Number 36 – 09 May 2024

“A teacher is never a giver of truth, he is a guide, a pointer to the truth that each student must find for himself. A good teacher is merely a catalyst.” Bruce Lee

Myasishchev M-50

(Information from Wikipedia)

The Myasishchev M-50 constructed by the Myasishchev design bureau (Russian: Мясищев М-50; NATO reporting name Bounder) was a Soviet prototype four-jet engine supersonic strategic bomber which never attained service. Only one flightworthy prototype was built, which was first flown in October 1959.  The M-50 was a fast jet bomber with four engines: two Dobrynin VD-7 non-afterburning turbojet engines at the outer and two VD-7F afterburning turbojet engines at the inner positions. The two inner engines were located under the wing and the two outer on the wingtips of its shoulder-mounted, truncated delta wings.

The second aircraft was designated M-52 and carried Zubets 16-17 turbofans, around which the aircraft had been designed. The engine installation was modified and a second tailplane added to the top of the fin. The fore-end of the M-52 has been redesigned: in place of the tandem cockpit of the M-50 with seats in a row, the M-52 had a wider cockpit with the two pilots sitting side by side. The M-50 participated in a Soviet Aviation Day flyby in 1961. The M-52 was completed but was not flight-tested.

An unmanned M-51 intercontinental cruise missile variant was developed, which would have delivered multiple warheads on targets in the contiguous United States.

Like most of the early 1960s supersonic strategic bomber projects, the M-50/52 programme was terminated due to the development of intercontinental ballistic missiles and the priority assigned to the Soviet space programme. The 1 December 1958 issue of Aviation Week included an article Soviets Flight Testing Nuclear Bomber claiming that the Soviets had made great progress in their own nuclear aircraft programme. This was accompanied by an editorial on the topic as well. The magazine claimed that the aircraft was real beyond a doubt, stating that ‘A nuclear-powered bomber is being flight tested in the Soviet Union. It has been observed both in flight and on the ground by a wide variety of foreign observers from Communist and non-Communist countries.” However, the article was based on a hoax. The aircraft in the photographs was later revealed to be an M-50 and not a nuclear-powered plane.

In reality, in the early 1960s Soviet Union did test a technology demonstrator for a nuclear-powered strategic bomber, Tupolev Tu-95LAL, similar to the somewhat earlier American Convair NB-36H project, but being based on the turboprop Tu-95, it was never supersonic, it never flew under nuclear power (its main goal was to test the nuclear reactor shielding efficiency) and, moreover, it was developed by the Tupolev Design Bureau, as Myasischev company had lost the competition to develop the prototype. It was deemed successful, but further development dragged on because of environmental concerns. When the functional ICBMs appeared, most of the funding and development effort was shifted into that field and in the early 1960s the project was halted. On 9 July 1961, the M-50A made its 19th and last flight, participating at a fly-past over the annual Tushino airshow. This was the one and only public appearance of the giant, currently displayed at the Monino Museum outside Moscow.

Those persons who correctly identified this week’s mystery aircraft:

Rahul Vala, Righardt du Plessis, Andrew Peace, P Rossouw, Danie Viljoen, Andre Visser, Wouter van der Waal, Ari Levien, Charlie Hugo, Kevin Farr, Michael Schoeman, Brian Millett, Colin Austen, Erwin Stam, Ahmed Bassa, Magiel A. Esterhuysen, Karl Jensen, Pierre Brittz, Hilton Carroll, Piet Steyn, Rennie van Zyl, Noel Macquet, Andre Janse van Rensburg, Barry Eatwell, Lance Williams, John Moen, Clint Futter, Sergio Antao, Aiden O’ Mahony, Thomas Tonking, Johan Venter, Rex Tweedie, Brian Ross, Selwyn Kimber, Steve Dewsbery, Jan Sime, Dave Lloyd, Bruce Prescott, (40 correct answers). This is an excellent response for a relatively obscure mystery aircraft this week. Thank you.

Shell confirms intention to divest from South African downstream operations

Reports that Shell wants to leave South Africa first surfaced in early May 2024, following a dispute between the company and its long-term BBBEE partner, Thebe Investment Corporation. Thebe Investment Corporation holds a 28% share in Shell Downstream South Africa and it claims that Shell delayed resolving its dispute to orchestrate its exit from the country. The disagreement originates from 2022 when Thebe wrote to Shell, expressing its desire to implement its ‘opt-out’ clause and cash out to reinvest the funds in growing the company. It submitted a stake valuation based on figures Shell had provided and valued its stake at $200 million (R3.7 billion).

Shell delayed responding to the submission for eight months. When it finally did, it reportedly backtracked on its figures and said Thebe Investment Corporation’s stake was worthless. Thebe shareholders called the situation ‘The Great Dutch Heist’ and said they felt ‘robbed and used’.

Shell Downstream South Africa declined to comment on the situation. “As a matter of policy and principle, Shell Downstream SA distances itself from speculation or rumours, particularly in relation to confidential shareholder agreements and relationships,” it said.

On Monday the oil giant confirmed its intentions to exit shareholdings in its South African retail, transport and refining operations, following a worldwide review of its downstream and renewables business. The international oil giant has a large presence in South Africa and has been operating since 1902. The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy had also granted it exploration rights in the country.

Shell Plc has confirmed weekend media reports that it plans to divest from South Africa. This will entail the sale of its downstream assets, effectively more than 500 service stations or forecourts it operates in the country. It said this decision was taken in the wake of a comprehensive review of ‘the downstream and renewables businesses across all regions and markets in line with Shell’s focus on performance, discipline and simplification.’

Shell will continue to fuel South Africa’s aviation industry, as peer BP exits

British oil and gas giant BP has decided to exit all its aviation activities at South African airports. However, Shell has informed its aviation customers that it is committed to continue with its aviation fuel activities in the country. Asked if it is exiting its aviation operations in SA because of the government’s position on Russia, BP only it is ‘as a result of Air BP’s current global business strategy’. Global energy and petrochemical group Shell plans to continue its aviation fuel operations at airports in South Africa, unlike British oil and gas giant BP. ‘Shell Downstream South Africa is aware of the concerns raised following the exit of an aviation fuel supplier locally and would like to confirm that there is no change to our local operating model,’ states the letter. ‘Shell remains committed to the aviation supply and operations underpinned by our business control framework, policies and guidelines.’

News24 reported that last year, two Russian planes could not get fuel from large international fuel suppliers at the OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg and Cape Town International Airport, respectively. This was because fuel suppliers had to adhere to the sanctions imposed on Russia by their countries of origin and their own company policies.

Editor remarks:
When major fuel suppliers start leaving South Africa it is high time for the government to take note that its failed BBBEE policy is damaging the economy of our country. Just because the corrupt politicians and their cadres live a life of luxury and privilege, the ordinary people of the country are bound to suffer under ‘reverse apartheid’ policies of the ANC government. Please remember you have a chance to make the difference when you cast your vote on 29 May.

10 & 11 May
Wings and Wheels Queenstown
Contact 082 921 2879

11 May
Lowveld airshow at the Nelspruit airfield
Contact Willemien E-mail: willemein.hodgkinson@kishugu.com Cell: 079 499 5733

11 May
EAA Chapter 322 monthly gathering at the EAA Auditorium
Contact Neil Bowden E-mail: airadventuresa@gmail.com

11 May
SAPFA ANR navigation rally at Stellenbosch airfield
Contact Pamela Russell Cell: 083 264 0108

11 May
Flying with a purpose the Bateleurs Ladysmith airfield
Contact Steve Cell 082 891 1689

11 May
SAA Museum Society Planes Trains Automobiles 09h00 to 14h30
Contact E-mail: info@saamuseum.co.za Cell: 076 879 5044

12 to 15 May
African Airlines Association 12^th stakeholders convention in Addis Ababa
Contact E-mail: events@afraa.org   

Top aerobatics pilot killed by vulture that smashed through his canopy

Olivier Masurel (42) was killed on Sunday as he flew back to an airport in Madrid when a vulture crashed through the windscreen of his cockpit. The Spanish French national was crowned Spanish Unlimited Aerobatic Flight Champion last July and was one of the three pilots that represented Spain at the 31st FAI World Aerobatic Championships in Poland in August 2022. The San Javier Airshow, where Olivier had demonstrated his skills shortly before meeting his untimely death, said in a statement alongside a photo of him doing a thumbs-up: ‘We are heartbroken by the news of the fatal accident Olivier Masurel suffered as an acrobatic pilot who participated in the air festival’.

R’Komor Fokker 50 runway excursion

On Sunday 5 May a R’Komor Fokker 50, D6-AIB, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in a runway overrun at Mohéli Bandar Es Salam Airport (FMCI), Mohéli, Comoros. There were a number of injuries reported, varying from serious to minor. Preliminary information indicates the aircraft was accelerating for take-off on runway 31 when the crew rejected the take-off at high speed but overran the end of the runway and came to rest in thick bush, around 150 metres off the end of the runway having collapsed the right main landing gear. This is the second time this year that this aircraft has had a runway excursion this year, with a previous event on landing at Anjouan-Ouani Airport (FMCV) on 19 February ‘24. It appears that this aircraft will almost certainly be written-off.

Cessna 210 incident at Tempe airport, Bloemfontein

On Sunday 5 May a Cessna 210 had a whoopsie at Tempe airport in Bloemfontein when the pilot was unable to get the main gear to extend. The two men, woman and fox-terrier on board were unharmed when the aircraft came to rest in the tall grass at the side of the runway. Well done to the pilot for managing this emergency in such a calm and professional manner.

VA-1X forced landing following power unit failure, Cotswold Airport (Kemble), Gloucestershire

The AAIB has published a report into an accident involving an VA-1X (G-EVTL), which suffered a forced landing following power unit failure, Cotswold Airport (Kemble), Gloucestershire, 9 August 2023.

The aircraft was being flown by a remote pilot on a test flight at 30 feet agl when a propeller blade detached from the electric propulsion unit 3 forward motor due to a failure of the adhesive bond between the propeller blade sheath and spar. Large out-of-balance loads generated by the blade release caused structural failure of the right inboard pylon, resulting in damage to the aircraft’s wiring harnesses. This caused a loss of thrust from motors four and seven. Whilst the aircraft’s flight control system was able to maintain a level attitude, the high rate of descent caused by the loss of vertical thrust resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft when it struck the ground. At the time of the accident, the aircraft manufacturer was in the process of introducing a blade design that, amongst other things, eliminated the bonding failure mode that caused the blade release. The manufacturer’s investigation identified 36 product and process improvements resulting from findings of the investigation.

One Seattle-bound aircraft evacuated, another diverted

On Monday a planeload of Delta passengers left their A321 on slides instead of the jet bridge after a fire started in the front landing gear well. Airport authorities said the fire started after the aircraft was plugged into shore power after a flight from Cancun. The crew called for an emergency evacuation with a PA announcement quoted by one passenger as: “Drop your belongings, unbuckle and head to the exits.” There were 189 passengers and six crew onboard and no one was hurt.

Meanwhile, 272 passengers and crew on an Air France Boeing 787 who were also on their way to Seattle instead ended up spending the day in the remote town of Iqaluit in the Canadian territory of Nunavut on Tuesday. A ‘heat smell’ in the cabin prompted the crew to make an emergency landing in the town of about 8,000 people, which, as the economic and government hub of the vast area, has an airport with an 8,605-foot runway. The Dreamliner will apparently have an extended stay in Iqaluit. The airline sent a 777 to pick up the passengers and it took off late Tuesday but it went to JFK instead of Seattle, leaving passengers with another six-hour flight to get to their destination. According to local officials, airliners on the busy polar routes between North America and Europe use Iqaluit for diversions every few months.

India’s IndiGo orders 30 Airbus A350 widebody aircraft

India’s largest airline IndiGo has placed a firm order for 30 Airbus A350-900 aircraft. The order will help expand IndiGo’s international network to long-haul destinations. India, the world’s fastest growing major aviation market, is on the verge of an international travel boom as the economy grows and household incomes rise. The A350 is perfectly positioned to serve the country’s aspirations for long-range travel. The choice of the A350 is a reaffirmation of IndiGo’s continued trust in Airbus and is yet another validation of the aircraft as the undisputed leader in long-haul air travel.

“This historic moment marks a new chapter for IndiGo and will further shape the future of the airline and for Indian aviation at the same time. For IndiGo, after successfully pioneering the Indian skies with an unprecedented journey, its fleet of 30 Airbus A350-900 aircraft will allow IndiGo to embark on its next phase of becoming one of the leading global aviation players. At IndiGo, we take pride in being India’s preferred airline and for offering connectivity to our customers, in and with India. This reaffirms IndiGo’s belief in and commitment to, the growth of India and in our strategic partnership with Airbus,” said Pieter Elbers, CEO, IndiGo.

Bound in a relationship of symbiotic growth with India for more than half a century, Airbus products and services have catalysed the growth of the country’s civil aviation sector. While the Airbus A320 Family is supporting the democratisation of air travel in India, the A350 has become the reference aircraft to unlock the true potential of the international market for the Indian carriers. IndiGo is among the fastest growing airline companies in the world and is one of the largest A320 Family customers.

The A350 is the world’s most modern and efficient wide-body aircraft in the 300–410-seater category. The A350’s clean sheet design includes state-of-the-art technologies and aerodynamics delivering unmatched standards of efficiency and comfort. Its new generation engines and use of lightweight materials bring a 25 per cent advantage in fuel burn, operating costs and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, compared to previous generation competitor aircraft.

ATR sells 10 ATR 72-600s to Singapore’s Aviation

Deliveries are scheduled between 2025 and 2028, showcasing Aviation’s long-term vision and confidence in the relevance of ATR’s products to serve the regional aviation market. The agreement is further complemented by 24 purchase rights, extending until 2034. This order marks another milestone in the enduring relationship with Aviation which began in 2011. Since then, the Singapore-based lessor has taken delivery of 36 new ATR 72s, with two more scheduled for delivery in the coming months, as part of a previous order. Aviation currently owns a fleet of 20 ATRs.

Emitting 45% less CO2 per trip than similar-size regional jets, ATR aircraft are already 50% SAF compatible, with the aim to be 100% SAF ready in 2025, as part of the manufacturer’s commitment to low-emission aviation. These additional aircraft will also contribute to enhance regional connectivity to remote and underserved areas worldwide, linking communities and stimulating economic growth by attracting businesses, tourism and investment.

Air Niugini orders the A220

Air Niugini, the national carrier of Papua New Guinea, has signed a firm order with Airbus for six latest generation single aisle A220-100s under its fleet modernisation programme. In addition, the carrier will acquire three A220-300s and another two A220-100s from third party lessors. Combining the longest range, lowest fuel consumption and widest cabin in the 100-150 seat category, the A220 will be operated by Air Niugini across its domestic and regional network. The new fleet will deliver more capacity and greater reliability across the domestic network and enable the carrier to fly from capital Port Moresby to new destinations across the Asia-Pacific region.

Air Niugini also announced that it has selected a flight planning support system from Airbus subsidiary NAVBLUE for its fleet. Called N-Flight Planning (N-FP), the solution will help the airline optimise on fuel, time and cost to meet operational needs, while ensuring overall safety and compliance. The A220 is the most modern airliner in its size category, carrying between 100 to 150 passengers on flights of up to 3,450 nautical miles (6,390 km). Depending on cabin configuration, the A220-100 serves the 100-135 seat market, while the larger A220-300 is perfectly tailored for the 120-150 seat market.

Beechcraft Denali begins FAA certification flight tests

On 6 May Textron Aviation announced that has begun FAA certification flight testing with its Beechcraft Denali single-engine turboprop. The clean-sheet design is expected to enter service in 2025 following delays in the certification of GE Aviation’s Catalyst engine, which will power the turboprop, as well as the recent addition of Garmin Autoland as standard equipment. The Denali is poised to take some of the market share from existing turboprop singles such as the Pilatus PC-12 and Daher-Socata TBM.

“We have three prototypes flying with more than 830 flights and we have accumulated almost 2,000 hours on these three aircraft,” Lannie O’Bannion, Textron Aviation’s senior VP of global sales and flight operations, told reporters during a briefing at the company’s Wichita headquarters last week. “We continue to talk to the test pilots and they are just amazed with this aircraft and its performance.”

While Textron Aviation is not ready to release the final performance numbers for the Denali, the aircraft was designed to have a range of 1,600 nm, a maximum cruise speed of 285 knots and a full fuel payload of 1,100 pounds. It is configurable for both passenger and cargo missions with a flat floor and room for up to nine passengers.

ICON Aircraft accepts initial bid amid bankruptcy proceedings

Following its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, ICON Aircraft, known for its Icon A5 amphibious light sport aircraft, announced it has accepted an initial bid for the sale of its assets. ICON announced the news in a May 3 press release revealing SG Investment America Inc. is the ‘stalking horse bidder,’ tasked with setting the initial sale price.

“The decision to designate a stalking horse bidder underscores our commitment to ensuring the long-term viability of our business,” said Jerry Meyer, CEO of ICON Aircraft. “We believe that this proactive approach will help employees, partners and customers have confidence in our ongoing operations, enabling the Company to achieve the best possible outcome.”

According to ICON, the stalking horse bidder’s proposal will be the starting point for competing offers throughout the bankruptcy sale proceedings, expected to extend until late May. ICON says the move is aimed at maximising value for the company’s stakeholders including investors, vendors and members of the board. Despite the financial challenges, ICON reaffirmed its commitment to delivering safe and innovative aircraft to its customers. Moreover, the company says it is in close collaboration with the FAA to get production certification for its type certified ICON A5, allowing it to sell in international markets that do not recognise the light sport aircraft category.

Qantas hit with A$120 million penalty for misleading customers

Qantas has admitted that it misled consumers by advertising tickets for tens of thousands of flights it had already decided to cancel and by cancelling thousands more flights without promptly telling ticketholders of its decision, after court action by the ACCC. As part of an agreement, the ACCC and Qantas will ask the Federal Court to impose a penalty of $100 million on Qantas for breaching the Australian Consumer Law. Qantas has also agreed in a court-enforceable undertaking to pay about $20 million to more than 86,000 customers who were sold tickets on flights that Qantas had already decided to cancel, or in some cases who were reaccommodated on these flights after their original flights were cancelled. Qantas will pay $225 to domestic ticketholders and $450 to international ticketholders. These payments are on top of any remedies these consumers already received from Qantas, such as alternative flights or refunds.

The ACCC launched Federal Court action against Qantas in August 2023 alleging that, between 21 May 2021 and 7 July 2022, Qantas advertised tickets for more than 8,000 cancelled flights. It was also alleged that, for more than 10,000 flights scheduled to depart in May to July 2022, Qantas did not promptly notify existing ticketholders that their flights had been cancelled. Qantas has now admitted that its misconduct continued from 21 May 2021 until 26 August 2023, affecting tens of thousands of flights scheduled to depart between 1 May 2022 and 10 May 2024.

Qantas has also undertaken to notify customers of cancelled flights as soon as practicable and no more than 48 hours from deciding to cancel the flight. It has also undertaken to stop selling cancelled flights as soon as practicable and in any event within 24 hours of its decision to cancel. The undertaking also applies to its low-cost subsidiary, Jetstar. Qantas will also review its consumer compliance programme and appoint independent auditors who will monitor Qantas’ compliance with the undertaking and provide reports to the Qantas board and the ACCC.

Steward called ‘waiter’ by a passenger; plane turns back

Yes, this story has to be believed

On 18 July 2023 an American Airlines flight suddenly turned back after two hours in the air. What was the reason? Not technical issues, but rather a lack of courtesy from one of the passengers. Respect is key, especially when it comes to airline staff, no matter your status as a traveller. A business class passenger recently learned this lesson the hard way, much to the dismay of everyone else on board.

The plane took off from New York en route to Georgetown, the capital of Guyana. However, after two hours of flight, the pilot made an unexpected decision to turn back.

Naturally, questions arose: Why the U-turn? Technical problems? A dispute among passengers?

According to the Guyanese newspaper Starbroek News, the American Airlines flight turned back because of the behaviour of a single passenger: “A passenger on board referred to a member of the cabin crew as a waiter.” A situation escalates on board the plane A lack of respect that simply led the pilot to bring everyone back to square one. The involved passenger, traveling in business class, later posted a video on YouTube to give his version of events. The man, who identifies as a Guyanese activist, explained that he had undergone surgery preventing him from lifting heavy objects. Just before take-off, he asked a steward to ‘help him store his bag in the overhead compartment,’ which was refused. To this request, the steward allegedly replied, “I don’t do that, I’m not paid for that.” Then, a flight attendant stepped in to defuse the situation and took care of placing the passenger’s bag in the plane’s overhead compartment.

An hour later, the steward asked the passenger if he wanted something to drink. The passenger replied that he did not need anything, referring to the cabin crew as ‘waiters.’ The nickname that did not sit well with the steward, escalating their exchanges, which caught the attention of the pilots. They decided to divert the flight and return to JFK Airport in New York, where the passenger was removed from the aircraft by the crew. An unusual show of force, for which American Airlines felt the need to justify: “Safety and security are our top priorities. We thank our customers for their understanding and our team members for their professionalism in handling a difficult situation.”

After being escorted off the plane, the passenger was greeted by a police officer and then questioned by a Transportation Security Administration agent. A somewhat extreme punishment for offending the sensibilities of a steward? The story of an entitled passenger and a flight turnaround serves as a reminder of the importance of treating airline staff with respect, highlighting the zero-tolerance policies airlines have in place for disruptive behaviour.

Editor comments: Whilst I certainly believe that respect should always be shown to aircrew, this situation appears to be somewhat bizarre. What about all the other passengers on this flight who were inconvenienced as well as the sheer cost of the return to the original airport? It is my belief that in a case where a passenger is not causing serious problems, the crew should live with the situation and get their passengers to the destination airport where the matter could have been managed by the local authorities. owly and reaches a high delivery rate in the year’s fourth quarter. Last year, for example, it delivered 49 of its 115 executive jets in the final quarter. The OEM has developed a production levelling plan, which it is currently implementing to maintain a stable production pace throughout the calendar year. Overall, including its commercial, defence and services divisions, the company posted a $21.1 billion backlog for the just-ended quarter, the highest point in the past seven years.

Starliner crewed launch scrubbed

On Monday a valve issue caused NASA to scrub the first crewed launch of the Boeing Starliner capsule. The problem with the relief valve on the upper stage of the Atlas rocket was detected about two hours before the scheduled launch 22h34 launch from Cape Canaveral. “In a situation like this, if we see any data signature is not something that we have seen before, then we are just simply not willing to take any chances with our most precious payload,” United Launch Alliance spokesman Dillon Rice told reporters. ULA is providing the rocket to boost the capsule into orbit for a rendezvous with the International Space Station.

Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams had just strapped in when the decision to scrub was made. It is not known how long it will take to fix the valve. It is the latest in a series of issues encountered getting the Starliner to space although this is the first issue with the launch system. The first uncrewed test launch of the capsule in 2019 failed to get to the right orbit for the ISS. The second test reached the space station but after it returned problems were found with the parachutes and flammable tape was discovered in the electrical system.

Joby moves on to next phase of flight testing

On Thursday last week Joby Aviation has successfully completed its pre-production flight test programme and is now shifting focus to the next phase of flight testing in preparation for the upcoming for-credit flight testing. Joby began flying full-scale pre-production prototype aircraft more than four years ago. The company’s two pre-production aircraft have completed more than 1,500 flights and covered over 33,000 miles, with more than 100 flights with a pilot on board. The second pre-production aircraft completed the first-ever electric air taxi exhibition flights in New York City in November 2023, flying from the Manhattan Downtown Heliport and over the Hudson River.

“Over the course of this test programme, our team has shown the world how real electric air taxis are, with tens of thousands of miles flown using today’s battery technology,” Joby Founder and CEO JoeBen Bevirt said. “Our pre-production aircraft were the second full-scale generation of Joby’s design, and their performance met or exceeded our predictions throughout the programme, successfully achieving our targets for maximum range, speed and a revolutionary acoustic footprint.”

In 2021 Joby completed a flight of 154.6 statute miles on a single charge, including a vertical take-off and landing. In 2022, Joby partnered with NASA to measure and confirm its eVTOL’s quiet acoustic footprint. Joby expects the low noise eVTOL will barely be heard in cruise flight against the sounds of urban environments. The company has also demonstrated speeds of over 200 miles per hour and flight at altitudes exceeding 10,000 feet above mean sea level.

In October 2023 Joby expanded its programme to include flying with a pilot on board the eVTOL. One month later, Joby celebrated the first flight of an electric air taxi in New York City. In 2023 Joby also trained four US Air Force pilots to become the first Air Force personnel to fly an eVTOL through a full flight profile, including the transition from vertical to windborne flight as the sole pilot-in-command.

MightyFly obtains FAA flight corridor approval for large cargo eVTOL

The next-generation aviation startup MightyFly asserts that it is the first company to be developing a large, autonomous electric vehicle take-off and landing (eVTOL) cargo drone to have received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration for a flight corridor. This approval marks a significant achievement for MightyFly, signifying a notable advancement in the realm of drone delivery services.

The newly sanctioned flight corridor, linking California’s New Jerusalem and Byron Airports, spanning approximately 20 miles, will enable MightyFly to undertake a range of crucial flight tests with its latest drone model, the 2024 Cento.

The newest iteration of the Cento drone represents a significant advancement, being a hybrid model resembling a small single-seater aircraft and capable of transporting up to 100 lbs. of cargo across distances of up to 600 miles. Engineered for complete autonomy, including the loading and unloading of packages, it offers innovative features such as the ability to rearrange packages within its structure to maintain optimal weight distribution and balance during flight. This design reflects a pioneering approach to drone technology, promising enhanced efficiency and flexibility in cargo transportation operations.

“The use case is B2B expedited logistics,” says CEO and founder Manal Habib, an MIT and Stanford grad who formerly worked at drone delivery startup Zipline. Think, she says, of deliveries from suppliers to manufacturers, from hospitals to labs, from warehouses to retail stores, or to an oil rig, a farm or a mining site as well as for DOD use.”

Chevron pipe line company and American Aerospace Technologies to fly unmanned aircraft

Chevron Pipe Line Company (CPL), a subsidiary of Chevron Corporation and American Aerospace Technologies, Inc. (AATI) received a first-of-its-kind waiver from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to conduct unmanned aircraft surveillance in the San Joaquin Valley. The AiRanger Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) was designed by AATI, a leader in intelligent airborne sensing and surveillance services for energy and other critical infrastructure, to support Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) aerial surveillance for Chevron’s pipeline and production facilities.

The Detect and Avoid (DAA) system’s capabilities were demonstrated during flight operations in Buttonwillow, California, in October 2023. Following the demonstration and FAA observed testing, the Agency issued a 91.113 Waiver and granted a 44807 Exemption. The Waiver and Exemption authorises AATI to utilise the onboard detect and avoid system to comply with aircraft right of way rules when operating BVLOS. The AiRanger is the first UAS to demonstrate compliance with industry consensus standards for the DAA system and reach this milestone. The AiRanger UAS is a fixed-wing, unmanned aircraft system capable of long-range operations beyond visual line of sight. The aircraft weighs 220 pounds with a wingspan of about 18 feet and can fly over 700 miles and up to 17 hours at up to 17,000 feet.

“For the first time, an unmanned aircraft weighing more than 55 pounds that flies above 400 feet and beyond visual line of sight has been approved for commercial operations in the US. This initial Waiver and Exemption spans over 4,000 square miles at up to 8,000 feet MSL, opening a new era in unmanned aviation in the National Airspace System,” said David Yoel, CEO of American Aerospace Technology, Inc. “The AiRanger is a new type of platform due to its large scale and the range of operations it enables. Its intelligent sensors and real-time communications deliver actionable data at a scale that was previously unimaginable. With safety as our guiding principle, we look forward to expanding AiRanger operations across the country.” CPL and AATI have been supported by End State Solutions, LLC, to build collaborative solutions with key regulatory agencies that enable safe operations for emerging technology and new uses for autonomous aerospace technology.

MQ-9B SeaGuardian®

Q-9B SeaGuardian® is the maritime-focused sibling of the revolutionary SkyGuardian® remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS) that has been missionized using ‘bolt-on / bolt-off’ maritime sensors. SeaGuardian is designed to fly over the horizon via satellite for over 30 hours (depending on configuration) in all types of weather and safely integrate into civil airspace, enabling joint forces and civil authorities to deliver real-time situational awareness anywhere in the maritime domain, day or night. This highly versatile maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft can seamlessly integrate a center line wide-area maritime radar, an automatic identification system, electronic support measures, and a self-contained anti-submarine warfare (ASW) mission kit. SeaGuardian not only integrates the most advanced maritime intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, but it is also the first RPAS in its class to enable real-time search and patrol above and below the ocean’s surface.

Leveraging MQ-9B’s open architecture system, SeaGuardian operators have the option to integrate our ground-breaking sonobuoy management and control system (SMCS) and sonobuoy dispenser system (SDS). Together, these systems allow SeaGuardian operators to deploy, monitor and control sonobuoys from a single RPAS. Also, SeaGuardian has four wing stations available to carry up to four SDS pods, enabling it to hold and dispense up to 40 ‘A’ size or 80 ‘G’ size sonobuoys and remotely perform ASW anywhere in the world. In its standard maritime ISR and ASW configuration, SeaGuardian’s range encompasses a mission radius of 1200 nautical miles with significant on-station time for submarine prosecution, providing a low-cost, stand-alone capability or a complement to human-crewed aircraft for manned-unmanned teaming operations.

As an MQ-9B RPAS, SeaGuardian is designed from the ground up to not only meet NATO standards (STANAG 4671) but also to comply with civil airspace requirements in the US and around the world. Using GA-ASI’s first-of-its-kind Detect and Avoid System and Certifiable Ground Control Station, SeaGuardian seamlessly integrates with normal air traffic just like other commercial aircraft. SeaGuardian’s remote flight station gives operators a similar, if not better, air traffic picture than the cockpit of human-crewed aircraft. Over the years, GA-ASI has been working very closely with the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the UK Civil Aviation Authority (UKCAA) to approve MQ-9B for flight in civil airspace.

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After 24 years of continuous publishing there is no doubt that African Pilot provides the finest overall aviation media reach on the African continent and now throughout the world. All African Pilot’s and Future Flight’s monthly editions are easily read on any digital device including smart phones

Our team is positioned to provide professional video and stills photography, website development, social media platforms, company newsletters as well as several other important media services to customers.

The two monthly magazines are available as a digital edition where ALL advertisers enjoy the direct routing to their websites at a touch on a smart phone or tablet as well as a click of the mouse on a computer screen or tap on any smart phone device.

This twice weekly APAnews service has been part of African Pilot’s line-up since the inception of the magazine 24 years ago.

African Pilot is the third best English language aviation magazine in the top ten magazines in the world: https://blog.feedspot.com/aviation_magazines/

African Pilot Website: www.africanpilot.co.za
Future Flight Website: www.futureflight.online
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AfricanPilot
Twitter: www.twitter.com/africanpilot
Instagram: www.instagram.com/african_pilot_/

Should you miss out on any edition of APAnews, please visit the website: www.africanpilot.co.za and click on the APAnews link on the front page. All past weekly APAnews publications have been archived on the website.