Just The Facts Roundup Of Aviation News For The Week Of August 3rd, 2020
This week saw a terrible midair in Alaska, the FAA’s latest fiasco and the launch of a Mach 3 passenger jet concept.
EAA reported that its virtual AirVenture, which it dubbed EAA Spirit of Aviation Week was a big success, with hundreds of thousands of visitors who participated in the more than 170 different activities available to visitors. EAA Oshkosh AirVenture 2021 was scheduled for July 26-August 1.
A midair collision between a De Havilland Beaver and a Piper PA-12 Super Crusier killed seven on Alaska's Kenai Peninsula. The solo pilot of the Piper was an Alaska state senator, and the pilot of the de Havilland was a well-known local charter operator.
Beechcraft launched the newly designated King Air 360, an upgrade to its popular large King Air 350. The new model features autothrottles and a selection of upgraded interiors. Starting price is $7.9 million.
The FAA has released a preliminary heads up to the aviation community in advance of a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on changes to the 737 Max design, which is expected imminently.
The FAA issued an airworthiness directive on a number of Aspen avionics displays that were reported to be resetting in flight. Aspen has already developed software fixes to the issue and the FAA says the cost of compliance is very low, just over $20 per unit.
Virgin Galactic and the Spaceship Company launched a supersonic bizjet concept for a plane that would seat up to 19 passengers and fly at 60,000 feet at Mach 3. Roll-Royce is onboard as powerplant partner. The project is in an early stage, according to the companies.
Daher earned EASA and FAA certification for Garmin autoland on its TBM 940 single-engine turboprop. The utility can take control of the airplane and perform a landing to the nearest good runway and bring the airplane to a full stop without human intervention.
The Crew Dragon capsule successfully splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico on Sunday. It was the first such return to Earth by a spacecraft in 45 years and signaled a triumphant culmination of the first private space craft venture.
Cirrus launched a management program for its popular SF-50 Vision Jet. The program would for a fee take care of all of the details of airplane ownership for its customers. Cirrus has offered similar well receive programs for its SR22 planes for years.
The FAA says that it will require retesting of pilots who passed their flight tests with an examiner who was known to have given tests that didn't meet the FAA's standards. The agency will require retesting of those who passed their checkrides with the examiner over an 11-year period. Here's our opinion piece on the order.
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