Pilot Who Became Incapacitated During American Airlines Flight Dies

An airline pilot who became incapacitated during a flight from Chicago to Columbus, Ohio, on November 19 has died. The pilot, whose name has not been released, was required flight crew aboard Envoy Air Flight 3556, an Embraer E175 operated as American Eagle, with service from Chicago O’Hare (KORD) to John Glenn International Airport (KCMH). According to LiveATC.com, approximately 30 minutes into the flight, the pilot flying as first officer notified air traffic control: “Need to return, the… (www.flyingmag.com) More...

Boeing-Built X-37B Space Plane Sets Record After 908 Days in Orbit

The X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle, a reusable space plane built by Boeing (NYSE: BA), landed at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on November 12 after setting an endurance record of 908 days in orbit. The previous record was 780 days in orbit. The occasion also marked the completion of the vehicle’s sixth mission. The X-37B carries experiments into space and returns them to earth for analysis for government and industrial partners. It has now flown more than 1.3 billion statute miles and spent 3,774 days… (www.flyingmag.com) More...

NTSB Releases Preliminary Report on Fatal Texas Midair Collision

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released the preliminary report on the fatal midair collision between a B-17G and P-63F Kingcobra during the Wings Over Dallas airshow on November 12. According to the NTSB report, there were no altitude deconfliction briefed before the flight or while the airplanes were in the air. Altitude deconfliction procedures are established in the event pilots find themselves at an improper altitude during the flight. Six people were killed in the… (www.flyingmag.com) More...

Embraer Delivers 33 Jets in Q3 Amid Strong Demand

Aircraft manufacturer Embraer (NYSE: ERJ) delivered 33 aircraft to customers during its third quarter of this year—10 percent more than it did in the same period last year, the company announced Monday. Of those, 10 were commercial jets, and the other 23 were executive jets (15 light and eight midsize). Moreover, for the first nine months this year, Embraer said it had delivered 27 commercial and 52 executive jets, a total of 79. Citing a strong rebound in commercial travel and high demand for… (www.flyingmag.com) More...

Drones deliver meals to hurricane-impacted Floridians

For Sanibel Island, Florida residents, there’s only one way in and out of town: the Sanibel Causeway bridge. But when Hurricane Ian devastated the state in late September and early October, that only access point was destroyed. Thousands of people were left stranded on the island, with access to the mainland limited to the occasional helicopter or barge delivering supplies. Last Wednesday, the causeway reopened to residents with temporary repairs. But the key word there is temporary. Work to… (www.flyingmag.com) More...

Honda Aircraft Secures FAA Type Certification on HondaJet Elite II

Honda Aircraft Company announced Tuesday that it has secured FAA-type certification on the latest of its light jet series, the HondaJet Elite II. The company announced the new model at the National Business Aviation Association’s Business Aviation Convention and Exposition (NBAA-BACE) in October in Orlando. The baseline TC on the Elite II includes the maximum takeoff weight increase to 11,100 pounds, which enables a fuel capacity increase, driving the range out to 1,547 nm under NBAA IFR… (www.flyingmag.com) More...

Antonov Rebuilding World’s Largest Cargo Aircraft, ‘Mriya’

Ukrainian aircraft manufacturer Antonov is rebuilding the iconic An-225 Mriya, the world’s largest cargo airplane destroyed during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the company has announced. Days after fighting began in late February, the iconic Soviet-era strategic airlift cargo airplane with the 290-foot wingspan was destroyed amid fighting at Gostomel Airport (UKKM). (www.flyingmag.com) More...

Boeing Sees Strong Demand for Bizliners

Boeing Business Jets (BBJ), a unit of Boeing (NYSE: BA), has secured four orders for BBJ 737 MAXs, it said this week at the National Business Aviation Association’s Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) in Orlando. One widebody BBJ entered into service, and the manufacturer said it also expects to deliver two BBJ 737 MAXs this month. Boeing executives—Erika Person, president of Boeing Business Jets; Alex Fecteau, director of marketing of Boeing Business Jets; and Samir Sahgal,… (www.flyingmag.com) More...

Boeing 777X Test Flights Suspended Over Engine Issue

Boeing [NYSE: BA] has temporarily suspended the flight testing of the 777X pending a potential issue with the General Electric GE9X engines that power the aircraft. “We are reviewing a technical issue that occurred during GE9X post-certification engineering testing, and we are closely coordinating with Boeing on our findings to support their return to flight testing,” GE Aerospace [NYSE: GE] said. The potential issue was discovered during a borescope inspection of a flight test engine. Both GE… (www.flyingmag.com) More...

Pipistrel Delivers First Electric Aircraft to Canada

Pipistrel Aircraft is advancing into the Canadian market with the first delivery of its all-electric Velis Electro. The two-place, high-wing design is now part of the Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Aeronautics (WISA) at the University of Waterloo and its partner, Waterloo Wellington Flight Centre (WWFC). According to Pipistrel, the Velis Electro will be used for research and in “a collaborative capacity to evaluate battery-powered electric flight in Canada.” Pipistrel Aircraft, founded in… (www.flyingmag.com) More...