, nationalwarplanemuseum.com. Sacramento, CA: California Capital Airshow, gates 3:30 p.m., Mather Airport, californiacapitalairshow.com.

13 — 18 Healdsburg, CA: Vintage Aircraft Display, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Healdsburg Municipal Airport, (707) 484-4333.

14 Campbell River, BC: Campbell River Wings ’n’ Wheels, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Campbell River Airport, (250) 203-8045, teenflight.ca.

19 Middleton, WI: Capital Flight’s Rock the Ramp, 5 to 10 p.m., Middleton Municipal Airport, eventbrite.com.

19 — 20 O’Neill, NE: Nebraska State Fly-In & Airshow, John L. Baker Field, (402) 336-6582, nebraskaaviationcouncil.org. Atchison KS: Amelia Earhart Festival, Missouri River/Amelia Earhart Airport, (913) 426-3911, visitatchison.com.

20 Siren, WI:Gandy Dancer Fly-In/Drive-In. CANCELED Burlington, WA: Heritage Flight Museum July Fly Day, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., (360) 424-515, Skagit Regional Airport, heritageflight.org. Riverside, CA:Aircraft Display Day Fly-In, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Flabob Airport, (951) 683-2309, flabob.org. Hayward, CA:Aircraft Display Day, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Hayward Executive Airport, (510) 280-4111.

Santa Rosa, CA:Open Cockpit Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Pacific Coast Air Museum, Sonoma County Airport, (707) 575-7900, pacificcoasterairmuseum.org.

Petaluma, CA:Petaluma Display Days, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Petaluma Municipal Airport, (707) 778-4404. 20—21 Anchorage, AK:Arctic Thunder Air Show, gates 9 a.m., JB ElmendorfRichardson, arcticthunderopenhouse.com.

Cold Lake, Alberta:Cold Lake Air Show Spectacle Aérien, CFB Cold Lake, coldlakeairshow.com.

Ypsilanti, MI:Thunder over Michigan, gates 8 a.m., Willow Run Airport, thunderovermichigan.org.

Millville, NJ: Wings & Wheels Airshow. CANCELED

FAAENSURING SAFE PUBLIC C HARTER FLIGHTS,EXPLORING FUTURE SOLUTIONSFOR ALL FLYERS

TheFederalAviationAdministration (FAA)onJune17announcedplansto taketwoactionstoaddresspubliccharter flights,whichhaverapidlyexpandedin frequencyandcomplexityinrecent years.Someservicesappeartooperate likescheduledairlinesbutunderless-rigoroussafetyregulations–afactthat oftentimesisnottransparenttotheflying public.TheFAAwillexplorenewways tointegratecharterflightsintotheairspaceinamannerthatprovidesflexibilityandsafeoptionsforallflyers.

First,aspreviouslyannouncedina requestforcomments,theFAAintendsto initiatearulemakingtoamendpart110 definitionsof“scheduled,”“ondemand,” and“supplemental”operations.Iffinalized,theeffectofthisproposedrule changewouldbethatpubliccharterswill besubjecttooperatingrulesbasedonthe samesafetyparametersasothernon-publiccharteroperations.

“PartofthesafetymissionoftheFAA isidentifyingriskearlyon,andthat’s exactlywhatwe’redoingonpublicchartersasusageexpands.Ifacompanyis effectivelyoperatingasascheduledairline,theFAAneedstodeterminewhether thoseoperationsshouldfollowthesame

stringentrulesasscheduledairlines,”said FAAAdministratorMikeWhitaker.

TheFAAintendstoissuethenotice ofproposedrulemakingexpeditiously. Aspartofanyproposedrule,FAAwould seekcommentonaneffectivedatethat wouldallowforindustrytoadapttoany changeintheregulatoryenvironment. FAA’splansfollowaninitialrequestfor commentontheissueinAugust2023,in whichtheagencyreceivedandevaluated approximately60,000publiccomments.

Additionally,becauseofFAA’s“dedicationtoexpandingairservicetosmall andruralcommunities,wewillexplore opportunitiestoalignaircraftsizeandcertificationstandardswithoperationalneeds forsmallcommunityandruralairservice,” statedFAAadministrators.

Specifically,theFAAwillconvenea SafetyRiskManagementPanel(SRMP) toassessthefeasibilityofanewoperatingauthorityforscheduledpart135operationsin10-30seataircraft.Thepanel willdigintothedataasweworkto addresstherisksthatexisttodayaswell asthinkaboutthefutureofthenational airspacesystem.

Whitakeradded,“Atthesametime, wewanttolookathowfutureinnovation

mightcauseustothinkdifferently.Safeair traveloptionsshouldbeavailabletoeveryone,notlimitedtoonlythoselivingneara majorairport.Wewanttoputasafetylens overtheoptionsoffutureinnovation,as weworktofurtherconnectsmallandrural communitiestoopenupmoreoptionsfor everyoneatthesamehighlevelofsafety.”

TheFAA’spubliccharterworkis beingdoneincoordinationwiththe TransportationSecurityAdministration (TSA).WhiletheFAAfocusesonthe safetyoftheflyingpublic,TSAfocuses onthesecurityoftransportationsystems. TheTSAhasbeenreviewingthesecurity requirementsofcertainoperatorsunder theTwelve-FiveStandardSecurity Program(TFSSP),whichincludesaproposalforthescreeningofpassengersand theiraccessiblepropertyonpubliccharterflightsalongwithotherrequirements forallTFSSPoperators.Inaccordance with49CFR1544,TSAprovideda45daycommentperiodfortheimpacted operatorsthatendedonJune27.TSA willadjudicateanycommentsreceived fromindustryandcontinuetowork closelywiththeimpactedoperators.TSA willconsiderallofthefeedbackpriorto issuingthechangesinfinal.

TheFAAisexploringnewwaystointegratecharterflightsintotheairspaceina mannerthatprovidesflexibilityandsafe optionsforallflyers.(CourtesyFAA)

NATAandNBAARespondto FAAPublicCharter Announcement

TheNationalAirTransportation Associationreleasedthefollowing statementregardingtheFAA’sJune17 announcementindicatingitplansto taketwoactionstoaddresspublic charterflights.

“NATAappreciatesthattheFAA isengaginginarulemakingprocess andweareencouragedthatthe Agencywantstohearfromdifferent industrysectorstobetterunderstand otherchangesthatenhanceaccessto airtransportation.WeexpecttheruleContinuedonPage22

Volume40,Number11

FAAENSURING SAFE

PUBLIC C HARTER FLIGHTS

StoryBeginson Page4

THE VIEW FROMTHE PYRO FIELD

StoryandPhotos byNickViggiano Page45

July2024

NBAA’sSold-OutNYForumHighlightsPassion,Promise......11 FAAUpdatesMentalHealthCertificationGuidance................13

RenoAirShowtoFeatureSTOLDragDemonstration............20

C-47That’sAll,Brother ReturnstoU.S.AfterD-Day................21

BookReview: ShotDown,StoryofB-17 SusanRuth..............26

Hoverfly:500TetheredDroneSystemsSoldtoArmy..............28 FAA,EASAPledgeCooperationonAviationChallenges........33 ClearLakeSplash-InFocusesOnAviationCareersforYoung People......................................................................................34

TecnamP-MentorDeliveriesBeginInU.S.................................37 EAAAirVentureSpecialSection:UpgradesandHighlights..38 MikeGintertoLeadAOPAAirSafetyInstitute..........................42

Editorial:AsktheHardQuestion ByEdDowns ..............................................................10

AOPAEditorial:FoughtHardForImportantProvisions InFAAReauthorization

ByMarkBaker,AOPAPresidentandCEO ........................8

DesignInnovationsandChallengesineVTOLAircraft ByFahadibneMasood,MRAeS ......................................16

BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor ByCynthiaWheatleyGlenn ............................................19

AMexicanRendezvous:‘WeDon’tNeedNoStinkin’ Badges!’ ByBertBotta ................................................................24

BookReport: SpaceX:ElonMuskandtheFinalFrontier ByEdDowns ................................................................32

FlightTraining ByEdDowns

CIRRUS “EMBARKS” ONA GREAT CONTRIBUTIONTO FLYING SAFETY

Thisnewmonthlycolumnfeaturesthe experience,wisdomandmistakesEdhas accumulatedsincebeginningflyingin 1956.Dedicatedtotraining,EdisacurrentCFI,hasbeenPICofover140differentairplanes,workedinallsectorsof aviationandapproachesflighttraining withtechnicalsuggestions,humor,and editorialopinions.Sendcommentsor concernstoed@inflightusa.com.Enjoy!

Everybodywants“safetyinflying,” right?Everymonthaviationpublicationsrunnumeroussafetyrelatedarticles.Localandregionalairport authoritiesmesswithtrafficpatternsand proceduresinthenameofsafety.Federal agenciesarereallygoodatformingsafetycommitteesandstudygroupsthat spendmonths“admiring”problemsand issuingrecommendations.Didyouknow a“safety”committeerecentlyre-named theRunwayHoldmarkingsweareall familiarwith?Wenowcallthedouble solidline“HoldShort”signandground markingsthe“RunwaySafety Aera/ObstacleFreeZone”signand marking.Feelsafer?Orhowabout renamingNoticestoAirmen(NOTAM) toNoticestoAirMission…feelsafer yet?Backwhenthisoldaviatorstarted flying,onecouldgofromstudentto Commercial/CFIstatuswithperhaps onlyfivelogbookendorsements.Today, betweenFAR61.87,AC61-65Handthe TSA,therearemorethan100possible endorsementsneeded,someofwhich mustbere-endorsedevery90days.Feel saferyet?Iwonderifanyonehasthought aboutgettingintoanairplaneandundergoingsomegoodinitial,refresher,or transitiontrainingfromawell-qualified instructor?Yeah,actuallygoflying!

Thatlastquestionisrhetorical,asthe goodfolksatCirrusAircrafthavealways offerednewownersofaCirrusoutstanding“factory”training.JeffSandusky, RegionalDirector(OK,KS,MO,AR)for CirrusAircraft(aregularparticipantinthe FlightInstructorRevalidationClinicthis writerconductsinOklahomaCity)has referredmanyofhiscustomerstomefor tutoringinwrittenexams.Jeffcanbecontactedatjsandusky@cirrusaircraft.com. Severalweeksago,Jeffinvitedthiswriter toflyanew,2024CirrusSR-22T/Gen7.It tookaboutananosecondofthoughtbefore Isaid“yes!”andwemetatWileyPost AirportinOklahomaCity.

Myprimarydesirewastofeelout

AuthorEdDownstookademoflightand founditwouldbeeasytoflytheCirrus Gen7marvelinatrafficpatternfilled withCherokeesandC-172’swithnospecialskillsneeded.Asforthesidestick control,itfeltlike“cominghome”asall theoldplanesthiswritertrainedinhada “stick,”nota“wheel.”

(CourtesyCirrusAircraft)

thebasicflyingcharacteristicsofthis exceptionallywell-equippedairplane.In otherwords,didtransitioningtothislatestandhighestperformingCirrusrequire “super”pilotingskillstohandleandcontrol.Jeffconductedanexcellentintroduction,allowingthisoldsodtohandfly mostACSmaneuvers,includingdeep stalls,andautoflightoverrideexercises. Theautosafetyfeaturesareremarkable. Withoutattemptingacompletepilot report,justallowtheobservationsthat groundhandlingisasnap,flightcontrols wellharmonizedandcoordinationwith yawdamperofftobenochallenge.Even followingthisshort(maybeanhourand ahalf)flight,thiswriterfounditwouldbe easytoflythisCirrusGen7marvelina trafficpatternfilledwithCherokeesand C-172’swithnospecialskillsneeded.As forthesidestickcontrol,itfeltlike“cominghome,”asalltheoldplanesthis writertrainedinhada“stick,”nota “wheel.”

AfterlandingIcommentedtoJeff that,“givenafewdaysofgoodflightand transitiontraining,coupledwithlearning theavionics,Iwouldfeelperfectlycomfortableworkingwithstudentsinthis ‘slickest’versionoftheCirrus.Atthat point,Jeffcommented,“Youhavejust describedTheCirrusEmbarkprogram.” Jeffcontinued,“WhilenewCirrusownersgothroughsignificantfactorytraining,andevensecondownerstendtogoto theCirrusteamofapprovedtraining experts,purchasersofolder,previouslyownedCirrusaircraftoftenarenotaware ofwhatthefactoryoffersandendupwith lessthanadequatetransitiontraining. Regrettably,pilotskill-relatedaccidents tendtogoupintheusedmarket.”

Now,thinkingofaCirrusas“just ContinuedonPage9

AirplanesUSA proudly presents this Oshkosh

with

ro-timeengine with 2022 overhaul by Radial Engines.

CalendarofEvents

ContinuedfromPage3

21 St. Joseph, LA:Thunder on Bruin, 9 a.m., Lake Bruin State Park, (318) 766-3530.

SanDiego, CA:Historic Aircraft Display, noon to 2 p.m., MontgomeryGibbs Field, (619) 301-2530.

22—28 Oshkosh, WI: EAA AirVenture, Wittman Regional Airport, eaa.org.

26—28 Kennewick, Pasco, WA:Tri-City Water Follies-Over the River Air Show, park opens 8 a.m., waterfollies.com.

27 Riverside, CA:Aircraft Display Day, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m, Riverside Municipal Airport, (951) 312-4832. Novato, CA:Planes & Coffee, SkyShare Terminal, Gnoss Field, (415) 897-2403, skyshare.com.

27—28 Fargo, ND:Fargo Air Sho, gates 9 a.m., Fargo Hector Int’l. Airport, fargoairsho.com.

Milwaukee, WI:Waterstone Bank Air & Water Show, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Bradford Beach Lakefront, mkeairwatershow.com.

31 Duluth, MN:Air Spectacular over Lake Superior, 5 p.m., Duluth Harbor, duluthairspectacular.com.

AUGUST

1 Santa Rosa, CA:Hot Dog Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Pacific Coast Air Museum, Sonoma County Airport, (707) 575-7900, pacificcoastairmuseum.org.

2—4 Seattle, WA:Boeing Seafair Air Show, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Genesee Park &Lake Washington, (206) 728-0123, seafair.org.

3 Vanderhoof, BC:Vanderhoof Int’l. Airshow, Vanderhoof Airport, vanderhoofairshow.ca.

Williston, ND:Williston Basin Airshow, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Williston Basin Int’l. Airport, flywilliston.net.

Chino, CA: Hangar Talk/Flying Demo, 10:30 a.m., Planes of Fame Air Museum, (909) 597-3722, planesoffame.org. Vacaville, CA:Cupof Joe, 9 to 11 a.m., Rowland Freedom Center, (707)449-3402, rowlandfreedomcenter.org.

3—4 Brunswick, ME:Great State of Maine Air Show, gates 8 a.m., Brunswick Executive Airport, greatstateofmaineairshow.us.

Manitoba, Canada:Maitoba Air Show, time TBA, Southport Airport, (800)558-4680, mbairshow.ca. Rochester, NY:Rochester Int’l. Air Show, gates 9:30 a.m., Greater Rochester Int’l. Airport, (585) 447-9001, rocairshow.com.

Hollister, CA: Antique Aircraft Display & Fly-In, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Frazier Lake Airpark, (408) 835-1694, frazierlake.com.

6 Chino, CA:Kilroy Coffee Klatch, 9 a.m. to noon, Planes of Fame Air Museum, (909) 597-7576.

9—11 Abbotsford, BC: Abbotsford Int’l. Airshow, gates Fri. 2:30 p.m./Sat. & Sun. 9:30 a.m., Abbotsford Airport, abbotsfordairshow.com. Muskegon, MI:Wings over Muskegon Air Show, Muskegon County Airport, (734) 274-9703, wingsovermuskegon.com.

10—11 Chicago, IL:Chicago Air & Water Show, Lake Michigan Lakefront, chicago.gov.

Montgomery, NY:New York Air Show, Orange County Airport, airshowny.com.

11 Waterford, MI:OCIA Air Show & Open House, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Oakland County Int’l. Airport, oakgov.com.

13—14 Atlantic City, NJ:Atlantic City Airshow, Atlantic City Beachfront, airshow.acchamber.com.

15—17 Conneaut, OH:D-Day Conneaut-WWII Reenactment, Conneaut Township Park, ddayohio.us.

16—18 Arlington, WA:Arlington SkyFest, Arlington Municipal Airport, arlingtonskyfest.com.

17 Mattoon, IL: Coles County Airport Air Show- Wings over Mattoon, gates 11 a.m., Coles County Memorial Airport, (217) 234-7120, flymto.com. Burlington, WA:Heritage Flight Museum August Fly Day, 10 a.m. to 4p.m., (360) 424-515, Skagit Regional Airport, heritageflight.org. Riverside, CA:Aircraft Display Day Fly-In, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Flabob Airport, (951) 683-2309, flabob.org.

Hayward, CA:Aircraft Display Day, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Hayward Executive Airport, (510) 280-4111.

Santa Rosa, CA:Open Cockpit Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Pacific Coast Air Museum, Sonoma County Airport, (707) 575-7900, pacificcoasterairmuseum.org.

Petaluma, CA:Petaluma Display Days, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Petaluma Municipal Airport, (707) 778-4404.

17—18 Colorado Sprngs, CO:Pikes Peak Regional Airshow, gates 8:30 a.m., Colorado Springs Airport, ppairshow.org.

Edmonton, Alberta:Alberta Int’l. Airshow, Villeneuve Airport, albertainternationalairshow.com.

Camarillo, CA:Wings over Camarillo Air Show, gates 9 a.m., Camarillo Airport, (217) 234-7120, wingsovercamarillo.com.

Latrobe, PA: Westmoreland County Air Show, gates 9 a.m., Arnold Palmer Regional Airport, (724) 539-8100, westmorelandcountyairshow.com.

Gary, IN:Gary Air Show, Marquette Park, southshorecva.com.

KEEPYOUR HEADIN THECLOUDS.

Amplifyyour power to ﬂy. JoinAOPA today.

BeingamemberofAOPA is more than a hugelist of pilot beneﬁts. Joining AOPA empowers general aviation with a louder voice, keeping skies safer and open to pilotseverywhere.

ByMarkBaker AOPAPresidentandCEO

AsIwritetoyouthismonth,Iam heartenedthatafteryearsof negotiations,wrangling,waiting, deliberations,andthenwaitingsome more,wefinallyhaveanFAAreauthorizationbill.

ThingslookedliketheyweremovingswiftlywhentheHouseoverwhelminglypasseditsbillinJuly2023,butthen hitaroadblockwhentheSenatejust couldnotgetpastsomestickingpoints. Weeksbecamemonths,andmonths becamemoremonths.

Butitwasworththewait(although wewouldhavepreferredashorterwait time),becausetheFAAbillcontains someprovisionsthatgreatlybenefitour membersandgeneralaviation.Theseare provisionsforwhichwefoughthard, knowinghowimportantGAistoyou, me,localcommunities,andthisnation.

Ouradvocacyteam,oneofthebest inWashington,D.C.,workedtirelessly

ABIG WINFOR GA

everydaytoensureGA’sinterestswere frontandcenter.JimCoon,AOPAsenior vicepresidentforgovernmentaffairsand advocacy,wholeadsthatteam,goesinto moredetailontheimportantelementsof thelegislation.ButIjustwantedtoreinforcehowdedicatedandfocusedour workwasonyourbehalf,andhowspecialthefinalproductis.

WeworkedwithalliesinCongress toincludesuchimportantmeasuresasthe expansionofBasicMed;modernizing andclarifyingthemedicalcertification process;ensuringasupplyof100LLis availableatyourairportduringthesafe transitiontounleadedfuel;makingsure thatGAairportsareproperlyfundedand protected;andpavingthewaytodevelop astrongaviationworkforcethroughprogramslikeourinnovativeYouCanFly HighSchoolAviationSTEMinitiative.

NeverbeforehasFAAreauthorizationlegislationcontainedsomuchfor generalaviation,andthat’sbecauseit neverbeforeincludedastandaloneGA title,languagethatrecognizestheimpor-

tanceofgeneralaviationtoournation, especiallyitseconomicandsocietalcontributions.

Thankstotheleadershipandvision ofU.S.Rep.SamGraves(R-Mo.)andhis HouseTransportationandInfrastructure Committee,aswellasalliesinthe Senate,GA’sinterestsarefullyrepresented.Itreallyhelpswhenyouhavealeader likeRep.Graveswhounderstandsand livesgeneralaviation,andyoucanget thingsdoneinabipartisanwaythatbenefitseveryone.

Protectingyourfreedomtoflyisour missionatAOPA.That’swhywefought sohardfortheimportantprovisionsin FAAreauthorization.Andit’swhywe’ve madetheexpansionoflightsportaircraft andsportpilotprivilegesthroughthe ModernizationofSpecialAirworthiness Certification(MOSAIC)apriorityforthe pastseveralyears.AOPAandotherGA associationsprovideddetailedinputand commentsthroughtheFAArulemaking process.Withmorethan1,300comments toreview,weexpecttheFAAtocome

backwithafinalrulesometimein2025. ThatruleshouldincreaseaccesstoaircraftandbeabigwinforGAandpilots. It’stakingsometime,butweexpectthe resultstopaybigdividendsforgeneral aviation.

Allthesedevelopmentsmeanwe’ll havealottotalkaboutaswemakeour annualpilgrimagetoOshkoshforEAA AirVenture.Ilookforwardtoseeing manyofyouthere.Wealsoinviteyouto joinusincelebratingAOPA’seighty-fifth anniversary.Visitourcampusandcome totheAOPAPilotTownHalltogetallthe latestnews.Iknowyouhavequestions, andwe’llhavetherightpeopleonhand togiveyoutheanswersyouneed.

Asyouknow,theAOPAteamnever restsandtheworkonyourbehalfnever stops.Protectingandpromotinggeneral aviation,andyourfreedomtofly,isa 24/7job.Itisonethatwerelish,toensure thatallofyouwillalwayshaveblueskies ahead.

S TRIVINGFOR ZERO SERIOUS CLOSE C ALLSONTHE NATION’S RUNWAYS DURING ONEOFTHE BUSIEST SUMMERSIN YEARS

Aspartofthecomprehensiveeffort toendseriousclosecalls,theFederal AviationAdministration(FAA)isworkingwithairportsacrossthenationto reducetheriskofvehicleandpedestrian deviationsontheairfieldastravelpicks upthissummer.

Warmweathermeansmoreflights, aswellasincreasedrunwayconstruction andmaintenanceatcommercialandgeneralaviationairports.Thisraisestherisk ofunauthorizedvehiclesandpedestrians enteringtherunwaysandcreatingthe potentialforvehicle/pedestriandeviations.

AspartoftheFAA’scommitmentto safety,theagencysentairportdirectors refreshedtrainingmaterialsonvehicle/pedestriandeviations.Thevideo emphasizestheneedtoimproveproceduresontheairfieldandtoenhancesituationalawarenessofcriticalairport

changes,construction,safety-area boundaries,airport-specifichotspots,and touseclearandconcisecommunication withthecontroltowerorotheraircraft andsurfacevehicles.

Situationalawarenessisalso enhancedwiththeuseoftechnologies likeVehicleMovementArea TranspondersandRunwayIncursion WarningSystems.

“Withabusysummertravelseason alreadyunderway,wearealwayslooking forwaystoimprovesafetyacrossallairportoperations,”saidFAAAdministrator MikeWhitaker.“Safetyisateamsport, andweallmustdoourpart.”

Lastyear,thenumberofvehicle/pedestriandeviationsmorethandoubledoverafour-monthperiod,from14in Aprilto32byAugust.Thisyear,theFAA wantstogetaheadofthattrend.

AstheFAAandaviationcommuni-

typursueagoalofzeroseriousclose calls,herearesomeadditionalinitiatives thathelpprotectthetravelingpublic:

•TheFAAhasinstalledASDE-Xor ASSCat44ofthenation’sbusiestcommercialairports,andinstalledApproach RunwayVerification(ARV)in13control towersandwilldeployARVatother facilitiesacrossthenationthroughoutthe restoftheyearandinto2025.

•TheFAAwillinstalltheSurface AwarenessInitiativesystematAustinBergstrom,Indianapolis,Nashvilleand DallasLoveFieldairportsthissummer andatscoresofotherairportsbytheend of2025andwillinstallRunway IncursionDevicesatfiveairportsforan operationalevaluationbeforetheendof thisyearanddeploythemto74airports beginningin2025.

•TheFAAholdsregularrunwaysafetyactionteammeetingsatairportsacross

TheFAAisworkingwithairportsacross thenationtoreducetheriskofvehicle andpedestriandeviationsontheairfield astravelpicksupthissummer. (CourtesyFAA)

thecountry,andissuesarrivalalert noticesforpilotsandcontrollers.

•TheFAAisacceleratingairtraffic controllerhiringandenhancingcontrollersafetytrainingwithmodernized towersimulators.

LearnmoreattheFAAwebsite, faa.gov.

FlightTraining

ContinuedfromPage6

anotherusedairplane”isabitlikethinkingofa1981Lamborghinias“just anotherusedcar.”Thefactis,morethan 9,000Cirrusaircrafthavebeendelivered overaperiodofalmost25years.Cirrus hasbecomethelargestmanufacturerof singleengineairplanessince2013. CirrusAircraftrecognizesthata“new” Cirrusownerneedstransitiontraining, evenifitisan“old”Cirrus.AndCirrus doesconsiderablymorethanjustrecommendtrainingtonewownersofapreviously-ownedCirrus’.Thisiswherethe CirrusAircraft“EmbarkProgram” comesin.Purchaseapreviously-owned Cirrusandyougeta free three-daytrainingprogramthatincludesflyingand avionicstraining. Yep, free.TheCirrus Embarkwebsite,CirrusEmbark/Cirrus (cirrusaircraft.com)providesalltheinformationyouneed,buthereisasummaryof whatCirrusisoffering,straightfromthe Embarkwebsite.

CirrusEmbarkProgram

Transitiontrainingthroughour globalnetworkofCirrusTraining CentersisthefirststeptoenjoyingThe CirrusLife–whetheryoupurchasea neworpre-ownedCirrusaircraft.

CirrusEmbarkisaprogram designedexclusivelyfornewownersof pre-ownedCirrusaircraft.Theprogram includescomplimentarytrainingto addressthespecificneedsofpilotsand ownersofpre-ownedCirrusaircraft. Designedforlicensedpilotstransitioning intoaCirrusaircraft,thiscoursefocuses onmasteringaircraftcontrolandavionics,alongwithstandardprocedures.The coursesatisfiesmostinsurancerequirementsandincludesupto3daysofflight trainingwithanauthorizedCirrus TrainingPartner.

ToqualifyforCirrusEmbark,you mustmeetthefollowingcriteria:

Mustbethedirectownerordesignatedpilotofapre-ownedCirrusair-

craft. Indirectownership,suchasaflying club,doesnotqualifyforCirrusEmbark. Ownerswhoarenotpilotsorarenotcurrentorcurrentlyundergoingpilottraining.Youmaydesignateonepersonal pilotforenrollmentintheprogram,providedtheymeetallotherqualifications. TrainingmustbeconductedinthepreownedCirrusaircraftqualifyingfor CirrusEmbarkandtheaircraftmustbe inlegal,airworthycondition.

OneCirrusEmbarktrainingper pre-ownedCirrusaircraftpurchase. Foreachpurchaseofapre-ownedCirrus aircraft,onlyonedirectownerordesignatedpilotmaytakeadvantageofCirrus Embark.Thisofferislimitedtoonetrainingeventpercustomerforthelifetimeof theprogram.

Mustapplywithinonemonthof purchaseandcompletetheCirrus Embarkprogramwithintwomonthsof enrollment. Directownersordesignated pilotsofpre-ownedCirrusaircraftmust enrollintoCirrusEmbarkwithin30days ofaircraftdelivery.Onceenrolledinto theprogram,theownerordesignated pilotmustcompletethetrainingwithin 60days.

MustbeusedtocompleteCirrus TransitionorDifferencesTraining Course. CirrusEmbarkisdesignedfor ownerswithlittleornoexperienceflying aCirrusaircraft.Therefore,thetraining syllabusfollowsastrictlessonflow focusingonintroducingthepilottothe aircraft.Thecomplimentaryflight instructionshallnotbeutilizedtoaccomplishaflightreview,instrumentproficiencycheckorferryflightactivities.

Thereyouhaveit,realtrainingina realairplane,nonewnames,nocommitteemeetings,nobureaucraticnonsense, NoCharge!VisitCirrus|Innovative AviationExperiences(cirrusaircraft.com)tolearnmoreaboutthisgreat airplaneandthecompanythatstands behindit.Youwillalsofindterrifictrainingvideosandinformationaboutthe availabilityofpreviouslyownedCirrus aircraft.

HASKTHE HARD QUESTION

avingnegotiatedthemostexcitingtrafficpatternonearth,you maybereadingthisopinionarticlewhileattendingEAAAirVenture, 2024.Isurehopeso!HavingbeenavendoratAirVentureformanyyearsIcan saywithsomeauthority,youareinfor quitearide.Tobesure,thiseventrepresentstheultimateinaviationenthusiasm. ButhaveyougiventhoughttothediscouragingfactthateverypilotandaircraftownerisjustoneFAAletteraway fromhavingyourentirefinancialinvestmentsandlifestyletakenawayfromyou, withouttheneedtoexplainorjustifythe FAAaction?Thenameofthis“risk,”and impedimenttooverallaviationsafetyis theThirdClassmedicalcertificate.

tunitytocommentandmakesuggestions. Almostalloftherulesandprocedures governedbyFAAFlightOpsarehanded overtothePICforvoluntarycompliance. TheresponsibilityandauthorityofthePIC istakenveryseriously,relyingonthe pilot’s“cultureofsafety”tofollowthe standards,rulesandproceduresinvolved ineverydayflyingwithoutabureaucrat lookingovertheirshoulder.

Hereisyourassignmentwhileatthe show…ifyouchoosetoacceptit.Attend the“MeettheAdministrator”forum(and otherFAAforums)andaskthehardquestion…“WhydoestheFAAinsiston retainingtheobsoleteanddamaging ThirdClassmedicalexaminationrequirement,giventheprovenfactthatitinno wayimprovesflightsafety.”Wow…are yousuggestingthatoneofthemosttraditionalaspectsofprivateflyingisabad thing?”Yep,thatisexactlywhatIam saying.Allowthiswritertoexpresssome personalviewsregardingtheThirdClass medicalprocess,baseduponmorethan 65yearsasapropilotandcurrentexperienceworkingwithmorethan300studentsperyear.Simplystated,theThird Classmedicalcertificateshouldbecome abureaucraticprocessofthepast.Let’s comparetheradicallydifferentregulatory managementstylesoftwoFAAfunctions.Forbrevity,themedicalsideofour opinion,theFAAAerospaceMedical Division,willbereferredtoas“FAA AeroMed.”Again,forbrevity,let’sgroup FAAoperationalfunctions,suchasFlight Standards,Testing(writtenandflight) andATCas“FAAFlightOps.”

Thinkaboutit,currencyrequirements,trafficpatternoperations,communicationprocedures,eventheairworthinessoftheaircraft,aregivenovertoyou onthehonorsystem.Itisthe“honor” system,strengthenedwithtrainingand testing,whichhasmeasurablyimproved aviationsafety,reducedaccidentsand ensuredasupplyofnewpilotsmoving intoaviationasprofessionals.FAAFlight Opscontinuestosettheworldstandard forflyingsafety,baseduponactualoperationalexperience,bothgoodandbad. Anunintendedviolationofaregulation oroperationalprocedureistreatedasan opportunityforthetransgressortolearn andbebroughtbackintocompliance. Yourflyingdaysarenotoverifyoufaila writtenexamorcheckride.Errorsresultinginfailurearespecificallyidentified andtheneededtestmayberepeateduntil passed.Revocationofapilotcertificateis rare,andtypicallyinvolveswantonviolationofaregulation,ortheuseofanairplaneinillegaloperations.FAAFlight Opsmeasuressuccessbyimprovedsafetyandefficiencywithinthenationalairspacesystem.

FAAFlightOpsestablishesrules,regulationsandproceduresthatareclearly spelledoutintheFAR’s,Aeronautical InformationManual,AdvisoryCirculars andFAAOrders.ThenewAirman CertificationStandard(ACS)isanexcellentexampleofsettingveryspecificstandardsandexpectationsofperformance. Thereisseldomadoubtastowhatis expectedofaPilotInCommand(PIC)in theworldofFAAFlightOps.Regulations onthissideoftheFAAhousemustgo throughaNoticeofProposedRulemaking (NPRM)processthatinvitesallparties concernedwitharuleorpolicyanoppor-

FAAAeroMedisalmosttheexact oppositeofFAAFlightOps.Arecently issuedNPRM“ModernizationofSpecial AirworthinessCertification”(MOSAIC), possiblycausingmajorchangesinmedical certificationstandardsgarnishedthousandsofcommentsregardingthemedical aspectsoftheproposal.Manyapplauded thefurtheranceofthe“noFAAmedical required,”firststartedwithSportPilotand thencarriedoverintoBasicMed.But commentfromtheFAAAeroMedsideof thehousepointedtopresenttraditionswith theterm,“acontinuanceofsafety.”Let’s translatethatintoplainpilottalk.Itmeans, “Wehavealwaysdoneitthisway,solet’s notchange.”Prettysophisticatedapproach …eh?

FAAAeroMedisaleftoverfrom pre-WWIItrainingprograms,knownas theCivilianPilotTrainingProgram (CPTP),implementedin1939.There was,atthattime,nomajormedicalissue

ContinuedonPage12

NBAA’S SOLD-OUT WHITE PLAINS FORUM HIGHLIGHTS INDUSTRY’S PASSION , PROMISE

Asold-outandbustlingexhibitfloor, arobustlineupofthelatestaircraft,a compellingseriesofexpert-ledpanelsessionsandbeautifuldaycombinedfora highlysuccessful2024National BusinessAviationAssociation(NBAA) WhitePlainsRegionalForumonJune12 atWestchesterCountyAirport(HPN).

RecognitionFromRegional Leaders

Theforumofferedanopportunity forlocalofficialstogetanup-closelook atbusinessaviation’sessentialroleinthe WhitePlainscommunityandbeyond. Throughouttheday,leaderswiththeairport,WestchesterCountyandthestate assemblywerejoinedbytheMount Vernonmayorandothercivicleaders.

SeveralrepresentativesfromthedelegationjoinedNBAAPresidentand CEOEdBolenforalivelykeynoteto starttheday.Thecommunityleaders notedthattheforumhighlightedthejob creation,connectivityforcommunities, productivityforcompaniesandhumanitarianliftsupportedbybusinessaviation.

Bolenechoedtheirremarks,adding

thatthosesocietalbenefits–aswellas theindustry’ssustainability-drivenmissiontoachievenet-zerocarbonemissions by2050–areunderscoredbytheindustry’snewCLIMBING.FAST.advocacy initiative.

“CLIMBING.FAST.istheprogram thatallowsbusinessaviationtocommunicateabouttheindustry’simportance withpolicymakersandopinionleaders,” saidBolen.“Aviationconnectspeopleall acrossthecountry,andallacrossthe world.Itisanindustrythatcreatesopportunityandbringshope.Itisalsoinnovatingtowardanet-zerocarbonfuture,on thegroundandintheair.”

TheFutureInFocus

Aspartoftheforum,record-setting aviatorCapt.BarringtonIrvingcelebratedthefirstsetofgraduatesfromthe BarringtonIrvingTechnicalTraining School’s(BITTS’s)localprogramin MountVernon,NY.Allthegraduatesare readytotakepositionsatareafacilities fortwoleadingfixed-baseoperators. NBAAisafoundingpartnerofthe

Continued on Page 14

At NBAA Forum, Barrington Irving’s Academy Welcomes Grads to Bizav Careers

On June 12, at the National Business Aviation Association’s 2024 NBAA White Plains Regional Forum, the Barrington Irving Technical Training School (BITTS) announced its first set of graduates from its local program, all of whom are ready to take positions at area facilities for two leading Fixed Base Operators (FBOs).

The announcement comes just months after the Continued on Page 14

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Editorial

Continued from Page 10

affecting private pilots. The implementation of medical standards was done with the knowledge that pilots trained in the CPTP would end up flying military aircraft in the upcoming World War. There were no dead pilots falling out of the sky back then, and there are none today. Today, the overwhelming popularity of Basic Med (approximately 80,000 pilots), thousands of pilots exercising the privileges of Sport Pilot and glider pilots, who simply certify that they are healthy, are proving that pilots can successfully manage their own health. So, isn’t the Third Class medical already at an end?

The fact is, even these “no medical” programs have the Third Class medical embedded in them. Did you know that seeking a Special Issuance as might be required by FAR 68 demands that the Special Issuance be processed through a class medical process? Did you know that filling out the MedExpress form opens up your entire medical history to FAA AeroMed and that a single answer on that form, or a “narrative” in your personal medical records regarding some illness or medication can result in a class medical denial? Did you know that all student pilots must undergo a class medical process, even if they immediately convert to Basic Med? Did you know that a Single Class medical denial is a “life sentence” with no requirement for FAA AeroMed to cite a standard that has not been met? There is no “Re-take.” Even if you have been flying under Sport Pilot or Basic Med, your flying days are over.

If you are currently flying under Basic Med, but chose to obtain a Third Class medical to fly above 18,000 feet, you place your Basic Med at risk. A class medical denial kills your Basic Med. Your investment in time and money are gone, your plane becomes a lawn ornament, and a lifestyle is ended. FAA AeroMed effectively overrides all the standards you have met and complied with through FAA Flight Ops. Most important, a one-time denial overrides the opinions and diagnoses of your personal medical team. It is assumed that you, the class medical applicant, are simply unable to assess your health prior to a flight and the judgment you are required exercised by FAA Flight Ops is simply not adequate to assess your personal wellness. Keep in mind, FAA AeroMed is not a group of profound medical experts who actively participate in aviation-related medicine, treating patients and prescribing medications. It is a bureaucratic agency staffed by civil service employees and will function as such.

Quite a difference, right? Is it any

wonder that we pilots honor the principles of “a culture of safety” in the real word of flying, and employ the culture of “lie, omit or self-medicate” when it comes to the FAA health system. I would expect to see a building anger if a member of the FAA AeroMed reads these comments. A recent YouTube presentation made by Susan E. Northrup, FAA Federal Air Surgeon (standing in front of an AT-6, looking very aviator-like, and having a persona or “Mom”) offered comfort, pointing out that FAA AeroMed collaborates with pilots and has numerous programs to reinstate a denied class medical. They do, but many (if not most) involve extensive medical testing (some invasive) or ongoing programs dealing with possible diagnosis (by FAA Bureaucrats) of mental health issues, with a need for reports that meet specific protocols and formats defined by the FAA, not the professional medical community. Of course, this testing is at your expense, not having been required by your insurance program doctor. This writer has personally seen testing demands regarding medical events that took place more than 70 years prior to the denial and had nothing to do with class medical standards. A simple “narrative” or comment in your past medical records will trigger a denial. A denial will most likely not be signed by Dr David M. O’Brien, Manager, Aerospace Medical Division. It will be signed by a person whose handwriting is difficult to read, with no title or FAA position disclosed. One has no idea who this person is, if they have proper authority or know anything about your application other than the fact that an AI search of your medical records turned up a “bad” word. A denial will contain a statement that goes something like “it has been determined that your medical condition (not defined) precludes the safe performance of airman duties under any condition that could reasonably be prescribed.” Enclosed with the denial will be instructions on how to appeal the denial through the NTSB, a profoundly expensive and involved process. Formal letters sent to FAA AeroMed seeking clarification will simply not be answered. In other words, “your flying is over, take us to court if you do not like it.”

Bottom line, FAA Flight Ops works through trust, training, and education to obtain measurable improvements in safety. The only tool available (or used) by FAA AeroMed is denial of a class medical. I wonder if FAA AeroMed brags about the improved safety they have created by tripling denials in the last three years, moving from a fairly steady 2,000

Continued on Page 13

FAA UPDATES MENTAL HEALTH CERTIFICATION GUIDANCE

By Jonathan Welsh AOPA

The FAA has changed its criteria for evaluating pilots’ mental health status. Under the recent revisions, aviation medical examiners have greater autonomy in determining a pilot’s mental fitness. Newly updated guidance to AMEs now allows the examiner more latitude to determine the flight fitness of pilots who report “uncomplicated anxiety, depression, and related conditions.” The agency said doctors may issue medical certifi-

Editorial

Continued from Page 12

per year to now over 6,000 per year. Feel safer yet?

So, what are your action items? First, concede that the “continuum of safety” concept is wrong… even dangerous. Look at your own life and ask; does your flying require you to don a spandex super costume with cape? Are the physical demands of flying your Cessna 172 so tough that you need a multimillion (billion?) dollar, all powerful government agency watching over your health, demanding that you visit doctors you do not know, with results being assessed by civil service bureaucrats that may have no applicable medical expertise? It is time to employ the FAA Flight Ops model, winning the health game through education, trust, and common sense. Consider the following suggestions as possible action items.

1. If currently flying with a class medical, flying a plane that meets the Basic Med standards, go Basic Med. Get out of the class medical system and do it fast. Visit www.faasafety.com for all the details. Keep in mind, under today’s rules, you can always go back to a class medical if needed due to aircraft performance.

2.If seeking your first class medical (student pilot), be sure to interview local pilots, or organizations like AOPA to locate an Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) who has a reputation for “being on your side.”

3.Visit Pilot Medical Solutions at www.leftseat.com and review the excellent list they have online of medications, drugs or medical conditions that could impede issuance of a class medical. Keep these in mind when completing the MedExpress form.

4. Ask the hard question if at the Meet the Administrator forum at AirVenture. Ask that good health educa-

cates to pilots with histories of up to two mental health diagnoses without FAA review under certain circumstances. Pilots can receive medical certificates from their AME if they have not taken mental health medications for the past two years, provide satisfactory responses to a questionnaire, and raise no additional concerns with the AME.

The questionnaire, also called a decision tool, prompts the examiner to ask about a range of sensitive mental health topics that could affect the pilot’s

Continued on Page 14

tion be integrated into flight training, both in written exams and the ACS. Perhaps suggest that the medical education course now required every two years for Basic Med, be integrated into the flight review in lieu of the Third Class medical.

5.Suggest that an ASTM committee be formed so the entire aviation industry can work out a medical assurance system that promotes real health awareness, not just a punishment system. This “industry consensus” system is now being used in many aspects of regulatory activity.

6.Suggest that health regs be integrated into the FAR’s right along with the “eight hour bottle to throttle” rule that has been in place for many years. For example, could a rule be generated that basically says something like no prescribed or over the counter medication that warns of potential loss of cognitive or physical ability (like drowsiness, do not drive or operate heavy equipment) should be taken within eight hours of acting as PIC?

7.Send your concerns relative to “a culture of safety” as compared to “lie, omit or self-medicate” to Rep. Garret Graves (R-LA), Chairman of The Subcommittee on Aviation: Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Republican Office U.S. House of Representatives 2165 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515

Phone: (202) 225-9446 (E-mail available through his website: garretgraves. house.gov

It is time for those of us flying nonprofessionally to put a lid on a medical system that is not only ineffective but teaches that regulatory non-compliance may be the only way to keep your passion for flight alive. Finally, be smart, be safe and take care of yourself. TBO is sneaking up on you; treat yourself as you would your plane.

Irving’s Academy Welcomes Grads to Bizav Careers

Continued from Page 11

BITTS organization expanded from its Miami, FL base to an additional installation in New York’s Westchester County.

Founded and led by Capt. Barrington Irving, a Guinness World Record-breaking pilot and NBAA American Spirit Award recipient, the organization provides technical training for students with diverse backgrounds, teaching them the hands-on skills needed to excel in aviation and other industries. NBAA is a supporting partner of the training school.

In his remarks, Irving noted that the first group of five student graduates at the school’s Mt. Vernon, N.Y., facility are preparing for interviews with Atlantic Aviation and Signature Flight Support, having completed a 12-week workforce development program focused on FBO training.

The announcement was met with applause from local civic officials, including Mount Vernon, N.Y., Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard and Thom Kleiner, the executive director of the Westchester-Putnam Workforce Devel-

opment Board.

Mt. Vernon’s Management Services Commissioner Juan Perez and Youth Bureau Deputy Director Dena Williams, Westchester County Youth Program Director Liz Oliveto and Ranell Ogilvie from State Sen. Jamaal Bailey’s office were also on hand to congratulate the graduates.

exciting industry with boundless opportunities. We applaud Barrington for his leadership of this one-of-a-kind training school, and we are honored to support its mission.”

The Barrington Irving Technical Training School was opened at MiamiOpa locka Executive Airport in 2023 with the support of Bombardier, MiamiDade County, NBAA and other organizations. It is part of Irving’s Flying Classroom, a pre-K-12 STEM+ program.

“With our partners and our team, we have created something that is helping more people achieve their professional dreams through business aviation,” Irving said. “I couldn’t be more proud to see our goal come to life through these students.”

“The business aviation community understands the pressing need to attract, develop, retain and promote the next generation of industry professionals,”

NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen said. “Barrington Irving’s pioneering program was once a dream, but it is now inspiring young people to be a part of an

Last December, BITTS graduated its first 15 students and landed them careers worth almost $1 million in salaries. The school has quickly added three new training centers – two in Florida at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) and Pompano Beach Airpark, and the Mt. Vernon, N.Y., operation announced in late February 2024.

Learn more about BITTS at BITTSchool.com. Learn more about NBAA at nbaa.org.

NBAA’s Sold-Out Forum

Continued from Page 11

BITTS program.

to mental-health guidelines, and the onerous impact that new tax proposals from Washington could have on the industry.

“The White Plains forum showcased the products, people and passion that characterize our dynamic industry,” said Bolen. “We clearly can see the same excitement and momentum as we prepare for what promises to be an outstanding NBAA-BACE in Las Vegas.”

C Air Museum, Castle (MER) is in its 41st ye oast est C W become the air of

astle and has operation, ar of gest s lar ’ om the t fr craf

Castle Air Museum, adjacent to Castle Airport (MER) is in its 41st year of operation, and has become the West Coast’s largest static display of vintage military aircraft dating back from the late 1930’s. With over 80 aircraft in the collection and more due soon, such as the Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk and FA-18 Blue Angel Aircraft, the Museum is situated on 31 acres, 25 of which are currently occupied by aircraft. The most comprehensive collection of WWII Bombers, from the Douglas B-18 Bolo to the mammoth Convair RB-36 Peacemaker, B-52D Stratofortress view aircraft from the Lockheed F-80 to the General Dynamics F-16A Fighting Falcon.

air s.1930’ such as the L e and mor A-18 Blue Nighthawk and F Museum is situated on 31 acr ently air curr ehensive collection of compr omfr eacemak onvair RB-36 P C om L t fr craf view air -16A al F Gener tcraf -117 ockheed F the Aircraft, Angel e which ar 25 of es, he most T craft. WWII Bombers, tratofortress B-52D S er, -80 ockheed F alcon. ighting F F

The forum schedule also featured sessions covering front-and-center concerns for the industry, including what pilots should know about recent FAA revisions

FAA Updates

Continued from Page 13

eligibility to receive medical certification. These include inquiries about additional diagnoses for conditions such as bipolar disorder, psychosis, personality disorder, eating disorder, “or any diagnosis not listed as acceptable.”

The association’s largest event of the year, NBAA-BACE, will take place Oct. 22-24 in Las Vegas, NV. Learn more at the NBAA website, nbaa.org.

The Museum is located at 5050 Santa Fe Dr., Atwater, CA 95301, and open daily 9 am to 4 pm, with last admission to the Aircraft Exhibit Grounds at 3:15 daily.

For more information, please call 209-723-2178 or visit www.castleairmuseum.org.

he Museum is located at 5050 Santa F T 95301, CA Atwater, sion to the with last admis pm, ounds daily Gr e information, or mor F .castleairmuseum.or or visit www ., e Dr

t Exhibit Aircraf ase call 209-723-2178 ple g. F-15A -16AF

Other questions include whether the patient has a history of suicidal or homicidal thoughts, attempts, or other selfharm behavior; mental health hospitalization; or “symptoms severe enough to interfere with safety related duties.”

Columns with the answers “yes” and “no” accompany the questions.

The form also asks if “the licensed

mental health specialist, treating clinician, or the AME” has any concerns regarding the patient after addressing the other questions. At the exam’s conclusion, the AME may issue the certificate if there are no “yes” answers to any of the screening questions and no additional concerns. Any “yes” answer or outstanding concern results in the certificate’s deferral.

Learn more at AOPA’s website, aopa.org, and the FAA’s page, Guide for Aviation Medical Examiners, at https://www.faa.gov/ame_guide.

AH-1W Cobra Boeing B-52D

SH-60B Seahawk

FA-18 Blue Angel 2 F-15A and F-16A

Convair RB-36H Peacemaker

eacemak onvair RB-36H P C P

AH-1W er obraCobr C

DESIGN INNOVATIONSAND C HALLENGESINEVTOL AIRCRAFT: PIONEERING URBAN AIR MOBILITY

By Fahad ibne Masood MRAeS

Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft are no longer the stuff of science fiction. They represent a revolutionary shift in urban transportation, promising efficient, on-demand travel within cities, soaring above congested roads. Dr. Pamela Withers, a leading researcher in urban air mobility at MIT, captures the essence of this transformation while stating that eVTOLs have the potential to fundamentally reshape our cities, creating new transportation networks and alleviating traffic woes.

Unveiling the Powerhouse: Design Features Driving the eVTOL Revolution

Distributed Electric Propulsion: A Paradigm Shift in Flight

Unlike traditional helicopters with a single, powerful rotor, eVTOLs boast multiple smaller rotors strategically placed around the airframe. This innovative approach was highlighted by Mark Moore, member of Archer Aviation’s Technical Advisory Board, a prominent eVTOL developer while offering several advantages. He mentioned that distributed electric propulsion is a game-changer as it brings redundancy to the table. If one rotor malfunctions, the others can compensate, significantly enhancing passenger safety for passengers.

Delving deeper into the benefits of distributed electric propulsion…

• Enhanced Safety Through Redundancy: Multiple rotors ensure that even if one fails, the remaining rotors can provide enough lift to safely land the vehicle. This design philosophy mitigates the risk of catastrophic failure, a critical aspect

for passenger confidence.

• Reduced Noise Pollution: Smaller rotors spinning at higher speeds generate less noise compared to a single large rotor. This is a major advantage for urban environments, where noise pollution is a growing concern.

• Optimized Efficiency: By adjusting the speed of individual rotors, eVTOLs can achieve optimal lift and thrust for different flight phases. For instance, during takeoff, more thrust might be required, while cruise flights might prioritize energy efficiency. This flexibility maximizes range and battery life, crucial factors for practical applications.

Tilt-Rotor Mechanisms: Offering Versatility for Takeoff, Landing, and Cruise

Some eVTOLs take things a step further by incorporating tilt-rotor mechanisms. These ingenious designs combine the advantages of vertical takeoff and landing with the efficiency of fixed-wing flight. Tilt-rotor eVTOLs offer incredible versatility. They can take off and land vertically like helicopters, then transition to horizontal flight using their rotors as propellers, providing greater range and speed.

Unpacking the Advantages of TiltRotor Mechanisms

• Vertical Mode: The rotors tilt upwards to provide ‘lift’ for takeoff and landing, similar to a helicopter. This allows for operation in areas with limited space, making them ideal for urban environments.

• Horizontal Mode: During forward flight, the rotors tilt forward, acting as propellers for a smoother, faster cruise. This enables eVTOLs to travel longer distances efficiently, expanding their potential applications.

• Transition Challenge: Seamlessly transitioning between vertical and hori-

zontal modes is a crucial engineering challenge that requires meticulous design and control systems. Precise adjustments to rotor angles and thrust are necessary to ensure a smooth and safe transition phase.

The Art of Shaping Efficiency: Aerodynamics in eVTOL Design

Every aspect of an eVTOL’s design contributes to its overall performance. Here’s how aerodynamics play a vital role…

• Streamlined Fuselage: A sleek, aerodynamic fuselage minimizes drag and maximizes energy efficiency during flight. By reducing air resistance, eVTOLs can achieve greater range and extend flight times.

• Boundary Layer Control: Advanced systems manage airflow over the eVTOL’s surfaces, reducing drag and improving stability. By controlling the airflow along the fuselage and wings, engineers can optimize aerodynamic performance.

• Wing Design: A few eVTOLs incorporate fixed or folding wings for enhanced lift and aerodynamic performance during cruise flights. Wings can significantly improve range and efficiency, making eVTOLs more practical for longer commutes.

Challenges on the Horizon: Engineering for a New Era of Transportation

While eVTOLs hold immense promise, several hurdles need to be addressed before widespread adoption becomes a reality.

Efficiency vs. Range: The Battery Conundrum

eVTOLs rely heavily on batteries for power. However, current battery technol-

ogy presents a significant challenge. Battery range is a crucial factor for eVTOL success. We are constantly pushing the boundaries of battery energy density and charging rates to ensure sufficient range for urban commutes and beyond.

A Closer Look at the Battery Challenge

• Battery Technology: Current battery limitations restrict the range of eVTOLs. Engineers are actively researching and developing batteries with higher energy density to extend flight times.

• The Delicate Trade-off: Balancing factors like payload capacity, desired range, and battery weight is a complex challenge. Increasing battery capacity for longer range inevitably adds weight, reducing the payload capacity (passengers and cargo) or flight time. Novel battery materials and designs are crucial for achieving optimal performance.

• Charging Infrastructure: Developing a robust and convenient charging infrastructure for eVTOLs is essential. This could involve a network of charging stations strategically placed around cities, potentially leveraging existing infrastructure or exploring innovative solutions like rapid-charging technologies.

• Standardization: Standardizing battery types and charging protocols will be critical for widespread eVTOL adoption. This will ensure compatibility across different manufacturers and vertiport (landing and takeoff infrastructure) operators, promoting seamless operation and user experience.

Noise Reduction: Keeping the Peace in Urban Skies

Silent operation is critical for integrating eVTOLs into urban environ-

Continued on Page 18

(Courtesy Fahad ibne Masood)

eVTOL Aircraft: Pioneering Urban Air Mobility

Continued from Page 16

ments. Urban communities, as voiced by Ms. Sarah Rodriguez, an urban planning specialist, have concerns regarding noise pollution while stating that public acceptance hinges on quiet operation. Engineers are exploring novel rotor designs, advanced blade shapes, and noise-absorbing materials to minimize noise generation from eVTOLs.

Delving into Noise Reduction Strategies

• Rotor Design: Optimizing rotor blade shapes and configurations can significantly reduce noise generation. Research is ongoing to develop quieter rotor designs that minimize air turbulence and blade tip noise.

• Advanced Materials: Utilizing noise-absorbing materials in the construction of eVTOLs can further dampen noise emissions. This could involve incorporating soundproofing materials in the fuselage and around the rotors.

• Operational Procedures: Estab-

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Cessna 182T Analog Gauges 2001+

Cessna 182T/G1000 2004+

Best-Selling

Cessna 210N Centurion 1979-1984

Cessna Turbo 182T 2001+

Cessna Turbo 182T/G1000 2006+

Cessna Turbo 206H 1998+

Cessna Turbo 210M Centurion1977-1978

Cirrus SR20 Analog Gauges 2000-2003

Cirrus SR20 G1-G2 2003-2007

Cirrus SR20 G3 2007+

Cirrus SR20 Perspective 2008+

Cirrus SR22 G1-G2 2003-2007

Cirrus SR22 G3 2007+

Cirrus SR22 Perspective 2008+

Cirrus SR22 G3 Turbo 2007+

Cirrus SR22 Turbo Perspective 2008+

Diamond DA20 C1 1998+

Diamond Star DA40 2001+

Piper Archer II PA-28-181 1976-1994

Piper Archer III PA-28-181 1995-2002

Piper Arrow 180 PA-28R-180 1967-1971

Piper Arrow II PA-28R-200 1969-1976

Piper Arrow III PA-28R-201 1977+

Piper Arrow III Turbo PA-28R-201T1977-1978

lishing designated flight paths and noise reduction protocols for eVTOLs can help mitigate noise pollution in noise-sensitive areas.

Passenger Comfort: A Smooth Ride Above the Bustle

Passenger comfort is paramount for a positive user experience as a smooth and comfortable ride is essential for attracting and retaining users.

Enhancing Passenger Comfort in eVTOLs

• Vibration Damping: Rotors can generate vibrations that can be unpleasant for passengers. Isolating passengers from these vibrations through advanced seating design and active noise cancellation technologies is crucial. Active noise cancellation systems use sound waves to create out-of-phase sound waves that cancel out unwanted noise.

Piper Arrow IV PA-28RT-201 1979-1982

Piper Arrow IV Turbo PA-28RT-201T1979-1990

Piper Cherokee 140 PA-28-1401964-1977

Piper Cherokee 150 PA-28-1501961-1967

Piper Cherokee 160 PA-28-1601961-1967

Piper Cherokee 180 PA-28-1801963-1973

Piper Dakota PA-28-236 1979-1994

Piper Cherokee Lance PA-32R-3001976-1978

Piper Navajo PA-31-310 B/C 1972-1980

Piper Navajo Chieftain PA-31-3501973-1984

Piper Saratoga SP PA-32R-3011980-1992

Piper Saratoga SP Turbo PA-32R-301T1980-1987

Piper Tomahawk PA-38-112 1978-1982

Piper Warrior 151 PA-28-151 1973-1977

Piper Warrior II PA-28-161 1976-1986

Avionics Quick Reference

• Cabin Ambiance: Creating a comfortable and inviting cabin environment is essential. This includes features like ergonomically designed seating with ample legroom, efficient climate control systems, and noise insulation for a peaceful journey. Providing ample legroom and headroom, as well as maintaining comfortable cabin temperatures, will contribute to a positive passenger experience.

• In-flight Experience: Exploring ways to enhance the in-flight experience, such as offering entertainment options or personalized controls for lighting and temperature, could further improve passenger comfort and satisfaction.

Certification and Regulation: Building Trust in the Skies

eVTOLs represent a new category of aircraft, and establishing safety standards is paramount. Air safety regulators understand the importance of a robust regulatory framework. eVTOLs do not fit neatly into existing certification categories and they are working closely with the industry to develop comprehensive safety guidelines that ensure passenger safety and public trust.

Building a Robust Regulatory Framework for eVTOLs

Avidyne Entegra

Garmin G1000 Non-WAAS

Garmin G1000

Garmin G1000 WAAS

Garmin G600/G500

Cirrus Perspective by Garmin

Bendix/King KLN 89

Bendix/King KLN 90B

Bendix/King KLN 94

Garmin GMX 200

Garmin GPS 400

Garmin GNS 430

Garmin GNS 480

Garmin GNS 530

Garmin GTN 750/650

Garmin GX Series

Garmin MX 20

Garmin 300XL/250XL

AnywhereMap ATC

AvMap EKP IV / IV Pro

AvMap EKP V (coming soon)

AvMap Geopilot II / II Plus

Bendix/King AV8OR

Bendix/King AV8OR Ace

Garmin GPSMAP 96

Garmin GPSMAP 195

Garmin GPSMAP 196

Garmin GPSMAP 295

Garmin GPSMAP 296

Garmin GPSMAP 396

Garmin GPSMAP 495

Garmin GPSMAP 496

Garmin GPSMAP 696/695

Garmin Aera Series

Lowrance Airmap 2000C/1000

Lowrance Airmap 500/600C

• Novelty and Regulation: Since eVTOLs are an innovative technology, establishing robust safety and certification standards is crucial for public confidence. Regulatory bodies are working with industry leaders to develop a comprehensive framework that addresses the unique characteristics of eVTOL operations.

• Airspace Integration: Integrating eVTOL traffic with existing air traffic management systems requires innovative solutions to ensure safe and efficient operation. This could involve developing dedicated airspace corridors for eVTOLs or utilizing advanced air traffic control technologies.

• Urban Integration: Regulations

Continued on Page 20

MANY MORE MODELS COMING SOON!

By Cynthia Wheatley Glenn

General aviation (GA) is under attack. As cries around the country, particularly in and around urban areas, proclaim we need more housing, less noise and congestion, and no lead from fuel used by small aircraft to damage our children’s developing brains, the general public is failing to realize (or are being sold a bill of goods) that shutting down general aviation airports is ultimately NOT in their best interest. So, with this in mind, let’s consider some of the current and future ramifications we as a nation might be faced with in a mere generation.

First, let’s look at housing. Housing, particularly low-income and affordable housing, is necessary to provide safe places for people to live. That said, who gets to define and determine what lowincome and affordable housing looks like in any given area? In the San Francisco Bay Area – granted, a very expensive place to live – affordable housing frequently needs an income base of over $100,000 annually to even qualify for application to live in said type of housing. There are exceptions, to be sure: a couple dozen rather nice, albeit small, attached homes walking distance from downtown San Jose, were recently auctioned off and sold to incredibly fortunate bidders for an average price of around $35,000 each. Not surprisingly, there is now a lawsuit trying to prevent these sales from going through. I’m not an attorney, yet I’m willing to infer that perhaps – perhaps – the plaintiffs in the suit just might be individuals whose bid was not accepted or –again, only perhaps – individuals who were not aware of the auction in time to participate.

Also, many of the GA airports have exquisitely convenient access to freeways. I would surmise that might be because the airports have been around and in operation far longer than housing communities in a given area. If an airport can be shut down and replaced with housing, the potential of having hundreds, if not thousands, of homes next to a freeway on-ramp and exit is extremely high. Acres and acres of land are already flat and level and ready to be repurposed. Utilities and infrastructure are probably already established, at least to a degree where developers would not need to begin at literally ground zero. Because GA airports are places filled with potential excitement and adventure, it’s pretty certain there will already be nearby hotels and restaurants to serve individuals and families whose home would then be

BE C AREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR

nearby, should the airport be closed and replaced.

As housing developments begin to grow closer to the airports, a couple of things need to be considered. For example, there are often golf courses and parks next to GA airports. Golf courses are good; parks are… iffy. Golf courses are frequently considered to be a sport enjoyed by wealthier folks, which would be a great asset for a housing community that is replacing an airport and is potentially located in or near a metropolitan area. Parks might not carry the same cache. Is the park a county-run gem, or a neighborhood consortium? For example, is it some kind of preserve with miles of hiking and biking trails, or is it a Little League facility that’s been there for years and serves under-represented and/or poorer residents whose options of joining wealthier enclaves of outside activities are limited somehow by their financial situation? I am personally aware of a situation that is closer to the latter example I’ve posed. A Little League field is near a GA airport that is receiving extreme pressure to close, and the residents have been told their baseball facility will be given a three-year interim status, that includes sharing their fields with area high schools. My question: What happens after the three years? Who knows? It certainly wasn’t explained at the County Board of Supervisors meeting I attended. Again, I’m not an attorney, and I am merely sharing my opinion regarding the “what ifs” of GA airport closures.

Let’s move on to noise and congestion. I ask: What will be louder, noise from aircraft that already adhere to noise abatement rules at their prospective airports, or thousands and thousands of additional cars driving in, through, and around their newly-developed housing community? With so many homes packed closely together (remember, the idea is to provide low-income and affordable housing), what will traffic really be like? I have heard with my own ears that housing that is near public transportation will not require parking for vehicles because vehicles will not be needed. Respectfully, this might be considered circular reasoning as low-income and affordable housing residents often work at jobs or have careers that expect them to be at their workplace before or after typical hours of service for public transport. What then? Where do new residents park? How do they guarantee a parking spot near their own home? Is that even a necessity?

Let’s move on to lead poisoning threatening our kids’ brain development.

Many politicians and fear-mongering media have – and will continue – to try and convince the general public how dangerous aviation fuel is to our local communities. The FAA is working hard to establish unleaded fuel to be used in small aircraft around the country; many small airplanes already use this type of fuel. Trucks and automobiles also use, for the most part, unleaded fuel; some –many – are even electric vehicles. At face value, this is great! However, again, I ask: Can all citizens benefit from this expensive perk? Will the number of cars using unleaded fuel within a single neighborhood exceed the number of small airplanes flying overhead that also use unleaded fuel? Keep in mind, GA airports already have in place noise abatement rules for their pilots; do automobile drivers? General aviation aircraft are hundreds of feet off the ground; autos are stuck in traffic and forming long lines of exhaust-spewing vehicles for hours a day.

We might also ask why the push against GA airports? Could it be possible some politicians’ campaigns are being funded by housing developers, contractors, and real estate companies? It might be interesting to consider this, especially since there are already many low-income and affordable housing developments, particularly large apartment complexes, that are built next to public transportation terminuses that stand only half-filled with occupants. Some of the people who live in said complexes aren’t willing to stay there because… they don’t like living next to a train station! And, ironically, many of the developers don’t live in the communities where these housing developments are being built… some even live very far away. They come swooping in, build the buildings, collect their money… and leave. Just as an idea, what would happen if those developers were responsible for also helping to develop the infrastructure of these low-income and affordable homes? What if a percentage of their profit went to creating parks, schools, and funding police, fire, and emergency services for the communities they are creating?

These are the “rest of the story” considerations for arguing against GA airports staying open and available to the public. With all of this preamble, let me submit an idea of why we as a populace should be careful what we wish for as more and more GA airports are closing. Consider this: General aviation flying is –and has been – the backbone of training for airline transport pilots (ATP) (think: major airlines such as United or Delta) for literally generations. Who will be able

to stand in the gap in ten years when there are not enough pilots to recruit to fly for the Bigs? Who will be able to fly to see their friends and families? Like housing, like driving nice cars, like affordable healthcare, it is possible that air travel will mostly be available to only the wealthy. This is not okay. It usually takes about 1,500 flight hours to be considered for training as an ATP. Most candidates earn their flight hours by teaching flight instruction. If GA airports go away, there will be fewer and fewer opportunities to teach. As a result, the pool of qualified pilots to make the jump to the Bigs will shrink; to the point, I’m predicting, that it will be next to impossible to have enough pilots at all. The major airlines are already dealing with this shortage by offering rather enticing sign-on bonuses, as well as other incentives, to lure certified flight instructors (CFIs) away from general aviation airports.

This dearth of flight instructors continues to go up the “food chain,” creating a lack of designated pilot examiners (DPEs) to give private and commercial pilots checkrides, making it possible for them to fly and build enough hours to even be considered to be hired as an ATP. The shortage doesn’t end there: Because there aren’t enough DPEs, the local Flight Standards District Offices (FSDOs) are short-handed and have trouble meeting the needs of burgeoning DPEs who want desperately to get more qualified pilots in the air.

Do you see a trend here? General aviation is a community, and pilots take people from here to there… wherever that is, to allow people to see friends and loved ones, forward commerce and business, and to work and have fun. Closing GA airports is not in anyone’s best interest… unless, of course, you are the one receiving campaign funds from housing developers, contractors, and real estate companies eager to fill their pockets then get out of Dodge.

Editor’s Note: Cynthia Glenn is a private pilot in the San Francisco Bay Area. You can contact Cynthia at flygirlbayarea@gmail.com.

RENO AIR SHOWTO FEATURE STOL DRAG DEMONSTRATION

The Reno Air Racing Association announced on June 22 another addition to the Reno Air Show! This October’s event will feature a STOL Drag Demonstration!

This exciting class of aircraft won’t be racing, but will be performing their patented Short Take Off/Landing form of flight that fans have come to love.

They join a packed lineup that

eVTOL Aircraft

Continued from Page 18

will be needed to address the safe integration of eVTOLs with urban environments. This could involve establishing noise limitations, designated landing and takeoff zones (vertiports), and protocols for emergency situations.

The Road Ahead: Collaboration is Key

The success of eVTOLs hinges on a collaborative effort, as highlighted by Dr. Matthew Jones, a leading researcher in eVTOL traffic management at NASA, “The success of eVTOLs hinges on a collaborative effort. By working together, we can usher in a new era of urban transportation that is safe, efficient, and sustainable.”

Collaboration for a Sustainable Future

• Industry, Academia, and Research: Fostering collaboration between industry leaders, academic institutions, and research bodies is essential for accelerating innovation and overcoming technical challenges.

• Public Engagement: Public outreach and education are crucial for gaining public acceptance of eVTOLs. Open communication regarding safety measures, noise mitigation strategies, and

includes the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, the Canadian Forces Snowbirds, the newly painted U.S. Air Force F-16 Viper Demo and much more.

It all takes place Oct. 4-6 at Reno Stead Airport. Premium Seating options are available but limited, so get your tickets soon at the Reno Air Show website, renoairshow.org.

potential benefits can address concerns and build trust.

• Community Involvement: Integrating eVTOL operations seamlessly into urban communities requires collaboration with local authorities and residents. This could involve planning vertiport locations in consultation with communities, ensuring minimal disruption and maximizing accessibility.

Conclusion: A Glimpse into the Future of Urban Mobility

eVTOLs hold immense potential to revolutionize urban transportation. With continued innovation and a focus on overcoming the challenges discussed above, eVTOLs can transform our cities, offering a faster, quieter, and more convenient way to travel. Imagine a world where traffic congestion is a thing of the past, where ondemand air taxis whisk you across the city, and where urban landscapes are dotted with vertiports instead of parking lots. The future of urban mobility is taking flight, and eVTOLs are at the forefront of this exciting revolution.

The Road Ahead: A Call to Action

The successful development and integration of eVTOLs require a concerted effort from various stakeholders. Engineers must continue to push the boundaries of technology, addressing challenges related to battery range, noise reduction, and passenger comfort. Regulatory bodies need to establish a robust framework that ensures safety and public trust. Urban planners and communities must work together to integrate eVTOLs seamlessly into the urban fabric. Through collaboration, innovation, and a commitment to sustainability, eVTOLs can usher in a new era of urban transportation, shaping a future where our cities are more connected, efficient, and livable.

(Courtesy Fahad ibne Masood)

C-47 THAT'S ALL, BROTHER RETURNSTOTHE U.S. AFTER HISTORIC EUROPEAN TOURFOR D-DAYAND BERLIN AIRLIFT ANNIVERSARIES

The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) has announced the triumphant return of the C-47 aircraft That’s All, Brother, to the United States. After an unforgettable journey to Europe to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of DDay and the 75th Anniversary of the Berlin Airlift, this iconic airplane is on its way home.

That’s All, Brother is no ordinary aircraft. This C-47 led the main airborne invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944, carrying paratroopers of the 101st Airborne Division into battle on D-Day. Its journey to Europe this year honored the brave individuals who served during these pivotal moments in history.

During its European tour with the DDay Squadron, That’s All, Brother participated in numerous commemorative events, reenactments, and educational programs. These events were designed to honor the sacrifices of those who served and to educate new generations about the significance of D-Day and the Berlin Airlift.

A series of events in Normandy, France, marked the 80th Anniversary of D-Day. That’s All, Brother played a central role in these ceremonies, including participating in a commemorative flight over the Normandy beaches, reenactment

jumps with paratroopers dressed in World War II-era uniforms, and a flight carrying five World War II veterans over Utah and Omaha beaches. These activities served as a powerful reminder of the courage and dedication of Allied forces during Operation Overlord.

Following the D-Day commemorations, That’s All, Brother continued its tour to Germany to honor the 75th Anniversary of the Berlin Airlift. This humanitarian mission, which took place from 1948 to 1949, saw Allied aircraft delivering vital supplies to the citizens of Berlin during the Soviet blockade. The presence of That’s All, Brother in Germany was a tribute to the spirit of cooperation and resilience that defined the Airlift.

That’s All, Brother landed in Presque Isle, Maine, on June 18. From there, it will continue flying back to its San Marcos, Texas, home base. Upon its return to the U.S., the aircraft will be available for public tours, educational programs, and special events nationwide.

“We are thrilled to welcome That’s All, Brother back home,” said Deena Clausen, Wing Leader of the Commemorative Air Force Central Texas Wing. “This aircraft is a flying museum and a testament to the bravery of those

who served during World War II. Its journey to Europe and back has allowed us to honor and remember their sacrifices in a profound way.”

About the Commemorative Air Force

The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) is the world’s largest flying military aircraft museum, dedicated to educating, inspiring, and honoring with flight and living history experiences. With more than 65 years of operation, the CAF maintains an airworthy fleet of vintage military aircraft for people to experience firsthand. The organization boasts more than 11,000 members and a fleet of over 175 vintage military aircraft distributed throughout the United States. For more information, visit www.Commemorative airforce.org.

About the D-Day Squadron

Born from the 2019 mission to Normandy, the D-Day Squadron (DDS) is a large program of the Tunsion Foundation, an established 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Its focus is on DC-3 operators, WWII commemorations, education, and outreach

programming. Programs that function under the DDS are education and outreach, a Young Historians Program and the membership arm of the DDS, the DC-3 Society. The overall purpose of the DDS is to promote DC-3 type aircraft airworthiness, serve members of the DC-3 Society and promote static and flying displays for future generations. The DC-3 Society was born to organize the collective efforts of enthusiasts, pilots, mechanics, and operators to involve the next generation in “Flying Freedom.”

For more information about the C47 That’s All, Brother, including upcoming events, or to support the Commemorative Air Force, visit www.ThatsAllBrother.org.

GAMA ANNOUNCES 2024 AVIATION DESIGN C HALLENGE WINNERS

On June 17, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) announced that the team from Raisbeck Aviation High School in Tukwila, Washington, is the winner of the 2024 GAMA Aviation Design Challenge. The team from Porter High School in Porter, Texas, was awarded second place and the team from Gonzaga College High School in Washington D.C. was awarded third place.

“Once again, the teams participating in the GAMA Aviation Design Challenge continue to amaze us with their dedica-

tion and enthusiasm for aviation and unique perspectives on aircraft design.

We congratulate the Raisbeck Aviation High School team for their outstanding first-place submission and also recognize the teams from Porter High School and Gonzaga College High School for their respective second and third-place submissions. We applaud all the schools for participating and are particularly proud of the hard work that they all put into their submissions. We look forward to furthering the reach of the program and sparking

student interest into the rewarding opportunities within general aviation,” said Pete Bunce, GAMA President and CEO.

More than 60 high school teams, representing 28 states, entered the 2024 GAMA Aviation Design Challenge.

During the first portion of the challenge, teams used complimentary “Fly to Learn” curriculum to learn the principles of flight and airplane design, consistent with national STEM standards. During the second portion of the competition,

Continued on Page 22

The 2024 GAMA Aviation Design Challenge first-place team from Raisbeck Aviation High School (from Ltp R): Kenji Gonzales, August Johnson, Colin Renberg, Gavin Johnson, Alex Mill, Colin Harrison, Oliver Swanson, AJ Poon and Emilie Woo; not pictured: Charles Atchinson and Brent Jansen. (Courtesy GAMA)

CAF has announced C-47 aircraft That's All, Brother, has returned to the United States. (Courtesy CAF)

NEW NBAA RESOURCE AIMSTO CLARIFY PART 135 TAKEOFF OBSTACLE CLEARANCE REQUIREMENTS

The Part 135 Subcommittee to the NBAA Domestic Operations Committee on June 24, introduced a new member resource to foster greater understanding of runway obstacle clearance requirements and restrictions for on-demand operators.

“Airport Runway Obstacle Analysis & FAA InFo 23009 Compliance: A Guide for Part 135 Operators” details how business aviation flight departments can implement third-party airport runway obstacle analysis software and gain approval under OpSpec (operational specification) A009 and incorporate that guidance into daily operations, company manuals, standard operating procedures and training events.

Review the guide at NBAA website (nbaa.org) or directly at https://nbaa.org/wpcontent/uploads/2024/06/NBAA-Airport-

Runway-Obstacle-Analysis-and-FAA-Info23009-Compliance.pdf. The 11-page guide can be downloaded.

Rich Boll, chair of the Airspace, Air Traffic and Flight Technologies Subcommittee of the NBAA Domestic Operations Committee, said the guide aims to eliminate confusion about revised obstacle clearance regulations published by the FAA in October 2023 for operators of large, turbine-powered transport category and commuter aircraft.

“These regulations are absolute,” he emphasized,” and they pose a penalty on the airplane’s takeoff weight to clear obstacles in the immediate takeoff flight path in the event of an engine failure on takeoff. The guide details how operators can incorporate these requirements into their GOM

(general operations manual) and training to ensure flight crews are trained, knowledgeable and prepared to implement any necessary special flight procedures.”

Many on-demand operators and Part 142 training providers have expressed confusion about those requirements, Boll continued.

“There are three basic elements at play to ensure compliance with FAA InFo 23009,” he said. “Understanding the regulatory requirements and obtaining the required authorization for your operation; training and practical knowledge for how to compute necessary obstacle clearances on takeoff; and then training to these requirements in the simulator and online.”

The guide also refers to information

outlined in Chapter 4, Volume 3 of FAA 8900.1, available online through the FAA’ s Dynamic Regulatory Library. “That gives more detail into the actual performance requirements,” Boll said, “as well as requirements on the operator and what parameters the [FAA] inspector will use when reviewing your operation to ensure you meet your regulatory requirements.

“These are things you need to start thinking about for when that knock comes on your door,” he added. “You need to be able to put your GOM and your training manual in front of the FAA and demonstrate your operation has addressed this issue, you have your A009 and you’re doing what’s required to meet these standards.”

Learn more at NBAA’s website, nbaa.org.

NATA and NBAA Respond to FAA Public Charter Announcement

Continued from Page 4

making process will provide time for the FAA and all interested parties to fully understand the historical record from the DOT and FAA, as well as the safety record of public charter operators to base any changes on accurate data rather than competitive issues. Public charter is a longstanding economic authority granted by the DOT that has existed for over 40 years. Despite the frequent use of the term “loophole,” the record supports that public charter operators were always able to utilize the services of any licensed carrier including on-demand operators. NATA looks forward to learning more about the FAA’s Safety Risk Management Panel and how the Agency will engage industry in that process,” stated NATA President and

“Part 135 operators provide valuable, safe, and secure services across the nation, offering transportation solutions and driving economic development in countless communities that are not serviced by the commercial airlines. The part 135 industry also serves as a workforce development pipeline for experienced pilots and skilled aircraft mechanics critical to the continued safety, efficiency, and growth of our nation’s commercial aviation sector. NATA is committed to safeguarding the part 135 regulatory environment from regulatory changes – intended or unintended –that would jeopardize the safety or success of aviation businesses,” added Castagna.

The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) is questioning the

rationale for a government plan to develop far-reaching new regulations, on alleged safety grounds, for certain on-demand public charter carriers that are often key to aviation service in small communities.

The plan, announced on June 17 by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officials, applies to public charter operators regulated under FAA Part 135 safety rules and Department of Transportation Part 380 economic requirements.

“Safety is the top priority for business aviation, and our sector has an impeccable record of leadership in working with government agencies and other stakeholders in the development of regulations that address safety concerns and put operational needs first. The FAA’s announcement suggests an intention to

2024 Aviation Design Challenge Winners

Continued from Page 20

teams applied their knowledge to virtually modify an airplane design and compete in a fly-off using X-Plane software.

This year’s mission was to modify a Cessna 208 Caravan to fly from Homer to Seaward, Alaska, as quickly and efficiently as possible. The teams needed to design their aircraft to maximize speed and efficiency and successfully navigate between two remote locations with high terrain. Judges scored the teams based on performance parameters, a checklist of steps involved in the demonstration flight and a video submission in which the team summarized what they learned.

Members of the first-place team from Raisbeck Aviation High School include Charles Atchison, Kenji Gonzales, Colin Harrison, Brent Jansen,

August Johnson, Gavin Johnson, Alex Mill, AJ Poon, Colin Renberg, Oliver Swanson and Emile Woo. Their entry optimized the aircraft to carry a maximum payload in the shortest time with an elaborate design process which included low two-section wings with fast airfoils, a streamlined fuselage and increased horsepower. The team’s first-place prize includes a CubCrafters Manufacturing Experience, demonstration flight opportunities and much more.

When asked about this year’s competition, the Raisbeck Aviation team advisors said, “The GAMA Challenge is one of the highlights of the school year for team members at Raisbeck. This year’s team really had a fun leaning experience with the bigger turbine powered Caravan flying in Alaska. They were really excited to

learn their design had won first place and are looking forward to the CubCrafters Manufacturing Experience.” With the team adding, “No plane, no gain.”

The second-place entry from Porter High School illustrated an intricate design with an extended high-aspect ratio wing, larger propeller, reduced engine RPM, T-Tail design and an airfoil shaped fuselage. They will receive a two-day Redbird Flight Simulations STEM Lab.

The third-place entry from Gonzaga College High School demonstrated an intricate design and testing process with slightly decreased wing area, decreased horsepower, a four-blade propeller and an aerodynamic fuselage to reduce drag. They will receive one-year ForeFlight Performance Plus subscriptions and a flight simulator experience with Joby Aviation.

sidestep both considerations,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen.

“Specifically, the plan to impose new requirements on these carriers has been introduced without an apparent data-based safety rationale. Additionally, the FAA’s approach to developing the requirements has the potential to relegate to the sidelines the citizens in small communities and other important voices most impacted by this process.

“We call upon the FAA to step forward with a data-driven basis that explains the need for this change, and detail its intended process for engaging with all voices in a meaningful dialogue about the agency’s approach to public charter policy.”

Learn more about NBAA at nbaa.org and about NATA at nata.aero.

The 2024 Aviation Design Challenge sponsoring companies include Bombardier, Camp Systems, Cirrus Aircraft, Click Bond, CubCrafters, Embraer, ForeFlight, Garmin, Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, Hartzell Propeller, Jet Aviation, Joby Aviation, Pratt & Whitney Canada, Redbird Flight, Signature Aviation, Textron Aviation and Wipaire. Sponsors provide financial support for the curriculum, software and prizes as well as in-kind donations.

“We are grateful for the tremendous support of the program’s sponsors – their commitment to furthering youth outreach allows us to be able to offer and grow this program and its incredible experiences.” Bunce said.

To learn more about the organizations involved in structuring the competition, visit gama.aero and flytolearn.com.

CEO Curt Castagna.

Cruise comfortably at over 200 kts. Climb at 1700 ft./min. Over 1600 lbs. useful. Twin engine safety and comfort. Has had only three owners. Check this one out soon!

INCREDIBLEPERFORMANCE!Super fast. Super high-flying in pressurized turbineengine comfort with 750 horses. What happens when you buy a jet? You have to sell your turbo-prop. Even a gorgeous one like this.

AMEXICAN RENDEZVOUS:

“WE DON’T NEED NO S TINKIN’BADGES!”

It’sbeenalongtimesinceI’vebeento Mexicoinanythingbutacorporatejet.

I’vebeentherequiteafewtimeswith myoldboss,NetJetsbutthistimeitwould beverydifferent;nocomputerizedflight plans,nogroundcrewawaitingourarrival, noconciergehelpingarrangecustoms clearance,nofancyhourlyweather updatesandforecasting,nocatering,nada.

So,whenIgotupato’darkthirty Wednesdaymorning,I’mthinking, “WhydoIdothistomyself?Isitbecause thepainofanearlyget-upistemporary, exceededonlybythethrillandfulfillmentofdoingsomethingdifferent?Ordo Ineedajolteveryonceinawhile,a reprievefromnormalcy,aboostoutof geezerboredom,areminderthatlifeis shortso‘justdoit,’likeNikesays?”

ThelasttimeIflewtoMexicoina smallplanewaswhenIracedamotorcycle withtwootherguysintheBaja1000back in1973.Thiswaswhentheracewasthe fulllengthofBajafromEnsenadatoLa Paz.Thattime,wehadtodropsupplies, caches,alongourroute,stoppingalongthe wayatsmallairportstorefuelandbacktracktoourcachelocations.

ThistimeitwasatriptoMexico withoneofmystudents,averysharp MexicanbusinessmanwhomIhad recentlyinstructedinthesimulator.He andafellowMexicanpilot–awhole otherstory–tookatwin-enginetraining coursethatthesimulatorcompanyIused toworkforoffered.

Outthedoorat03:30,hit(Highway) 101southboundfromPetaluma(whenI wasakidtherewouldn’tbethismuch trafficon101eveninrushhour.Actually 101neverexistedwhenIwasakid!)

WeavingthroughthefreewayconstructionnarrowssouthofPetaluma,tryingtoclearthecobwebsoutofmyhead, soIcouldsteeracoursethroughthechicanes,fearingformylife,twofeetaway fromthefrontwheelofan18-wheeler, youknow,theoneswiththebigchrome lugnuts,thatlookliketheybelongona medievalchariot,designedtocutthelegs outfromunderthefootsoldiers.

WhyamInotcontenttostayhome, languishinginalifeofrelativeluxury alongsidethewomanIlovewhowascryingoutoffearformylifelastnight,comparedtotheworldI’mabouttoenter southoftheborder.

WednesdaySFOtoELP(ElPaso) I’marealpassengerthistime!

Heyit’sdifferentthistrip;Iactually belong;I’mnotadreaded“non-rev,”a

formerairlineemployeemooch-begging foraseat.Instead,formytripfromSFO (SanFrancisco)toELP(ElPaso)togetin positiontoferrytheairplaneIwashired tofly,Iactuallyhavearealseatthatwas paidforbymyMexicanbossinsteadof worryingaboutbribingthegateagentto bumpmeupthestandbylist.

IpullintotheparkinglotatSignature FlightSupportattheSFOExecutive Terminal.SignatureistheFBO(Fixed BaseOperator–companiesthatservice privateaircraftatmostgood-sizedairports)atSFO.Oncethebrakesareparked, Iheadintotheofficeandrenewmyold NetJetstieswiththelineteam.

ThenIrunintoJesus,(pronounced Heysus)oneofthelineguys.Ithinkto myself,“IsthisasignthatGod’sgotmy backonthistrip!?”Wetalk,Iprayforhim, hisfamilyandhisnewmufflerbusiness.

HegivesmearideovertotheterminalwhereIboardanAmericanAirlines flightfromSFO–PHX–ELP(San FranciscotoPhoenixtoElPasoforthose unfamiliarwithairlinehieroglyphics).

Icheckinwiththeboardingagentat thegate,hernameisAngelica!Another signthatGodiswatchingoverme?I smileandmentiontoherhowoftenI’m blessedbymeetingangelswhenItravel; she’snotimpressed.Maybebecause therearetenpeoplebehindme,shuffling around,tryingtocheckin.Iboard,tryto sleeponthewaytoPHX,noluck.Some thingsneverchange.

ImeetPedroinPHXandweboard theshortflighttoELPwherehisnew,1975 Cessna421ishangared.It’sbeenpre-purchaseinspectedandpassedbutit’sstillan unknowntous,havingneverevenstarted theenginesmuchlessflownit.

AmInuts,totallyirresponsible? HereIam,bumpingupagainst80years old,andI’mabouttojumpintoanoldairplane,neverhavinglookedatthelog book,knowingnothingaboutthebird andplanningonflyingittoMexicoCity withPedrohiswifeandtwobabygirls?

Whatifsomethinggoeswrong,an enginequits,anythingthatcouldcauseus tolandin1,500milesofbarrensand betweenSDM,BrownField,21miles southeastofSANwherewe’reheaded forashakedownflight,andMexicoCity? NotjustforPedro’sfamilybutwhatifI leavemywifeawhimperingwidowif somethinggoeswrongandwehaveto dumpthisthinginthedesert?

IpraytoGodthatI’mdoingtheright thing,notjusttopursueanadventurebut really,toservethismanandhisfamily whileImakesomeextracashformyroleas

safetypilot(meaningPedroisthepilotin commandandI’malongfortherideto makesurethatifanythinggoeswrong,Ican callon18,000hoursofflyingtimetosomehowkeepus,ifnotstraightandlevelatleast fromcrashinganddyinginthatwasteland).

ELPtoSAN (ElPasotoSanDiego)

Wearriveatthehangarwheretheairplaneisstored,andImeetJuan,Pedro’s uncle(averycool,guywhoiskindofa localaviationlegend).Wegooverthe paperwork,checktomakesurethattheaircraftregistrationandotherrequiredpaperworkisonboard.ImmediatelyIremember that,justyesterday,IcalledAOPA (AircraftOwnerandPilotsAssociation) andboughttheirbasicpilotinfoplanand fullinsurancecoverageshouldanything gosouth,ernorthinourcase!

Next,topoffthefueltanks,get instructionsfromJuanhowtostartthe engines,especiallyhowtostartthemif they’rehot,andafterdiscussinghowwe shouldgoaboutmakingsurethisthingwill fly,wedecideonafast,full-powertaxiroll downtherunwaytotesttheengines.

Wetaxiout,runthethrottlesup,do thepropcyclecheckat1,500rpmsto makesurethepropellerswillfeatherand nada!Thepropsdon’tfeather.(Feather meansthepropbladesturnflatsothey don’tprovidedragshouldtheenginequit, acrucialsafetyfeature).

I’malmostrelievedandfigurethetrip isn’tmeanttobe.Butthatthoughtpasses quicklyasIrememberwhyI’mhere.

WecallJuan,andhetellsusthereasontheydon’tfeatherisweneedtorun theenginesupto1,700rpmsbeforethey willfeather.

Satisfied,wetaxioutandtakeoff,and getourIFR(instrumentflightrules)clearancetoBrownField(nearSanDiego) wherewe’llpickupPedro’swifeandkids. Inflight,wefigureoutmanifoldpressure andpowersettingcombinations,howto worktheautopilot(lousyaltitudehold) andhowtodealwithlittleidiosyncrasies thata43-year-oldairplaneaccumulates.

We’resweatingwiththepossibility ofhavingtoflyatnightinanunfamiliar airplanebutwegainanhourfromEl PasotoBrownFieldandlandbeforeit getsdark,at19:30.

TheapproachintoBrownField, (SDM)istorunway26,directlyintothe settingsun.Itremindsmeofoneofmy firstflightswithNetJetsintothesameairfield,underthesameconditionsandhow wecouldn’treallyseetherunwayuntil thelastminutebecauseofthesun.

Wecomeintoohightomaketherunwaysothetowergivesusa360-degree descendingturnoverheadtherunway.To descendfurtherwehavetodumpeverythingout(meaninglandinggearandflaps, notstuffinthecabin!)tomakethelanding.

Wetietheairplanedown,Pedrocalls Uberandweheadintotowntothe“Taco Towers,”theplacewherewemeet Pedro’swifeandkids,wherewealthy Mexicansforyearshaveboughtcondos.

ThedriverdropsPedroandhisgear offandIcontinuetotheWestinhotelin downtownSanDiego.

Thursday8/18SanDiegoto Mazatlan,er,Culiacan!

ThenextdayIwanderaround,shootingsomepicturesoftheoldSantaFetrain station,someitinerantguysittingonsome steps,slumpedover,checkinghisemail. Howdohomelessguysaffordcellphones?

Lateron,Ifindoutwedon’tjustget up,packourbagsandgowithtwolittle kidsundertheageof4!Wefinallytake offforourfirststopthatisprojectedtobe Mazatlan.Butaswecruisealong,we soonrealizewe’rebuckingastronger headwindthanforecastsowedosome quickcalculationsandoptforalandingat CuliacanforourentrypointintoMexico.

Culiacan

Welandwithaboutanhouroffuel left,enoughtomakemegladwedidn’t trytostretchit.Thelandingissmooth, Pedro’ssecondone,uneventful.Irememberthenamesofsomeofthesametowns Idrovepastbackinthe60swithabuddy ofmineonmyfirstMexicoadventure.(I evenhavepicturesofmewithahuge MarlinsailfishthatIcaughtwhileIwas bentovertherailofthefishingboat, depositingwhatwasleftofmytunafish sandwichintotheGulfofMexico.)

WeclearcustomsatCuliacan,but notbeforeIdigthroughbagsofbaby clothes,food,luggage,casesofwaterand diapers,tofindmypassportbeforeIcan getofftheplaneandgointotheterminal toclearcustoms.

Man,Ican’tfindmypassport!AndI havetopee.SoIgobackonboard,grab therelieftubefromundertheminiature pottyanddoit.NowIknowwhythey nameitrelief!IknowbetterbutIlaughat thethoughtifthisislikeonthetrain, wherethesignsays,“Donotflushtoilet inthestation!”Ilookundertheplanebut don’tseeanything!

ContinuedonPage25

AMexicanRendevous

Finally,Ifindmypassport,where Pedrohadtuckeditintothesidepocket alongsidethepilot’sseat.Thecustomsguy nowletsmeofftheairplaneandIheadinto theterminalwherePedrosignsforms, talkstocustomsandweheadtothehotel.

It’slateandIdon’twanttoeatafull mealbeforebedsoIgototherestaurant, getafruitsaladwithyogurt.Delicious.I forgothowgoodthepapayaisinMexico. Iinstantlythink,“Icouldlivehere!”

Weallsleepwell,getupthenextday andIgodownandorderbreakfast.More deliciouspapaya,withsomekindofgranola andsomereallybadcoffee.Thecoffee’sso bad,nowIthink,“CouldIreallylivehere?” IneverthoughtI’dbecomeacoffeesnob butthecoffeemakesthisaseriousquestion!

Friday8/19CuliacantoToluca

Weflewforalmostfivehoursyesterdayandtodayitfeelslikeit!Wedidn’t haveachancetostretchmuch,ordrink enoughwatersincetherewassomuch stuffbackinthecabin,kidsasleep,bags everywhere,etc.soIfeelthedehydration.

Wefuelup,knowingnowthatour rangeisn’tquiteasgoodaswethought; eitherthatortheheadwindsareoften strongerthanforecast.Wealsoseethe weatheratTolucaisforecastforthunderstormsandrainforourarrivaltime.

I’mconfidentinPedro’sproficiency intheairplaneandamcontinually amazedathisskill,havingonly250 hoursasapilot.Hetellsmethathegot bothhisinstrumentandmulti-engineratinginthesameday,anunusualaccomplishment.Ihaveanewrespectforhim, notonlyasapilot,butasacompetent, consideratehumanbeing.

Mybeingonthistripwasnecessary inorderforhimtolog25hoursflighttime withaninstructorsohecouldqualifyfor insurancetoflysoloinhisnewairplane.

TheflighttoTolucawassmooth, weathernotaproblem,justtheusualscatteredbuildupofcumuluscloudsenroute.

Wegetradarvectorstothefinal approachcourseatTolucaairport,having toflythroughsomerainshowers betweenusandtheairport.

TolucatoCaminoReal, theAirportHotel

Pedromultitasksonthegroundat Toluca,hishomebase,callsanUberride, makesareservationformeattheMexico Cityairport.Imeethisfather,weshake hands,hughiswifeandkidsandhopin theUber.

Theoutcomeoftheridetothehotel

was,astheysayinaviation,“seriouslyin doubt.”BumpertobumperFridaynight Mexicanrushhourairporttraffic,the driverloseshisUberGPSsignalandwe flatoutstopwithnosignal.Thedriver callsPedroandsomehow,hehooksusup withanewGPSsignalandofftotheairport,aftertwoandhalfhoursand40 milesintraffic;looksjustlikehome!

Ifindoutalltheairporthotelsare ownedbythesamecompany.The CaminoRealisverynicebutlittledetails giveitaway,likethehotwaterknobin thebathroomsinkcomesoffinmyhand.

Saturday8/20MexicoCityto SFO,AeroMexicoAirlines

Igetupthreehoursearly,headtothe airport,getmyboardingpass,askthe gateagentforanopenrowsoIcan stretchoutandgetsomesleep.Shesays, great,hereitis.

Withtwohourstowait,Iheadtothe foodcourt,meetaDeltacaptainthere, starttalking,askhimwhat’sagood restaurant,hesteersmetotheonerightin frontofus.Iorderwhathe’seatingand it’soneofthemostdelicious$4,Huevos RancherosbreakfastI’veeverhad,more impressivebecauseit’sinanairport.I’m backtobeingabletoliveinMexico…

Smoothfour-hour-plusflightto SFO,whereIfindoutI’mnotinanopen rowbutI’msittingnexttoaniceyoung couplefromPetaluma,myhometown! KyleandItalkforthebetterpartoftwo hours,thenIrelaxintosleepandamovie.

ThedrivehomethroughTheCity (SanFrancisco),upNineteenthAvenue and101throughMarinandthroughthe NovatonarrowsintoPetalumaona Saturdayafternooniseasy.

Reflections:

I’mgratefulfortheopportunityto shepherdPedroandhisfamilyback homeuneventfully,reassuredthatwe madetherightdecisionsincheckingout theairplanebeforelaunchingoffonthe trans-desertflight,happytohavesome lighttwintimeinmylogbookafterso manyjethoursandreassuredthatGod hadmybackthewholeway.

PedroheadedofftoItalyforaweddingsoonafterwearrivedinToluca. SinceI’mnolongerinstructinginsimulators,I’manxiouslyanticipatingmy nextadventure,eitheraflyingand/ora writinggigthatGodhasforme.

Ahighschoolbuddyofminecalled merecentlyandsaidsomethingabout helpinghimlaunchaGodmobile… Staytuned!

NeverHi AviationW W (WhoDo KnowtheLa irean esn’t anguage o orHasn’tW

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BOOK REVIEW: SHOT DOWN, STORYOF B-17 SUSAN RUTH

ShotDown:Thetruestoryofpilot HowardSnyderandtheCrewoftheB-17 SusanRuth byauthorSteveSnyderisan Amazonbestsellerandrecipientofmore than25nationalbookawards. ShotDown issetwithintheframeworkofWorldWar IIinEuropeandrecountsthedramatic experiencesofeachmemberofaten-man B-17bombercrewaftertheirplane,pilotedbyauthorSteveSnyder’sfather,was knockedoutoftheskybyGermanfightersovertheFrench/Belgiumborderon Feb.8,1944.

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Somemendied.Somewerecapturedandbecameprisonersofwar.Some menevadedcaptureandweremissingin actionformonthsbeforemakingitback toEngland.Theirindividualstoriesand thoseofthecourageousBelgianpeople whoriskedtheirlivestohelpthemareall differentandareallremarkable.

Evenbeforethedramaticbattleinthe airandthesubsequentharrowingevents ontheground,thestoryisinformative, insightful,andcaptivating.Priortothe fatefulevent,thebookcoversthecrew's training,theirjourneytoEngland,what lifewaslikeonbaseaswellasinLondon andtheEnglishcountryside,andtheperils ofthe8thAirForceflyingcombatmissionsoveroccupiedEuropeandGermany.

Throughpersonalletters,oraland writtenaccounts,declassifiedmilitarydocuments,andinterviews–allfrompeople whotookpartintheeventsthathappened morethan70yearsago(eventheGerman Luftwaffepilotwhoshotdownthe Susan Ruth)–thestoriescomealive.Addingto thefeelingof“beingthere,”aremorethan 200time-periodphotographsinterspersed throughoutthebook.

Toaddbackgroundandcontext, manyhistoricalfactsandanecdotesabout andsurroundingWorldWarIIare entwinedthroughoutthebooksothatthe readerhasafeelforandunderstandingof whatwasoccurringonabroaderscale. ShotDown isanaccountaboutbrave individuals,featuringpilotHoward Snyder,setwithinthecompellingevents

(CourtesySteveSnyder/Amazon)

ofthegreatestconflictinworldhistory. In1989,amemorialtothecrewof the SusanRuth wasdedicatedat Macquenoise,Belgiumandeveryyear celebrationsareheldtohonorand rememberthemenwhoarenowallgone butnotforgotten.

SteveSnyderBio

AgraduateofUCLA,SteveSnyder livesinSealBeach,California.In2009, heretiredfromVisionServicePlan (VSP)aftera36-yearcareerworkingin salesandsalesmanagement.Hethen beganhisquesttolearnmoreaboutthe WorldWarIIexperiencesofhisfather, pilotHowardSnyder,andthecrewofthe B-17 SusanRuth.Itbecamehispassion, andafterfour-and-a-halfyearsofdedicatedresearch,resultedinhisbook, Shot Down,whichhasreceived25book awards.Steveispresidentofthe306th BombGroupHistoricalAssociationand ontheboardofdirectorsofthe8thAir ForceHistoricalSociety.Hekeepsvery busymakingPowerPointpresentationsto alltypesoforganizationsandattending airshowsaroundthecountrysigning copiesofhisbook.

Tolearnmore,gotothebookwebsiteathttp://SteveSnyderAuthor.com.

HOVERFLY TECHNOLOGIES CELEBRATES MAJOR MILESTONE:OVER 500 TETHERED DRONE SYSTEMS SOLDTOTHE ARMY

HoverflyTechnologies,aleading engineeringdesignandmanufacturerof tethereddronesystemsbasedinSanford, Fla.,hasannouncedthereceiptofasignificantpurchaseorderfor120systems, spareparts,andaccessoriestotaling$14 million.Thisorderisalsoasignificant milestone:over500Hoverflytethered dronesystemshavebeensoldtotheU.S. Army.Thesestate-of-the-artsystemsare beingemployedacrosstheglobe,deliveringunparalleledcapabilitiesinbothcommunicationandintelligence,surveillance,andreconnaissance(ISR).

Hoverfly’stethereddronesareatthe forefrontofmodernmilitarytechnology. AllHoverflysystemsarepayloadagnostic,allowingformanydifferentapplications.Thesesystemsservevariousroles includingasaVariableHeightAntennas (VHA),ondemand,persistentISR,flyingCounter-UASpayloads,orevenflyingEWpayloads.Theprimaryusecase fortheArmyistetheredUASproviding dramaticrangeextensionforcommunicationnetworksbyflyingtacticalradios,

allowingforatacticallyrepositionable antennaatheightsupto200feetwiththe simplepressofabutton.Thiscapability ensuresrobustandextendedcommunicationnetworks,crucialformissionsuccess indiverseandchallengingenvironments.

“Ourtethereddronesrepresenta leapforwardincommunication,situationalawareness,counterdrone,and electronicwarfarecapabilities,”said SteveWalters,CEOofHoverfly Technologies.“Surpassing500systems soldtotheU.S.Armyunderscoresthe trustandrelianceplacedonourtechnology.Ourtetheredsystemsareenabling technologiesthatmakeadvancednetwork,ISR,EWandCUASpayloads evenbetterbygettingthemabovethetree lineandgroundclutter.Soldiersoperatingoursystemsduringtacticalexercises, consistentlyreportthatourdronessignificantlyenhancetheiroperationaleffectiveness,givingourforcesasignificant tacticaladvantage.”

Thesystemsaredesignedtooperate inallweatherconditionsandcanbe

deployedfrombothmannedand unmannedvehiclesorvessels.Hoverfly’s tethereddronescanremainairbornefor hoursorevendays,farsurpassingthe operationallimitsoftraditional unmannedaerialsystems.Thisextended flightdurationismadepossiblethrougha continuouspoweranddatatransmission viathetether,whichalsoensuresthesystem’ssecurityfromjamming,hacking,or interception.Tofurtherminimizethe risksofjammingordetection,Hoverfly tethereddronesdonotproduceanyRF emissionsandcanoperateproficientlyin GPScontestedenvironments–afeature thathasproventobeextremelyvaluable inpresentroboticwarfare.

TheU.S.Army’sdeploymentof Hoverfly’stethereddronesacrossvarious globallocationshighlightstheirversatilityandreliabilityinenhancingcommunicationnetworksandprovidingondemand,persistentISR.Thesecapabilitiesareessentialformaintainingoperationalreadinessandeffectivenessin modernmilitaryoperations.

Withthemostrecentorderof$14million fromtheU.S.Army,Hoverflycontinuesto bealeaderintethereddronetechnology. (CourtesyHoverflyTechnologies)

HoverflyTechnologiescontinuesto innovateandleadinthefieldoftethered dronesystems,committedtoproviding advancedsolutionsthatmeettheevolvingneedsofdefenseandsecurityforces worldwide.Learnmoreathoverflytech.com.

ARCHER ANNOUNCES L ANDMARK INFRASTRUCTURE DEALWITH

SIGNATURE AVIATION;GAINS

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PRIVATE AVIATION TERMINALS IN THE WORLD

ArcherAviationInc.,aleaderinelectricverticaltakeoffandlanding(eVTOL) aircraft,andSignatureAviation,theworld’s largestnetworkofprivateaviationterminals,recentlyannouncedthesigningofa memorandumofunderstanding(MOU) focusedonelectrifyingSignature’sindustry-leadingnetworkofmorethan200airportterminals,givingArcheraccesstotakeoffandlandingsitesinmajormetropolitan areasacrosstheU.S.andglobally,including NewYork,LosAngeles,SanFranciscoBay Area,andTexas.TheMOUidentifiesdayoneopportunitiesforlaunchingArcher’sair taxiserviceinkeyUnitedAirlineshubsat NewarkInternational(EWR)andChicago O’Hare(ORD)Airports.

Thetwocompaniesplantoleverage theirexistingpartnershipswithBETA TechnologiestoinstallBETA’sinteroperable rapidrechargingsystemsacrossSignature’s industry-leadingnetworkofprivateaviation terminals.Thesesystemsutilizethe CombinedChargingSystem(CCS),which canchargeelectricaircraft,cars,airplane tugs,buses,andotherformsoftransportation commonlyusedatairports.Theinteroperable rapidrechargingsystem,recentlyendorsed bytheGeneralAviationManufacturers

Association(GAMA),hasbeeninstalledat 20-plusairportsacrossthecountrywith50 newsitesindevelopment,andiscurrently usedbytheindustry’sleadingoriginalequipmentmanufacturers(OEMs).

“Wearethrilledtojoinforceswith SignatureAviationtoadvancetheinfrastructureneededtosupportthefutureof urbanairmobility.Byfocusingonelectrifyingkeyaviationassetsinmajorcities suchasNewYorkandChicago,weare takingessentialstepstowardmakingsustainableandefficientairtravelareality,” saidBryanBernhard,Archer’sChief Growth&InfrastructureOfficer.“This partnershipwillhelpusestablisharobust networkoflandingsitesacrossthecountrytoenablethescalingofourairtaxi service,ensuringourMidnightaircraft canseamlesslyintegrateintourbanenvironmentsandprovideareliabletransportationsolutionforourpassengers.”

“We’recommittedtoshapingthe futureofaviationthroughsustainabilityand thrilledtoworkalongsideArcheraswe expandourinfrastructuretosupportthe electrificationoftheindustry,”saidDerek DeCross,ChiefCommercialOfficerat SignatureAviation.“Thiscollaboration

unlocksnewpossibilitiesinthedesignand introductionofinnovativesustainableaviationsolutionswhilealsobringingourguests greateraccesstothefutureofurbanair mobilityviaArcher’sMidnightaircraft.”

Thetwocompaniesplantoelectrify initiallaunchlocationsasearlyas2025, withfurtherexpansionplannedacross SignatureAviation’sglobalnetworkas Archer’saircraftavailabilityincreases, establishingaleadingelectricaviation infrastructureexperiencethatofferspremiumservicestoSignature’sguests.

Archer’sgoalistotransformurban travel,replacing60to90-minutecommutes bycarwithestimated10to20-minuteelectricairtaxiflightsthataresafe,sustainable, lownoise,andcost-competitivewith groundtransportation.Archer’sMidnightis apiloted,four-passengeraircraftdesigned toperformrapidback-to-backflightswith minimalchargetimebetweenflights.

Archerisdesigninganddeveloping electricverticaltakeoffandlandingaircraftforuseinurbanairmobilitynetworks.Archer’smissionistounlockthe skies,freeingeveryonetoreimaginehow theymoveandspendtime.Archer’steam isbasedinSantaClara,CA.Tolearn

ArcherandSignaturerecentlysigneda memorandumofunderstanding(MOU) identifyinginitialdayoneopportunities forlaunchingairtaxiservicesincluding inkeyUnitedAirlineshubsatNewark International(EWR)andChicago O’Hare(ORD)Airports,asearlyasthe endof2025.(CourtesyArcherAviation)

more,visitwww.archer.com.

Signatureoperatesanindustry-leading networkofprivateaviationterminals,with morethan200locationscoveringkeydestinationsin27countriesacrossfivecontinents,isthelargestdistributorofsustainable aviationfuel(SAF)andbecamethefirstaviationfirmtoachieveoperationalcarbonneutralityin2022.Thecompanyalsooffers15 millionsquarefeetofcarbonneutralmultiuseofficeandhangarrealestateglobally, providinguniquenetworkwidebenefitsand advantagestoguestswhobasetheiraircraft ataSignaturelocation.Formoreinformation,visitwww.signatureaviation.com.

OODIES

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AircraftSpruce&SpecialtyCo.hasbeenthesupplierthataircraftbuilders,owners,pilots,andaviationbusinesseshavedependedonsince1965.Theycarryawide selectionofaircraftparts,buildingmaterials,avionics,andpilotsupplies,allofwhichareofferedontheirwebsite(www.aircraftspruce.com)andinthefamousAircraftSprucecatalog,nowover1,000-pagesavailablefordownloadorforfreeinprint.YoucandependonAircraftSpruceforpromptshippingandcompetitivepricingonallorders.

AIRCRAFT SPRUCEIS HEADEDTO AIRVENTURE

IfitisAirVenturemonth,thenitis summer!JoinAircraftSpruceat AirVentureandthencheckoutthemany productstheyhaveavailabletobeatthe summertimeheat,whetheryou’restaying hometocleanupyourairplaneandhangar orheadingoutonanadventure.Happy summerflyingfromAircraftSpruce!

AircraftSprucewillbeattheEAA AirVentureOshkoshJuly22through28, 2024.VisittheirboothHangarA,booths 1022-1029togetgreatdiscountsand meettheircustomerfriendlyAircraft SpruceTeam.

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ReleaseUltraConcentrateOne GallonAircraft Cleaner/Degreaser

Reachfor Release–The mosteffective aircraftcleaner anddegreaseris safetouseon allaviationsurfacesduetoitsadvancedassociative technology.Nomorespottesting,it won’thurtthesurface,period.Release Ultraisanultra-concentratednon-solvent baseproductthatisformulatedforrapid penetrationandremovalofdirt,grease, grime,oil,exhaustsoot,bugs,andorganicsoils.Itwillneedtobediluteddownto aready-to-useratiothatfitsyourcleaning needs.Releaseworksbyemulsifyingthe soilandreleasingitfromthesurface,not attackingit.Releasecanbeusedoninteriorsandexteriorsandisfragrance-free, meaningthereisnochemicalsmell.

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ThelistofsurfacesReleasecanbe usedonisendless,thisisbecauseitcontainsnophosphatesorharmfulchemicals andwon’tstainthesurface.Itevenmeets AMS,Boeing,andMcDonnellDouglas specificationsandisapprovedforuseon TextronbrandssuchasCessna,Hawker, andBeechcraft.You’llhavepeaceof mindwhenusingRelease®thatitwon’t stainordamagethesurfaceyou’recleaning.Asinglegallonsellsfor$82.75anda caseoffoursellsfor$328.

LiftAviation

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Sandalsareyourgotofootwearwhen you’reontheairstrip, beach,orpoolside. Thesesandalsusea lightweightrubberbase,leatherandfeatureLiftAviationlogo.Ranginginsizes fromsmalltoextra-extralarge,eachpair sellsfor$35.AircraftSprucefeaturesa rangeofLiftproducts,includingAirBoss shoesandsocks.Seethewebsitefor details(aircraftspruce.com).

FlightBag

AirClassicspilot gearpresentsa clean,sophisticated, andprofessional lookwithsupremely functionaldesigns abletowithstandthedemandingaviation environment.Engineeredspecificallyto meettheneedsofprofessionalpilotswith collaborationandinputfromflightcrews throughouttheindustry,thestructuredand professionalASACrewTripBagisan excitingadditiontotheAirClassicscrew line.Thismodernflightbagisdesigned withattentiontoeverydetailforultimate functionality.

Thebagsellsfor$175.75.Alsolook forthelargerASAAirClassicsCrewPack sellingfor$259.95.

WhelenParmetheusG3Par36 Landing&TaxiLightFAA-PMA

The ParmetheusG3is thelatestaddition totheParmetheus productfamily. Keepingthetraditionofindustry leadingperformanceandvalue,thenewG3Seriesis2.5 timesbrighterthantheParmetheusPlus allwhilemaintainingthesameform,fit andfunctionalityofadrop-inLED replacementforlegacylandinglights.No needtospecifyvoltageastheG3operates from14-28volts.

Selectfromthelandinglightorthe taxilight.Eachsellsfor$299.

GotYourSixAviation6Piece Sunshade/SunscreenProtection Set-CompleteAircraft

Theperfectsolutionforanaircraft windowwithamountedcompassnear thewindow-itsimplyconformsaround thecompass.Sixfullsizedwindowsun-

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Measurementsandquantitiesofthe productareasfollows:onepieceat391/4inchesx19-1/2inches,twopiecesat 17-1/4inchesx14-3/4inches,twopieces at25-1/2inchesx14-3/4inchesandone pieceat55inchesx25-7/8inches.The setsellsfor$45.75.

FindAircraftSpruceatthefollowingairshowevents:

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EAAAirVentureinOshkosh,WI Booth:HangarA,booths1022-1029

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NBAAConventioninLasVegas,NV Boothspacetobeannounced.

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NAAAAGAviationExpoinFortWorth, TX Boothspacetobeannounced.

Homebuilder’sWorkshop

ByEd Wischmeyer

ED WISHMEYER WINS WRIGHT BROTHERS MASTER PILOT AWARD

InFlightUSA columnistEd Wischmeyerhasbeenawardedthe WrightBrothersMasterPilotAward.He receivedtheawardonJune15from DwayneHudsonoftheFAA.

TheWrightBrothersMasterPilot AwardisnamedinhonorofOrvilleand WilburWrightwhoweretwoAmerican aviationpioneerscreditedwithinventing, building,andflyingtheworld’sfirstsuccessfulmotor-operatedairplane.The WrightBrothersmadethefirstcontrolled,sustainedflightofapowered, heavier-than-airaircraftwiththeWright FlyeronDec.17,1903atKittyHawk, NorthCarolina.Thebrotherswerealso thefirsttoinventaircraftcontrolsthat madefixed-wingpoweredflightpossible.

InordertobeeligiblefortheWright BrothersMasterPilotAward,nominees mustmeetthefollowingcriteria:

•HoldaU.S.CivilAviationAuthority (CAA)orFederalAviationAdministration(FAA)pilotcertificate.

•Have50ormoreyearsofciviland militarypilotingexperienceor50or moreyearscombinedexperienceinboth pilotingandaircraftoperations.

•Upto20yearsoftherequired50 yearsmaybeU.S.militaryexperience.

•Theeffectivestartdateforthe50 yearsisthedateofthenominee’sfirst soloflightormilitaryequivalent.

DwayneHudsonoftheFAAgaveamostgraciouspresentationoftheWrightBrothers MasterPilotAwardonJune15toEdWischmeyer,Ph.D.,ATP/CFII. (CourtesyEdWischmeyer)

•The50yearsmaybecomputedconsecutivelyornon-consecutively.

•BeaU.S.citizen.

•Havenothadanyairmancertificate revoked.

Edhasbeenfascinatedwithairplanes sinceahewasasmallboyandhisdad usedtotakehimtotheairporttowatchthe planes.Hewasfinallyabletotakeflying lessonsasagradstudentatMIT,wherehe graduatedwithPh.D.inAero&Astro,also withcommercial/instrumentratings.

EdmovedtoSiliconValley,and

becameajuniorengineeronthefirstprojectresearchinglowlevelwindshear effectsonjettransports.

Meanwhile,hebegancollecting licenses:CFI,CFII,AGI,IGIandglider. Healsotowedgliders.Thencamemultiengineandmulti-instructor.

Edhasrentedeveryinterestingplane around.HealsohasanATPmulti-engine landandsearating.Impressively,hehas nowloggedtimein200makesandmodelsofaircraft.

Edstartedwritingfor InFlightUSA

some30yearsago, andnowhasmore than300columns published,includinghispopular Homebuilderscolumn.Healsohasand continuestowritefornumerouspublications,including Kitplanes and Plane& Pilot (currently).

EdwasafinalistintheEAA’s Founder’sInnovationPrizecontest,with theonlynon-hardwareentryinthefinals. Thatbecameastill-continuingsetof researchprojectsonlossofcontrol,pilot training,unstableapproaches,andsimilar contemporarytopicsthatinturnledtoa dozen(sofar)articlesonairfactsjournal.comwebsite.

Currently,EdownsanRV-9A, whichhe’sflowncoasttocoast.Other airplaneshehasownedincludetheRV-4, RV-8,RV-8A,AirCam,andCessna175.

Withalongandillustriouscareer,Ed hasbeenemployedwithStanford ResearchInstitute,AppleComputer, NASAASRSOffice,Honeywell, Boeing,andGulfstream;allofthosejobs wereinR&Dandadvanceddevelopment.Ediscurrentlyretiredbutstill activeinaviationsafetyresearch,writing, andpresentations.

InFlightUSA congratulatesEdon hisrecentaward,theWrightBrothers MasterPilotAward.Welldeserved!

ABOOK REPORT… SPACE X:ELON MUSKANDTHE FINAL FRONTIER

ByEdDowns

Itispurejoytoreviewabookwritten byBradBergan.ThelastbookbyMr. Berganthiswriterwasprivilegedto reviewwas SpaceRace2.0,abookI equatedtotheclassicbook Acrossthe SpaceFrontier, acompilationofarticles thatappearedin ColliersMagazine,circa early1950’s,asaprognosticatorofspace flighttocome.Bergan,withagraduateleveleducationincreativewriting, latchedontoengineeringandspacetravel ashisspecialtiesinliterature.Backedup byfurtherdegreesinphilosophyand English,hisstyleisnotonlyprofessional, butwritteninafashionthatlendsjoyto thereadingexperience.

Thismostrecentoffering, SpaceX: ElonMuskandtheFinalFrontier (Motorbooks,June4,2024,176pages) addssignificantdetailandfactstosupport thepredictionsandobservationsof Space Race2.0 Butbewarned,ifyouarelooking forfallacioustalesoftheeccentricitiesoften creditedtoElonMusk,sticktothewaste-

landofsocialmediaandmainstreammedia sensationalism.In SpaceX,Berganfirst takesthereaderdownapathtoooftenleft outbytoday’scontemporaryeducational institutes…anhistoricallookathowspace explorationhasgottenourspeciestothe pointofseriouslyconsideringthereal potentialofcolonizinganotherplanet.

Berganclearlyexplainsthechallengesspaceexplorationhasfacedunder thepastspaceexplorationmodelof dependingupongovernmentagencies andpoliticalfunding.Whilescienceand engineeringmaybecommittedtothe futureofourspecies,thewhimsofpoliticalmeanderings,socialagendas,and powerplaysalmostguaranteeloftyscientificgoalswillneverbeachieved.But, quiteunexpectedly,privateindustry, fueledbyapassiontocreatetheimpossible,hassteppedintotakeoverwherethe dreamsofothershavefailed.EnterElon Musk,therightguyattherighttime, whoseapproachtospaceflightandthe futureofspacetravel,hasvaultedSpace Xaheadofcompetitors,bothinthepri-

vateandgovernmentsectors.AndSpace Xcompetitorsarenotoverlooked,but playanimportantpartinunderstanding thecomplexpersonalityofElonMusk.

Thiswriterisanadmitted“space nut,”thinkingthatIhadagoodgripon whatisgoingoninhardwaredevelopment…boy,wasIwrong.Thedetailsof SpaceXhardware,especiallythe Starship,arereadalmostlikesciencefiction.Excellentwritingissupportedby outstandingphotosandimages.Manyof thephotosappearforthefirsttimeinthis book. SpaceX:ElonMuskandtheFinal Frontier notonlyenlightenedthis“space nut,”buthasprovidedmewithsignificantreferenceinformationthatwill appearinfuturearticles.Buttothis writer,perhapsBergan’smostsignificant contributionsofaristheeffecthis Space Race2.0 bookhadona12-year-oldfamilymemberwhoseonlycontactwithsciencewasfollowingcomicbookblogson hiscellphone.Havinggifted SpaceRace 2.0 tothisyounglad,thekidisnowsubscribingtoastronomyandNASA

Coverimage SpaceX:ElonMuskand theFinalFrontier byBradBergan,publisherMotorbooks. (CourtesyAmazon,Motorbooks)

newslettersandconsideringanadvanced educationinengineering.Guesswhere mycopyof SpaceX:ElonMuskandthe FinalFrontier isgoing…yep,another “spacenut”inthemaking.Agreatbook, agreatgift,andagreatread…enjoy!

FAA AND EASAPLEDGE S TRONG COOPERATIONTO ADDRESS AVIATION C HALLENGESOFTHE NEXT DECADE

TheFederalAviationAdministration (FAA)andEuropeanUnionAviation SafetyAgency(EASA)havepledgedto worktogethertomeetthechallengesofa fast-changingandevolvingaviationindustryandtheincreasingspeedofdevelopmentoffuturetechnologies.Leadersfrom theFAAandEASAdiscussedtherenewed commitmentatthe2024International AviationSafetyConference.

“Ouraimistopromoteacooperative andcollectiveapproachtoaviationsafety andmodernization,”saidFAA AdministratorMikeWhitaker.“Aswe looktothenextdecade,establishingaunifiedstrategicdirectionbasedoninformationsharingandcollaborationwithour internationalpartnerswillmeettheneeds ofourglobalaviationsystemofthefuture.”

“Theaviationindustryisinthe fastestperiodofchangesincecommercialflightsbegan.Newtechnologiesare urgentlyneededtomaketheindustry moresustainable.Otherinnovations,for exampleinartificialintelligence,are emergingrapidlyandwehaveagenerationalchangeintheworkforce,”said FlorianGuillermet,ExecutiveDirectorof EASA.“Itismoreimportantthanever

thatinternationalaviationregulators worktogethertoaccompanythechanges andensuresafetyneedsarealwaysmet.”

Discussionsinplenarysessionsand sidemeetingsatthethree-dayconference aroundonthetheme“Buildingfoundations:Preparingforthenextdecade together”reinforcedthatstrongcollaborationbetweenregulatorsisessentialto keeppacewiththisrapidevolution.

TheFAAandEASApledgeto:

•Prioritizeenhancingcooperative effortsatallworkinglevelsbetweenour organizations.

•Strengthenthefocusandinformationexchangeonsafetyoversighttopromoteastrongsafetyculture.

•Optimizeourresourcesandfully leveragetheUS-EUAviationSafety Agreement,encouragingourtechnical expertstoworktogetherandrelyonone anothertoreduceduplicationofeffort, takingarisk-basedapproach.

•Deepenproactivecollaborationon certificationactivitiesandonoperational frameworksfornewandinnovativetechnologies.

•Expandandtargetcooperationon rulemakingeffortsearlierinthedevelopmentprocess.

•Promoteaviationsustainability,particularlyactivitiesonsustainableaviation fueldevelopmentanddeployment.

•Partnertoensuregoalsofthe BilateralEnhancementRoadmaponcertificationactivitiesarerealized.

• Reinforcecooperationontheanalysis andmitigationofsystemicsafetyrisksas wellasinnovationandfutureaviationtechnologies.

• Facilitateexchangeandinformation sharingontopicalareasandemergingrisks facingaviationsafety,suchascyber,conflictzonesandGPS/GNSSinterference.

TheFAA-EASAInternational AviationSafetyConferencebrings togetheraround400senioraviationprofessionalsfromregulators,manufacturers,airlinesandassociationsfromall overtheworld.TheeventisheldannuallyandisalternatelyhostedbytheFAA andEASA.Nextyear’sconferencewill takeplaceinCologneonJune10-12, 2025.LearnmoreabouttheFAA’sinternationalworkandcollaborationat https://www.faa.gov/international.

AttheFAA-EASAInternationalAviation SafetyConferencelastmonth,representativesfrombothorganizationsagreedto prioritizeenhancingcooperativeefforts atallworkinglevels.(CourtesyFAA)

AviationIndustryWelcomesCallforEnhancedUS-EURegulatoryAlignment

KeyEuropeanandNorthAmerican aviationindustryassociationswelcomed therenewedcommitmentforgreater coordinationbetweentheFederal AviationAdministration(FAA)andthe EuropeanUnionAviationSafety Agency(EASA),announcedduringthe 2024FAA-EASAInternationalAviation SafetyConference.

InajointstatementissuedonJune 13byAirlinesforEurope(A4E), AerospaceIndustriesAssociation(AIA), AerospaceSecurityandDefense IndustriesAssociationofEurope(ASD), andtheGeneralAviationManufacturers Association(GAMA),thefourassociationshighlightedpriorityareaswhere collaborativegloballeadershipcould furtheradvanceaviationsafetyand industryefficiency,sustainability,innovationandpreparetheworkforceforthe future.

Thejointstatementfollows: Thetransatlanticpartnershipis foundationaltoasafe,efficientandsustainableglobalaviationindustry.The undersignedassociations,representing keyEuropeanandAmericanstakeholdersintheaviationindustry,welcomethe callforevengreaterUS-EUcoordina-

tiononaviationsafetyandinnovation prioritiesmadeduringthe2024FAAEASAInternationalAviationSafety Conference–itismorecriticalthanever thattheEUandUSensureacoordinated approachwiththeseprioritiesinmind.

ImproveSafetyandIndustry Efficiency

Ourcollectivepriorityistoensure thehighestlevelofaviationsafety,with clearandconsistentstandards,ahigh leveloftrustinproducts,andsolidinformationsharingprocesses.Theexisting EU-USbilateralaviationsafetyagreement(BASA)isakeytooltoensurethis objectiveisachievedandeventssuchas thissafetyconferencehelptosharebest practices.

Thisclosecooperationisalso essentialtoavoidduplicationofwork andprovidepredictabletimelinesto bringproductstothemarket(bothfor certificationandvalidationprocesses). Atatimewheresupplychainsare stretchedanddemandremainshigh,the EU-USaviationindustrywouldwelcomemorecertaintyaroundthetimeline oftheseprocesses.Thiswouldinturn supportoperators’fleetmanagement

bothintheU.S.andtheEUandimprove competitivenessofourrespectiveaviationsectors.

EnhanceSustainability

US-andEU-basedaviationcompanieshavecommittedtosustainableaviationandnet-zeroemissionsby2050. Thisgoalcanonlyberealizedbyworkingwiththeregulatorsandensuringa globallyconsistentapproachtoregulationandcertificationstandards.The FAAandEASAareinauniqueposition toestablishaharmonizedregulatory frameworkthatenablestheaviationsectortomakegoodonitsambitionto achievenet-zeroemissionsby2050.

SupportInnovation

Promotingregulatoryefficiencieson bothsidesoftheAtlanticisparticularly importantasnewentrantsjointhesystem. Thedevelopinglandscapearound AdvancedAirMobility(AAM)isan opportunityripeforincreasedtransatlanticcoordinationthatwillensureglobal scalewithoutnegativeeffectsoncivilaviationsafetyandefficiencyinaresourceconstrainedenvironment.Wealsosupport anopenmarketfortheseproducts,which

wouldreinforcethecompetitivenessof thissegmentofouraviationsectors.

EffortsbetweentheFAAandEASA torethinkaviationconnectivityareastep intherightdirectionandlaythegroundworkforamodernizedandharmonized systemthatimprovesairtrafficmanagement(ATM)fortoday’sproductsbutalso theproductsofthefuture.Wewelcome buildingonthisfoundationthrough SESARandNextgen.

PreparetheWorkforceforthe Future

Governmentandindustrymust worktogethertoensurethatthedifferent representativesfromtheaerospacesectorhavetherightpeoplewiththeright skillsattherighttime.Astechnology andprocessescontinuetoevolve,we musthaveaworkforcethatcanoperate inbothnewandlegacyenvironments. Wemusttakeeveryopportunitytopromotetheappealandopportunitiesofthe aerospaceindustry.

Asindustry,westandreadytosupporttheUS-EUalignmentasweenter thisneweraofcollaboration.

Signatories:ASD,AIA,GAMA, A4E

TheSkylarkShoresResortandthe ClearLakeFlyingClubtohave announcedthatthe2025ClearLake Splash-InwilltakeplaceinLakeport, Calif.,fromApril24-27,2025.

TheSkylarkShoresResortwillbe servingastheprincipalvenuefortheevent

withadditionalactivitiesplannedatXabatin Park,LibraryPark,LampsonFieldAirport (1O2)andotherlocationsinLakeCounty.

Withrootsstretchingbacktothe early1980s,theClearLakeSplash-Inis aneventthatenablesseaplanepilotsto reconnectwitheachotherandsharewith

othersthemagicofflyingseaplanes.

TheSkylarkShoresResortisprovidingitsdocksandgroundstodisplaysome oftheparticipatingseaplanes,withadditionaldockingandtiedownlocationsavailableoncetheSkylarkisbookedtocapacity.

The2025ClearLakeSplash-Inwill

HMEWatch ATC Analog Flight Watch

HMEWatch is offering excellent prices on their long established Professional Flight Watch line.

They are offering an excellent clearance sale to make room on new models coming out later this year. Take advantage of these high-quality models while they last at really great pricing.

There are a number of different models and colors offering both, Metal Bracelet models starting at a low $139.95, as well as high-quality Rubber/Neoprene bands at only $119.95.

The ATP model is an all digital multi-function watch offering multiple alarms, stopwatch, as well as countdown time, multiple city “World-Time” covering every time zone on the planet, and a thermometer, as well as an altimeter/barometer. These popular full-featured models are newly priced, starting at $74.95!

There are four versions of the “ATP,” a larger all black plastic with either a regular LCD display or a reverse LCD display; the other, slightly smaller, offers a metal case and yellow rubber strap.

The HMEWatch A.T.C. (Aviator Timepiece-Chrono) Aviator watch is an all analog, high-quality aviator watch offered in multiplestyles.Thismodel features a 60- minute chronograph, date window and a second-hour indicator to show a constant display ofasecond time zone whether it be your home, destination or as most use it, G.M.T./Zulu Time. This second large hand is a 12hourhandteamingup with a 24-hour Subdial indicator.

There is also a simple, optional instant-reset for the Chrono, where an instant push of the lower right mode button resets the chrono; no more having to stop the chrono before resetting it if that is your wish. In addition, there is also a functional E6B calculator Bezel on each model.

The A.T.C. comes in either all-stainless with a stainless steel bracelet or a stainless steel body with a polyurethane strap. HME Watch offers all models, including the P.U. strap model with a deploy clasp instead of the lower price “Tang-Buckle” foundonmost watches. In keeping up with styles today, this is a fairly large watch, at 43mm diameter by 13mm thick. Weight is about normal for a stainless steel model.

Take advantage of these special prices while stock lasts. Also, they are offering prices well under retail on Citizen Eco-Drive Pilot watch models.

Contact HME at 323-464-6660 or go to www.hmewatch.com to

featureanextensivelineupofactivities andseminarsdesignedforbothseasoned seaplanepilotsandaspiringyoungaviators.Theseincludeavarietyofseaplane flyingskillconteststhathighlightthe expertiseofparticipatingpilotsandprovideviewerswithinsightsintotheartof flyingseaplanes.

Inadditiontoseaplaneentertainment,thisyear’sClearLakeSplash-In aimstounderscorethesignificantcareer opportunitiesavailableforyoungpeople intheaviationindustry.

Boeing’slatestPilotandTechnician Outlookindicatesthattheworldwill needmorethan600,000newpilotsand nearly700,000newtechniciansinthe next20years.

Capt.MurrayStrom,VicePresident ofFlightOperationsatUnitedAirlines, emphasizesthetimelyopportunitiesin thefield,noting,“Withtheexpected surgeintraveldemandandpilotretirements,therehasneverbeenabettertime tostartacareerasapilot.UnitedAirlines isinvestingheavilyinourAviateprogramtoensurewehaveapipelineof qualifiedpilotsforthefuture.”

FormerFederalAviationAdministration(FAA)AdministratorSteve Dicksonagreessaying,“Aviationisa high-tech,high-demandindustry.The FAAiscommittedtosupportingthenext generationofaviationprofessionals througheducationandoutreachprograms.Theopportunitiesarevast,from pilotingandmaintainingaircrafttomanagingtheairtrafficcontrolsystemsthat keepourskiessafe.”

ClearLakeHighSchoolwillbe teachinganaviationcurriculumforthe firsttimebeginningthisfall.Afterattendingseminarsatthe2023ClearLake Splash-In,LakeportUnifiedSchool DistrictsuperintendentMattBullard workedwithClearLakeHighSchoolto applyforandreceiveapprovaltoteach theAircraftOwnersandPilots

• 2xRotax100HP –Twin-Engine Safety

• Performance-Based Navigation –State-of-the-Art Avionics: Twin-Screen G1000 Nxi IFR

• 9Gal/Hr

• ComplexTraining Solution

P-MENTOR DELIVERIES BEGININTHE UNITED S TATES

TecnamAircraftonJune5 announcedthecommencementofcustomerdeliveriesfortherevolutionaryPMentorSingleEngineIFRPart23 CertifiedTwoSeatPlatform.

“BeginningP-Mentorcustomerdeliverieslessthanonemonthafterachieving FederalAviationAdministrationType CertificationmarksanotherincrediblemilestoneofraisingthebarfortheGeneral AviationMarketplace,”saidGiovanni PascaleLanger,ManagingDirector, TecnamAircraft.“TheP-Mentorhas alreadybeguntotransformthetrainingmarketplacearoundtheworldasflightschools recognizethattheycannotcontinuetooperatelegacyaircraft.TheP-Mentoroffersa uniquecombinationofunparalleledsafety, performanceandcost-effectiveness.”

Thisinnovativeaircraftisequipped

withthelatestGarminG3XTouch Screenavionicssuite,providingstudents andinstructorswithamodernandintuitiveinterfacetoenhancetheflighttrainingexperience.

“Since1948,Tecnamhasalways beenattheforefrontofaviationinnovation,”saidDavidCopeland,Directorof Sales.“WiththeP-Mentor,wearesetting anewstandardintheIFRtrainingenvironment,offeringaaircraftthatnotonly meetsbutexceedstherigorousdemands oftheaviationtrainingcommunity.”

TheP-Mentoroffersaverylowfuel consumptionof(3.7GPH)whiledeliveringahighlevelofcostefficiencyallowingforalldaytrainingwithouthavingto stopforrefuelingthusreducingcostsas wellasgroundandoperationalinterruptions.

“TodaymarksnotonlyamonumentaldayforTecnambutalsoforourFlight PrograminpartnershipwithStephenF. AustinUniversity(Texas).Thedelivery oftheP-Mentorcapsoffourconversion ofourfleettoanall-inclusiveTecnam FlightProgram.Theinnovation,low operationalcostandaerodynamicsofthis platformareperfectforourstudentsand ouroperations.Thiscombinedwiththe reliabilityoftheTecnamAircraftmadeit averyeasydecisiontochoosethePMentor,”saidKristenConklin,President, HCHAviation.

Alongwiththedeliveryoftheaircraft,amaintenanceandfamiliarization coursewasalsoprovidedtothetechniciansandpilots.

Forfurtherdetailsoftheextensive rangeofTecnamaircraft,visit

ThefirstP-MentorshandedtoHCH AviationforStephenF.AustinState University.(CourtesyTecnam)

www.tecnam.comorcontactDavid Copeland;U.S.DirectorofSalesby email;d.copeland@tecnam.comortelephone316-558-1901.Tolearnmore aboutStephenF.AustinStateUniversity visithttps://www.sfasu.edu/andtolearn moreaboutHCHAviationgoto https://hchaviation.com/.

EAAAirVenture2024

SITE UPGRADESFOR ATTENDEESAT EAAAIRVENTURE 2024

Therearemultipleimprovementson thegroundsforEAAAirVenture Oshkosh2024,manyofthembasedon suggestionsfromattendeesin2023and previousyears.

Amongtheupgradesin2024:

Alongtheflightline

Morewaterbottlefillinglocations! Thereareadditionalbottlefillersat eachofthe13hydrationstationsonthe flightline.There’salsosignageateach stationtoincreasethevisibilitythisyear. Inaddition,thoselocationsaremorevisibleonthevisitormap,(lookfortheblue icons)sothattheycanbemoreeasily spotted.

Coolingstations! Anewfeaturein threelocationsontheflightlinearecooling stationssponsoredbyGEAerospace,a greatreliefforthosehotdaysat AirVenture.Acoolmistisavailableatthe touchofabuttonatthesestations,located at(lookforthebluemisticonsonthemap):

•WittmanRoad,justnorthof HomebuildersHeadquarters

•WittmanRoad,justnorthofthe Ultralightsarea

•KnappStreet,betweenthe WearhouseandFourCorners

LostandFoundfindsnewhome: TheLostandFoundbuildingisinanew locationin2024.Thisvolunteer-runarea isnowlocatedonKnappStreet,justeast ofConventionHeadquarters(Exhibit HangarA).

WomenVentureCenter: Thehome forWomenVentureactivities,including forums,exhibitors,andwomenaviation authors,isnowalongKnappStreet, betweentheforumsareaandEAAPress Headquarters.

CampScholler

Newaccessroadandbusroute: TheexpandedCampSchollercamping

areajustnorthofRippleRoadwillfeatureapavedAspenRoadandextended DoolittleRoadthatconnectwithRipple, allowingeasieraccessforcampingunits. Inaddition,anewbusroutewillbring peoplefromthatareatotheCamp SchollerbusturnaroundnearTheaterin theWoods,givingbetteraccesstothe flightline.

Moreimprovedcampsites! EAAmemberdemandfortheseimprovedsites withelectricandwaterhookupscontinuestogrow,somorethan100additional suchsiteshavebeenaddedinthewest sectionofCampScholler.

Airtraffic

July25departures: Thisyear’s FAANOTICEincludesalimitonFisk arrivalsuntil8a.m.CDTonThursday, July25,ONLYtoallowdeparturesfrom WittmanRegionalAirport.Thiswillhelp

Thisyearmorethan100additionalcamp siteshavebeenaddedinthewestsection ofCampScholler.

(CourtesyEAAAirVenture)

alleviatedeparturebackupsonwhatis oftenthebusiestdayforairtrafficduring AirVenture.

Formoreinformationonvisitorservices,maps,andotherupdates,checkthe AirVenturewebsite(eaa.org/adventure)or theAirVentureapp.

VINTAGEIN REVIEWTO HIGHLIGHT S TORIESOF ANTIQUEAND CLASSIC

AIRCRAFT DURING EAAAIRVENTURE OSHKOSH 2024

VintageinReview,aninformaland interactivepresentationseriesduring EAAAirVentureOshkoshthatshowcases uniqueairplanesbuiltbetweenthedawn ofpoweredflightand1970willtake placeJuly22-26adjacenttotheVintage Hangar.Thisyear’sheadlinepresentationswillfocusonantiqueandclassicaircraftfromthe1920stothe1940sandis opentoallattendingAirVenture.

“VintageinReviewoffersattendees anopportunitytoseearareselectionof airplanesupclose,andhearstoriesabout themdirectlyfromtheowners,pilots,and otheraviationpersonalities,”saidRay Johnson,VintageinReviewChairman. “Severalofthisyear’sheadlineaircraft aremorethan75yearsold,makingthem quiteraretoseeairworthytoday.”

Threepilotswillbeinterviewedeach daywiththeiruniqueaircraft.Eachday willalsoseeaperformanceby“Ladies ForLiberty”at10:45a.m.followedby antiqueenginerunsat11a.m.Thecurrentlineupofheadlinersincludes: Monday,July22

•JimHammond–1931AeroncaC-3 Tuesday,July23

•KellyMahon–1929Cabinaire

Biplane

Wednesday,July24

•EdwinRemsberg–1949Stampe Biplane

•RonJohnson–1938BuhlPup Thursday,July25

•LauraBenton–LadiesLove Taildraggers

•JeriBarrientos–1929Rose Parrakeet

Friday,July26

•BenTempleton–1937Spartan Executive

AdditionalVintageinReviewsessionswillbeaddedtothescheduleas theyarefinalized.Moreinformationcan befoundontheVintageAircraftArea page(https://www.eaa.org/airventure/ features-and-attractions/aircraftareas/vintage-airplane-area)oftheEAA website.

WhileatAirVenture,don’tmissthe VintageRedBarnandtheVintage Hangar.

AttheRedBarn,visitorscanlearn moreabouttheVintageAircraft AssociationandvisittheRedBarnGift

Storefeaturinguniquecustom-made apparel,alongwithhighqualitytoys,artwork,andsouvenirs.Thebarnisalso hosttotheVintageInformationDesk wherevisitorscangetalltheinformation neededregardingtheVintageAircraft Associationanditsactivitiesat AirVenture.

AdjacenttotheVAARedBarnisthe VintageHangar,whichfeaturesthefollowing:

VintageMetalShapingWorkshop: Volunteerssharetheirskillsandknowledgeintherestorationandbuildingof vintageaircraft.

HandProppingDemonstration:Prop itrightandsavealife!Learnhowtosafelyhandpropanaircraftenginefrom Monday–Friday,10a.m.to10:30a.m. and1p.m.to1:30p.m.

Paul’sWorkshop:Avarietyofforum topicshelpyoulearntechniquestokeep yourvintageairplanemaintained.Adaily scheduleisavailableatthefrontofthe VintageHangar.

TypeClubArea:Mondaythrough Fridayfromnoonto5p.m.,representativesofmanyaircrafttypeclubscan

TheVintageareaatEAAAirVentureisa favoriteamongvisitors,featuringmany activities,includingpilotinterviews,at theVintageHangarandVintageBarn. (CourtesyEAAAirVenture)

answerquestionsaboutspecificvintage aircraft,suchasAeroncas,PiperCubs, Wacos,Bellancas,andmanyothers.

OtherfeaturesintheVintagearea includethevintagebookstore,Vintage AircraftAssociationpicniconWednesday eveningduringAirVentureattheTallPines Café,and,ofcourse,theTallPinesCafé servingbiscuitsandsausagegravy,pancakesorFrenchtoast,alongwithdonuts, cereal,muffinsandbeverages.

Learnmoreatwww.EAA.org/airven ture.Immediatenewsisavailableat www.twitter.com/EAA.

YOUTHAND FAMILY ACTIVITIES EXPANDFOR EAAAIRVENTURE

OSHKOSH 2024

Anewyouthaviationactivitiesarea locatedintheVintageAircraft AssociationareaontheEAAgroundsis thelatesteditiontotheexpandingyouth andfamilyactivitiestakingplaceatEAA AirVentureOshkosh2024.The71steditionoftheExperimentalAircraft Association’sfly-inconventionandair showisJuly22throughthe28.

“Nearlyallofusinvolvedinaviation todaywereinspiredatsomepointinour youngeryears,”saidPaulMaloy,EAA’s directorofeducation.“Whenwebegan welcomingthose18-and-underatno chargebeginningin2021,weimmediatelynoticedanincreaseinthenumberof familiesatAirVenture.Withthat,we wantedtocreateandexpandpossibilities forfamiliestoencouragethemtovisit andengagewitheverythingAirVenture hastooffer.”

Inadditiontothisnewexperience, familiesareencouragedtovisittheYouth WelcomeCenterlocatedatthemainFour Cornersintersectiontoreceiveinformationonalltheotheractivitiesforyouth andfamilieshappeningthroughthe week.Someofthoseactivitiesinclude:

KidVenture –Enteringits25th year,KidVentureinviteskidstoget hands-onwithriveting,engines,electricalwirecircuits,propellerdesign,woodenribbuilding,RCairplanes,space exploration,andmore.(Ages3-14). Monday–Saturday9a.m.–3:30p.m. andSunday9a.m.–2p.m.

AeroEducateCenter –Locatedat thesouthentrancetoAviationGateway Park,willagainhostfascinatingmorning forumsfocusingespeciallyonyouthages 10-18,andafullslateoffun,fasthandsonactivitiesheldintheafternoonsof eachdaythroughoutAirVenture.Come playthegamesandlearnmoreabouthow youcanexploreallthingsaviation

TheCharlesW.HarrisYouthAviation Centerinthevintageaircraftareagives youththechancetohavea“hands-on” experiencebyusinghammers,pliers,and othertoolstodiscoverhowaircraftare maintained.Kidswillalsohavetheopportunitytotalktopilotsandheartheirflying stories,aswellasgetatourofthepilots’ airplanes.Thecenterwillofficiallyopento thepublicat9a.m.onMonday,July22, AirVenture’sopeningday.

throughtheAeroEducateprogramand opendoorstoexcitingaviation/aerospace careeropportunities(Ages10-18) Monday–Sunday9a.m.–5p.m.

NASASTEMZone –Kidscan enjoyhands-onactivities,demonstrations,andexhibitsthathighlightsomeof NASA’smissionsandprograms.Findout moreaboutNASA’sX-59,Artemismission,andSustainableFlightDemonstrator,withdifferentactivitiesrunning eachday.EarnyourAirVentureendorsementcodesforNASA’sFlightLogprogramandstartbuildingyourvirtualflight log(Ages5-17).Monday–Sunday9 a.m.–5p.m.

Inaddition,flightsimulatorsare opentoyoungpeopleintheEAA WarbirdsofAmericaareaandvarious exhibitorsthroughoutAirVentureoffer activitiesanditemsforyoungpeople.

TheYouthWelcomeCenterattheEAA FourCornerswelcomesfamiliesandall visitorstoparticipateinfunaviation activities,learnaboutyouthprogramson theAirVenturegrounds,andexplore EAA’syoutheducationopportunities. Youngpeoplewillhavetheopportunityto havetheirpicturetakeninanF-16 FightingFalconcockpit,rivettheirown keychains,participateininteractivedisplays,andmore!Youth-focused AirVenturemapsareavailableinthetent forfamiliestoviewlocationsandactivitiesonthegroundsthataregearedtoward childrenofallages.(CourtesyEAA)

EAAAirVentureOshkoshis“The World’sGreatestAviationCelebration” andEAA’smembershipconvention. Additionalinformation,including advanceticketandcampingpurchase,is availableatwww.EAA.org/airventure. FormoreinformationonEAAandits programs,call800-JOIN-EAA(800-5646322)orvisitwww.EAA.org.

FUN FLY ZONE CELEBRATES ULTRALIGHTS,LSA, AND ROTORCRAFT AT AIRVENTURE 2024

EAAAirVentureOshkosh2024 attendeescanexperienceoneofthemore accessiblesidesofaviationbyvisitingthe FunFlyZonelocatedsouthofthe VintageareaalongWittmanRoad.The areaishometoultralightvehicles,lightsportaircraft(LSA),homebuiltrotorcraft,andhotairballoons,60commercial exhibitors,anda900-footgrassrunway adjacenttotheUltralightBarn.

Theultralightspatternhasbeenupdatedfor2024.Pilotsflyinginthisareamust obtainandpossessacopyofthecurrent FAANOTICEandfollowtheprocedures

outlinedonpage21.Downloadacopyat https://www.eaa.org/airventure/eaa-fly-inflying-to-oshkosh/~/link.aspx?_id=1 F2F71FCB44442F1BFF17E87AC8D8E2 2&_z=z.

Dailygrassrunwayoperationsduring AirVenturerunfrom7a.m.to8p.m.with abreakfrom2:30to6:30p.m.forthe afternoonairshow.Theflightscheduleis dividedintotimeperiodstoallowsimilar aircraftinthepatternatthesametime.A masshotairballoonlaunchisalsoscheduledfor6a.m.onSaturday,July27. TwilightFlightFestbeginsat8p.m.

attheFunFlyZoneonMonday,Tuesday, Thursday,andFridayofAirVenture(July 22,23,25,and26),offeringdemonstrationsofavarietyofaircraftincludingpoweredparamotors,STOLairplanes,RCaircraft,andskydivers.TwilightFlightFestis sponsoredbyHorizonHobby.

Twoultralightsarecelebratinganniversariesthisyear:theTitanTornado(30years) andtheMiniMax(40years).Pilotswho planonflyingeitherofthesetoAirVenture areencouragedtopre-registeronline.

TheFunFlyZonetheonlyplacewhereyou cangoandseepoweredparachutes,ultralights,light-sportaircraft,helicopters,and gyrosflyingattheshow,likethisgyroflybyfrom2020.(CourtesyEAAAirVenture)

MoreinformationontheUltralights areacanbefoundontheUltralightsareapageoftheEAAwebsite(eaa.org).

FiveaircraftrepresentingtheU.S. AirForceMaterielCommand(AFMC) willhighlightstaticdisplaysonBoeing PlazaatAirVenturethismonth.

ThemassiveB-52bomberandC-17 GlobemasterhighlighttheconfirmedaircraftrepresentingtheU.S.AFMCduring theEAAAirVentureOshkoshannualshow-

caseofAirForcecommands.The71steditionoftheExperimentalAircraft Association’sfly-inconventionisJuly2228atWittmanRegionalAirportinOshkosh.

Thefiveairplanesdisplayedon BoeingPlazawillexhibitthemissionof theMaterielCommand,whichhandles

ContinuedonPage40

EAAAirVenture2024

YELLOW RIBBON HONOR FLIGHT HONORS VETERANSAS PARTOF EAA

AIRVENTURE OSHKOSH 2024ACTIVITIES

Oneofthemostemotionaland poignantmomentsofEAAAirVenture Oshkosheachyearwillreturnin2024as 100VietnamWarvetswilltakeaYellow RibbonHonorFlighttoWashington, D.C.,onJuly26aspartofAirVenture’s annualsalutetoveterans.The71stannualExperimentalAircraftAssociationflyinconventionisJuly22-28atWittman RegionalAirportinOshkosh.

VeteransfromtheVietnamWarwill behonoredastheytraveltothenation’s capitaltotourwarmemorialsatnocostto them.Theveteranswillreturnto OshkoshattheconclusionoftheFriday afternoonairshowandthousandsofpeoplewillwelcomethembackhomeand givethemtherecognitiontheydeserve.

“Theeventsandemotionconnected totheYellowRibbonHonorFlighttraditionallymakesitoneofthemostmemo-

B-52andC-17

ContinuedfromPage39

thediscovery,development,andtesting ofweaponssystemsusedbytheAir Forceonallofitsaircraft.Thoseaircraft include:

B-52HBomberStratofortress –TheB52Hisalongrange,strategic bomberthatcantraceitsoriginsallthe waybackto1945.Thebombercancarry upto80,000poundsofordinanceandhas acombat-rangeofupto8,800miles.This aircraftisbasedoutofEdwardsAirForce BaseinCalifornia.

F-15EXEagleII –TheF-15EXisa variantoftheF-15E“StrikeEagle,” designedtofurtherimproveuponand updatetheF-15E,includingbetteravionicsandarevisedwingstructurethat

rableeventsofAirVentureweekandour SalutetoVeteransactivities,”saidRick Larsen,EAA’svicepresidentofcommunitiesandmemberprogramming.“We areproudtoproduceaneventthathonors whatVietnamveteransdidforthiscountryandbeabletoprovidethemanexperienceofalifetime.”

Thisisthe10thyearthattheYellow RibbonHonorFlighthasoriginatedat EAAAirVentureOshkoshundertheauspicesofOldGloryHonorFlightof Appleton,Wisconsin.Thatnon-profit organizationhasorganizeddozensof HonorFlightssince2009withadedicatedgroupofvolunteers.Thoseflights haveincludedspecialflightstoPearl HarborandtoVietnam.

“EachHonorFlightmissionisaspecialoccasion,buttheabilitytobeapart ofEAAAirVenturealwayscreatesunfor-

gettablemoments,”saidDiane MacDonald,theExecutiveDirectorof OldGloryHonorFlight.“Honoringour localVietnamveteransoutofEAA AirVentureissuchahighlight;beingwitnesstotheenthusiasm,respect,and appreciationfromtheworld’saviation enthusiastswhentheflightreturnsto Oshkoshissuchanincrediblesighttosee anditmeanstheworldtothemenand womenwhogettoexperienceit.”

AmericanAirlinesisagainsupplyinganaircraftfortheflight,whichis flownbyanall-volunteercrewof AmericanAirlinespilotsandcabinattendants.

Moreinformationisavailableonline regardingOldGloryHonorFlightorto makedonationstotheorganizationvisit https://www.oldgloryhonorflight.org/. FormoreinformationonEAAand

OnehundredVietnamWarvetswilltake aYellowRibbonHonorFlightto Washington,D.C.,onJuly26aspartof AirVenture’sannualsalutetoveterans. (CourtesyEAAAirVenture)

itsprograms,call800-JOIN-EAA(800564-6322)orvisitwww.EAA.org. Immediatenewsisavailableat www.twitter.com/EAA.

increasedservicelifeto20,000hours.

C-17GlobemasterIII –TheC-17 isalargecargoairplane,capableofairliftingheavy-dutymilitaryequipment andhasbeenusedtoaidinhumanitarian effortsintheaftermathofnumerousnaturaldisasters.EachofthefourPrattand Whitneyenginesproduce40,400pounds ofthrust,leadingtoanoperationalrange ofnearly3,000miles.

BeechcraftC-12Huron –TheC-12 isthemilitarydesignationforaseriesof twin-propaircraftbasedonthe Beechcraft1900andSuperKingAir.C12aircraftareusedforvariouspurposes suchaslightcargotransport,embassy support,andmedicalevacuation.

X-40SpaceManeuverVehicle –

The2025ClearLakeSplash-In

ContinuedfromPage34

Association(AOPA)FoundationHigh SchoolAviationSTEMCurriculum.

Thiscurriculumisavailableatno costtohighschoolsthatcommittoteachingit.

TheClearLakeFlyingClubissupportingtheacademiccurriculumClear LakeHighSchoolisteachingwithhandsonpracticaltrainingatLampsonField.

Studentsparticipatinginthehighschool’s aviationprogramwillhavetheopportunitytoworkonaircraft,flyasimulatorand obtainflighttrainingattheairport.

HerbLingl,theeducationdirectorof theClearLakeFlyingClub,notes,“At the2025ClearLakeSplash-In,theflying clubwillpresentcontentdesignedto encouragetheyoungpeopleofLake Countyandtheirparentstoconsideravi-

TheX-40isanunmanned,unpowered glidetestvehiclecreatedasatestplatformfortheX-37Future-Xreuseable launchvehicle.Itwasoriginallycreated byBoeingandwasthentransferredto NASA,whichmodifiedittoconductfurthertesting.TheX-40willbeondisplay alongwithaB-52munitionsdisplay insideatentadjoiningBoeingPlaza.

TheAFMCwillbebringingalarge numberofpersonnelwhowillbedescribingtheirmissionandplansforthefuture. TheAFMCwillalsobefeaturedduring aneveningprogramattheTheaterinthe WoodsonJuly27,wherethefocuswill betestpilotschoolandtheimpacton globalaviation.

TheAFMCwillbebringingfiveaircraft andalargenumberofpersonnelto AirVenturetodescribetheirmissionand plansforthefuture.(CourtesyUSAF)

ationasacareeroption.TheSplash-In willincludeseminarsoutliningthe tremendouscareeropportunitiesfor youngpeopleinaviationandprovideaviationrelatedcontentdesignedtoengage youngpeopleofmanyagegroups.”

Seaplanepilotsareencouragedto registerearlyfortheeventsincespaceon theSkylarkShoresResortpropertywill beallocatedonafirsttoregister,first

servedbasis.

TomakereservationsatSkylark ShoresResort,call707/263-6151orvisit skylarkshoresresort.com.

Formoreinformationaboutthe 2025ClearLakeSplash-In,visit:clearlakesplashin.com

AOPAAIR SAFETY INSTITUTE NAMES NEW LEADER

TheAircraftOwnersandPilots Association(AOPA)onJune18 announcedtheappointofMikeGinter,a leadinggeneralaviation(GA)advocate andretiredNavalaviator,toheaditsAir SafetyInstitute.

“Formorethan70years,theAOPA AirSafetyInstitutehasdeliveredlife-savinginformationandeducationtopilots,and Iamhonoredtobepartofcontinuingthat legacy,”saidGinter.“It’simportanttomeet pilotswheretheyarewithpracticaltools andinformationtheycanreallyuse,andno organizationdoesthatbetterthanASI.”

Since2018,Ginterhasservedas AOPA’svicepresidentofairportsand stateadvocacy,spearheadingeffortsto protectairports,bringing1,000newvolunteersintotheAOPAAirportSupport Network,andhelpingtosuccessfully resolvemorethan700airportissueson behalfofAOPAmembers.Mostrecently, heledtheefforttoplanandexecutethe successfulNationalCelebrationof GeneralAviationFlyoverofWashington, D.C.,whichhighlightedthehistoryand utilityofgeneralaviationaircraft.

FormerU.S.NavypilotandlongtimegeneralaviationadvocateMikeGinter,picturedbriefingpilotsfortheNational CelebrationofGeneralAviationFlyoverof Washington,D.C.,inMay,hasbeennamed thenewleaderoftheAOPAAirSafety Institute. (JakeTeague/CourtesyAOPA)

andcurrentlyownsa1972BeechcraftA36 BonanzaandaCessna172,whichhis wife,Donna,isusingforflighttraining.

“Mikeisanactiveflyerwhounderstandsthereal-worldchallengesGApilots face,”saidAOPAPresidentandCEO MarkBaker.“Hisdown-to-earthapproach tomakingeveryflightsaferresonateswith pilotsofallexperiencelevels.”

Thepastfewyearshavebeenamong thesafestingeneralaviation’shistory, andinhisnewroleasseniorvicepresidentofASI,Ginteriscommittedto ensuringthattrendcontinuesbyexpandingthereachofASI’ssafetycontent, deliveringdata-drivenanalysis,and exploringnewwaystosupportpilots.

PriortojoiningAOPA,Ginterspent 27yearsintheU.S.Navy,retiringwiththe rankofcaptain.Duringthattime,he accruedmorethan5,300flighthoursand 555carrierlandings,completedfour deploymentstothePersianGulf,commandedajetsquadron,andservedasoperationsofficerforthe USSJohnF.Kennedy In2003,heledthedemonstrationteam responsibleforshowcasingthecapabilities oftheLockheedS-3Viking.Thatsame year,hissquadronwontheChiefofNaval OperationsAviationSafetyAward.

ThroughouthisNavycareer,Ginter, whoearnedhisprivatepilotcertificateat 18,continuedtoflygeneralaviationaircraft.HepreviouslyownedaT-6Texan,

Withmorethan10milliontouches eachyear,ASIprovidesaward-winning videos,podcasts,publications,reports, onlinecourses,quizzes,CFIrenewalprograms,andmoretohelppilotsflysafely. ASI’sworkissupportedbygenerous donationstotheAOPAFoundation.To learnmore,visitASI’swebsiteat https://aopa.org/training-and-safety/airsafety-institute.Tolearnmoreabout AOPAvisitaopa.org.

M700FURYACHIEVES FAA FIKICERTIFICATION

PiperAircraft,Inc.onMay28 announcedthatithasreceivedFlightinto KnownIcing(FIKI)certificationfrom theFederalAviationAdministration (FAA)foritsnewflagshipaircraft,the M700FURY.

“TheM700FURY–boastingamax cruisespeedof301ktasandamaxrange of1,852nm–includessomeofthemost advancedsafetyfeaturesintheindustry,” statedJohnCalcagno,President&CEO ofPiperAircraft.“Thecertificationof FIKIisacrucialpartoftheoverallvalue

propositionoftheM700FURY,aswell asakeysafetyfeaturefortheoperator.”

TheFIKIsystemcomesstandardon allM700FURYaircraft,andisan electromechanicalexpulsiondeicingsystemlocatedonthetailaswellastheleadingedgeofthewing. Internationalcertificationsforthe M700andFIKIareprogressingas plannedandontrackfordeliveriesto thoseregionsbeginninginQ3,2024.

ThePiperM700FURYcertifiedin

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AOPA’sAirSafetyInstituteReleases

SINGLE-ENGINE OPERATIONIN

TAMINGTHE TWIN VIDEO SERIES

IncollaborationwithSporty’sPilot Shop,theAircraftOwnersandPilots AssociationAirSafetyInstitute(ASI) releasedthesecondoffivevideosinits TamingtheTwin seriesthatprovidesa uniqueperspectiveonhowtosafely operateamultiengineairplane.

“TamingtheTwin:Single-Engine Operations examinestherelationship betweenamultiengineairplane’scontrollabilityandperformance,”saidASIVice PresidentofOperationsPaulDeres. “Controllabilityisparamountforsafety duringsingle-engineoperations.Therefore,tosafelyflyamultiengineairplane, pilotsmusthaveathoroughunderstandingofhowtomaintainaircraftcontrolif oneenginefails,”Deresconcluded.

Theremainingvideosintheseriesare scheduledtobereleasedoneatatimein theupcomingmonths.Theycoverengine

TamingtheTwin:Single-EngineOperations isthesecondoffivevideosinseries.

(CourtesySporty’s,AOPAandASI)

failureduringtakeoff,enginefailureduringcruise,andenginefailureinIMC.

View TamingtheTwin:SingleEngineOperations athttps://www.aopa .org/training-and-safety/online-learning/Taming-The-Twin#Episode2.

Viewthefirstvideointhe Taming theTwin seriesathttps://www.aopa.org /training-and-safety/online-learning/Taming-The-Twin.

Tolearnmore,visitASIatairsafetyinstitute.org.Tolearnmoreabout AOPA,visitaopa.org.

Introducing

“AOPAPRESENTS:”NEW CINEMATIC CONTENTTO SPOTLIGHT

S TORIESOF AVIATION

Tocapturethespiritandessenceof generalaviation,theAircraftOwnersand PilotsAssociationdigitalcontentteamis launchinganewvideoseriestitled “AOPAPresents.”Theseminidocumentarieswillbringalivemonumentalaviationevents,thehistoryofaircraft,and uniqueaviationstories.

AOPAPresentswillfeatureaquarterlyseriesof10-to25-minutefilms,producedbyAOPAin-housecinematographers.Thesefilmswillbringalivestories ofwhypeoplelovetofly,throughstunningvisualsandcaptivatingstorylines.

TheseriespremieredJune14on

M700FURY

ContinuedfromPage42

Marchof2024andcomesstandardwiththe HALOSafetySystem,featuringGarmin EmergencyAutoland.Thisrevolutionary systemincludesdigitaltechnologythat safelylandstheaircraftatthenearestsuitableairportintheeventthatthepilotisincapacitated.Additionally,theM700FURY G3000avionicssuiteincludes;Autothrottle, EmergencyDescentMode,Electronic StabilityProtection(ESP),SurfaceWatch, SafeTaxi,andGarminPlaneSync,allof

AOPA’sYouTubechannelwith “Wingsof theIditarod” –thestoryofthepilotswho helpedenabletheiconicAlaskanrace.The piecewasfilmedandeditedbyAOPA VideoContentProducerJamalWarner.

“Togoonlocationandfilmthis storywastrulyadream,”Warnersaid abouttheopportunity.“Wehearandsee somuchabouttheracefromground level;it’sreallysomethingelsetoseeit fromatotallynewperspective,andwe feelviewerswillembracethatnewview.”

AOPAPresentsandmoreinnovative aviationcontentcanbefoundontheAOPA YouTubechannel,@FlywithAOPA.

whicharedesignedtoenhancesafeoperationoftheaircraft.Beyondtheflightdeck, thesix-seatM700FURYispoweredbya Pratt&WhitneyPT6A-52700SHPengine. Theaircrafthasamaximumcruisespeedof 301ktas/557km/hr,amaxrangeof1852 nm/3,430km,andastandardusefulloadof 2,320lbs/1,052kg.

TolearnmoreaboutPiperAircraft, visitthecompany’swebsiteat www.piper.com.

THE VIEWFROMTHE PYRO FIELD

StoryandPhotos

ByNickViggiano

Afterasix-yearhiatus,the BreckenridgeAirshowwasback for2024intheWestTexastownof Breckenridge.Thiswaswelcomenewsfor warbirdenthusiastsacrossthecountry.At previousBreckenridgeAirshows,Ifound peopleattendingfromNewYork, Pennsylvania,CaliforniaandFlorida.Ihave attendedalloftheairshowsfrom1984to thepresentexceptforthe1996show.

ImadeitapointtobeatStephens CountyAirport(BKD)forarrivalday.First toarrivewasTomReneauwiththe CommemorativeAirForceHighSkyWing USAAFFairchildPT-19A.NextwasJason MuszalaintheP-51 WasThatTooFast.

IstartedtohangoutattheworldfamousEzellAviationandgottoseesome oftheincrediblerestorationsthatNelson Ezellandcrewareworkingon.Friends startedtoarrivealso.Well-knownvideographer/photographerErikJohnston showedupandthenIranintoamemberof theairshowstaffandextraordinairephotographerChrisEmory.Astheafternoon woreon,morewarbirdsandcivilaircraft arrived.The ToraToraTora planesarrived alongwiththeNextGenEagles.

IfoundmyselfwiththeToraBomb Squad.Ihadtofindoutandaskthebossof thesquadtoseeifIcouldphototheirwork andmaybewriteastory.Inapastlife,Iheld an“EmployeePossessorofClearance Letter”toworkandproducefirework showswithvariouscompanies.So,itwasa bucketlistofminetobewiththepyrosquad andcapturesomeimagesfromthefield.

IwasdirectedtoBenWest,theleader oftheToraBombSquad.Iintroduced myselftoBenandtoldhimabouthowI wouldliketoaccompanythebombsquad duringtheairshow.Iexplainedtohimthat Iheldtheletterofclearancesothathe wouldknowIwasn’tafoolandIhadtrainingwithpyro.HestatedIcouldgowith them,butIcouldn’ttakepicturesofhow theysetthingsup,andthatwasmoreproprietarythanshowingthegeneralpublic whattheydo,andIwouldhelpthemwork onthepyroshow.Iwasallgameforitand hesaidbehereat7:30a.m.Noproblem, weexchangedcellnumbers,andIwas jackedtogetthisopportunity!Afterbeing outinthatWestTexasheatalldaylongat around5:30,Idecidedtoleaveandheadto HubbardCreekLakewhereIhadrenteda guesthouseonthelake.Onthewaytothe lakehouse,IreceivedatextfromBenaskingmeifIwantedtobethereforthepyro layout,at6:30inthemorning!Well,after alldaythatWestTexasheat,Iwouldhave likedtohavegottenalittlemorebeauty sleep.Butlikeinthemilitary,younever

turndownavolunteermissionsoItexted backthatIwouldbethere.

So6:30a.m.arrivedalittlebitearlier thanIwouldhaveliked.Theareawassurroundedinsomedensefogthatmorning.I grabbedsomecoffeeonthewaytothefield andIarrivedatrightontime.Bentoldme tofollowhimandtheothervehiclestothe futurepyrofield.Theothermembersofthe BombSquadwereMitchieRyan,JimCool, JohnWolf,MarthaBosworth,Jerry Hammann,SophinSay,LarryGrapentine andWillieHooper.Weparkedatthethresholdofrunway22.ItwasthenBenconferred withtheteam,explainedthecorridorsthat weremarkedwithtarpsthatdifferentaircraftwouldflytostaydeconflicted.Thenhe drewwherethepyrowouldbeset,where thefiretruckswouldbeandcontingency plansforifthewindsshifted.Next,itwas backtotheramptostartalltheprepwork.

Itbasicallytooktwotripswiththe trailertobringthepyroouttothepyro fieldandweparkedagainontherunway. Itwasherefortherestofthemorningthat wesetupthepyroandeverybodywas happythatitwasstillalittlefoggyand cloudy,keepingthetemperaturesdown. Peopledonotrealizethehardworkthat pyroteamsputinfortheseairshows.

Afterthepyrowassetup,therewere safetybriefingsandthenewpyropeople andguestvolunteersweregiveninstructionsonhowandwhentoignitetheir pyro.Afterthatthereweremeetingswith theFireMarshallandDPSofficers.

Sincemymainobjectivewastocaptureimagesfromthepyrofield,Idecided toforegosettingoffanyofthepyro.After that,myworkwasbasicallydoneandI couldrelaxinmyJeepwiththeA/Cblasting.ThentheshowstartedandIwasback outintheWestTexasheatandcapturing images.AnditwasthemostfunIeverhad takingpictureswithmyfeetontheground!

Bythetimetheshowstarted,allthefog hadburnedoffanditwasmostlysunny. However,thehighhumiditygavewaytoa hazydayandthesmokefromthepyromade itaverychallengingdaytocaptureimages.

Afterthelastpyrowasignited,the showwasstillgoingonforanotheran hourandahalfbutthepyrocrewwas busycleaningup.Likeallfireworks shows,thereisanenormousamountof debrisfromthepyroproductsandthat alwaysneedscleaningup.

Whenyouattendanairshow,beit withthe ToraToraTora showoranyshow withpyro,youcanneverappreciatethe hardworkthatthepyrocrewsputintothe performance!Someofthemtravelfrom manymilestovolunteerandworkontheir passionforpyroandthesatisfactionof providinggreatentertainmentfortheairshowattendees.Imustsayitwasablast!

TheToraBombSquad. (CourtesyNickViggiano)

A Tora Zeroattackingthepyrofield. (CourtesyNickViggiano)

ParkerRathbundefindingthefield against ToraToraTora (CourtesyNickViggiano)

ToraToraToraKate. (CourtesyNickViggiano)

ToraToraTora A6Mzero. (CourtesyNickViggiano)

Breckenridgeunderattackby ToraTora Tora.(CourtesyNickViggiano)

lSolutions

PILOT MEDICAL SOLUTIONS

ILOT EDICAL L TIONS

– Anthony Ison,

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–Dr. James Butler, Senior AME

In Flight USA July 2024

Calendar of Events

JULY

FAAENSURING SAFE PUBLIC C HARTER FLIGHTS,EXPLORING FUTURE SOLUTIONSFOR ALL FLYERS

TABLEOF CONTENTS

FAAENSURING SAFE

PUBLIC C HARTER FLIGHTS

THE VIEW FROMTHE PYRO FIELD

FlightTraining ByEdDowns

CIRRUS “EMBARKS” ONA GREAT CONTRIBUTIONTO FLYING SAFETY

CalendarofEvents

AUGUST

KEEPYOUR HEADIN THECLOUDS.

ABIG WINFOR GA

S TRIVINGFOR ZERO SERIOUS CLOSE C ALLSONTHE NATION’S RUNWAYS DURING ONEOFTHE BUSIEST SUMMERSIN YEARS

FlightTraining

CirrusEmbarkProgram

HASKTHE HARD QUESTION

NBAA’S SOLD-OUT WHITE PLAINS FORUM HIGHLIGHTS INDUSTRY’S PASSION , PROMISE

RecognitionFromRegional Leaders

TheFutureInFocus

At NBAA Forum, Barrington Irving’s Academy Welcomes Grads to Bizav Careers

Editorial

FAA UPDATES MENTAL HEALTH CERTIFICATION GUIDANCE

Editorial

Irving’s Academy Welcomes Grads to Bizav Careers

NBAA’s Sold-Out Forum

FAA Updates

DESIGN INNOVATIONSAND C HALLENGESINEVTOL AIRCRAFT: PIONEERING URBAN AIR MOBILITY

Challenges on the Horizon: Engineering for a New Era of Transportation

eVTOL Aircraft: Pioneering Urban Air Mobility

Trusted.

Best-Selling Aircraft Checklists

Best-Selling

Avionics Quick Reference

BE C AREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR

RENO AIR SHOWTO FEATURE STOL DRAG DEMONSTRATION

eVTOL Aircraft

The Road Ahead: Collaboration is Key

Collaboration for a Sustainable Future

Conclusion: A Glimpse into the Future of Urban Mobility

The Road Ahead: A Call to Action

C-47 THAT'S ALL, BROTHER RETURNSTOTHE U.S. AFTER HISTORIC EUROPEAN TOURFOR D-DAYAND BERLIN AIRLIFT ANNIVERSARIES

About the Commemorative Air Force

About the D-Day Squadron

GAMA ANNOUNCES 2024 AVIATION DESIGN C HALLENGE WINNERS

NEW NBAA RESOURCE AIMSTO CLARIFY PART 135 TAKEOFF OBSTACLE CLEARANCE REQUIREMENTS

NATA and NBAA Respond to FAA Public Charter Announcement

2024 Aviation Design Challenge Winners

AMEXICAN RENDEZVOUS:

ELPtoSAN (ElPasotoSanDiego)

Culiacan

AMexicanRendevous

Friday8/19CuliacantoToluca

Saturday8/20MexicoCityto SFO,AeroMexicoAirlines

Reflections:

BOOK REVIEW: SHOT DOWN, STORYOF B-17 SUSAN RUTH

SteveSnyderBio

HOVERFLY TECHNOLOGIES CELEBRATES MAJOR MILESTONE:OVER 500 TETHERED DRONE SYSTEMS SOLDTOTHE ARMY

ARCHER ANNOUNCES L ANDMARK INFRASTRUCTURE DEALWITH

SIGNATURE AVIATION;GAINS

ACCESSTO L ARGEST NETWORKOF

PRIVATE AVIATION TERMINALS IN THE WORLD

OODIES

AND AND

ADGETS

AIRCRAFT SPRUCEIS HEADEDTO AIRVENTURE

ASAAirClassicsCrewTrip

Homebuilder’sWorkshop

ED WISHMEYER WINS WRIGHT BROTHERS MASTER PILOT AWARD

ABOOK REPORT… SPACE X:ELON MUSKANDTHE FINAL FRONTIER

FAA AND EASAPLEDGE S TRONG COOPERATIONTO ADDRESS AVIATION C HALLENGESOFTHE NEXT DECADE

AviationIndustryWelcomesCallforEnhancedUS-EURegulatoryAlignment

ImproveSafetyandIndustry Efficiency

EnhanceSustainability

SupportInnovation

PreparetheWorkforceforthe Future

HMEWatch ATC Analog Flight Watch

P-MENTOR DELIVERIES BEGININTHE UNITED S TATES

EAAAirVenture2024