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SOUTH AFRICAN FIRST FOR SANBS DRONE DELIVERY
A three year-long initiative by the South African National Blood Service (SANBS) came full swing with the issuing of a remote operator's certificate (ROC) by the SA Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA), believed to be the first medical delivery drone license in the country.
DRONE BOOTLEGGING ON THE RISE IN THE US
The notion that a society's essence manifests most purely in its vices and criminals finds compelling expression in Bryant LeRay Henderson, who was arrested and charged with multiple felonies after allegedly flying a drone into a federal prison for purpose of delivering drugs and electronic devices to inmates.
BYE AEROSPACE's eFLYER 2 MAKES PROGRESS TOWARD FAA APPROVAL
Bye Aerospace first flew its initial prototype of the eFlyer 2 in April 2018 and since then it has been working through several iterations of the aerodynamic design, powerplant, battery system and other components that will go into the eventual production version of the all-electric, two-seat aircraft.
EVIATION ALICE ELECTRIC AIRCRAFT
Eviation Aircraft is aiming to complete type certification and service entry for its Alice fixed-wing electrically powered aircraft by 2026. The company intends to certify Alice under the US Federal Aviation Administration's Part 23 rules.
AERODELFT STUDENTS BUILD HYDROGEN PLANE
A team of students at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands has successfully flown the first prototype of its Phoenix hydrogen-powered aircraft. The AeroDelft student team aims to promote the use of liquid hydrogen as an alternative to conventional aviation fuels by developing two hydrogenpowered aircraft: the remotely piloted Phoenix Prototype and the two-seat Phoenix full scale, which the team revealed with a taxi run during the annual AeroDelft summer event at Breda International Airport in the Netherlands.
URBAN AIR MOBILITY: A FUTURE ALTERNATIVE TO CURRENT PUBLIC TRANSPORT?
In past decades traffic congestion in cities has commonly been increasing, considerably impacting the quality of urban life both from an environmental perspective and on citizen's mental health. Today's measures set by cities aim to dissuade people from using their cars due to increasing road taxes, parking fees, and congestion, but rarely offer alternative means of transportation.
CEO SHOWS THE AIR ONE PERSONAL eVTOL FOR GA PILOTS
The CEO and co-founder of Air wants to help create an entirely new form of air transportation for General Aviation pilots. To that end, Air is in the midst of developing Air One, a personal electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft with a base price of $150,000.
AMERICAN AIRLINES TO ACQUIRE BOOM SUPERSONIC JETS
In a move that speaks to the increasing popularity of legalised gambling, American Airlines, the world's largest passenger air-carrier has entered an agreement to purchase up to twenty of Boom Technology's Overture supersonic airliners. The deal, which contains options for an additional forty aircraft, follows United Airlines' 2021 commitment to purchase 15 Overtures of its own.
HARBOUR AIR COMPLETES 72KM ELECTRIC SEAPLANE FLIGHT
With Harbour Air recently conducting a safe first round trip with its ePlane test aircraft, here are some facts about Harbour Air, the ePlane and the historical moment.
JOBY AVIATION EXPANDS DOD AFFILIATION
California-based and Toyota-backed Joby Aviation, the builder of Electric Vertical Take-off and Landing (eVTOL) vehicles, is expanding its existing contract with the US Air Force's Agility Prime programme, an initiative the service launched in 2020 to experiment, test and generally hasten the development of eVTOL for cross commercial and military use.
UNITED AIRLINES INVESTS ANOTHER US$15 MILLION IN ELECTRIC FLYING TAXI MARKET WITH EVE
On 8 September United Airlines announced a $15 million investment in Eve Air Mobility and a conditional purchase agreement for 200 four-seat electric aircraft plus 200 options, expecting the first deliveries as early as 2026.
RUSSIA UNVEILS MOCK-UP OF ITS FUTURE SPACE STATION
Russian companies Energia Rocket and Space Corporation are currently developing a draft design of the Russian Orbital Station (ROSS) which is expected to be launched in two stages, the country's space agency said without giving exact dates. The first stage would see a four-module space station start operating in the low earth's orbit. That would later be followed by two additional modules and a service platform.
ANA GROUP DRONES TO FLY MEDICAL AND DAILY SUPPLIES TO REMOTE REGIONS AROUND THE WORLD
To assist rural communities access basic commodities, ANA is operating a drone delivery service to provide vital infrastructure. Connecting people is ANA Group's mission, no matter what form it takes.
CAN JETPACKS REPLACE HELICOPTERS TO SAVE PEOPLE'S LIVES?
There was a time when jetpacks were part of science fiction. However, thanks to technological advances, jetpacks, devices with back-mounted engines, and handheld controls, have become a reality.
TAWAZUN INVESTS IN HYDROGEN AIRCRAFT PROJECT
The UAE's Strategic Development Fund (SDF), the investment arm of Tawazun Economic Council has invested into the development of a hydrogen-powered aviation programme.
THE FIGHT AGAINST POACHING IN AFRICA UTILISING DRONES
Drones are no longer restricted to military and government-related operations. What was a $4.4 billion industry in 2018 is expected to exceed $60 billion by 2025 as drone technology experiences a boom in innovation and there's a rise in the number of people using them for recreation.
THE KNYSNA TRIANGLE
Knysna is a very odd place - there's no airfield near the town. But when I was there, there were three active ones in walking distance of the CBD. And all within a few hundred yards of each other.
SOLAR-POWERED DRONE CRASHES
The Airbus Zephyr's 'unexpected termination' comes after 64 days in the air. The Zeyphr surpassed all known uncrewed aircraft endurance records.
Prepare to Meet thy Boom by 2030?
Aviation has a fascinating ability to suck people, who should know better, into investing in fundamentally absurd ideas.
THE GLIDING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
South Africa produced an outstanding all-round performance at the 37th FAI World Gliding Championships, held in Szeged, Hungary in August.
REQUIEM FOR A DREAM
The Bugatti 100P was a beautiful blend of art and engineering.
BOMBARDIER GLOBAL 6000 - SMOOTH OPERATOR
The market for large business jets in Africa is fiercely contested. Bombardier has done particularly well in this tough environment with its Global 6000. We look at its features - and what its operators like, and dislike, about it.
HEART TRANSPLANT!
Upgrading a C182 to a 300hp Conti 10-550.
STARLITE AVIATION TRAINING ACADEMY - Now Training Mission Networked Pilots
Advanced network flight training simulators have become a core part of pilot development. They provide an environment that fully immerses the student in the entire mission, and not just the actual aircraft flying.
HI HO SILVER, AWAY!
Some helicopters are more memorable than others. For instance, the Hughes 500 has an acute feeling of claustrophobia in its cosy cockpit, while a Squirrel almost always has a way of humbling even an experienced pilot with a wiggle of its skids on landing.
ZS-NJX AND ZU-MMI MOUNTAIN CRASH
AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT REPORT
AAD 2022 PREVIEW
The Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) exhibition is taking place between 21 to 25 September 2022, and will once again bring together aviation suppliers from across the world to South Africa to exhibit the latest technological innovations in the aviation and defence sectors.
LIQUID EIGHT
I am now 60 years old, so I am out of Part 135 operations. However, there is still some fire left in the hearth and so there may still be some sparks which I could offer to the Part 121 side of the aviation industry, if required.
JULY 2022
For the first time in many years a brand-new Cessna 172 has been registered in South Africa. How things have changed.
STARLITE TRAINING'S VALUE CHAIN
IN ADDITION TO THIS LATEST MISSION training system, Starlite Academy's full value chain is now able to provide training on the full range of Airbus helicopters in the Starlite holding company SAF Group's fleet.