Number 62 – 07 August 2023

“Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I’m not sure about the former.” Albert Einstein

Returning from the greatest air adventure in the world

This past week has been incredible with the catch up from spending ten days away travelling to AirVenture and returning back home again. With the sheer excitement of the week-long Oshkosh event in my 21^st year of attending now complete, there remains the task of sorting through thousands of pictures as well as a significant amount of raw video material that will be shared with African Pilot’s audience in the months to come. According to the organisers the show was the largest in history and this was evident since as early as the Tuesday of the show when notices were placed at all entrances to the campgrounds announcing that they were full. Now the task of marketing the 2024 Air Adventure Tours for Neil Bowden’s camping tour will start with brand new pictures and information.

If you want to experience the most successful aviation event in the entire world next year, my suggestion is that you start your planning as early as possible, because before you know it July 2024 will be just around the corner. If anything about this year’s camping tour needs to be said, this will be the outstanding overall success of the considerable group of like-minded aviation enthusiasts, all of whom have expressed their thanks to Neil and his team for an amazing experience. I will start the Air Adventure Tours campaign as soon as Neil has secured the most important information and is in a position to provide budgets of his 2024 camping tour.

Saturday – EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2023

Margate announces downgrade in airport status

Margate Airport (FAMG) has announced its decision to undergo a downgrade in airport status, effective immediately. The decision has been made after careful consideration of various factors impacting the airport’s safety status as aligned to deteriorating runway conditions that would place arrival and departure aircraft of certain type and weight categories into a safety compromised position at the airport.

Moving forward

Despite the downgrade, CemAir remains committed to providing a safe and secure environment for passenger and visitor movements. As such, flights will be rerouted to King Shaka International Airport (FALE), Durban while we will continue to explore opportunities that assist in expediting and supporting the correction plans of Margate airport. For passengers who have booked flights to Margate, all re-routing arrangements will be automated as aligned to your original flight dates planned. Should this not be suitable, we advise contacting CemAir for flights adjustments to be made.

Margate has been a crucial hub and destination point for many of our travellers and as such we extend our sincerest apologies for any inconvenience experienced. With a focus on providing quality services and ensuring safety, we express our gratitude in your understanding of the airports decision made.

Statement from Mr Simon April 

Facts and update about downgrading of Margate airport

As Ray Nkonyeni Municipality, we wish to state the below facts, but to also give an update regarding the status of Margate Airport. We can confirm that following the breakdown of the airport fire truck on Monday, 31 July 2023, the Margate Airport was temporary downgraded from CAT 4 to CAT 2. The breakdown of the fire truck meant that the airport could not provide the required aerodrome rescue & firefighting services as required by Civil Aviation Regulations. As the municipality we then issued and communicated the required notices and communication to the Civil Aviation Authority and in order to ensure the safety of the aircraft and passengers, the airport had to be temporarily downgraded while attending to the repairs of the fire truck.

This then meant that CemAir had to redirect or divert their flights to King Shaka International Airport until the challenge of the fire truck is sorted. We can indicate that as of this morning (date?) the service provider dealing with fixing the mechanical fault in the fire truck is finalising the work. We are positive that the work will be completed by today and therefore we are hopeful that Margate Airport will go back to CAT 4 sometime today, with flights also resuming. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused however safety in our Margate Airport was of utmost importance.

Issued by Ray Nkonyeni municipality

CemAir further statement
CemAir was informed by the Margate Airport manager during the course of Saturday that the required repairs to the Fire Engine at the Airport had been carried out. Early Sunday morning we were informed that the Airport Category 4 status for the Airport had officially been restored. As a result we are pleased to advise that from Monday 7 August 2023 we will resume our normal service from Johannesburg to Margate.

2023 marks the 10-year anniversary of our popular service between Johannesburg and Margate. During the many thousands of flights performed safety has remained our priority. Our commitment remains unwavering. We apologise to all our customers for the inconvenience caused by the temporary downgrade. CemAir remains committed to serving the South Coast community through Margate Airport. We are optimistic that with some further incremental improvements we will be able to expand our service to other centres, add addition flights and operate larger aircraft to Margate. We look forward to working with Ray Nkonyeni Municipality to make this a reality.

Editor responds
Thanks to Mr April for clarification on the firefighting  mechanical breakdown of the so called ‘fire truck’ is concerned. However, this is not the first time that Margate’s fire trucks ‘broken down’ and in any event where is the back-up firefighting vehicle? It is most unfortunate that municipal managers do not take the quality of services at the various municipal airports seriously since this tardy attention to the requirements laid down by the SACAA affects tourism and business for that region. Another of South Africa’s valuable municipal airports becomes downgraded due to the mismanagement of ANC managed (mismanaged) local city / town councils to the detriment of the people of our country. 

In 2020, a R10 million upgrade to Margate Airport was funded by the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs. The upgrade which began in June 2020, included expanding the arrivals terminal, refurbishing ablution facilities, the addition of a new building for car rental and the construction of a controlled paid parking area. The project was expected to be completed in December 2020. However, it has not been completed but was being finalised in February 2021. Due to abnormal rainfall over the summer period, construction work was temporarily halted but the upgrade was expected to be finished in July 2021.

August

19 August
EAA Chapter 322 breakfast fly-in venue TBA
Contact Neil Bowden at E-mail: airadventuresa@gmail.com

19 & 20 August
SAC North-West Regionals Klerksdorp airfield
Contact Annie Boon at E-mail: info@anniesaviationcorner.com

19 & 20 August
SAPFA Speed Rally No4 Groblersdal airfield
Contact David le Roux at E-mail: david@pilotinsure.co.za Cell: 073 338 5200

25 August
SACAA’s National Aviation Gender Summit Radisson Hotel and Convention Centre
Contact Ms Paballo Makgato E-mail: makgatop@caa.co.za

September

1 September
Children’s Flight at Orient airfield, Magaliesberg
Contact Felix Gosher E-mail: felixgosher@gnmail.com Cell: 086 191 4603

2 September
EAA Chapter 322 monthly gathering 07h30 Auditorium Rand Airport
Contact Neil Bowden E-mail: airadventuresa@gmail.com

2 and 3 September
Rand airshow over two days
Contact manager Kevin van Zyl Tel: 011 827 8884

5 to 7 September
Commercial UAV Expo, Las Vegas, USA
Contact E-mail: Berndtson@aol.com

9 September
Virginia Durban airshow
Contact Brendan Horan E-mail: airshow@creativespacemedia.com Cell: 078 486 6888

9 September
Helicopter fly-in to Krugersdorp airfield
Contact David le Roux PilotInsure E-mail: David@pilotinsure.co.za

9 & 10 September
SAC World Advanced Aerobatic Championships training camp venue TBA
Contact Annie Boon E-mail: info@anniesaviationcorner.com

12 September
MAYDAY-SA Fundraising Golf Day Serengeti Estate, Kempton Park
Contact Jaco van der Westhuizen E-mail: jaco.vanderwesthuizen@mayday-sa.org.za

2 September
MAYDAY-SA Industry Dinner Serengeti Estate, Kempton Park
Contact Jaco van der Westhuizen E-mail: jaco.vanderwesthuizen@mayday-sa.org.za

13 & 14 September
Aviation Africa Abuja, Nigeria
Contact Alison Weller E-mail: alison@accessgroup.aero

16 September
Vans RV fly-in at Kitty Hawk
Contact Frank van Heerden E-mail: frankvh@mweb.co.za

16 & 17 September
SAC Limpopo Regionals Phalaborwa airfield
Contact Annie Boon E-mail: info@anniesaviationcorner.com

26 & 27 September
DroneX London UK

29 September
DCA Industry Roadshow Durban KZN
Contact Ms Charmaine Shibambo E-mail: shibamboc@caa.co.za

30 September
Saldanha West Coast airshow
Contact Clive Coetzee E-mail: clivecoetzee@sun.ac.za Cell: 084 614 1675

October

1 October
West Coast FlyFPV SA Championship and West Coast RC Flight Championship
Contact Clive Coetzee E-mail: clivecoetzee@sun.ac.za Cell: 084 614 1675

6 & 7 October
SAC World Advanced Aerobatic Championships training camp venue TBA
Contact Annie Boon E-mail: info@anniesaviationcorner.com

6 to 8 October
EAA Sun ‘n Fun Tempe Airfield
Contact Neil Bowden E-mail: airadventuresa@gmail.com

7 October
EAA Chapter 322 monthly gathering 18h00 Tempe airfield
Contact Neil Bowden E-mail: airadventuresa@gmail.com

13 & 14 October
Silver Creek Camp Over & Pancake breakfast Silver Creek airfield
Contact Neil Bowden E-mail: airadventuresa@gmail.com

14 to 22 October
SAC World Advanced Aerobatic Championships training in the USA
Contact Annie Boon E-mail: info@anniesaviationcorner.com

24 October to 4 November
SAC Advanced World Aerobatics Championships Las Vegas        
Contact Annie Boon E-mail: info@anniesaviationcorner.com

28 October
SAPFA SA Landing Championships – Brits & Stellenbosch airfields
Contact Ron Stirk E-mail: melron@mweb.co.za Cell: 082 804 445 0373

Royal Air Maroc finalises an order for 10 aircraft to boost its fleet

According to reports by TELQUEL, Royal Air Maroc, is set to reinforce its fleet with the acquisition of 10 new aircraft. The airline has been engaged in discussions with American company Boeing and Brazilian manufacturer Embraer for several months, culminating in the finalisation of these significant orders. The move comes as part of RAM’s ambitious growth strategy for 2037, which aims to quadruple its fleet by 2038. The finalised aircraft orders consist of a combination of direct purchases and leasing contracts with an option for purchase. The Moroccan airline is set to add four new Boeing 787s to its fleet, including two 787-8 and two 787-9 models. In addition, RAM has acquired four 737 MAX 8 aircraft to strengthen its capacity further.

In collaboration with Embraer, RAM has secured an agreement for two E190s, although specific details on whether they are from the E1 or E2 family were not disclosed. The article mentions that the four E-Jets currently operated by RAM are configured with 96 seats in two classes. Beyond the orders already confirmed, Royal Air Maroc is actively negotiating with Boeing for a potential second deal. This prospective agreement involves seven 737 MAX 8s and three Dreamliners, signalling the airline’s commitment to bolstering its fleet with modern and efficient aircraft.

Pilot arrested for intoxication at Charles de Gaulle airport

A French court has sentenced a 63-year-old United Airlines pilot to a six-month suspended sentence and revoked his flight privileges for one-year after he allegedly reported for flight duty in a state of intoxication. Referred to in reports as simply ‘Henry W.,’ the pilot arrived at Paris, France’s Charles de Gaulle (CDG) airport to serve as the Pilot in Command (PIC) of a Boeing 777 slated to operate as United Airlines Flight UA331 to Washington D.C.’s Dulles International Airport (IAD).

However, CDG Airport security personnel observed the pilot to be glassy-eyed and staggering slightly, as he attempted to board the aircraft at approximately 15h00 Central European Summer Time on Sunday, 23 July 2023. The pilot was subsequently subjected to two blood-alcohol tests which revealed his Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) to be 0.059-percent and 0.056-percent respectively. French aviation regulations limit pilots’ BAC to a maximum of 0.02-percent. Henry W. turned up for work with a BAC nearly three-times greater than the legal limit.

As a metric, Blood Alcohol Concentration refers to the percent of alcohol (ethyl alcohol or ethanol) present in a person’s bloodstream. A BAC of 0.10-percent indicates an individual’s total blood-volume contains one-part alcohol for every 1,000 parts blood. In the US the BAC limit for pilots is 0.04-percent; for motorists it is 0.08-percent. In a statement United Airlines said: “The safety of our customers and crew is always our top priority. We hold all our employees to the highest standards and have a strict no-tolerance policy for alcohol. This employee was immediately removed from service and we are fully cooperating with local authorities.”

When questioned, Henry W. stated he had consumed only two glasses of wine the night prior to the flight. Possessed of empirical evidence to the contrary, French police arrested and jailed him, pleas of innocence notwithstanding. The presiding judge at Henry W.’s court proceeding expressed doubts vis-à-vis the defendant’s account of how much and when he had drunk, stating: “there could have been a plane crash; you put 267 passengers at risk.” In addition to the aforementioned six-month suspended sentence and year-long revocation of his flying privileges, Henry W. was assessed a €4,500 ($4,961) fine. Moreover, he will likely face additional asperities, legal and professional alike upon returning to the United States.

Night close call blamed on Learjet flight crew

According to the NTSB final report published last week, despite acknowledging ATC instructions to line up and wait (LUAW), the flight crew of a Bombardier Learjet 60 took off without clearance at Boston Logan International Airport (KBOS) and thus caused a near-collision with a JetBlue Embraer E190. The incident, which caused no injuries or damage, occurred at 18h55 on 27 February 2023. Runways 04R and 09 are intersecting and BOS tower had instructed the flight crew of the Learjet, being operated as a Part 91 positioning flight by charter operator Hop-A-Jet, to LUAW on Runway 09 while the JetBlue had been cleared to land on Runway 04R.

The Learjet flight crew read back the controller’s instructions to LUAW, but they began the take-off roll instead. After being alerted by the airport’s surface-detection equipment, model X, the tower controller issued go-around instructions to the JetBlue crew and they initiated the manoeuvre while over Runway 04R before reaching the intersection with Runway 09. The closest proximity between the airplanes occurred when the E190 was about 30 feet agl during the landing flare, near the point where the runways intersected. As they entered the flare after crossing the threshold, the JetBlue pilots saw the Learjet cross 04R on Runway 09 but could not estimate how far away the airplane was.

The Learjet captain said they had heard a clearance that ‘seems to be line up and wait.’ He further stated that “he probably responded to the clearance, but in his mind, they were cleared for take-off.” After departing, ATC provided a phone number to call upon landing. In that call, BOS tower told them that they had taken off without authorisation and caused an airplane that had been cleared to land on Runway 04 to execute a go-around, passing about 400 feet above them. Both pilots filed NASA Aviation Safety Report System reports after ATC’s phone call.

“I cannot understand what happened to me during the clearance,” the pilot told the NTSB in a later interview. “The only thing that comes to my mind is that the cold temperature in Boston affected me. I was not feeling completely well and had a stuffed nose.” Said the copilot: “As we lined up, I asked my work partner if we were cleared for take-off and he said yes. We were both convinced that we were cleared for take-off.”

Canopy lost as L39 Albatros departs from AirVenture

The front canopy of a civilian-operated AERO Vodochody L39 Albatros single-engine jet separated from its moorings on take-off from Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, on departure from EAA AirVenture. The pilot and sole occupant of the two-seat jet was apparently uninjured and is shown on the accompanying video making a safe landing after returning to the airport. The video was captured by occupants of an aircraft waiting in line for departure from the show and posted on YouTube. According to reports, the canopy landed on the runway and was sufficiently undamaged that the aircraft was able to leave later the same day.

Wizz Air orders a further 75 A321neo Family aircraft

The fastest growing European ultra-low-cost airline, Wizz Air has signed a firm contract for an additional 75 A321neo Family aircraft, taking its total order for the largest member of the Airbus single aisle to 434 and for Wizz’s  A320 Family overall to 565 aircraft.  József Váradi, CEO of Wizz Air said; “With today’s announcement, Wizz Air further reinforces its position as the largest A321neo Family operator in Europe and the Middle East. More than half our fleet has already been converted to cutting-edge neo technology. The A321neo’s unparalleled economic efficiency and remarkably low carbon footprint underpin our commitment to provide affordable and sustainable travel options for our customers. We have enjoyed a longstanding strategic partnership with Airbus and are steadfast in our commitment to this exceptional technology with one of the largest outstanding order books in the world of more than 350 neo aircraft.” Wizz Air is an all-Airbus operator with a fleet of over 180 A320 Family aircraft currently in operation.

Leonardo breaks ground on Florida helicopter support center

Birmingham, Alabama-based programme management firm HPM and Leonardo Helicopters, the rotary-wing subsidiary of Italian multinational aerospace, defence and security conglomerate Leonardo S.p.A. have broken ground on a state-of-the-art customer support center in Milton, Florida. HPM will manage the undertaking and provide preconstruction services for the rotary-wing support center at Whiting Aviation Park, a site immediately adjacent Naval Air Station Whiting Field (NASWF) (NDZ) in Florida’s Santa Rosa County.

Upon its projected late-2024 completion, the new Leonardo Helicopters Florida Support Center will span some 113,000-square-feet and include four large hangar bays containing tooling and equipment conducive to the performance of major helicopter component repair and overhaul as well as transmission work. Subject implements will include a Dynamic Test Bench and a full-sized paint-booth. To facilitate optimal supply-chain response for the US Navy’s NASWF TH-73 fleet as well as Leonardo’s commercial customers operating throughout the Gulf of Mexico, the inchoate facility will include a large parts warehouse. 

To better serve the US Navy’s NASWF fleet of TH-73 Thrasher helicopters and more than one-thousand Leonardo aircraft currently operating throughout the Gulf of Mexico and Central American regions, Leonardo worked closely with officials at Santa Rosa County and Space Florida for purpose of selecting a site at Whiting Aviation Park commensurate with the requirements of its new customer support facility. Located on 267-acres of industrially zoned land owned by Santa Rosa County, the Whiting Aviation Park occasions a first-of-its-kind limited-access use agreement between Santa Rosa County and the US Navy. The agreement allows tenants of the park access to NASWF’s six-thousand-foot runway and air traffic control facilities and services. As the undertaking’s project manager, HPM is tasked with overseeing budget, compliance, and scheduling controls during the support centre’s planning and construction phases.

Gulfstream G550 logs one millionth landing

On Wednesday Gulfstream Aerospace announced that the G550 business jet fleet has officially passed the one-millionth landing milestone. The model, which entered service in 2003, has logged over 2.6 million flight hours to date with more than 600 aircraft currently in service. Winner of the 2003 Robert J. Collier Trophy, the G550 was the launch platform for the Honeywell Primus Epic-based Gulfstream PlaneView flight deck as well as Gulfstream’s Enhanced Vision System, now called the Enhanced Flight Vision System (EFVS). Powered by Rolls-Royce BR710 engines, the Gulfstream G550 offers a top speed of Mach 0.885 and a 6,750-NM range and is capable of seating up to 19 passengers. The model also sees use as special missions platform for operations including aeromedical evacuation, airborne early warning, atmospheric research and maritime patrol.

Stuck passenger eventually freed from his seat with hoist

It is not often a rescue operation happens inside an airliner, but British Airways staff had to remove a door and use a hoist to free a plus-size passenger from the largest available seat on the airline. The man was in seat 1A in first class for the flight from Nigeria to Heathrow and reportedly availed himself of the delights a $7,000 ticket offers. However, after 6.5 hours in the air he could not get up. Numerous attempts by BA staff to get him up and on his way failed and a more complex effort was mounted. “A volumetric passenger is stuck in seat 1A,” an engineering staff member said in a memo the Sun said it had seen. “The plan is to remove the suite door and use a hoist to eject him from the seat.” It took three hours to free him. BA staff did their best to care for the embarrassed passenger, who was unhurt in the incident. “It sounded funny but, actually, people felt sorry for him,” the Sun reported a staff member as saying. “It was abject humiliation in front of hundreds of disbelieving passengers. Crew members did all they could to calm the man.”

Airbus Ventures makes new investment in Impulse Space

Singapore SA2024Airbus Ventures announced its investment in Impulse Space, Inc., a leader in the development of in-space transportation services for the inner solar system, which has raised $45 million in its oversubscribed Series A funding round. The round is led by RTX Ventures, with participation from Founders Fund, Lux Capital, Airbus Ventures, Space Capital and others. “Space is more accessible than ever, but efficiently moving payloads into higher energy orbits has been a challenge, until now,” explains Impulse Space Founder and CEO Tom Mueller. “At Impulse Space, our team is developing the next generation of orbital manoeuvring spacecraft that can provide nimble, economical capabilities to help provide access to any orbit.”

Impulse Space will advance its work in upcoming missions, such as LEO Express-1, a GEO refuelling mission and upcoming mission to Mars. This funding will support several development efforts with a focus on Helios, Impulse’s largest vehicle yet. The Helios kick stage enables direct-to Geostationary Equatorial Orbit missions, bypassing the need for a Geostationary Transfer Orbit.

“Impulse Space is developing a suite of Orbital Transfer Vehicles (OTVs) that will unlock the in-space logistics ecosystem,” remarks Thomas d’Halluin, Airbus Ventures Managing Partner. “At Airbus Ventures, we are particularly excited by Impulse’s long-term, interplanetary vision to offer on-orbit servicing, inspection and more. With over two decades of proven track record, Tom and the Impulse team are increasingly well-positioned to supply the unique technical capabilities essential for harnessing a thriving orbital environment and beyond.”

In 2026, Impulse Space will begin its journey to land on Mars. In partnership with Relativity Space, this will be the first commercial mission to the red planet. Founded in 2021, Impulse Space is providing agile, economical space logistics services. With a near-term focus on Low Earth Orbit (LEO), services include in-space transportation to custom orbits, in-space payload hosting and space asset repositioning services including deorbiting. Long term, Impulse will offer services for all classes of payloads to distant destinations such as Geostationary Equatorial Orbit (GEO), the Moon and Mars.

FAA demands SpaceX’s mishap report before resuming Starship launches

A FAA spokesperson told the San Antonio Express-News that until SpaceX submits a key mishap investigation report to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and fulfils all required actions, its Starship will remain grounded. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has been hinting about the spacecraft coming back for a second launch not long after the first one in Texas ended in a fiery explosion. In a Twitter post on 13 June 2023, he claimed the Starship will fly in ‘six to eight weeks.’

Despite Musk’s’ optimistic predictions, the explosion led to a wide-ranging investigation, overseen by the FAA, NASA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). This probe can only be closed once SpaceX provides the final report approved by the FAA, aiming to determine the root cause of the accident and establish preventive measures for the future.

Furthermore, a coalition of environmental groups now is suing the FAA itself for issuing the Starship launch license. The coalition claims that FAA failed to adequately evaluate the potential harm that the Starship could cause to the South Texas ecosystem and nearby communities. Shortly after the Starship exploded, a ‘mystery material’ fell from the sky, worrying the locals even miles away from the Boca Chica, Texas launch site about its potentially toxic origin. At the time, Musk acknowledged the problem, promising adjustments to prevent the material from scattering across the region again. However, researchers at the University of Central Florida and Rice University have analysed the mystery material and decided that it was beach sand pulled from underneath the launch pad. The heat and pressure from the rocket created fresh cracks in the launch pad. This resulted in a volcanic-like eruption that propelled sand into the air, eventually carrying it away from the launch pad. The FAA and SpaceX also have denied most other environmental allegations and asked the court to dismiss the lawsuit. Even so, the FAA is refusing to speculate on exactly when the Starship will be launched again.

Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus spacecraft is on its way to resupply the ISS

Close to 200,000 people watched live as Northrop Grumman’s mission successfully launched from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Wallops Island, Virginia. The S.S. Laurel Clark Cygnus spacecraft atop the Antares rocket is carrying a new water dispenser, artwork from students around the world, research materials, medical studies and other supplies to the International Space Station. The mission marks the final resupply for the ISS. The S.S. Laurel Clark was due to dock with the ISS on Friday 4 August. The spacecraft is named for Laurel Clark, NASA astronaut, medical doctor, US Navy captain and Space Shuttle mission specialist. Clark was killed along with her six fellow crew members in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster. She was posthumously awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honour.

VoltAero establishes long-term relationship with Avidyne

VoltAero has selected Avidyne for the development and supply of avionics to equip the Cassio 330 in an exclusive agreement, establishing a long-term relationship that includes customised software specifically tailored for the electric-hybrid operations of this clean-sheet design aircraft. The Cassio 330 will be equipped with a glass cockpit incorporating Avidyne’s new-generation Quantum 14-inch displays in a dual Primary Flight Display / Multi-function Display (PFD/MFD) configuration. In addition to the screens’ significant size, the Quantum displays provide brightness and synthetic vision system (SVS) capabilities at 4K resolution, as well as processor performance improvements over legacy systems.

Avidyne will customise the avionics’ human-machine interface (HMI) specifically for the Cassio 330’s flight operations, significantly facilitating the pilot workload while managing the aircraft’s electric-hybrid propulsion system. By accumulating and processing all aircraft information and delivering it in an intuitive manner, the avionics suite will simplify the pilot’s decision-making process, as well as improve flight safety and simplify pilot training. In addition, the avionics are designed for the connected aircraft environment.

$250-million order placed for Ace VTOL GT Slipstream

Ace VTOL, the Australian eVTOL maker that aspires to revolutionise Urban Air Mobility (UAM) in the antipodes, announced on 26 July 2023 that it had received a kingly, $250-million order for its flagship personal eVTOL aircraft, the GT Slipstream, from Aeroauto, a prominent Palm Beach, Florida-based retailer of eVTOL aircraft. Billed as two-seat flying ‘muscle car’ capable of attaining speeds as high as 235-knots and covering a single-charge range of 260-nautical-miles (the distance from Dallas to Lubbock, Texas) the GT Slipstream is powered by a quartet of Arc Reaction Engines. Ace says its GT Slipstream is provisioned with sophisticated sensors and software by which comfort, autonomy and safety of flight are ensured. The company states, also, that the aircraft transitions seamlessly from low speed to high-speed flight. Ace anticipates the GT Slipstream will make its US market debut by 2027.

Aeroauto has committed to acquiring at least one-hundred specimens of Ace’s GT Slipstream by 2040, thereby signifying the retailer’s faith in the endurance and profitability of the eVTOL industry. A leading US eVTOL concern, Aeroauto intends to offer comprehensive sales, service and access to a planned national vertiport infrastructure. With its first prototype expected to fly within 12-months, Ace VTOL is currently in certification talks with the FAA. Pilot-training for all Ace eVTOL models will be provided by Boeing-backed AI pioneer NeurobotX, which is about the business of developing simulation training technology through Meta Pilot gamification software. Aeroauto plans further investment in Ace VTOL via purchase of the Australian company’s inchoate Trinity eVTOL, a versatile air-taxi slated to provide eco-friendly transportation for up to five passengers or one metric ton of cargo. Ace hopes to see Trinity enter the US market by 2028.

US Air Force and Archer enter into contracts worth up to $142 million

Archer has been partnering with the Department of Defence (DoD) since 2021 on a series of projects through the Air Force’s AFWERX programme with the goal of helping the AFWERX Agility Prime programme assess the transformational potential of the vertical flight market and eVTOL technologies for DoD purposes. This new execution phase of the partnership includes the delivery of up to six of Archer’s Midnight aircraft, which the Air Force is targeting for use in personnel transport and logistics support, rescue operations and more

This expansion of Archer’s partnership with the DoD represents a significant investment in the future of the country and will help ensure the U.S. maintains its leadership position in aviation. The other military branches have the opportunity to leverage these contracts as a platform for additional projects, which could increase the total value of Archer’s DoD partnership. As a result of these contracts, Archer will create and provide innovative capabilities that will strengthen the national defence of the United States of America.

SAE Facebook: Tag us @SaudiExhibition

SAE Instagram: Tag us @saudiairportexhibition

SAE LinkedIn: Tag us @Saudi Airport Exhibition

SAE Twitter: Tag us @SaudiExhibition or retweet

Official hashtags: #SAE2023 #saudiairportexhibition

OhioHealth to use Zipline for drone delivery of medications, lab work and supplies

Last week OhioHealth announced a partnership with Zipline, the world’s largest autonomous delivery service, to integrate Zipline’s fully electric drone delivery into OhioHealth’s network. Using Zipline’s newly introduced Platform 2, OhioHealth will bring prescriptions directly to patients’ homes and move lab samples and supplies between OhioHealth facilities. By 2025, the partnership is expected to form an initial network capable of reaching nearly two million people in the greater Columbus area with fast, quiet and sustainable drone delivery. This innovative partnership will improve patients’ experiences thanks to faster diagnostic turnaround times, more convenient direct-to-home prescription delivery that improves access to care and reduced carbon emissions through Zipline’s fully electric platform.

OhioHealth will also be able to move urgently needed supplies and equipment to care sites using the drones and can envision several incremental use cases for this innovative mode of transportation. Zipline’s platform is sustainable, with internal research finding its first platform reduces emissions by up to 97% compared to traditional automotive delivery methods. Zipline’s home delivery service is expected to deliver up to seven times faster than traditional automobile delivery, completing 10-mile deliveries in about 10 minutes. Unlike other drone delivery services, Zips fly more than 300 feet above the ground and are nearly inaudible. When the Zip arrives at its destination, it hovers safely and quietly at that altitude, while its fully autonomous delivery droid manoeuvres down a tether, steers to the correct location and gently drops off its package to areas as small as a patio table or the front steps of a home.

‘Largest’ commercial electric drone approved

The FAA has approved commercial use of the biggest electric drone it has ever certified and it may be coming to a farm near you. The Pelican Spray, developed by Oakland-based startup Pyka, is a Cub-sized crop-dusting drone that is already in operation in Costa Rica, Honduras and Brazil to spray bananas, cotton, soy and corn. The company intends to expand its business to US agriculture.

The Pelican Spray weighs 1,125 pounds and carries 540 pounds of liquid. It takes about 15 minutes to empty the tank and while it is on the ground for a fill-up the batteries are swapped out. The aircraft has three motors, one on each wing and one on the tail. Pika is also developing a cargo drone that holds about 70 cubic feet. The FAA is currently assessing it for commercial use. Pyka officials say the ultimate goal is to build passenger-carrying drones and the crop-duster and cargo aircraft are designed to ‘build trust in the technology,’ according to Bloomberg.

XQ-58A Valkyrie drone completes first flight controlled by AI

The first-ever flight of an XQ-58A Valkyrie uncrewed aircraft controlled by artificial intelligence has been completed by the United States Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). The three-hour flight mission was carried out on the Eglin Test and Training Complex in Florida on 25 July 2023. The algorithms controlling the XQ-58A Valkyrie underwent maturation through ‘millions of hours in high fidelity simulation events, sorties on the X-62 VISTA, a modified F-16 fighter jet flown by AI, hardware-in-the-Loop events with the XQ-58A and ground test operations.  

About African Pilot and Future Flight:

After 23 years there is no doubt that African Pilot provides the finest overall aviation media reach on the African continent and now in the world. Unlike many other aviation magazines, all African Pilot’s and Future Flight’s monthly editions are easily read on any digital device including smart phone.

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 23 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: facebook.com/AfricanPilot
Twitter: 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.