Number 05 – 22 January 2024

“Discovery consists in seeing what everyone else has seen and thinking what no one else has thought.” Albert Szent-Gyorgi

Is Boeing to blame for the Alaska Airlines 737 MAX-9 door plug that departed flight 1282?

Alaska Airlines temporarily grounded its fleet of 65 737-9 MAXs after a door plug detached during flight 1282 from Portland, OR to Ontario, CA. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) assumed the lead role in the investigation of the incident, with the support of Alaska’s safety and technical teams and Boeing representatives. However, new information that has recently emerged is the fact that as the brand new 737 MAX 9 jets arrived from Boeing, they were systematically fitted with in-flight Wi-Fi by Alaska Airlines and in order to make this process simpler door plugs were removed so that the technicians could have easy access to the interior of the aircraft. The question is: was the door plug that failed on this flight one of those that was removed for this process and why was the cockpit voice recorder wiped immediately after this serious incident? Within the February edition of African Pilot, we will explore this possibility that is bound to come out with the intense investigation into this incident. 

EAA Chapter 322 Tedderfield 13 January 2024 Meeting

ExecuJet South Africa achieves milestones in aviation safety

ExecuJet South Africa, part of Luxaviation Group, has become the first FBO operator to obtain approval from the Isle of Man Aircraft Registry (IOMAR) for the Reduced Inspection and Evaluation (RIE) programme. The RIE programme is designed to allow operators more flexibility in extending the rectification cycle for some Minimum Equipment List items, which help streamline operational processes and improve efficiency while maintaining safety standards. Furthermore, the company secured Stage III accreditation in a recent IS-BAO audit, becoming the sole aircraft operator in Africa to hold this prestigious recognition. It also received approval in the IS-BAH audit, thus further reinforcing its status as the only approved FBO operator in South Africa.

Patrick Hansen, CEO of Luxaviation Group, said: “Safety is at the core of Luxaviation Group’s mission. ExecuJet South Africa’s accomplishments highlight our dedication to the highest safety standards, solidifying our pioneering role in African aviation, setting new benchmarks and fostering a culture of safety and operational excellence that benefits the entire aviation industry.” ExecuJet South Africa’s dedication was recently recognised with a Gold Aviation Safety Award from South Africa’s Litson & Associates, reflecting its sustained commitment to high safety standards.

SAC Gauteng Regionals at Heidelberg airfield

Charlie Hugo and I travelled to the Heidelberg airfield to attend the Sports Acrobatics Club (SAC) on Saturday that attracted 12 competitors in three classes. Although several competitors reported that the upper winds were strong from the west, the ground weather conditions were perfect for the competition with good sunshine and a moderate easterly wind. On behalf of African Pilot, I wish to thank everyone involved and it was great to meet up with the aerobatic pilots, judges and fellow photographers. The individual winners were as follows:
1) Sportsman; Trevor Warner 76.139%

2) Advanced: Tristan Eeles 78.374%

3) RV Class: Nigel Hopkins: 80.340%

The full feature with a video will be published in the February edition of African Pilot.

Aviation events 2024
January

27 January
SAPFA Rand Airport Challenge
Contact Frank Eckard E-mail: frank.eckhard@mweb.co.za  Cell: 083 269 1516

27 January
SAPFA AGM 14h00 at Rand Airport
Contact leon Boutell E-mail: leon@lbaa.co.za  Cell: 076 294 1363

27 January
EAA Young Aviators meeting at Eagles Creek from 13h00
Contact Kerry Puzey E-mail: kerry.p@puzey.co.za

February

3 February
EAA Chapter 322 monthly gathering at EAA Auditorium
Contact Neil Bowden E-mail: airadventuresa@gmail.com

8 February
MayDay SA golf day and industry dinner Serengeti Estate
Contact WhatsApp 083 797 7001 Website: www.mayday-sa.org.za

9 February
CAASA AGM and awards at CAASA House Lanseria
Contact Melissa Sewgolam E-mail: Melissa@caasa.co.za Cell: 082 847 3403

12 to 14 February
African Air Expo and conference CTICC, Cape Town
Website: www.airexpo.co.za

17 February
EAA Chapter 322 fly-in breakfast to Kitty Hawk
Contact Neil Bowden E-mail: airadventuresa@gmail.com

20 to 25 February
Singapore Airshow
Editorial Matt Driskill E-mail: matt.driskill@asianaviation.com
Advertising Kay Rolland E-mail: kay.rolland@asianaviation.com

26 to 29 February
HAI Heli-Expo Anaheim Convention Centre, California, USA
Website: www.heliexpo.com

March

2 March
EAA Chapter 322 monthly gathering at EAA Auditorium
Contact Neil Bowden E-mail: airadventuresa@gmail.com

2 March
SAA Museum Society Specialised Tour limited to nine adults
Contact E-mail: events@saamuseum.co.za Cell: 076 879 5044

8 March
DCA Industry Roadshow Stellenbosch, Cape Town
Contact Ms Charmaine Shibambo E-mail: shibamboc@caa.co.za

8 to 10 March
Aero Club Airweek venue Middleburg airfield
Contact Sandra Strydom E-mail: sandra@aeroclub.org.za Tel: 011 082 1100

8 to 10 March
EAA National Convention Middleburg airfield
Contact Paul Lastrucci E-mail: tailwheel@mweb.co.za

9 March
SAPFA ANR at Middleburg airfield
Contact Iaan Myburgh E-mail: iaanmyburgh@gmail.com Cell: 082 449 2531

15 March
DCA Industry Roadshow Mangaung, Free State
Contact Ms Charmaine Shibambo E-mail: shibamboc@caa.co.za

16 March
EAA Chapter 322 fly-in breakfast to Brits airfield
Contact Neil Bowden E-mail: airadventuresa@gmail.com

22 & 23 March
Stellenbosch airshow – Fashkosh
Contact Anton Theart E-mail: gm@stelfly.co.za Cell: 079 873 4567

More Bayraktar TB2 UAVs received by Mali from Turkey

On 4 January 2024 Mali said that the aircraft were officially delivered during a ceremony attended by Transition President Colonel Assimi Goita at Modibo Keita International Airport in the capital Bamako. Five Bayraktar TB2s were seen during the reception ceremony, some armed with MAM-L laser-guided bombs made by Roketsan. One had the serial TZ-17D, indicating Mali now has at least 17 of these UAVs in service. Chief of Staff of the Mali Air Force, Brigadier General Alou Boï Diarra, said recent drone strikes have been carried out to secure the country.

Mali’s military regularly releases footage of TB2s carrying out air strikes against terrorists and he congratulated soldiers for fighting ‘a tough fight on the ground’. Mali’s population has been battered by an extremist campaign that began in the north of the country in 2012, with attacks also spreading into Niger and Burkina Faso. As a result, Mali has turned to Russia and Turkey to supply equipment and paramilitary forces to shore up its military. Diarra added that the war is certainly not over despite the positive results and all the efforts made and he also highlighted the efforts of militaries of the Sahel to secure common borders. The UAVs have been in service for some time, with two being displayed at Air Base 200 at Mopti-Sevare airport in December 2022, but official induction only came about in March last year. Mali became the fifth country in West Africa to acquire Bayraktar TB2s after Niger, Burkina Faso, Togo and Nigeria.

Thursday 17 January not a good day for African aviation

A) Kenya Jetways airline: One pilot was killed and the other injured after a Fokker 50 operated by a Kenyan airline Jetways crashed into a building near Ceelbarde Airstrip in Somalia. The aircraft was transporting humanitarian aid.

B) Ethiopian Airlines: Dash 8 off runway after landing. All passengers and crew onboard Ethiopian Airlines flight ET106 from Addis Ababa were reported to be safe after the De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400 they were in suffered a runway excursion and landing gear collapse after landing at Mekele Airport in Ethiopia. According to aviation news site Fl230 aero, the aircraft was reported to have suffered a flat tyre.

C) Airlink: Embraer 135 Regional Jet belonging to South Africa’s Airlink was involved in a wet runway excursion upon landing at Pemba in Mozambique on Thursday afternoon. There were no injuries reported. The Embraer 135 Regional Jet, registration ZS-SJX, operating as flight 4Z 204 from Johannesburg, had 32 passengers and three crew onboard.  Everyone onboard disembarked from the aircraft through the main front entrance.  At this time, there have been no reported injuries.  Airlink and airport personnel at Pemba are taking care of the customers and crew. Airlink has notified the relevant Mozambique and South African authorities.  The airport operator has closed the runway, but as soon as it re-open the airline sent a back-up aircraft to Pemba to operate the return flight.  An Airlink recovery team will travel to Pemba to assist with retrieving the aircraft, which had aquaplaned off the runway. Airlink will be providing all the necessary assistance to Mozambique’s investigators.  As the country of occurrence, Mozambique’s Directorate of Air Accident Investigations will conduct the formal investigation into the occurrence.

Fatal business jet accidents climbed steeply in 2023

Six accidents involving US-registered business jets killed 23 people in 2023 versus zero fatalities in 2022, according to preliminary statistics. Five occurred under Part 91, killing 15 and one charter accident accounted for eight fatalities last year. Interestingly, the number of 2023 fatal accidents and fatalities was identical to those of 2021. Three fatal accidents of non-US-registered business jets killed nine last year, down from four such accidents and 17 fatalities in 2022.

Meanwhile, the number of US-registered business jet nonfatal accidents decreased by more than half; 11 in 2023 versus 26 in 2022. There were no nonfatal mishaps involving Part 135 operations last year, compared with five in 2022. One 2023 nonfatal accident involved a Part 91K operation the first US fractional operator accident recorded since November 2021. Nonfatal accidents of non-US-registered business jets ticked up by one, to six, from a year earlier.

The number of nonfatal and fatal accidents changed little over the last two-year period for US-registered turboprops, but fatalities decreased from 37 in 2022 to 25 last year. All but one of the 10 fatal accidents last year involved Part 91 operations. Five people were killed in a single Part 135 crash in 2023. Fatalities increased in non-US-registered turboprop accidents, from 26 in 2022 to 46 last year.

Runway excursions continued to be the most common type of incident or accident, with 71 recorded by turbine business aircraft last year. Turboprops were involved in 32, of which 12 were classified as accidents. Of the 39 excursions by business jets last year, 16 were classified as accidents, one of which was fatal to all four aboard the non-SU charter flight.

The August crash in Russia of a privately-operated Embraer Legacy 600 that killed all 10 on board is currently not included in our charts because it is believed the twinjet was downed by an air-to-air missile. Also not included in our charts is a US-registered, privately-operated Gulfstream III that disappeared on 12 December shortly after taking off from Grenadine. At press time, there is no evidence indicating that the GIII was actually involved in an accident.

Sparks fly behind Boeing 747 after engine fire

An Atlas Air cargo Boeing 747-8F suffered an engine fire shortly after take-off from Miami International Airport. The crew declared an emergency, stating that they had an engine fire, returning to MIA about 14 minutes after take-off. According to FlightRadar24, the cargo plane was headed to Puerto Rico from Miami on Thursday night. The Atlas Air Flight 5Y095 landed safely after the engine malfunction and departed the plane safely. Atlas Air said in a statement that the crew followed all standard procedures and safely returned to the airport. The 747 is registered to Atlas Air and was built in 2015. Video captured the plane descending with sparks trailing behind it. Atlas Air operates the world’s largest fleet of Boeing 747 freighter aircraft.

Ingested flashlight costs US$4 million in F-35A engine damages

The incident transpired at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona on 15 March 2023, under the supervision of two maintainers (identified as MM1 and MM2) assigned to the 62nd Aircraft Maintenance Unit, operating under the 56th Fighter Wing and a third maintainer (MM3) assigned to the 187th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, on an extended training tour with the 62 AMU. The F-35A fighter involved bears the tail number 14-5103 operated by the 56th Fighter Wing. According to the final report of the USAF Aircraft Accident Investigation Board, the operation aimed to ‘install a metering plug into an engine fuel line and conduct a leak check on the new metering plug while the engine was running.’

The maintenance procedures commenced with the F135 engine set to idle. Seven minutes into the test, the aircraft’s debris sensors detected foreign objects in both the inlet and exhaust. The engine ran for an additional five minutes to conduct the fuel leak check, during which no notifications of foreign objects were received. It was after the engine shutdown that the maintenance team reported abnormal noises during the spin-down. Following the shutdown, MM1 conducted a post-operation servicing inspection, revealing damage to the engine blades. It was then discovered that a handheld flashlight had been ingested, rendering the $14 million engine beyond local repair.

The ingestion of the flashlight during the engine run caused damage to the second, third, fifth and sixth-stage rotors, fuel nozzle, bypass duct, high-pressure compressor, high-pressure turbine and fan inlet variable vane. The incident resulted in an estimated $3,933,106 in damage to the engine. The investigation identified the mishap’s cause as an incomplete tool kit inventory and a failure to comply with joint-service technical data guidance before the engine start. MM1 neglected to clear the inlet of foreign objects after completing the required inspections, resulting in the flashlight being inadvertently left on the lip of the intake.

Live snake found on AirAsia flight from Bangkok terrified passengers

Passengers on a Thai AirAsia flight from Bangkok Don Mueang International Airport (BKK) to Phuket International Airport (HKT) were in hysterics after a live snake was found inside the Airbus A320 aircraft. The slithering stowaway was spotted in one of the overhead compartments. The moment was captured on video by one of the flight passengers and was uploaded to the TikTok account. The video shows one of the cabin crew attempting to contain the snake using an empty water bottle. However, the snake was not enticed into the bottle and another video clip shows the cabin crew trying to capture the creature in a bin liner. The method proved successful and the snake was contained until the flight landed in Phuket. Upon landing, airport safety officers from Phuket swept the aircraft to check if other serpents or creatures were onboard, but none were found.

Akasa Air orders 150 737 Max jets

Indian carrier Akasa Air has ordered 150 Boeing 737 Max aircraft, landing Boeing its first major commitment for the type weeks after a door plug blow-out accident. Announced on 18 January at the Wings India air show in Hyderabad, the  order comprises Max 10s and Max 8-200s; deliveries will run until 2032, said the low-cost operator. Airline chief Vinay Dube says the new aircraft will “bolster the strength of our operations” as Akasa the country’s newest operator prepares to commence international services ‘in the very near future’. With the new commitments, Akasa’s orderbook now stands at 226 737 Max aircraft, with 22 examples in its fleet.

Akasa’s order follows a series of deals from other Indian operators in the past 12 months: Air India signed for over 400 aircraft in early 2023, while fellow low-cost operator IndiGo splashed out on more than 500 aircraft at the Paris air show in June. Akasa has hinted at a large commitment for some time: in July, Dube disclosed the airline’s intention to place an order for more than 100 aircraft by end-2023.

The airline says its ‘landmark’ aircraft order is ‘a testimony of the airline’s solid financial foundation and showcases Boeing’s confidence in Akasa Air’s future’. Akasa’s order does not include the Max 9, but the airline has completed a series of inspections on its fleet of Max 8s and noted no ‘adverse findings’.

US carries out fifth strike against Houthis as Biden admits bombing is not halting attacks

According to US Central Command late on Thursday 18 January US warplanes targeted anti-ship missiles that were aimed into the southern Red Sea and prepared to launch. But in an exchange with reporters in Washington DC, the US president was frank about the efficacy of the US airstrikes. “When you say working, are they stopping the Houthis? Soon after Biden’s remarks, Houthi militia launched two anti-ship ballistic missiles at a US-owned tanker ship that hit the water near the vessel but caused no injuries or damage. Biden’s comments came hours after the leader of the Houthis urged the Arab world to mount mass boycotts of Israeli goods as he claimed US and UK missile attacks launched on his country were a sign that the movement’s attacks on Israeli-linked commercial shipping was having an impact. In an hour-long address carried on Arabic media channels and suffused with religious rhetoric, Abdulmalik al-Houthi said it was “a great honour and blessing to be confronting America directly”.

Al-Houthi claimed the only effect of the recent missile strikes had been to improve his army and navy’s technology and he ridiculed Joe Biden as “an elderly man that has trouble climbing the stairs of an aeroplane yet is travelling 9,000 miles to attack those that wanted to stand by the oppressed people of Gaza”. He asked why countries that oppressed Gaza felt they had the right to label others as terrorists for fulfilling their religious duty to come to the help of Palestinians, a reference to Washington’s decision on Wednesday to give notice it intends formally to designate the Houthis as a terrorist group. He said the Houthis had been singled out because they were prepared to take practical steps to support the Palestinians, whereas the general position of the leaders of many Arab and Islamic countries remained lukewarm and weak.

Al-Houthi insisted “nothing, not all the threats, the missiles, the pressure will change our position”, adding the attacks on ships linked to Israel, or travelling to Israeli ports, would only end when the blockade on Gaza was lifted. “The Palestinians have a right for aid from air, land and sea without any obstacles. The Zionist enemy only wants the sea to be safe only for them.” His speech, containing attacks on the Zionist lobby and gay people, warned that the war was part of a wider battle between Zionists, who worshipped the devil and the Muslim world. He urged Yemenis to come out in a mass show of support on Friday for their countrymen killed by US forces.

Since November, attacks by the Iran-backed Houthi militia on ships in the region have slowed trade between Asia and Europe and alarmed major powers. The Houthis, who control most of Yemen, say they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. Earlier on Thursday, the US military had fired a fourth wave of missile strikes from the Red Sea, hitting more than a dozen sites, after a drone launched from areas controlled by the Houthis hit a US-owned vessel in the Gulf of Aden.

It remained unclear whether the Houthis’ ability to mount further attacks on shipping in the Red Sea using either missiles or drones had been damaged. The Houthis have broadened their theatre of operation, a possible sign that some of their missile launch pads have been struck. The Houthis’ impact on global supply chains was one of the chief topics at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, an indication of how the group has catapulted itself forward as a geopolitical force. Isaac Herzog, Israel’s president, complained of ‘a little tribe of 50,000 people, amassed with the weapons of an empire. What is going on here? We are unravelling a huge system of evil.”

Also in Davos, the UK foreign secretary, David Cameron, met the deputy president of Yemen’s UN-recognised government, Maj Gen Aidarus al-Zoubaidi, to discuss the next steps in the conflict and the fate of the UN-led peace talks between the Houthis and the UN. There had been some doubt about the meeting going ahead because of British concern at Zoubaidi’s strong calls for the west to supply the government with equipment, training and intelligence to help defeat the Houthis. As head of the Southern Transitional Council, Zoubaidi leads the movement calling for Yemen to be divided into north and south, a position not endorsed by the UK government. But the STC, a lead adversary of the Houthis, has praised the allied airstrikes and Washington’s decision to reclassify the Houthi militias as a ‘global terrorist group’. “Houthi terrorist practices have caused great harm to citizens and affected the flow of goods and aid to the ports”, it said in a statement.

MEHAIR places order for 20 ZeroAvia ZA600 hydrogen-electric engines

MEHAIR (Maritime Energy Heli Air Services Pvt Ltd.) has historically offered services across the Indian sub-continent, commencing with the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in 2011. The company now has ambitious plans to grow across a range of sub-regional routes across India with both amphibian and wheeled aircraft.  MEHAIR will explore a range of options for financing the acquisition and retrofit of the engines to its upcoming fleet of ten Cessna Caravan aircraft, including working with potential leasing partners. The company already has a relationship with MONTE as its preferred ZA600 lessor partner. ZeroAvia and MEHAIR will also work together on establishing the fuel supply for the operator’s services across India. ZeroAvia plans to certify the ZA600 by the end of 2025 and is already working closely with the UK’s CAA as well as other regulators to ensure harmonisation and rapid certification globally. 

India has big aspirations to use hydrogen as a key enabler of its clean energy future, particularly in hard-to-abate sectors like aviation and to deliver net-zero by 2070. A target of reaching five million metric-tonnes of hydrogen production per annum has been set for 2030. According to CAPA, India, aviation is growing dramatically across the country, with passenger numbers more than doubling over the last decade and more than 500 million passengers per annum predicted by 2030.

DeltaHawk begins development of engine package for Van’s RV-14

DeltaHawk Engines has begun engineering and development of a firewall-forward installation package for the new DHK family of FAA-certified jet-fuel-powered piston engines for Van’s RV-14 aircraft. Company officials said, the first installation will be aboard an RV-14 owned by award-winning aircraft builder Craig Saxton, with the aircraft anticipated to fly during late spring 2024. Built at the company’s headquarters in Racine, Wisconsin, the DeltaHawk DHK180 engine received FAA Type Certification in 2023 and the company is now moving towards production.

“The DeltaHawk engine and its derivatives brings many unique and exciting benefits to aviation in general and, specifically, to RV aircraft,” added Saxton. “I approached DeltaHawk because their new engine platform offers superior performance, while being significantly more efficient to operate and maintain. I believe it is a very capable alternative to other engine offerings.” Saxton is building his new RV-14 with the help of Synergy Air, the largest builder assistance company for builders of Van’s aircraft.

Van’s Aircraft is also providing technical assistance for the project. DeltaHawk is also developing similar firewall-forward engine installation packages for Bearhawk Aircraft’s 4-place model. DeltaHawk is now taking fully refundable reservation deposits for the RV-14 engine installation package on its website at www.DeltaHawk.com.

New ownership at Hartzell raised prices within one month

Shortly after purchasing Hartzell Aviation, new owner Arcline Investment Management has increased prices for parts across the board, in some cases by more than double. Arcline, a Nashville-based private equity firm, took over Hartzell in mid-November 2023 and published a new price list on 8 December with some dramatic price increases. According to one shop, for instance, a Sky-Tec starter that used to sell for $484 without a core requirement now sells for $1,295 with a return core required. A propeller blade that cost $7,284 before the acquisition is now $10,964, a 51% increase. Maintenance shops have no option but to pass the increases on to customers and some said they were concerned that competitors McCauley and MT would follow suit with price increases of their own.

Arcline was founded in 2018 by Rajeev Amara, a 1997 graduate of the Wharton School. Before launching Arcline, he spent 18 years in management positions with Golden Gate Capital, a San Francisco private equity firm that currently lists cumulative capital commitments of greater than $12 billion. Arcline is listed as holding $8.9 billion in cumulative capital commitments as of June 2023.

Hartzell Aviation represents a three-tier corporate umbrella established in July 2022 including Hartzell Propeller, Hartzell Aerospace Welding and Hartzell Engine Tech, which collectively oversaw acquired companies that built or supplied engine-related components. Acquisitions over the past few years have included lightweight aircraft starter manufacturer Sky-Tec and, in November 2023, Kelly Aero LLC, which manufactures aftermarket general aviation magnetos, replacement parts and ignition harnesses.

Failed Peregrine One lunar lander on course for earthly disintegration

Rather than entering lunar orbit next week for a planned Moon landing in late February, the space vehicle carrying the ashes of Gene Roddenberry and half the cast of the original Star Trek TV series will burn up this week on re-entry to the Earth’s atmosphere. Astrobotic’s Peregrine One lander has aborted its lunar mission after a 238,000-mile flight that crossed the path of the Moon’s orbit.

According to the company, as reported on the Inverse website, “We must balance our own desire to extend Peregrine’s life, operate payloads and learn more about the spacecraft, with the risk that our damaged spacecraft could cause a problem in cislunar space.”

Astrobotic believes that shortly after take-off from Cape Canaveral in Florida, the valve separating the Peregrine One lander’s helium propellant and oxygenator tanks stuck open. The lander needs to balance its supply of oxygen and propellant to operate properly and the stuck valve made this impossible. Astrobotic said in a statement, “While this is a working theory, a full analysis report will be produced by a formal review board made up of industry experts after the mission is complete. All available data is being downloaded from the lander to support this assessment.”

NASA, other US government agencies and members of ‘the space community’ recommended that Astrobotic initiate the return to Earth for the Peregrine One lander. Astrobotic agreed, to ensure the lander did not become a menace to future lunar navigation as a potentially dangerous piece of ‘space junk’ that would menace both the Moon and the Earth. NASA and Astrobotic are monitoring the return flight of the Peregrine One lander and assure the public there will be no danger on the Earth’s surface as the craft disintegrates in the Earth’s atmosphere ‘dozens of miles’ up. The ashes of Roddenberry and three Star Trek actors are on board, along with the remains of sci-fi author Arthur C. Clarke and DNA samples from several former US presidents. According to reporting, some of the ashes were intended to be buried on the Moon, while others were destined to be launched into deep space. While the cargo of human remains was most noteworthy in the media, the Peregrine One also carries NASA instrumentation, robots associated with the National Autonomous University of Mexico and the Mexican Space Agency and a lunar rover from Carnegie Mellon University.

JetSetGo signs LOI for purchase of up to 100 Cavorite X7 aircraft

New Horizon Aircraft, a leading hybrid eVTOL aircraft developer, has entered into a letter of intent (LOI) with JetSetGo, a regional air operator servicing multiple mission profiles. This LOI allows JetSetGo to purchase 50 Cavorite X7 aircraft at a purchase price up to US$5 million per aircraft for a total aggregate consideration of US$250 million, with an option to purchase an additional 50 aircraft. Founded in 2014 by the visionary duo Kanika Tekriwal and Sudheer Perla, JetSetGo has been on a mission to revolutionise private air travel in India. Its core principles, placing customer needs first, maximising the value of their time and making private aviation simple and accessible, have positioned the brand as a leading provider of on-demand private aviation services.

Kanika Tekriwal, JetSetGo’s CEO and co-founder, stated, “Our decision to enter into this agreement with Horizon Aircraft was not taken lightly. We ultimately decided to partner with a company with a deep operational and aerospace technology background that will deliver a product that will help usher in a new era of sustainable air travel while also providing significant value for our customers. This partnership will help JetSetGo profitably enter new markets by leveraging the versatility of the Cavorite platform to bring about the vision of advanced air mobility in India.”

Headquartered in New Delhi, JetSetGo was founded through a commitment to tackle the significant challenges within the private aviation sector. The brand has created a more transparent and accessible marketplace for private jet charter, making private jet ownership more affordable and convenient while elevating the quality and consistency of charter services. The fleet currently comprises five mid-size Hawker aircraft, meticulously tailored to the unique demands of the Indian market and six other aircraft ranging from large-cabin jets to helicopters.

Swiss start-up Sirius unveils hydrogen-powered VTOL ‘business jet’

The company intends to have the aircraft certified and in service by 2025 and will offer two variants, one tailored for private use and the other for commercial air taxi services. The private-use Sirius Business Jet will accommodate one pilot and up to three passengers and have an anticipated flight range of 1,150 miles (1,850 kilometres), whereas the larger Sirius Millennium Jet seats up to five passengers and can fly just over half that distance, with a range of 650 miles (1,050 kilometres). Both versions should be able to fly at altitudes of up to 30,000 feet at a cruise speed of 323 mph (520 kph). According to Sirius, refuelling the aircraft, which involves pumping the hydrogen fuel cells full of hydrogen gas, will likely cost around $500.

The Sirius Jet’s propulsion system uses hydrogen fuel cells to power 28 electric ducted fans, 20 of which are mounted to the aircraft’s main wing while eight are in the canard. This ducted-fan concept is somewhat reminiscent of the battery-electric Lilium Jet, although Sirius has incorporated a distinctive V-shaped tail whereas Lilium opted for a wingless design. Sirius designed the two Sirius Jet aircraft in collaboration with BMW’s Designworks innovation studio and Swiss motorsport company Sauber Group. Sirius says its aircraft will be nearly silent in operation, generating less than 60 decibels of noise at a distance of 100 meters (328 feet). That is about as loud as a typical dishwashing machine and quiet enough to enable operations in populated areas where noise pollution is a concern.

Fraport and Lilium to collaborate on development of commercial eVTOL network

Airport operator Fraport and Lilium, developer of the first all-electric VTOL jet, have jointly announced their strategic collaboration to explore required planning and approval steps for state-of-the-art infrastructure for the implementation of commercial eVTOL operations at airports. Fraport is active at 30 international airports across four continents. The partnership will start by preparing Germany and the industry for the introduction of regional electric air mobility through working with industry groups and the German government to jointly discuss and accelerate necessary regulatory work. 

Fraport and Lilium plan to analyse future mobility concepts for vertiport networks that are suitable for electric aircraft. Fraport and Lilium will also examine how future vertiport concepts for this type of mobility could look like, especially at and around airports. The Fraport partnership will complement Lilium’s existing partnerships at airports across Germany including the airports of Stuttgart, Munich, Nuremberg, Cologne-Bonn and Düsseldorf. 

In recent years, Lilium has conducted various implementation studies with airports and air traffic control authorities on eVTOL infrastructure implementation topics confirming the feasibility of regional aviation with eVTOLs. These studies have been related to suitable locations, structural implementation and airspace integration procedures, including potential use cases and routes. Based on this work, Lilium is continuously working on partnerships and collaborations with the relevant private and public stakeholders to grow the ecosystem and potential network for eVTOL operations to make electric aviation a reality in Germany.

Chinese company creates nuclear battery

A Chinese company says it has developed a nuclear battery that supplies power for decades without recharging. Beijing-based Betavolt also says its postage-stamp-sized cells are so safe they can be used in medical devices. “The atomic energy battery developed by Betavolt is absolutely safe, has no external radiation and is suitable for use in medical devices such as pacemakers, artificial hearts and cochlea’s in the human body,” the company said. The company says its first battery supplies just 100 microwatts of power at three volts, but it envisions cell phone and drone batteries that will keep those devices operating for 50 years or more. The company did not discuss scalability to power, say, airplanes but it does seem to think the sky is no limit. Betavolt devoted a lot of space in its announcement to calming fears about the energy source’s environmental impact. “Atomic energy batteries are environmentally friendly. After the decay period, the 63 isotopes turn into a stable isotope of copper, which is non-radioactive and does not pose any threat or pollution to the environment.” It also says the batteries will not explode if physically damaged and cannot catch fire.

Feds prosecute drone pilot for mid-air collision (US v Hernandez)

On Wednesday 17 January a federal complaint was filed in the Central Federal District Court of California charging Andrew Hernandez with unsafe operation of an unmanned aircraft. It alleges that around 00h35 a Los Angeles Police Department helicopter arrived in response to a request for air support by officers investigating a burglary at a pharmacy. While hovering, an Officer Lomax observed from the helicopter what appeared to be a ‘drone and pulled the helicopter up in an attempt to put the helicopter out of the drone’s flight path. Despite Officer Lomax’s efforts to avoid the drone, the drone struck the bottom of the LAPD helicopter.’ The helicopter initiated an emergency landing by flying over to LAPD Hooper Heliport. After landing, Officer Lomax ‘observed damage to the helicopter’s nose, antenna and the bottom cowlings.’

Officers interviewed a witness who lived near the pharmacy who indicated that the residents of a nearby house flew drones frequently. A pull of DMV records indicated the defendant lived at the house indicated by the witness. Officers around the pharmacy located portions of the drone and found a serial number on one of the portions. A warrant was obtained to search the drone’s camera and SD card. On it they found among other pictures a picture of the suspect holding a drone controller near the license plate on the vehicle registered to him. A warrant was obtained to search the suspect’s house. After Miranda warnings were given, the defendant told officers he heard a helicopter and “was curious, fetched his drone and flew his drone to see what was going on.” He stated that it was “hard to see the drone at night, but that he recalled seeing the drone’s green light facing him as it was ascending.” He looked down for a couple seconds at the drone controller and as he “looked up again at his drone, he saw the drone being ‘smacked’ by the helicopter, which was hovering.”

The digital evidence led a trail back to the defendant and before some drone pilot thinks this is unlikely to happen to them, consider 14 CFR 107.7(b) which says, the drone pilot ‘must, upon request, allow the FAA to make any test or inspection of the small unmanned aircraft system.’ 18 USC Section 39B(a)(2) makes it a crime for any person who operates an unmanned aircraft and ‘recklessly interferes with, or disrupts the operation of, an aircraft carrying one or more occupants operating in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States, in a manner that poses an imminent safety hazard to such occupants.’ A violation shall be punished by a fine and / or imprisonment for not more than one year. However, if the person causes serious bodily injury or death during the commission of an offense, they can be fined and / or imprisoned for a term of up to 10 years.

The Department of Justice has been stepping up efforts in dealing with drones: This year the DOJ has announced filing charges against two drone pilots who flew their drones in flight restrictions in Oregon. The DOJ also announced they filed charges against a drone pilot in Miami who flew in flight restrictions during the Super Bowl.

In April 2020, the Attorney General set out some counter UAS guidance which requires authorised FBI personnel to be ‘properly trained on the use of the technology or equipment and on their responsibilities under this guidance.’ The criminal complaint gives us more info regarding the FBI’s counter UAS efforts because in the complaint it stated that the FBI special agent involved in this case has since July 2020 ‘been a member of the newly formed FBI Wildland Fire Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System (CUAS) Team, for which he received training specific to drones.’ As I have told people multiple times, make sure you are flying lawfully all the time, even when people are not around, because your flight logs and pictures could cause you problems. Just look at the defendant in this case who had a selfie picture on the drone’s SD card of him holding the drone controller and standing next to a vehicle registered to him. The big take-away from this case is: any pictures you take, can and will be held against you.

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