Mark Phelps Archives - FLYING Magazine https://cms.flyingmag.com/author/mark-phelps/ The world's most widely read aviation magazine Wed, 16 Oct 2024 14:43:22 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.1 ‘Optionally Piloted’ Black Hawk Takes a Step Forward https://www.flyingmag.com/military/optionally-piloted-black-hawk-takes-a-step-forward/ Wed, 16 Oct 2024 14:37:32 +0000 https://www.flyingmag.com/?p=219662&preview=1 The $6 million in government funding will go toward installing a flight autonomy system in an experimental U.S. Army UH-60M helicopter.

The post ‘Optionally Piloted’ Black Hawk Takes a Step Forward appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

]]>
Sikorsky, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, announced Monday it has received a $6 million award from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to advance its flight autonomy program.

The government funding will go toward installing Sikorsky’s ALIAS/MATRIX (Aircrew Labor In-cockpit Automation System) in a U.S. Army experimental fly-by-wire Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter designated MX.

In July, U.S. military personnel and senior Department of Defense officials watched as Sikorsky and DARPA demonstrated how an “optionally piloted” Black Hawk could be “piloted” by an operator in the cabin or on the ground “by entering high level mission goals via a tablet.”

The goal of the program is to enable U.S. Army Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) to “test and evaluate a wide range of autonomy capabilities, from single-pilot operation to fully uninhabited flight,” according to Sikorsky.

“Autonomy-enabled aircraft will reduce pilot workload, dramatically improve flight safety, and give battle commanders the flexibility to perform complex missions in contested and congested battlespace, day or night in all weather conditions,” said Rich Benton, Sikorsky’s vice president and general manager. “Soldiers will rely on Black Hawk helicopters into the 2070s, and modernizing the aircraft today will pay dividends for decades across Army Aviation’s current and future aircraft.”


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

The post ‘Optionally Piloted’ Black Hawk Takes a Step Forward appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

]]>
Turkish Airlines Airbus A350 Captain Dies Mid-Flight https://www.flyingmag.com/news/turkish-airlines-airbus-a350-captain-dies-mid-flight/ Thu, 10 Oct 2024 13:30:02 +0000 https://www.flyingmag.com/?p=219260&preview=1 Second-in-Command and relief pilot land safely at New York JFK International Airport.

The post Turkish Airlines Airbus A350 Captain Dies Mid-Flight appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

]]>
In an incident that is bound to elicit a response to calls for enabling single-pilot operations, a Turkish Airlines captain died in midair after becoming ill on a flight from Seattle, Washington, to Istanbul, Turkey.

The second in command and a relief pilot took over and Flight TK204 diverted to John F. Kennedy International Airport (KJFK), where it landed safely.

Captain Ilcehin Pehlivan, 59, collapsed over the Canadian territory of Nanuvut, according to Turkish Airlines spokesman Yayah Ustun, who said, “When first aid to our captain on the plane was unsuccessful, the cockpit crew decided to make an emergency landing, but he died before landing.” The Airbus A350 landed at KJFK eight hours after departing from Seattle.

Having joined Turkish Airlines in 2007, Pehlivan’s medical exams were up to date and no health problems were reported at his last exam, according to the airline. The cause of death has not yet been determined.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has been exploring technology to enable single-pilot operation of large passenger aircraft, at least initially with an eye toward allowing crew members to rest and eliminating the need for relief pilots on long flights. EASA has cited the need for further measures when it comes to responding to an incapacitated pilot.

But perhaps in anticipation of a “slippery slope,” European and U.S. pilot groups have challenged the initiative.

The U.S. Airline Pilots Association (ALPA), the European Cockpit Association (ECA), the Oneworld Cockpit Crew Coalition (OCCC) and the Skyteam Pilots Association have joined to oppose reduced-crew operations, saying, “We are engaging in a worldwide campaign to ensure the current standards that have helped make aviation the safest form of transportation won’t be eroded.”


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

The post Turkish Airlines Airbus A350 Captain Dies Mid-Flight appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

]]>
WWII-Vintage Bomb Explodes On Japanese Airport https://www.flyingmag.com/news/wwii-vintage-bomb-explodes-on-japanese-airport/ Fri, 04 Oct 2024 14:37:55 +0000 https://www.flyingmag.com/?p=218958&preview=1 Surveillance video shows an aircraft taxiing near the site of the long-buried ordnance two minutes before the blast.

The post WWII-Vintage Bomb Explodes On Japanese Airport appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

]]>
A U.S. Army Air Forces bomb finally inflicted its damage on the Japan airport it was dropped on almost 80 years ago.

Miyazaki Airport (RJFM), which served as a launch base for Japanese World War II “kamikaze” attacks, was damaged when what is believed to be a 500-pound bomb exploded Wednesday. No one was injured nor was there any damage to aircraft when the long-buried bomb went off under a taxiway. Eighty-seven flights were canceled.

The explosion left a crater roughly 3 feet deep, according to a Reuters report. A local television broadcast reported that surveillance video shows an aircraft taxiing near the site two minutes before the explosion. The Wall Street Journal YouTube channel posted the surveillance video from the Civil Aviation College and the Miyazaki Prefecture showing the explosion and the aircraft taxiing by minutes before.

According to the Japanese transport ministry, multiple unexploded bombs have been found on the airport property, which was heavily targeted as a Japanese naval base during the war.

Japan’s Self-Defense Forces reported that unexploded bombs continue to be found throughout the country, with 2,348 having been discovered and disposed of during 2023.

Repairs on the taxiway were scheduled to be completed Friday.


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

The post WWII-Vintage Bomb Explodes On Japanese Airport appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

]]>
FAA Filing Opens Up Operations for Logging Time https://www.flyingmag.com/news/faa-filing-opens-up-operations-for-logging-time/ Thu, 03 Oct 2024 13:22:29 +0000 https://www.flyingmag.com/?p=218861&preview=1 Some troublesome restrictions may be on the way out.

The post FAA Filing Opens Up Operations for Logging Time appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

]]>
The FAA on Wednesday announced a public filing in the Federal Register of a 118-page final rule that states it will open up several areas of operations enabling pilots to credit flight time toward civil regulatory requirements.

Notably, under the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023, the final rule amends the operating regulations for “experimental aircraft to permit certain flight training, testing, and checking in these aircraft without a letter of deviation authority.”

Also, under the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, the “same relief will be extended to certain flight training, testing, and checking in limited category, primary category, and experimental light sport aircraft.” That ruling also revises certain amendments related to logging recent flight experience, flight instructor privileges, flight training in aircraft holding special airworthiness certificates, and the “related prohibitions on conducting these activities for compensation or hire.”

The new ruling also allows pilots conducting public aircraft operations to log that time toward their civil regulatory requirements, consistent with the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018.

Effective dates for the changes are specified as 60 days after publication in the Federal Register.


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

The post FAA Filing Opens Up Operations for Logging Time appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

]]>
Rare German Fighter Is Back in the Sky https://www.flyingmag.com/military/rare-german-fighter-is-back-in-the-sky/ Wed, 02 Oct 2024 17:00:48 +0000 https://www.flyingmag.com/?p=218819&preview=1 After a year in the shop, an iconic aircraft is ready to fly again.

The post Rare German Fighter Is Back in the Sky appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

]]>
This weekend’s Warbirds Over the Beach Airshow in Virginia Beach will feature the participation of a rare World War II fighter.

Though close to 34,000 Messerschmitt Me-109s were produced, only a handful are currently flying. The Military Aviation Museum’s Me-109G-4 is one of the very few flying to be powered by its original Daimler Benz DB 605 inverted V-12 engine.

Ironically, postwar Spanish-built Buchon versions of the German fighter were powered by the same Rolls-Royce Merlin that was installed on British fighters during WWII.

The Virginia museum features a stable of three dozen WWII vintage aircraft, including Me-109 stablemate Focke Wulf Fw-190 and its adversaries, the P-51 Mustang, Supermarine Spitfire, and Hawker Hurricane.

The Me-109 was restored from the remains of WkNr (Production Number) 19257 flown by Feldwebel Viktor Peterman on a mission over the Eastern Front. Russian fighters damaged his cooling system. He force-landed and walked four days to get back to his base. From the remains, Meier Motors in Eschbach, Germany, performed the restoration.

The Messerschmitt Me-109 was restored from the remains of WkNr (Production Number) 19257 flown by Feldwebel Viktor Peterman on a mission over the Eastern front. [Credit: Military Aviation Museum]

The Me-109 is just now emerging from more than a year of heavy maintenance. It made its first post-maintenance flight on September 9. Last week, Military Aviation Museum chief pilot Mike Spalding flew the Messerschmitt again and declared it ready for this weekend’s show.

WATCH: Flying the Bf-109


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

The post Rare German Fighter Is Back in the Sky appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

]]>
FAA Exceeds Controller Hiring Target https://www.flyingmag.com/careers/faa-exceeds-controller-hiring-target/ Thu, 26 Sep 2024 13:07:39 +0000 https://www.flyingmag.com/?p=218427&preview=1 With its target for this year met, the agency explores strategies to continue hiring ATCs.

The post FAA Exceeds Controller Hiring Target appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

]]>
Earlier this week, the FAA announced it has exceeded its hiring goal for air traffic controllers (ATCs) for fiscal year 2024 (ending September 30).

A total of 1,811 new hires have signed on, 11 more than the target figure of 1,800. The agency said in a statement that the figure was the highest in nearly 10 years and represents “important progress” toward stemming a decades-long decline in ATC staffing numbers.

“I’m thrilled to announce that we hit this major hiring milestone and have so many talented professionals entering our training program,” FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said. “It’s a testament to the hard work of everyone involved and part of our ongoing work to rebuild the controller workforce.”

Requirements for the job include a commitment to work day, evening and night shifts, as well as weekends and holidays “depending on assigned schedules.” As far as geographical facility assignments, staffing needs will determine placement, which could be anywhere in the U.S., following graduation from the training program in Oklahoma City.

In addition, applicants need to be U.S. citizens, able to speak English clearly, be younger than 31 years old, have at least a year’s work experience or work/education combination, and pass a medical examination, security screening, and a pre-employment skills assessment.

“Being recruiter in chief is one of the most important roles I play at the FAA.” Whitaker said. “We will not rest on the success of this hiring push. We are already thinking about how to meet our goals next year and into the future.”


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

The post FAA Exceeds Controller Hiring Target appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

]]>
FAA Proposes SpaceX Fine, Musk Vows Lawsuit https://www.flyingmag.com/space/faa-proposes-spacex-fine-musk-vows-lawsuit/ Thu, 19 Sep 2024 13:27:55 +0000 https://www.flyingmag.com/?p=217965&preview=1 Agency alleges a failure to stick to licensing rules.

The post FAA Proposes SpaceX Fine, Musk Vows Lawsuit appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

]]>
The FAA announced Tuesday it has proposed fining SpaceX $633,000 for allegedly failing to adhere to licensing requirements.

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk responded on social media platform X that he plans to push back in court.

“SpaceX will be filing suit against the FAA for regulatory overreach,” Musk wrote.

Musk’s company is also under FAA scrutiny for failing to get approvals for changes to two rocket launches last year and using an unapproved rocket propellent farm prior to a July 2023 launch.

According to a Reuters report, the FAA said SpaceX did not receive approval to add a new launch control room and remove the T-2 hour readiness poll from its communications procedures related to its license to launch from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

“Safety drives everything we do at the FAA, including a legal responsibility for the safety oversight of companies with commercial space transportation licenses,” FAA chief counsel Marc Nichols said. “Failure of a company to comply with the safety requirements will result in consequences.”


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

The post FAA Proposes SpaceX Fine, Musk Vows Lawsuit appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

]]>
Air Force Pilot Shortage Could Send Some to Noncombat Roles https://www.flyingmag.com/military/air-force-pilot-shortage-could-send-some-to-non-combat-roles/ Thu, 12 Sep 2024 14:29:59 +0000 https://www.flyingmag.com/?p=217601&preview=1 Fighter and bomber slots might not be a given for T-38 program graduates, according to a U.S. Air Force memo.

The post Air Force Pilot Shortage Could Send Some to Noncombat Roles appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

]]>
The overall shortage of U.S. Air Force pilots could mean that recent T-38 pilot-training graduates could find themselves assigned to noncombat roles, such as instructor pilots or flying transports and air-to-air refuelers.

Graduates of T-38 training usually go on to fighters or bombers, but the acute shortage means that there aren’t enough pilots available for the other duty tracks.

According to a memo, the Air Force reported that the service is short by 1,848 pilots, with “1,142 of those being fighter pilots.”

Still, the memo identified a “significant but necessary policy change” opening up other career paths for T-38 graduates.

“While we would prefer to send every qualified T-38 graduate to a fighter [formal training unit], circumstances dictate that we utilize available capacity to maximize pilot production,” the memo said. “In the near term, in addition to traditional fighter/bomber assignments, T-38 graduates will be matched to additional T-6 First Assignment Instructor Pilot assignments and opted for non-fighter/bomber aircraft.”


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

The post Air Force Pilot Shortage Could Send Some to Noncombat Roles appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

]]>
GAMA Q2 Numbers Reveal Strong Market https://www.flyingmag.com/aircraft/gama-q2-numbers-reveal-strong-market/ Wed, 11 Sep 2024 17:31:47 +0000 https://www.flyingmag.com/?p=217544&preview=1 Head of GA manufacturers association cites supply chain and slow regulatory review as challenges.

The post GAMA Q2 Numbers Reveal Strong Market appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

]]>
The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) released its second-quarter shipping and billing report Wednesday. It reveals year-over-year increases for piston, business jet, and piston helicopter segments, along with an increase in the overall value of shipments over the same time period for last year.

Deliveries of piston aircraft totaled 761 units, an increase of 7.3 percent over Q2 of 2023, according to GAMA. Bizjet deliveries were up 8.8 percent to 322 units, and the value of all airplane deliveries through the second quarter was up 24.2 percent to $11.3 billion. Among the fixed-wing segment, only turboprops lagged with a decrease in shippings of 3.4 percent to 280 units.

Piston helicopters increased 2.7 percent to 115 units, while turbine rotorcraft sagged to 313 units, a decrease of 7.7 percent from 2023. Overall value of helicopter deliveries was $1.7 billion.

“Through the first half of 2024, we continue to see robust demand for new aircraft, as indicated by the impressive backlogs and plans for facility expansion by many of our OEMs,” said GAMA president and CEO Pete Bunce.

Bunce cited as constraints ongoing supply chain and workforce recapitalization issues that are “routinely compounded by unacceptable turn times in terms of responsiveness and lack of decision making by the FAA specialists on such things as issue papers, certification plans and regular correspondence.”

“Our industry is the incubator of safety enhancing and aviation sustainability technology, which in turn serves as a catalyst for economic growth and exemplary employment for millions around the globe,” added Bunce. “It is vital that our regulators continue to improve effectiveness and efficiency of certification and validation processes, appropriately apply the safety continuum across the spectrum of general aviation products and respond to applicants in a timely manner. For the continued vitality of our industry and to facilitate all the great innovations that are taking place, it is imperative that we tackle these ongoing challenges.”


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

The post GAMA Q2 Numbers Reveal Strong Market appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

]]>
Three-Generation Insurance Broker Acquired https://www.flyingmag.com/aircraft/three-generation-insurance-broker-acquired/ Thu, 05 Sep 2024 14:23:08 +0000 https://www.flyingmag.com/?p=217178&preview=1 Family-owned New England aviation insurance specialist joins a large family of companies.

The post Three-Generation Insurance Broker Acquired appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

]]>
Earlier this week, the Schrager Hampson Aviation Insurance Group (SHAIG) acquired Northeast Aviation & Marine Brokers. The New England firm, founded in 2001, is the fifth aviation insurance broker to come under the mantle of Shrager Hampson.

Northeast was founded by the late Jeffrey Mallia, a former naval aviator and builder of an EAA AirVenture award-winning Cozy Mark III canard homebuilt. His father founded the insurance firm Sykes-Mallia in 1956.

Following in the family business, Jack Mallia joined Northeast 15 years ago and will join the SHAIG management team. He brings his expertise in aviation insurance, ranging from renter’s policies to owner-flown jets, warbirds, charter operations, flight schools, FBOs, aircraft management, quota shares, and even weather balloons.

“We are deeply honored to carry forward the legacy of Jeffrey Mallia through the acquisition of Northeast Aviation & Marine,” said David Hampson, SHAIG president. “The legacy of personalized client-focused service aligns perfectly with our own values. We are also thrilled to welcome Jack Mallia to our team.”


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

The post Three-Generation Insurance Broker Acquired appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

]]>