IMC News Service

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Another Close Call: Delta Flight and Regional Jet Came too Close to One Another

Detroit, MI - Delta Air Lines flight and a small regional jet came too close to one another while landing this time at the Detroit airport Friday night. The Delta flight was coming in from Phoenix to land at Detroit Metro Airport just as a regional jet attempted to land. The two planes were separated by approximately two horizontal miles, but the standard distance is three miles.

Friday's incident in Detroit comes after three U.S. Airways-operated jets at Reagan National Airport came closer than they should have because of an air traffic control "miscommunication."

An investigation in both cases is taking place.

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The Single-Engine Plane Crashed Through the Top of a Hangar

Truckee, CA - A pilot was killed in a small plane crash in Truckee, California yesterday morning.  The crash happened as the plane was taking off. Witness says he saw part of the crash and it seemed as if the plane was having difficulty climbing while taking. The single-engine plane actually crashed through the top of a hangar.
 
The pilot was the only person on board and died at the scene. The Flying Doctors have identified the pilot as an emergency room doctor and surgeon; he was a volunteer pilot for the group. The group said he originally had two other volunteers on board, but were having trouble getting enough lift to take off, so they landed. Pilot then tried a second take off, but experienced more difficulties while climbing and the plane crashed.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash.

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Near Midair Collision Close To Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport

Washington, DC - The FAA is investigating three commuter jets near midair collision close to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The three planes were operated by US Airways and were carrying 192 passengers and crew members. The FAA said in a statement that it will take appropriate action to address the miscommunication that led to the incident. Due to bad weather, air traffic controllers switched landing and departing operations and miscommunication led to a loss of the required separation between the jets.
 
Preliminary information indicated the landing plane came within 500 vertical feet and 1.7 lateral miles of one departing plane and 600 vertical feet and 2.8 lateral miles of the second plane. Standard separation requirements are 1,000 vertical feet and 3.5 lateral miles.

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The Opportunity to Travel into Space May Be Here Sooner Than You Think

Washington, DC - The opportunity to travel into space may be here sooner than many people thought according to a study the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Space Florida released yesterday.  Based on a market forecast for reusable suborbital rockets, more than 10,000 commercial opportunities may be available in the next decade for a person to experience weightlessness through space travel and to see the curvature of the earth. 

Suborbital Reusable Vehicles (SRVs) are rockets designed to travel into space without achieving orbit.  To date, existing types of suborbital vehicles have taken hundreds of component and test flights.  Already, five new designs are being developed, with initial operations planned to begin in 2013 and 2014. 

Based on the market study, SRVs have the potential to offer more than just opportunities for space tourism.  Although the leading market is expected to be commercial human space flight, the study also shows that other potential markets include:  aerospace technologies testing and demonstrations; educational opportunities; basic applied research; media and entertainment; as well as, small satellite deployment.  In fact, one day SRVs may also help in earth imagery and point to point transportation.
 

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Experience it in 3D at Unmanned Systems North America 2012

Las Vegas, NV - Small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) flying in the national airspace may soon be a reality with the passage of the Federal Aviation Administration’s Reauthorization and Modernization bill. At AUVSI Unmanned Systems North America 2012, Rockwell Collins is inviting attendees to get a three-dimensional, animated look at what the convergence of UAS and manned aircraft will look like.

“Integrating UAS into the national airspace will require advanced technology in order to ensure that flight safety is maintained,” said Dave Schreck, director of UAS and Control Technologies for Rockwell Collins. “This video provides a glimpse into how we see this happening using our company’s advanced flight control, navigation and communication technology to enable the convergence of UAS with manned aircraft.”

Rockwell Collins will also be displaying a number of flight control, navigation, communication and simulation and training systems that will enable the safety of flight for UAS.

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Debris from the Engine of the New 787 Sparked a Fire at the Charleston Airport

Charleston, SC - Boeing and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating an issue with an engine on a 787 Dreamliner following an incident at Charleston Airport during a preflight test on Saturday. The NTSB sent an investigator to determine whether the incident was serious enough to warrant a formal inquiry.

The fire occurred Saturday while the jet was undergoing preflight runway testing at Charleston International Airport in Charleston, SC.  Debris from the engine of the new 787 fell on the runway and into the grass, sparking a fire.

Shortly after delivery of the first aircraft, All Nippon Airways reported a problem with landing gear. In March, Boeing had to slow Dreamliner deliveries because the sheets of laminated composite materials that make up the plane's body were separating. Just last week, five of Japanese carrier All Nippon Airways' 787 Dreamliner commercial airplanes were grounded because of corrosion found during testing in jet engines made by Rolls Royce.

General Electric, maker of the GEnx engine, will also be involved in the investigation.

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Redbird Skyport is now an IMC Club Chapter

Oshkosh, WI - Redbird Skyport and IMC Club International announced today the founding the Skyport Chapter of IMC Club to promote instrument flying, proficiency and safety. “IMC Club has created a great structure for instrument pilots to network and learn from each other in a social setting.  We are excited to build this program at Skyport” said Josh Harnagel, Chapter Leader and CFI- I.  The first meeting of the grass roots instrument proficiency group will be held on September 13 at 6 PM at Redbird Skyport in San Marcos, TX. The Skyport IMC Club Chapter is open to all current, less-than-current, and future instrument pilots.  Monthly meetings will focus on real world instrument flying situations and provide pilots the opportunity to discuss, question and learn from other pilots.  Pilots interested in joining the Skyport IMC Club Chapter online by visiting the IMC Club website or by calling Redbird Skyport.

The IMC Club Chapter at Redbird Skyport is designed to create a community of pilots in central Texas that share information, provide recognition, foster communication, promote safety, and build proficiency in instrument flying.  Every month the Chapter will discuss an issue or situation as a group and the situation discussed will have a corresponding simulator scenario available all month to members that attend the meeting.  “The ability to actually try your hand at the situation discussed in the simulator will be a great addition to our already strong program” said Radek Wyrzykowski, founder of IMC Club International. The $3 monthly dues allow access to a Members Only section of the IMC Club website with an interactive knowledge database. Active members that attend the monthly meeting get 1 hour of full-motion simulator time to practice the situation in focus that month at no cost. 

Redbird Skyport and IMC Club will work together to create simulator scenarios for other chapters that use Redbird Flight Simulations Aviation Training Devices. The scenarios will be distributed to Chapters all over the country for use in the instrument flying proficiency program.

Redbird Skyport is a multi-faceted general aviation services facility, conveniently located at the San Marcos Municipal Airport (KHYI) between Austin and San Antonio, Texas. Skyport is an aviation laboratory that takes the form of a working FBO, aviation experience center and flight training operation, charged with developing innovative solutions to the issues facing the industry.

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Women in Aviation "Daughter Day" at 2013 Conference

West Alexandria, OH - Women in Aviation, International announced that a feature of the 2013 International Women in Aviation Conference, scheduled for Nashville on March 14-16, will be a day devoted to girls 10 to 17 years old with a repeat of the successful "Take Your Daughter to the Conference Day."

The first "Daughter Day" took place in Dallas at the 2012 Conference where the daughters, nieces, granddaughters and friends of WAI members participated along with local Dallas area Girl Scouts who were expressly invited to take part in this one-day program to introduce them to the aviation community. The girls heard speakers, flew PC simulators, had a scavenger hunt, learned to read a sectional chart, ate lunch as a group, and toured the exhibit hall.

For the first Daughter Day, more than 140 girls took part. WAI’s Education Outreach Committee, comprised of women who have chosen aviation as a career as well as members of the FAA’s AvEd team, planned and executed the day. A grant from the UPS Foundation funded much of the day’s activities.

"It was exciting to see these young girls enthused and involved in aviation topics," says WAI President Dr. Peggy Chabrian. "What’s more, we received tremendous positive feedback from our members who supported this program and enjoyed interacting with the girls during the day-long program."

The second "Take Your Daughter to the Conference Day" will take place on Saturday, March 16, 2013, when WAI meets at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tenn., for its 24th annual conference. WAI members will be encouraged to take their girls ages 10 to 17 (whether daughter, granddaughter, friend or neighbor) to the Conference. In addition, Nashville-area Girl Scouts will be invited to participate and earn an aviation patch.

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WomenVenture 2012 - Pro-Aviation Women's Outreach

Oshkosh, WI - What began as a one-time program in 2008 has now become a tradition at EAA AirVenture. WomenVenture is a means to gather like-minded women during AirVenture, exchange information, do some hangar talking, and informally match mentors with mentees.

"WomenVenture has done an incredible job of increasing the visibility of women in Oshkosh," says WAI President Dr. Peggy Chabrian. "We provide a means for women to inspire each other, to have their questions answered and to network in the relaxed atmosphere of AirVenture."

WomenVenture 2012 officially begins on Friday, July 29, when Women in Aviation, International will hold its annual Connect Breakfast for members and their friends, again sponsored by DTC Duat, in the Nature Center Pavilion with special guests including a contingent of WASP and Deborah Hersman, NTSB Chair. After the Connect Breakfast, at 10:30 a.m., the annual group photo of female pilots, including student pilots, will take place in Phillips 66 Plaza.

"We think the group photo is the best photo op at AirVenture, but I know we're biased," says Dr. Chabrian. "There's such excitement as we gather hundreds of women all in their WomenVenture t-shirts each year. Their enthusiasm is infectious."

Women in Aviation, International is a nonprofit 501(C)(3) organization dedicated to providing networking, mentoring and scholarship opportunities for women and men who are striving for challenging and fulfilling careers in the aviation and aerospace industries.

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GAMA Testifies Before House Subcommittee about Enhancements to Alien Flight Student Program

Washington, DC - The House Transportation Subcommittee, chaired by Chairman Mike Rogers (R-AL), held a hearing about how to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the Alien Flight Student Program.  Jens Hennig, Vice President of Operations, testified on behalf of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA).
 
The hearing focused on the security requirements established after September 11, 2001 for foreign nationals obtaining flight training for FAA pilot certificates. GAMA specifically discussed policy changes developed jointly between industry and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) during the past few years and a GAMA petition filed in 2011 to restructure the alien flight student program.  GAMA also provided the association's perspectives on the recommendations released by the Government Accountability Office to reform the program.
 
"GAMA believes the restructuring of the program will provide a more effective vetting of foreign nationals seeking flight training while increasing the efficiency of the program," said Jens Hennig, GAMA's Vice President of Operations. "We look forward to working with TSA to adopt and implement these changes."
 
GAMA's President and CEO Pete Bunce testified before the Senate Aviation Subcommittee, chaired by Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), on the state of the U.S. aviation industry and how the industry can maintain its global leadership.