Mildura's Jack Funnell (pictured) passed away on 21 September. Jack started flying in 1957 and instructed for 48 years. He carried out his last training flight in early September, closing the logbook on 44,891 hours.
Pilots in the USA are taking the fight to Washington over the controversial LightSquared mobile-satellite network. The network operates in such a way that it would jam normal GPS signals if it were introduced. Last month, LightSquared signed an agreement with Javad GNSS to develop an affordable solution to the GPS interference issue, but aviation bodies in the USA remain skeptical of the system and the integrity of the approval process. As Australia uses the US GPS system, we stand to become “collateral damage” if LightSquared is implemented without the interference issues resolved.
Heliwest will supply the first Queensland police helicopter. The Bell 206 Long Ranger will be operated by Heliwest's pilots and crewed by Quensland Police. The aircraft will be equipped with FLIR camera capability, a powerful Night Sun light and Night Vision Goggles.
All those US military 'drone' aircraft are actually piloted from a small base in the Nevada desert. The remotely piloted aircraft (to give them their correct name) are controlled by pilots sitting in a series of small rooms at the site. Each RPA is operated by a pilot and a sensor operator, properly wearing flight suits while they control small aircraft operating as far away as Iraq or Afghanistan.