The launch, occurring around 10:30 p.m. PDT at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, is a rare mishap for SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, which routinely flies NASA astronauts to orbit.

“The second-stage engine did not complete its second burn,” SpaceX said in a statement explaining the failure. “As a result, the Starlink satellites were deployed into a lower orbit than intended orbit. SpaceX has made contact with five of the satellites so far and is attempting to have them raise orbit using their ion thrusters.”

On X, SpaceX founder Elon Musk said his team was working on updating satellite software to run the ion thrusters at their equivalent of warp 9: “Unlike a Star Trek episode, this will probably not work, but it’s worth a shot.”

According to the company, SpaceX’s Starlink satellites are designed to burn up upon reentry into the atmosphere and do not pose any risk to people on the ground.

The Falcon 9 rocket is one of the most reliable in the world, with 69 launches this year and more than 350 since its debut in 2010, according to SpaceX.

Editor’s Note: This article first appeared on AVweb.

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New details reveal the incident occurred during a skydiving operation at Raeford West Airport (NR20) in North Carolina. The pilots were on approach to pick up another group of skydivers with second in command (SIC) Crooks flying. According to the NTSB report, the approach was stable until the aircraft descended below the tree line and encountered wind shear. Crooks initiated a go-around, but before establishing a climb, the right main landing gear struck the runway surface and then detached.

The pilots then declared an emergency and requested to divert to a larger airport. The pilot in command (PIC) took over while Crooks communicated with ATC. According to the unnamed PIC, Crooks became visibly upset following the hard landing. He proceeded to open his side cockpit window and lower the ramp in the back of the aircraft, indicating he needed air. Crooks then apologized, left his seat, removed his headset, and ran out of the airplane via the aft ramp door.

• READ MORE: NTSB Preliminary Report Sheds Light on Copilot Mid-Air Departure

According to the report, “although the PIC and operator reported that the SIC’s departure from the airplane was an intentional act, there was insufficient information to support that assertion.”

Federal investigators also noted that the PIC, who was flying with Crooks, served as the chief pilot for the operator, which could have contributed to his stress. Family members told investigators Crooks was “extremely happy” and “loved to fly,” noting that he was in “a fabulous state of mind” prior to the flight.

• READ MORE: Copilot’s Departure of Aircraft in Mid-Flight Baffles Authorities

Ultimately, investigators listed the probable cause as “the airplane’s encounter with wind shear during landing, which resulted in a hard landing and separation of the right main landing gear, and the pilot’s subsequent decision to leave his seat in flight, which resulted in his fall from the airplane.”

Editor’s Note: This article first appeared on AVweb.

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In a July 1 Form 8-K filing, the carrier announced pay raises for four of its C-suite executives and its CEO. At the same time, 200 pilots received furlough notices—a plan the airline initially laid out in April due to aircraft engine issues and slower growth plans.

• READ MORE: Spirit to Trim Pilot Workforce

According to the filing, Spirit announced the appointment of Frederick Cromer as executive vice president and chief financial officer, replacing Scott Haralson, who left the airline last month. Spirit detailed salary increases and bonuses for other C-suite members who would receive base salaries to the tune of $950,000, $650,000, $525,000, and $500,000, beginning July 1.

• READ MORE: Spirit Expects to Ground Nearly 20 Percent of Its Fleet

Meanwhile, the low-cost carrier made a deal with Airbus to delay all deliveries until 2030-2031 in an effort to save money. Spirit says the move would improve its liquidity by $340 million over the next two years.

Editor’s Note: This article first appeared on AVweb.com.

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Las Vegas Executive Airport will be located some 30 miles west of Harry Reid International Airport (KLAS) and will accommodate single-engine, multiengine, and rotorcraft operations. Clark County commissioners unanimously approved runway construction for the project, which is set to begin in the coming months.

Officials involved with the development told local TV news outlet KVVU that the new site will capitalize on events like Formula 1 racing and others that exceed the capacity for transient aircraft and private jets.

The project will also house the Las Vegas Spaceport—a first-of-its-kind site to attract space tourism. Initial plans include a fleet of space planes, a space pilot school, hangars, a post-high school STEM academy, hotel and restaurant, and a passenger terminal.

Spaceport officials say they have already secured $10 million in funding but still need an additional $20 million to meet first-round goals. Overall, the project is expected to cost at least $310 million.

“This is a major step toward creating a space economy that will lead to thousands of high-paying jobs in our community, our county, and our state,” said Robert Lauer, CEO of the Las Vegas Spaceport.

Editor’s Note: This article first appeared on AVweb.

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The incident occurred May 25 during a Southwest Airlines flight from Phoenix to Oakland, California. Pilots managed to regain control of the aircraft and land safely, although the aircraft sustained substantial damage to the standby power control unit (PCU), according to a report.  

On Thursday, the FAA released a statement indicating it was working closely with the NTSB and Boeing to determine the cause of the event while noting that no other airlines have reported similar issues. Southwest also stated it would cooperate with the agencies and the NTSB expects to have a preliminary report within 30 days.

The incident marks the latest setback for Boeing, as the manufacturer deals with intense scrutiny following the January door plug blowout on an Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9 flight, leading to a temporary grounding of the fleet.

Editor’s Note: This article first appeared on AVweb.

The post ‘Dutch Roll’ Incident Prompts FAA/NTSB Investigation appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The New York City Council’s Committee on Economic Development included proposals in its agenda to implement a noise tax on “nonessential” helicopter and seaplane operations, urge the FAA to ban charter and tourist flights, and limit city heliport operations to electric-powered rotorcraft only.

Advocacy groups, including the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) and Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), spoke out against the council’s proposed restrictions, arguing the measures would harm the local economy.

“The proposed restrictions on helicopter operations at the city’s heliports would be devastating to New York City’s economy, operators, businesses, and workers that contribute to the creation of 43,200 jobs and generation of $8.6 billion in total economic output,” said NBAA Northeast regional director Britany Davies during a hearing this week.

The groups also said noise-based restrictions may violate federal regulations, specifically the Airport Noise and Capacity Act (ANCA), which grants sole authority to the FAA to regulate aeronautical activities.

Editor’s Note: This article first appeared on AVweb.

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The FAA says the AD will affect some 500 U.S.-registered aircraft—including certain serial-numbered Piper models PA-28-181, PA-28R-201, PA-34-220T, and PA-44-180. It requires inspection of the rear wing spar attachment fitting and, if discrepancies are found, inspecting the forward wing spar attachment fitting as well. The directive mandates performing necessary corrective actions and notifying the FAA once these actions have been completed.

While AD’s are typically issued after a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) is published, the FAA has determined an unsafe condition exists in this case— prompting the agency to bypass the usual public comment period.

The findings suggest that the double-drilled bolt hole in the rear wing spar attachment fitting significantly reduces the strength of the fitting below its limit load. If left unaddressed, this could lead to the separation of the wing and loss of control of the aircraft. Given that these aircraft are frequently used in training and quickly accumulate flight hours, inspecting for this condition before further flight is critical, according to the FAA.

The AD is effective June 6.  

Editor’s Note: This article first appeared on AVweb.

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According to the NTSB report, both pilots attended a rotorcraft briefing, where event coordinators told gyroplane pilots to stop performing 360-degree turns and spirals while in the traffic pattern for Wittman Regional Airport (KOSH) in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

• READ MORE: Oshkosh 2024 Notice Outlines Changes for Pilots Flying to AirVenture

Flight track data, witness testimonies, videos, and the damage to the aircraft indicated the gyroplane collided with the left side of the helicopter while performing a 360-degree turn while on the base leg of the visual approach. At the time of the accident on July 29, the helicopter was positioned behind the gyroplane in the traffic pattern and was also on a base leg from the south.

The helicopter impacted the ground and came to rest upside down, igniting a postaccident fire, while the gyroplane collided with a parked, unoccupied airplane. The pilot and passenger of the helicopter both died, while the gyroplane pilot and passenger sustained serious injuries. The pilot told officials he was unable to recall the accident flight.  

• READ MORE: Knowing When to Call the NTSB

The NTSB report stated there were no mechanical issues with the aircraft, and the pilot was not under the influence of any substances.

Editor’s Note: This article first appeared on AVweb.

The post NTSB: Rule Violation Contributed to Fatal Midair Collision at EAA AirVenture appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

After months of several short-term extensions, the $105 billion legislation passed the House on Wednesday and the Senate last week before being sent to the president’s desk for final approval.

“The bipartisan [FAA] reauthorization is a big win for travelers, the aviation workforce, and our economy,” said Biden in a statement. “It will expand critical protections for air travelers, strengthen safety standards, and support pilots, flight attendants, and air traffic controllers.”

Several aviation leaders echoed the president’s sentiments—applauding the bill for its commitment to strengthen aviation safety, grow the workforce, and advance technology and innovation.

The Air Line Pilots Associaiton (ALPA) called the bill a “major step forward” for the safety of our nation’s aviation system.

“This bill addresses runway and airport near misses, maintains rigorous pilot training standards and ensures that the United States remains the global leader in aviation safety,” said ALPA president Captain Jason Ambrosi.

FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker commended the new reauthorization that “allows for more runway safety technology, more air traffic controllers, and stronger oversight of aircraft production.”

The package includes language with a requirement for airlines to install 25-hour cockpit voice recorders on new and existing aircraft, up from two hours currently.

National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy also praised the bill.

“We appreciate Congress’s safety leadership in mandating the FAA to implement many of our most critical recommendations, which, once acted upon, will further strengthen our nation’s ‘gold standard’ of aviation safety,” Homendy said.

Notably, the FAA Reauthorization Act also includes the first general aviation title, drawing praise from groups such as the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) and the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA). There are several provisions in the bill that support GA including expanding BasicMed, mandating a 24-month deadline for the FAA’s final rule on MOSAIC, and sections that address the continued availability of avgas among others.

“We appreciate the leadership of lawmakers who see the importance of this section and worked in a bipartisan manner to include provisions that enhance safety and support general aviation,” said EAA president Jack Pelton.

Full text of the bill can be found here.

Editor’s Note: This article first appeared on AVweb.

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The $105 billion bipartisan bill, dubbed the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act, was overwhelmingly passed in an 88-4 vote. Following its passage, the Senate also approved a one-week extension to ensure the House had enough time to vote on the bill before it is sent to the President Joe Biden’s desk for final approval.

According to the Senate, the reauthorization bill “sets national priorities to strengthen aviation safety standards, grow air traffic controller [and] safety inspector workforce, implement safety technology on runways [and] in cockpits” among other initiatives. While the package does not include an amendment to increase the pilot retirement age from 65 to 67, it does contain language to increase the cockpit voice recorder length from two hours to 25 hours.

The legislation was stalled for several days in the Senate this week, primarily over provisions to increase flights into Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (KDCA) and unrelated measures proposed by some congressional leaders.

FAA reauthorization is considered the last “must-pass” measure for Congress before this fall.

Editor’s Note: This article first appeared on AVweb.

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