Recently retired ADF Chief, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, has been announced as the next Chairman of Airservices Australia. Houston will take over the role when incumbent David Forsyth steps down on June 3, 2012. And the hunt is on for a replacement for Airservices CEO Greg Russell who will also be moving on towards the end of 2012.
Avweb reports that on Tuesday just gone American airshow ace Kent Pietsch (the guy who performs all those hardcore stunts in the Jelly Belly aircraft at Avalon) marked the 70th anniversary of Japan’s WWII attack on Pearl Harbor in an interesting manner. On that sad day back in 1941, a flying instructor and student out flying nearly collided with a Japanese Zero above Honolulu, and Pietsch took it upon himself to re-enact the event. Kent flew an Interstate Cadet and his brother Warren flew the world’s only active Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero fighter and they conducted the same near-miss scenario before landing back at the airfield. Cornelia Fort, the instructor involved 70 years ago, took over the controls from her student to evade the Japanese Zero and immediately returned to the airport, and as she taxied back to the hangar another Japanese aircraft machine-gunned the ground in front of her. Cornelia Fort later became the first American woman to die in the line of duty in the US military when the bomber she was ferrying over Texas collided with another airplane, in 1943. Read this amazing story in full here.
Backed by an injection of funds from its new Chinese owner, the state-owned China Aviation Industry General Aircraft (CAIGA), Cirrus is planning to reveal certification and production plans for its sexy SF50 Vision single-engine jet next month. We hear Cirrus has taken nearly 500 orders for the SF50 to date, so watch this space for some exciting news in the New Year.
Etravelblackboard.com reports that the Royal Flying Doctor Service is partnering with the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame to create a new visitors centre in Longreach. Amongst other attractions, the new visitors centre will feature a ‘walk through’ experience based on a typical RFDS aircraft and a number of interactive displays along with radio and medical equipment used in John Flynn’s day, through to the cutting edge communication and medical technology used today.
US Flying reports that the NSTB will take a closer look at air race and airshow safety next month during a public hearing in the wake of the tragedy at this year’s Reno Air Race. During the hearing, regulators, industry groups, aviation organisations and airport authorities will field questions about the planning and execution of safety measures at air races and airshows in the US. The future of the National Championship Air Races at Reno remains uncertain following the catastrophe that claimed 11 lives, with officials saying the event won’t be held in 2012 but will return in 2013.
Hawker Beechcraft has put the brakes on its forthcoming Hawker 200 (formerly the Beechcraft Premier II) light business jet due to the “fragile global economic situation”. Hawker Beechcraft chairman and CEO Bill Boisture said in the letter that the company is at a “natural pause point” in the Hawker 200’s certification program, with development testing nearly complete and certification testing now getting under way.
Federal Aviation Administration boss Randy Babbitt has had a shocker of a week, to say the least. First off, the former airline pilot, who has served as FAA administrator since June 2009, has one too many last Saturday and winds up getting busted for drinking driving. Then three days later he leaves his post at the top of the FAA as a result. Following Babbit’s resignation on December 6, Deputy Administrator Michael Huerta was named acting administrator.
Getting into the Christmas spirit, those friendly Kiwis over at Spidertracks have announced that for a limited time pilots can now get their hands on the new Spider S3 Lite for the reduced price of $495. The new Spider allows you to monitor your someone special and their flight tracks anywhere, anytime. For more information visit www.spidertracks.com or email Spidertracks.
Feeling like dashing up to the Sushine State for a coastal air safari? Who doesn’t! Aussie FlyAways is currently looking for enthusiastic pilots to take part in their 2012 Queensland Coastal Adventure from April 27 to May 7. It’s a 12-day air safari starting in Hervey Bay and taking in Fraser Island, Agnes Water, 1770, Airlee Beach, Daydream Island, Bowen, Townsville, Magnetic Island, Atherton and Helenvale/Daintree. Keen parties must register by January 1; for more info visit www.aussieflyaways.com.au; email tonyang@aussieflyaways.com.au; or call (03) 9598 3320.
Canada has proposed new regulations requiring private and commercial aircraft with six or more passenger seats to be equipped with a terrain awareness and warning system alert system. The move is simply to bring Canadian regulations into line with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards.
The Cirrus Vision SF50 personal jet. (Cirrus)
