WASHINGTON, D.C. – Responding to recent incidents in which remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) — also known as drones and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) — interfered with manned aircraft involved in fighting fires, the FAA is supporting the U.S. Department of the Interior and U.S. Forest Service in a simple message to drone operators: If you fly, we can’t. “Flying a drone […]
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Drone safety campaign focused on ag flying launched
The National Agricultural Aviation Association (NAAA) has launched a remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) safety campaign to raise awareness and prevent accidents between RPA operators and low-altitude manned aircraft. The first public outreach tool in the safety campaign is a “safety stuffer” designed for aerial applicators to share with farmers and other agricultural stakeholders. Sized to fit into a […]
Avidyne updates sim software
Avidyne reported at AirVenture that a new version of its IFD-Series FMS/GPS/NAV/COM PC-based Simulator software is now available for download from the company’s website. The updated PC simulator provides fully-interactive, free-play demonstration capability for the IFD540 and IFD440, including all the features of the recently-certified Release 10.1 IFD software.“In addition to adding all the other R10.1 features, this […]
AirVenture exceeds expectations
About 550,000 people attended this year’s AirVenture, a jump of about 2% from last year, according to officials with the Experimental Aircraft Association. “AirVenture 2015 exceeded our expectations on many levels,” noted EAA Chairman Jack Pelton. “With near-perfect weather for the entire event, we filled Wittman Regional Airport and our convention site to capacity with […]
Amazon makes its case for drone highways in the sky
Much of the talk around the feasibility of Amazon’s Prime Air drone delivery service is rightly centered around how the vehicles can be safely squeezed into US airspace, according to a post at GizMag. But Amazon officials have a plan, where drones would get exclusive access to that chunk of airspace between up to 400 feet. The first 200 […]
Pilot picks up endangered animal on way to Oshkosh
This year, Michael Baum of Los Altos, Calif., made an interesting stop on his way to EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh. The LightHawk volunteer pilot made a special detour to Centennial, Colorado (KAPA) to load an endangered black-footed ferret into his TBM 700. He flew his wild passenger to the North Eastern Wisconsin (NEW) Zoo near Green Bay, Wis. “Transport by commercial […]
Garmin expands Connext wireless cockpit system
Garmin has expanded its Connext ecosystem, which broadens compatibility to include the Garmin aera 796/795 aviation portable GPS, ForeFlight Mobile and Jeppesen Mobile FliteDeck. With compatible Garmin avionics, customers can wirelessly receive ADS-B weather and traffic, as well as display precise GPS position data and back-up attitude information. “We’re excited to have ForeFlight’s and Jeppesen’s flagship […]
Air Force secretary to keynote IAWA conference
Secretary of the US Air Force Deborah Lee James will be the keynote speaker at the International Aviation Womens Association (IAWA) conference, slated for Nov. 10-12 in Dubai. James is the 23rd secretary of the Air Force and is responsible for the affairs of the Department of the Air Force, including the organizing, training, equipping […]
Professional Aviation Association named exclusive Airvan parts distributor
Mahindra Aerospace has named Professional Aviation Associates (PAA) as the exclusive distributor of Airvan 8 and Airvan 10 factory parts for North America, Central America, South America, Europe and the Middle East. PAA will stock the inventory in its facility adjacent to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL).