Former NASA astronaut Ken Mattingly II, best known for helping the crew of Apollo 13 return to Earth safely in 1970 after the loss of an oxygen tank in space doomed the lunar landing, has died at 87. 

His cause of death on October 31 in Arlington, Virginia, was not released by NASA.

“Mattingly was key to the success of our Apollo program, and his shining personality will ensure he is remembered throughout history,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said in a statement that also called Mattingly “one of our country’s heroes.”

According to his NASA biography, Thomas Kenneth Mattingly II, who went by Ken or “TK,” was born in Chicago on March 17, 1936. He graduated from high school in Miami and earned a degree in aeronautical engineering from Auburn University in 1958.

He began his aerospace career as a Naval aviator, earning his wings in 1960. He flew multiple aircraft on multiple assignments, eventually joining the Air Force Aerospace Research Pilot School as a student. This led NASA to select him as part of the astronaut class of 1966. Before flying in space, Mattingly worked in the Apollo program as part of the astronaut support crew, taking leadership in the development of the Apollo spacesuit and backpack.

In 1970, Mattingly was slated to be aboard Apollo 13, however, he was exposed to rubella (also known as the German measles), which forced the space agency to remove him from the mission out of an abundance of caution. According to NASA, when the crew of Apollo 13 ran into trouble on its ill-fated mission, Mattingly ran scenarios on the ground that helped bring the crippled spacecraft and  astronauts James Lovell, Jack Swigert, and Fred Haise safely home.

In director Ron Howard’s 1995 movie Apollo 13, Mattingly was played by Gary Sinise. One of the most poignant scenes in the film is when Mattingly climbs into the Apollo capsule mock-up to run scenarios to find a solution to address the emergency in orbit. When offered a particular flashlight to use, Mattingly declines it, saying it is not the same as the one the astronauts have aboard the spacecraft and it is important that he craft a solution with the same tools they have.

Mattingly would go on to serve as command module pilot for Apollo 16 and spacecraft commander for space shuttle missions STS-4, the fourth mission of the Columbia launched in 1982, and, the third flight of Discovery launched in 1985. The latter mission was the first to carry a Department of Defense payload and as such many details of the mission to this day remain classified.

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Thousands of pilots use Sporty’s Pilot Shop’s ground schools to help them reach their aviation goals. Now that number is about to grow as Sporty’s has established a partnership with Leadership In Flight Training (LIFT) Academy, a training program owned by Republic Airways.

“Sporty’s is honored to have been selected by LIFT Academy as an online training provider,” said Sporty’s president John Zimmerman. “Sporty’s courses, paired with LIFT’s on-site flight training, will provide LIFT students with a premier learning experience as they prepare for their aviation career.” The partnership gives LIFT Academy attendees access to a wide range of training resources, including Sporty’s Learn To Fly Course, Instrument Rating Course, Commercial Pilot Course, and Garmin G1000 Checkout Course.

Each course includes hours of video content with flight deck perspectives and sophisticated 3D animations. The instruction can be accessed on Sporty’s dedicated mobile apps for iPhone, iPad, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Android TV, and downloaded for offline viewing.

• READ MORE: Sporty’s Launches 2024 Learn to Fly Courses

“LIFT chose Sporty’s as the course provider for our students for the feature-rich and modern courseware that will complement our innovative, industry-leading training program while providing students with the skills they need to succeed,” said Edward Bagden, director of LIFT operations and academic programs. “The flight school management tools provide our team with the tools they need to provide LIFT students with the best training possible.”

The partnership includes access to Sporty’s test prep tools, allowing users to create unlimited study sessions and practice exams through access to the company’s proprietary database of thousands of test questions. The exams can be randomized or focused on specific areas to help the users address soft spots in their knowledge to customize their learning experience.

LIFT Academy will use Sporty’s CFI Portal and Chief CFI features to monitor and track student progress within the courses. These tools allow LIFT instructors and management to better ensure that learners are staying on track to meet their training objectives.

About Lift Academy

LIFT Academy is headquartered in Indianapolis and has additional training facilities in Texas and South Carolina. The academy utilizes Diamond DA40 and DA20 single-engine aircraft and DA42 multiengine designs as well as advanced aviation training devices (AATDs) from Diamond Simulation and Frasca International to enhance the learning environment. In addition, LIFT utilizes virtual reality immersive training devices (ITDs) crafted by Vertex Solutions.

For more information, visit  the LIFT website.

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Seeking to understand for its membership the long-term effects of various new fuels on the general aviation market, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association has begun flight testing unleaded, high-octane avgas in a Beechcraft Baron. 

The project launched this week with the introduction of GAMI’s G100UL during initial flights in Ada, Oklahoma. Beginning with a baseline of two freshly overhauled Continental IO-520 engines, the Baron will be operated under AOPA management, with the cooperation of Savvy Maintenance founder and technician guru Mike Busch, using the company’s computerized diagnostic tools to analyze engine data and compare it against the information it has collected from “hundreds of thousands of hours of GA flights,” according to an AOPA release.

• READ MORE: Time to Get Serious About Unleaded Fuel

An AOPA spokesperson told FLYING that the association is staging in Ada right now “since that is where the majority of the fuel is, and it makes sense to use [it] as a geographically appealing hub.” Presumably this will allow AOPA the “best efficiency in demonstrating the fuel to a wide range of people.” GAMI’s fuel obtained a supplemental type certificate, covering a broad range of piston aircraft, from the FAA in September 2022. The initial STC for Lycoming O-320, O-360, and IO-360 engines came in July 2021. 

• READ MORE: GAMI Gaines Avgas STC for Pistons on Unleaded Fuel

AOPA president Mark Baker was at the controls for the demonstration flight to kick off the program on October 31. For one hour, Baker flew with G100UL feeding the left engine and standard 100LL powering the right one.

“We wanted to get some actual experience with a 100-octane unleaded fuel in the kinds of airplanes and engines that our members own and fly,” said Baker. “This fuel has been tested extensively in labs and received an FAA STC. Should the FAA approve additional fuels, we’ll test them, too, so we can see what they’re like to use out on the airways.

• READ MORE: GAMI Now Selling STCs for G100UL

“George Braly and GAMI have done a great deal of pioneering work preparing for general aviation’s unleaded future. We’re staging the AOPA Baron at GAMI’s headquarters in Ada first to try out its G100UL.”

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The U.S. military is playing a larger role in the most recent conflict in Israel and Gaza than previously thought.

On Friday, the Pentagon confirmed reports that forces from the U.S. Special Operations Command are flying unarmed surveillance drones over the Gaza Strip to assist in the recovery of hostages held by Hamas, of which there are thought to be around 240, including several Americans.

According to Air Force Brigadier General Pat Ryder, Pentagon press secretary, the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been flying over Gaza since Hamas’ October 7 invasion of Israel.

“In support of hostage recovery efforts, the U.S. is conducting unarmed UAV flights over Gaza, as well as providing advice and assistance to support our Israeli partner as they work on their hostage recovery efforts,” said Ryder in a statement. “These UAV flights began after the October 7 attack by Hamas on Israel.”

According to a report by The New York Times, which first spotted the drones on publicly accessible flight-tracking website Flightradar24, the UAVs are remotely piloted MQ-9A extended range Reapers.

Amelia Smith, an open source intelligence and aviation researcher who has been tracking the MQ-9s for several days, told FLYING that by her estimate, a total of seven different aircraft are flying across the region, four of them per day. Typically, only one Reaper is in the air at any given moment. But the UAVs have loitered over Gaza at around 24,000 to 26,000 feet, sometimes for several hours at a time, Smith said.

The MQ-9 Reaper is considered the Air Force’s first “hunter-killer” UAV. It was initially designed as a highly precise and durable combat drone, with advanced sensors and cameras, robust communications, and the ability to loiter for more than 24 hours. Today, it is used primarily for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations.

Two unnamed Department of Defense (DOD) officials told the Times the Reaper deployments are thought to be the first time U.S. drones have flown missions over Gaza. The officials added that one goal of the flights is to pass potential leads on hostage positions along to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

Previously, Pentagon officials had announced the U.S. delivery of precision-guided munitions, Air Force fighters, and air defense capabilities—such as interceptors for Israel’s Iron Dome counter-drone systems—to the IDF. But before Friday, they made no mention of MQ-9s.

In a Tuesday press briefing, however, Ryder mentioned that the DOD is “coordinating closely with the Israelis to help secure the release of the hostages held by Hamas, including American citizens.”

Added Ryder: “[Defense Secretary Lloyd] Austin highlighted that we immediately provided U.S. military advisors to offer best practices for integrating hostage recovery into Israel’s operations.”

Christopher Maier, an assistant secretary of defense, said earlier this week that U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF) are on the ground in Israel to assist with hostage recovery. Officials anonymously told the Times that several dozen commandos have been dispatched and are working with the FBI, the State Department, and other U.S. government hostage recovery specialists.

A senior Pentagon official told Spencer Ackerman, who runs the militarism-focused Substack blog “Forever Wars,” that SOF are preparing for “contingencies,” which may include the retrieval of hostages from Hamas. However, the official stressed that current deployments are non-combat missions aimed at training, consulting, and planning with the IDF, not recovering hostages.

Ackerman characterized direct special operations involvement in hostage retrieval as being in the “break-glass-in-case-of-absolute-emergency category.” For now, action is limited to surveillance with the MQ-9 Reaper drones and soft support for the IDF.

Meanwhile, Israel, which this week launched a ground offensive in Gaza City, reportedly plans to send drones into Gaza’s extensive tunnel network. According to recent reports and a firsthand account from an Israeli hostage who was released, these tunnels are where Hamas holds people after they’ve been captured.

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Attention all you Star Trek fans out there: A piece of the iconic TV show’s history, missing for more than 45 years, has been found.

The 3-foot-long wooden model of Starship Enterprise 1701 (no bloody A, B, C, or D), belonging to series creator Gene Roddenberry, has been located after allegedly disappearing in 1978 when Roddenberry loaned it to a production company for the filming of Star Trek: The Motion Picture.

According to the late Majel Barrett-Roddenberry–who played nurse Christine Chapel in the original series, Lwaxana Troi, and the voice of the computer in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and Star Trek: Voyager—the model was “historical and quite priceless,” and either Gene forgot to get it back or it was not returned after the production of the first movie.

The model reappeared last week on eBay, with a starting bid of $1,000. According to multiple online news outlets, it was allegedly found in a storage unit, but when it was learned that the model might have been stolen from Gene Roddenberry or at the very least not properly returned, the auction was taken down. The seller then reached out to Rod Roddenberry, Gene’s son, about returning the item to the family.

About the Model

The model was built by Hollywood scale-model maker Richard C. Datin Jr., a subcontractor for the Howard Anderson Company. The wooden model made its first appearance in the original TV pilot episode “The Cage” filmed in 1965. The footage from that episode was later retooled into a two-part episode, “The Menagerie.” The model was also used for publicity shots when the show was picked up by NBC in 1966, as well as being utilized for production shots since computer-generated imaging (CGI) was still decades away.

• READ MORE: The Aviation Roots of ‘Star Trek’

In addition to the 3-foot-long Enterprise, Datin is credited for also making the ship’s shuttlebay, a Class F shuttlecraft, and Deep Space Station K-7, featured in the fan-favorite episode “The Trouble with Tribbles”.

Along with creating one of the most successful science fiction franchises in entertainment history, Gene Roddenberry was a decorated combat pilot during World War II, flying 89 B-17 missions in the Pacific theater. After the war, he briefly worked as a pilot for Pan American World Airways. He died on October 24, 1991, at the age of 70.  

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Hello, and welcome to the Future of FLYING newsletter, our weekly look at the biggest stories in emerging aviation technology. From low-altitude drones to high-flying rockets at the edge of the atmosphere, we’ll take you on a tour of the modern flying world to help you make sense of it all.

Now for this week’s top story:

Canada’s Helijet Makes History with Beta eVTOL Order

What happened? Helijet is one of North America’s oldest and largest helicopter airlines and one of the few that offers scheduled passenger flights. Now, the company is flying into the future with its order for Beta Technologies’ Alia-250 electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxi—the first such purchase by a Canadian air carrier.

Old dog, new tricks: Helijet has been around since the ’80s, but that won’t stop it from embracing technologies at aviation’s cutting edge. The firm, Beta’s first Canadian customer, expects to be the country’s first air carrier to offer passenger and cargo eVTOL flights. Beta’s Alia will complement—not replace—its fleet of Eurocopter AS350 B2s, Sikorsky S76s, Learjet 31As, and Pilatus PC-12s.

Alia is more limited than these designs, with a 250 nm range and 100 knot cruise speed. However, it produces zero carbon emissions and is expected to be far quieter than those helicopters—and cheaper, Beta and Helijet claim. Helijet will deploy it for passenger, cargo, and medical transport services.

Why Beta? Per Helijet, Beta makes for an ideal partner due to its plan to certify Alia for IFR operations. The eVTOL manufacturer also has a footprint in Canada, having opened an engineering and research and development hub in Montreal in March. It also partnered with Canadian flight simulator provider CAE to train Alia pilots and maintenance technicians.

The partners estimate that eVTOL aircraft could serve 4.2 million passengers in the Greater Vancouver area over the next 15 to 20 years, generating some $1.5 billion ($2.1 million Canadian dollars) in advanced air mobility (AAM) business activity. But they’ll need to wait for Alia’s certification, which is expected around 2026.

Quick quote: “With its mature air travel market demographic and existing challenges for conventional transportation between Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland, southern British Columbia provides an exciting opportunity to demonstrate the commercial viability and environmental sustainability of AAM in B.C. and Canada,” said JR Hammond, executive director of Canadian Advanced Air Mobility (CAAM), the country’s national AAM consortium.

My take: Could Helijet, one of only two major scheduled passenger helicopter airline services in North America (Blade Urban Air Mobility being the other), become one of the region’s biggest AAM player?

Compared to the massive eVTOL investments made by U.S. airlines such as United and Delta, Canadian air carriers have been slower to warm up to the emerging tech. But Helijet could be set up for early success, with a built-in customer base that already seeks short-hop helicopter flights. Replacing some of those trips with air taxi routes shouldn’t harm demand—especially if Alia can offer a cheaper alternative, as the partners claim.

The new aircraft likely won’t fly until 2026. But when they do, Helijet could provide an important litmus test for AAM operations in Canada.

Deep dive: Canada’s Helijet Makes History with Beta eVTOL Order

In Other News…

SpaceX Starship Nears Return to Flight

What happened? SpaceX’s Starship, the largest and most powerful rocket ever built, has been grounded since its April maiden voyage began and ended in flames. But the FAA in September closed its investigation into the explosion, and the agency this week announced it has now completed its safety review—a key portion of the evaluation of SpaceX’s launch license.

Back in action soon? Having completed the safety review, the FAA is now working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) on an environmental review, the final step needed to modify SpaceX’s vehicle operator license, which may take up to 135 days. When that modification is approved, Starship will be cleared for a second test flight.

However, keep an eye on the lingering lawsuit the FAA and SpaceX are battling. If they lose the case, the FAA will need to produce an environmental impact statement analyzing the effect of Starship launches on local wildlife. That process could delay things for months—or longer.

Deep dive: SpaceX’s Starship—the Most Powerful Rocket in History—Nears Return to Flight

Zipline and Cleveland Clinic Plan Prescription Drone Delivery

What happened? Zipline, the world’s largest drone delivery provider, added its fourth major U.S. healthcare partner this year in Cleveland Clinic. The hospital system will work with Zipline to launch prescription drone delivery in 2025, using its new partner’s Platform 2 (P2) delivery system.

How it’ll work: Zipline’s P2 does a couple cool things—among them is the installation of drone “drive-thru” windows that will allow Cleveland Clinic technicians to load the aircraft without leaving the lab. Rather than drop prescriptions using a parachute, like Zipline’s Platform 1 does, P2 will lower a small, autonomous droid that steers itself to a landing area the size of a patio table.

The collaboration makes sense for Cleveland Clinic, which has been lauded for its supply chain and innovative use of technology. Eventually, the partners plan to ramp up with deliveries of lab samples, prescription meals, and more.

Deep Dive: Zipline and Cleveland Clinic Partner on Prescription Drone Delivery

And a Few More Headlines:

• Ireland’s Manna Drone Delivery launched commercially in the U.S. with Halloween deliveries for trick-or-treaters.

• Virgin Galactic completed its Galactic 05 mission, the company’s sixth successful spaceflight in as many months.

• Chinese eVTOL manufacturer EHang said it expects to begin delivering its type-certified air taxi to customers in the coming months.

• Germany’s Lilium, another eVTOL maker, appointed ArcosJet as its exclusive Lilium Jet dealer in the United Arab Emirates, Israel, and Cyprus.

• Tampa International Airport (KTPA) hosted a test flight of Volocopter’s eVTOL for city and state officials.

On the Horizon…

Kicking off things with a pair of developments FLYING covered this week, the FAA and the U.S. Air Force, as well as the state of Utah, have stepped up their AAM efforts.

Starting with the two government entities: The FAA and AFWERX, the innovation arm of the Air Force, are collaborating to share flight data and testing capabilities for eVTOL and autonomous aircraft. AFWERX has awarded millions of dollars worth of contracts to 36 electric aircraft and technology developers, and its learnings could help the FAA meet its Innovate28 goals. The partnership is expected to benefit U.S.-made aircraft in particular.

Regulators in Utah, meanwhile, released an AAM blueprint resembling a smaller, state-level version of Innovate28. The report provides an interesting look at how individual states may initially tackle these new services. While it’s jampacked with guidance, the researchers’ key takeaway was that Utah already has plenty of assets to work with, and it could see fully operational AAM services by 2028.

We’ve got a couple of Congressional updates this week too. The big one is the introduction of the American Security Drone Act of 2023 to the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party. The bill, initially proposed in February by Senators Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Rick Scott (R-Fla.), would prevent federal departments and agencies from operating, procuring, or using federal funding to purchase drones made in China and Russia.

Meanwhile, Warner and other legislators this week announced that the Senate passed a measure to limit federal funding for drones made in China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Venezuela, and Cuba—collectively described as the “New Axis of Evil.” The amendment will withhold funding included in the upcoming FAA appropriations package.

Staying at the federal level, the U.S. Departments of Justice and Homeland Security could soon lose the ability to down rogue drones, as their counter-drone authority, established in 2018, is set to expire November 18. Christopher Wray, director of the FBI, said failure to reauthorize the two agencies could leave the U.S. “effectively defenseless” against threats to mass gatherings, airports, and other critical infrastructure.

Speaking of critical infrastructure: In New York’s Capital Region, officials have introduced a bill that would prevent drones from flying near schools and other buildings with that label. The legislation appears after a series of incidents involving drones flying over schools.

Mark Your Calendars

Each week, I’ll be running through a list of upcoming industry events. Here are a few conferences to keep an eye on:

• Dubai Air Show—November 13-17 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• Aerospace Tech Week Americas 2023—November 14-15 in Atlanta
• Advanced Air Mobility Summit 2023—November 20-21 in Lisbon, Portugal
• ICAO Drone Enable—December 5-7 in Montreal
• 11th Annual eVTOL Symposium—February 6-8 in Silicon Valley, California
• Drone Show Korea 2024—March 6-8 in Busan, South Korea
• World’s Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Conference—March 17-19 in Jerusalem
• AUVSI Xponential 2024—April 22-25 in San Diego 
• Vertical Flight Society’s Forum 80—May 7-9 in Montreal

Tweet of the Week

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I want to hear your questions, comments, concerns, and criticisms about everything in the modern flying space, whether they’re about a new drone you just bought or the future of space exploration. Reach out to jack@flying.media or tweet me @jack_daleo with your thoughts.

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Bombardier reported Thursday that its third-quarter revenues came in at $1.9 billion, representing a 28 percent increase compared to the same period last year. The business jet manufacturer attributed the gains to higher deliveries and continued momentum in aftermarket business.

Crediting benefits from the expansion of its service center footprint in 2022, Bombardier noted that its aftermarket business saw an 11 percent year-over-year growth in Q3. The segment accounted for $414 million in revenues for the quarter. The company plans to focus on increasing its share of the aftermarket business going forward.

• READ MORE: Bombardier Delivers More Aircraft, Reports Growing Backlog in Second Quarter

“Bombardier’s third-quarter results are nothing short of impressive, whether you look at margins, cash generation, overall revenues, order activity, and more,” said Bombardier president and CEO Éric Martel. “When we reshaped Bombardier, we set out to build a resilient business that performs in any marketplace. Today, our results demonstrate we are there.”

Overall, Montreal-headquartered Bombardier shipped 31 aircraft in Q3 2023 compared to 25 aircraft delivered in Q3 2022. The company has logged a total of 82 aircraft deliveries so far this year, including the recent handoff of its 150th Global 7500 business jet. Bombardier reported a backlog of $14.7 billion at the end of the third quarter.

Martel also pointed out that Bombardier is on track to meet its 2023 delivery targets and well positioned to increase output in the future.

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One of the challenges of pursuing a career as a professional pilot is balancing flight training with the pursuit of a college degree, if that is your choice. It helps when the flight school has a partnership with the university. That’s the case with Epic Flight Academy in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, and Purdue University Global, which are now partnering to offer an online bachelor’s degree in aviation management or professional flight through the Purdue Global aviation program.

“This partnership will help both parties work together to address the need for more pilots, as well as those who work in the aviation industry,” said Sara Sander, Purdue Global vice president, dean of the college of social and behavioral sciences and interim dean of the school of aviation. “We are pleased to partner with Epic Flight Academy through recognition of prior learning in both the professional flight and aviation management programs.”

Said Danny Perna: Epic Flight Academy founder and CEO: “Our flight students can earn up to 45 transfer credits through their Epic flight training with Purdue Global.” 

Taking advantage of the partnership can save an individual up to $28,400 in tuition and enable them to complete the degree online in two to three years while simultaneously pursuing flight training or working full-time as a flight instructor.

The next start date is January 31.

To be admitted to the professional flight degree program, the applicant must hold a private pilot certificate, first-class medical certificate, and have either a high school degree or GED.

Those enrolled in the aviation management program need not hold a pilot certificate or medical certificate.

About Epic Flight Academy

Epic Flight Academy is a Part 141 school that has been training pilots since 1999. In addition to the main campus in New Smyrna Beach, there are campuses in Ocala and Tallahassee, Florida, and one in Arizona that offer pilot training. Epic also provides mechanic training at New Smyrna and Erlanger, Kentucky.

About Purdue University

Purdue University has been at the forefront of aviation education since the 1930s. One of its famed faculty members was none other than aviatrix Amelia Earhart. In 1936, the Amelia Earhart Fund for Aeronautical Research was created with the Purdue Research Foundation. The fund raised $80,000, which was used to purchase the Lockheed Electra that was known as Earhart’s flying laboratory. Earhart, navigator Fred Noonan, and the aircraft disappeared over the Pacific Ocean in 1937 while attempting an around-the-world flight.

Founded in 2018, Purdue Global offers online degrees for working adults. It operates as a “nonprofit, public university accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and backed by Purdue University.”

For more information visit https://stories.purdue.edu/purdue-global.

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Cold, dreary weather is always a threat to derail Halloween festivities, as was the case in Dallas-Fort Worth this year. But for trick-or-treaters in one of the area’s neighborhoods, drones came to the rescue.

“We are taking Halloween to new heights with a fun new way for kids to trick or treat—especially when the weather isn’t very Halloween compatible,” said Andrew Patton, the head of Ireland-based Manna Drone Delivery’s U.S. business.

On Tuesday, Manna drones flew chocolate, candies, and other sweet treats straight to the doorsteps of clamoring children (and adults) in the Dallas-Fort Worth suburb of Northlake. The Halloween-themed deliveries marked the company’s official U.S. launch, first teased in March.

But Manna, which is backed by Coca-Cola HBC and operates one of Europe’s largest drone delivery services, will deliver more than just Kit Kats and Sour Patch Kids.

“After over four years of operations and over 150,000 flights logged in Europe, we are excited to be touching down in the United States to offer the residents of Dallas-Fort Worth a lightning-quick and sustainable home delivery service,” said Patton.

Patton brings some traditional aviation expertise to the table—the Manna executive holds a commercial pilot’s license with 1,900 hours of flight time and multiple jet type ratings. He flies a Yakovlev Yak-50 aerobatic airplane whenever time permits.

Moving forward, residents of Northlake’s Pecan Square community will be able to order drinks and food (including more chocolate and candy) from local retailers Farmhouse Coffee & Treasures and The Touring Chocolatier, as well as from a few “notable national brands.” 

The service will run on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, delivering items in less than three minutes on average, Manna said. Patton told FLYING the company plans to deliver to the yards of all 1,600 households in Pecan Square, rolling out service with a “staggered” approach.

According to the company’s website, when an order is placed through its app, Manna drones take off from a delivery hub, flying at 60 mph (52 knots) at a height of around 200 feet. When they arrive above the customer’s yard, the drones descend to about 100 feet, lowering packages gently to the ground using a tether. That allows it to deliver delicate items such as eggs.

Manna claims that when its drones are soaring at their cruising altitude, they’re perceived as silent by people on the ground. And when descending to complete a delivery, the company describes the aircraft’s buzzing as inaudible to customers indoors.

To kick off its U.S. launch, Manna also partnered with the local Tarrant Area Food Bank, which provides close to a million meals per week to North Texans. The company will make a donation for every flight it conducts this year.

The Start of Something Bigger?

While Pecan Square is Manna’s first and only U.S. drone delivery service area, it’s unlikely to be the last.

Pecan Square was developed by Hillwood Communities and is located near the company’s AllianceTexas Mobility Innovation Zone (MIZ). The MIZ aims to test and scale drone delivery and unmanned aircraft technologies in a real-world environment.

Manna’s Dallas-Fort Worth launch came a few months after it and Hillwood announced the beginning of trials at the MIZ, with the ultimate goal of offering drone delivery to “a select number of Hillwood’s residential developments.” 

The implication is that Pecan Square is only the first site. Per that announcement, Manna plans to eventually offer its service to more than 10,000 local residents.

“Hillwood is the premier developer of best-in-class residential communities in Texas,” Patton told FLYING. “Hillwood’s legacy of technology-forward communities and its investment in next-generation autonomous transportation technology through the AllianceTexas MIZ make it an extremely well-suited partner for Manna as we move into the U.S.”

Another major drone delivery player, Alphabet’s Wing, tested its service at the MIZ’s Flight Test Center in 2021. A year later, it launched a delivery hub at Hillwood’s Frisco Station mixed-use development in partnership with Walgreens. Bell Textron has also demonstrated drone package delivery at the AllianceTexas site.

“Drone deliveries are here to stay, and we’re leaning into this efficient and innovative delivery option,” Chris Ash, senior vice president of aviation business development at Hillwood and the leader of MIZ, told FLYING. “We will continue to build great relationships with more companies to further develop and commercialize this technology that reduces roadway congestion and emissions.”

In August, Wing expanded its Dallas-Fort Worth operations to a Walmart Supercenter in Frisco, which FLYING received an inside look at last month. Israel’s Flytrex has offered drone delivery in the DFW suburb of Granbury since 2022. And elsewhere in the state, Amazon Prime Air last year landed in College Station, adding prescription drone delivery to that service in October.

Manna, meanwhile, has primarily focused on growing domestic operations. Its largest markets are the Dublin suburb of Balbriggan and a few other locations in Ireland—per an interview with Forbes, it has completed thousands of flights per day in multiple Irish markets. According to CEO Bobby Healy, those services are one-tenth the cost of a human driver in a car.

Healy told Forbes the company’s philosophy is to target highly populated U.S. markets, drawing from its experience flying over urban densities of 10,000 people per square mile. Dallas-Fort Worth, one of the fastest-growing metro areas in the U.S., appears to fit that bill. At the same time, Manna is eyeing an expansion into mainland Europe.

“Manna is doing great things in Dublin, and we’re excited to see them make their U.S. debut in Texas and within a Hillwood community,” said Ash. “The AllianceTexas MIZ connects the people, places and ideas needed to propel innovation in surface and air mobility forward. Manna and Wing, another great partner to Hillwood, will continue to benefit from this ecosystem.”

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We’re getting ready for the holiday season at FLYING Media Group—even if the snow hasn’t started to fly in Chattanooga, Tennessee, just yet. We’re polishing up the December/January 2023/24, Issue 944 print edition, which mails out in late November for subscribers before landing at newsstands and the FBO displays at your local airport.

For our main features, we fly the Diamond DA62 piston twin, which has hit a market sweet spot with more than 270 delivered. We also look at what it takes to update your avionics to new in a popular legacy twin—the Piper Twin Comanche—and give you tips for achieving the same level of upgrade for your own airplane.

Also, inside our pages, we celebrate 20 years of the Recreational Aviation Foundation with a special work project in Idaho. We also kick off the ski season with a flight to Truckee/Tahoe Airport (KTRK) in the Sierra Nevada to whet your appetite for winter flying destinations. Plus, we give you all of the columns and proficiency articles you’ve come to expect from our deep bench of expert contributors—so make sure you’ve subscribed. You’ll also get a chance to win in our Ultimate FLYING Giveaway!

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Light aircraft manufacturer Flight Design announced Tuesday that it has passed an engineering audit conducted by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).

Flight Design noted that successfully completing the audit represents a significant milestone in the CAAC validation process for the company’s F2-CS23 two-seat piston aircraft. Designed to confirm compliance to a certification specification, the inspection was conducted by a four-person, on-site team from the agency and a Flight Design team led by head of design organization Matthias Betsch, head of airworthiness Christian Majunke, head of quality management Alexander Kosolapov, and head of  general aviation China Wu Xiao Dong.

• READ MORE: Flight Design’s F2 is An All-Around, All-Composite Light Sport Aircraft

“We are very pleased [with] the result of the F2-CS23 on-site inspection by the CAAC this week,” said Betsch. “Our design organization is located in Eisenach, Germany, but our team of engineers are truly international. The fact that their great work has now been accepted by EASA and CAAC is a testament to their professionalism and hard work.”

• READ MORE: Flight Design Ramps Up Production of F2, CT Series Aircraft

A certified version of Flight Design’s F2 SLSA, the F2-CS23 received its type certificate from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in December 2021. The model has a top speed of 233 kph (126 knots), a 2,000-kilometer (1,080 nm) range with 30-minute reserve, and a maximum takeoff weight of 1,320 pounds. It is powered by the 100 hp Rotax 912iS engine and comes equipped with Garmin G3X flight displays. Base price for the F2-CS23 is listed as 214,900 euros ($227,150).

The F2-CS23 is also undergoing validation by the FAA.

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For years we have been hearing about a labor shortage in aviation. As the industry grows, so does the need for pilots, cabin crew, mechanics, and technicians. The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Foundation (AOPA) and Choose Aerospace are partnering to establish a formal agreement to help increase education opportunities so these jobs are filled.

According to AOPA, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) has been signed to create a means of collaboration to “identify curriculum alignment, jointly promote each other’s educational materials, and pursue grant-funding opportunities related to aviation.”

The MOU was put into place to share ideas, best practices, and training resources to help both organizations meet the ongoing and increasing demand for skilled aviation professionals.

• READ MORE: STEM Curriculum Now in 300 Schools Nationwide

“This agreement allows the AOPA Foundation and Choose Aerospace to collaborate more closely,” said Glenn Ponas, AOPA Foundation director of high school outreach. “Together, we will be able to provide our respective curricula and resources to school districts and career technical centers and support them in creating pathways to careers as pilots, drone pilots, and aviation maintenance technicians.”

The AOPA Foundation represents the organization’s philanthropic arm. The collaboration with Choose Aerospace is the first of multiple efforts from the foundation to document and coordinate aviation programs and resources.

The Process

The MOU includes a review of both the AOPA Foundation High School Aviation STEM Curriculum and the Choose Aerospace Aviation Maintenance Curriculum.

Both groups play key roles in helping the industry meet its workforce demand by providing education, training, and employment pathways in the communities they serve.

“Aviation industry stakeholders recognize the need to invest resources and collaborate as part of developing a sustainable, diverse workforce,” said Ryan Goertzen, vice president of workforce development at AAR Corp. and president of Choose Aerospace. “The Choose Aerospace-AOPA Foundation partnership will help both organizations maximize their already-productive efforts to feed aerospaces workforce pipeline.”

There are plans to promote the curriculum through social media, newsletters, and joint presentations to schools and the aviation industry.

How Many Jobs Will There Be?

According to recent data from Boeing, there will be a need for 649,000 pilots, 690,000 technicians, and 938,000 cabin crewmembers over the next 20 years. The company also noted that domestic air travel is back to pre-pandemic levels, and international travel is also increasing again.

About the Groups

Choose Aerospace is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit partnership of aerospace stakeholders joined together to increase the availability of a diverse, qualified, technical workforce to support industry growth. The Choose Aerospace two-year AMT general prep course complements the AOPA Foundation drone and pilot pathways, enabling school districts that participate to create direct pathways to three in-demand aviation careers.

AOPA, established in 1939, is the world’s largest community of pilots, aircraft owners, and aviation enthusiasts. The association was created to provide advocacy at the local, state, and federal levels, and encourage flight training and aviation accessibility. The partnership will be introduced at the first AOPA Aviation and Aerospace Workforce Development Summit  at the Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport on November 12. The AOPA You Can Fly High School Aviation STEM Symposium will follow the summit on November 12 through 14. Both events are open to organizations that offer high school aviation curricula and resources.

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A few months after the FAA released its Innovate28 plan for scaled advanced air mobility (AAM) operations by 2028, Utah officials have revealed their own plan to integrate delivery drones, electric air taxis, vertiports, and more into the state’s airspace.

At the request of the state legislature, the Utah AAM Working Group, part of the Utah Department of Transportation’s Aeronautics Division, this week released a legislative report and study on the implementation of AAM services in regions such as the Salt Lake City metro area.

The Utah AAM Infrastructure and Regulatory Study is a 58-page framework—similar to the FAA’s Innovate28 and its previously released AAM blueprint—that identifies the benefits, limitations, assets, timelines, and funding mechanisms associated with the state’s adoption of these emerging services. It does not establish any new rules or regulations but simply provides guidance.

The Utah Legislature also called on researchers to review state laws and identify any changes that could be made to speed the development of the state’s AAM operations. But according to the report, Utah already has plenty of potential to support technologies like drones and air taxis.

“Through leadership foresight, from the legislature to state agencies, Utah has positioned itself to embrace AAM,” the report reads. “The state already has significant assets in place that could be utilized in early implementation of advanced air mobility.”

Researchers identified several positive effects AAM could have on the state, the two biggest being a reduction in carbon emissions—since many drones and air taxi designs are electric—and “clear and compelling” economic benefits.

The report suggests that AAM services would create the potential for thousands of high-paying jobs in vehicle manufacturing, maintenance, and vertiport operations. For example, Zipline—which operates drone delivery in Utah through a partnership with Intermountain Healthcare—hires FAA-certificated drone pilots directly out of high school and helps them to pay for college. Utah is also one of seven states where Walmart and delivery partner DroneUp are flying.

Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) manufacturers could bring further employment opportunities. Two of the U.S.’s largest, Archer Aviation and Joby Aviation, have begun building production plants in Georgia and Ohio, respectively, far from their California headquarters. Both firms expect to produce hundreds of vehicles and thousands of lucrative jobs.

On the other hand, the biggest limitations of AAM may be safety and privacy concerns from Utah residents and impacts on local or migrating animals, according to the report.

Researchers believe that Utah has plenty of readily available assets that could serve the AAM industry with some slight modifications. They note, for example, that the Aeronautics Division is already assisting airports with electrification and vertiport installation. 

The report considers airports, unsurprisingly, to be “prime” locations for AAM operations. It lists South Valley Regional Airport (U42), Skypark Airport (KBTF), and Spanish Fork Airport (KSPK) as potential urban air mobility hubs, adding that local or rural airports could be turned into regional air mobility hubs or drone delivery service centers.

Based on data from the Wasatch Front Regional Council, the report also identifies potential sites for vertiports in communities without airports: underutilized parking garages. Shopping center parking lots, for example, could be transformed into landing pads by rearranging paint and lighting.

Utah’s “excellent” statewide fiber-optic and cellular network coverage should allow drones to easily broadcast data and communicate with remote pilots when flying beyond the visual line of sight (BVLOS)—an FAA requirement.

The state’s electric grid, meanwhile, produces around 37,000 MWh of electricity per year to charge eVTOL or other electric aircraft. Utah relies on a shared grid system, which allows it to draw some additional power as demand increases. But its electric substations may require upgrades to support an influx of AAM aircraft. And at first, the state may need to build vertiports selectively based on the capacity of local facilities.

The Roadmap

The report examines what AAM operations in Utah may look like in various phases, zooming in to the next two to three years and zooming out decades from now.

“Everything does not have to be in place on day one,” the report reads. “The prudent approach is to follow a phased implementation plan that allows government and markets to grow one step at a time and adjust as appropriate to shifting market demands.”

Researchers broke down the plan into four segments based on “current industry projections.” The initial phase, which covers the next two to three years, will focus mainly on community outreach and public engagement. It will also involve the initial buildout of infrastructure, such as a statewide unmanned traffic management (UTM) system.

A UTM—and an Aerial Traffic Operations Center for the personnel managing it—is one of the “hard” infrastructure components Utah will need to add to its AAM ecosystem. Its creation, along with the improvement of cellular and internet broadcast receivers, will be one of the more challenging tasks the state faces.

In addition, Utah will require “soft” infrastructure improvements: more personnel, man hours, and expertise to name a few. The designing of aerial corridors, adaptation of land-use planning, and development of AAM policies are also on the agenda.

Phase two of the plan, expected to last three to five years, is primarily aimed at expanding UTM capacity and building the initial vertiport sites, with continued local outreach and engagement. Matt Maass, director of Utah’s aeronautics division, told the Salt Lake Tribune that 2028—which would fall under this stage—could mark the entry of AAM services such as electric air taxis.

The third stage is planned to last seven to 15 years. By this point, Utah hopes to have comprehensive UTM services, including a fully operational Aerial Traffic Operations Center. Vertiport infrastructure and operations should be at a “commercially viable” level, providing capacity for daily commutes.

The final phase, which could stretch from anywhere between 15 and 30 years, will tie everything together. By then, the state should have a fully integrated electric- and hydrogen-hybrid aviation and ground transportation system. This network would connect urban and rural communities statewide, the report predicts.

To get there—or to even advance beyond phase one—Utah will need plenty of funding. As things stand, municipalities looking to add vertiport infrastructure can apply for loans from the state. They can also issue general or revenue-obligated bonds if they expect to make money from those sites. And through a pair of recent House bills, federal financing is now becoming available. More is expected when the FAA is reauthorized.

“Mechanisms to acquire the money needed to pay for the new technologies are already in place, and more funding is anticipated from the federal government,” the report reads. “Most importantly, Utah’s preparation allows the state the flexibility to start at a methodical, yet efficient, pace.”

Researchers suggest the state might consider issuing bonds, appropriating general revenues, or using green revolving funds to help finance AAM projects. Potential funding mechanisms could also include fees (such as for landing, airspace usage, or permitting) and sales or excise taxes (such as on aircraft sales or facility charges).

How Utah Could Get AAM Laws on the Books

Though the report is not meant to create any new AAM rules, the researchers do suggest a few initial steps legislators could take to get the regulatory ball rolling.

For example, they point out that Utah Senate Bill 166, passed last year, defines the term “AAM system” and calls for state preemption of local AAM laws. Legislators could consider adding definitions such as “aerial transit corridor,” “vertiport,” or “UTM” to the rule, the report suggests.

To address property rights concerns, Utah could establish avigation easements, which would essentially give the state the rights to use airspace above private property, with the owner’s permission. The creation of an AAM Program Office and formal processes for licensing vertiports and registering AAM aircraft could also clear up things.

Researchers also say the state should consider requiring all municipalities to add the terms “drone package delivery” and “aerial taxi operations” to their approved conditional use permit lists. This would provide a basis for early AAM entrants to operate legally. Enacting zoning language for takeoff and landing sites and “vertiport overlay zones” could help municipalities further prepare for the birth of a new sector.

“Advanced air mobility is an entirely new transportation system and presents new opportunities and challenges never before encountered by departments of transportation,” the report concludes. “However, national-scale solutions for the entirety of the system do not need to be resolved prior to Utah implementing the first steps and phases toward active operations.”

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Since its inaugural launch, SpaceX’s Starship rocket has been grounded while the FAA conducted a mishap investigation, which finally closed in September. This week, the agency completed another key step toward issuing a modified launch license for Starship, which would return the spacecraft to action.

“The FAA completed the safety review portion of the SpaceX Starship-Super Heavy license evaluation on October 31,” the agency told FLYING.

The safety review is the “principal component” of the FAA’s vehicle operator license evaluation, which grants companies the authority to launch rockets. In its review, the agency assessed the impact of Starship launches on public health and property damage. It also evaluated SpaceX’s safety organization, system safety processes, and flight safety analysis, as well as quantitative risk criteria related to launch, reentry, and vehicle disposal.

Starship—whose two reusable components, the Super Heavy Booster and Starship upper stage, stand close to 400 feet when stacked together—is the largest and most powerful rocket ever built. But its maiden voyage in April began and ended in flames, when the spacecraft lost control and exploded during stage separation just minutes into the flight.

Meanwhile, the impact of Super Heavy’s 33 Raptor engines on the company’s Boca Chica, Texas, launch pad, Starbase, created a massive crater. Starship’s liftoff broke windows, shook buildings, and sprayed ash and debris over an area far larger than expected, including 6 miles away in the town of Port Isabel.

While the FAA’s license evaluation safety review centered around Starship’s impact to people and property, the agency is now working on an environmental review to gauge its effect on nearby wildlife.

Coordinating with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) under the Endangered Species Act, the FAA must produce an updated biological assessment for Starship. An initial biological assessment, published in October 2021, assessed threats to wildlife surrounding Starbase.

According to USFWS, the ongoing environmental assessment focuses on a new water deluge system installed at Starbase, one of several upgrades the company has made to the launch pad since April. Most launch pads have either a water deluge system or a flame trench to suppress heat and sound. But Starbase lacked such a system during Starship’s first launch, which may have exacerbated the damage caused by the engines.

The FAA initiated a consultation with USFWS on October 19, giving the latter 135 days to issue an amended biological opinion based on the FAA’s assessment. However, it does not expect to take the full amount of time.

The FAA’s completion of Starship’s safety review and the ongoing work toward the environmental review bring SpaceX closer to modifying its launch license, which would clear the way for the massive rocket to fly again. But the company may still have hurdles beyond the FAA’s evaluation.

Starship’s maiden voyage was permitted under the FAA’s April written reevaluation of the programmatic environmental assessment (PEA) it awarded to SpaceX in 2022. But the April explosion brought scrutiny upon the PEA in the form of a lawsuit brought against the FAA by five environmental groups, including the Center for Biological Diversity.

The plaintiffs claim the FAA could have mitigated the damage from the launch and subsequent explosion. Had the agency conducted an environmental impact statement (EIS) instead of a PEA “based on SpaceX’s preference,” as the groups allege, the impact may have been less severe.

Both a PEA and an EIS can give an operator the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) compliance required to greenlight a launch. But unlike an EIS, the PEA allowed SpaceX to analyze the potential impact of its own launch proposal and may have authorized Starship to fly sooner. The FAA required SpaceX to take more than 75 actions after submitting its PEA. But the lawsuit alleges these were not sufficient to prevent a mishap.

SpaceX in June joined the suit as a codefendant, and it and the FAA are now seeking to dismiss it. If they lose, the FAA would be required to conduct an EIS, which could represent a major setback for Starship.

However, SpaceX last week said Starship is ready to fly pending the approval of its license modification, and the company should still be able to conduct test flights despite the ongoing lawsuit.

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MT-Propeller has revealed a new composite propeller for warbirds powered by engines of up to 2,200 hp. The company said the new four-blade prop is certified by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for use on the North American P-51 Mustang and F-82 Twin Mustang.

MT said one of its goals in designing and manufacturing the propeller, called the MTV-4-1, is to help keep the vintage aircraft flying as airworthy parts for the original propellers are “becoming increasingly difficult” to find.

• READ MORE: Pilatus PC-12 Aircraft Meet European Noise Regs with 7-Blade Prop

The new propeller looks like the original, with a similar blade shape, but the blades are made of a natural composite and certified and tested for an unlimited lifespan, according to MT. The F-82 used for testing has helped demonstrate the propellers’ capabilities this year while flying to airshows across the U.S. The composite warbird propellers are moving through the FAA certification process.

MT is a renowned manufacturer of a range of composite propellers, including hydraulically controlled models with two to seven blades designed for engines of up to 5,000 hp and electrically controlled props with two to four blades for engines up to 350 hp. The company also makes two-blade, fixed-pitch propellers.

• READ MORE: MT Flight-Tests Propeller With 11 Blades On A Piper Cheyenne

MT said its props—30 models in all—are designed for traditional piston- and turbine-powered aircraft, ranging from motor gliders to regional airliners. They are also made for airships, hovercraft, and for use in wind tunnels.

MT holds more than 220 supplemental type certificates (STCs) and is an OEM supplier for more than 90 percent of the European aircraft industry and about 30 percent of the U.S. aircraft industry. The company said it has more than 28,000 propeller systems delivered, with more than 100,000 installations in service.

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Textron Aviation has reported that revenues for its aviation unit were up $171 million compared to last year’s third quarter, coming in at $1.3 billion.

Textron, representing Cessna and Beechcraft models, delivered 39 jets and 38 commercial turboprops for Q3 2023, an overall net improvement over the 39 jets and 33 turboprops in Q3 2022. The segment logged a quarterly profit of $160 million, which the company attributed to favorable pricing and higher volume. The aviation unit ended the quarter with a backlog of $7.4 billion.

On the rotorcraft side, Bell Textron’s revenues for the quarter came in even with Q3 2022 at $754 million, with the company citing “supply chain constraints, partially offset by higher military volume.” Commercial helicopter deliveries dropped from 49 for Q3 2022 to just 23 for Q3 this year. Bell’s backlog at the end of Q3 came in at $5.2 billion.

• READ MORE: Supply Chain Woes Hurt Textron Q3 Deliveries

Textron eAviation, including the recently acquired Pipistel, posted a loss of $19 million for the quarter. The company noted that the expenditure was “primarily related to research and development costs.”

“In the quarter, we saw higher overall revenues and net operating profit driven by growth at [the] Aviation, Industrial and Systems [divisions],” said Textron chairman and CEO Scott Donnelly. “At Aviation, we saw our strongest order quarter of the year with a 12 percent increase over the third quarter of 2022.”

Textron Systems unit’s quarterly revenues rose $17 million to $309 million, while the company’s Industrial unit saw $922 million in Q3 revenues, up $73 million from the same period last year. Textron’s Finance segment reported revenues of $13 million, notching a profit of $22 million for the quarter.

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One of North America’s oldest helicopter airlines plans to add one of aviation’s newest aircraft designs to its fleet.

Helijet International Inc. on Tuesday announced that it placed firm orders for Beta Technologies’ Alia-250 electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxi, becoming the first Canadian air carrier to purchase such a design. Helijet, Beta’s first commercial customer in Canada, also expects to be the first air carrier to offer eVTOL passenger and cargo services in the country.

The British Columbia-based firm claims to be the largest and longest-standing helicopter airline in North America. As far as scheduled passenger helicopter airlines go, Helijet and New York City-based Blade Urban Air Mobility are the only major regional players. In 2021, Blade partnered with Helijet’s booking platform to expand into Canada.

Once Beta’s Alia is certified and delivered, Helijet plans to add the aircraft to its existing fleet, which is composed of Eurocopter AS350 B2s, Sikorsky S76s, Learjet 31As, and Pilatus PC-12s.

How Helijet Will Deploy Alia

Though there are similarities between helicopters and eVTOL designs—the most obvious being the ability to take off and land vertically—Alia doesn’t quite match the performance of the aforementioned models. Its 50-foot wingspan is similar. But its 250 nm range and 100 knot cruise speed are more restrictive. However, Beta’s design is expected to be 90 percent quieter than comparable helicopters.

Alia will be integrated into Helijet’s passenger transport operations in southwest British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest, offering sustainable, quiet flights for a pilot and up to five passengers at a time. Beta and Helijet claim these trips will cost less than current helicopter flights, making them particularly valuable to rural or remote communities lacking convenient air services.

The eVTOL aircraft are also expected to bolster Helijet’s emergency response, air ambulance, and organ transfer services in Canada’s Lower Mainland region.

Over the past two years, the helicopter airline has shortlisted three eVTOL manufacturers building aircraft designed to fit into advanced air mobility (AAM) ecosystems. Though Beta will be its first supplier, the company will continue to evaluate orders for other nominated designs.

Helijet selected Alia in part due to Beta’s plan to certify the aircraft for IFR operations. The firm is also interested in growing its industrial base in Canada, where Beta in March opened an engineering and research and development hub at Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (CYUL).

Beta also has a partnership with Canada’s CAE, a large training OEM and provider of flight simulators, to develop pilot and maintenance technician training programs for Alia. Rival eVTOL manufacturer Joby Aviation has a similar agreement.

“With its mature air travel market demographic and existing challenges for conventional transportation between Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland, southern B.C. provides an exciting opportunity to demonstrate the commercial viability and environmental sustainability of AAM in B.C. and Canada,” said JR Hammond, executive director of Canadian Advanced Air Mobility (CAAM), the country’s national AAM consortium, of which Helijet is a founding member.

Citing a 2020 white paper from Nexa Advisors, another member of the CAAM consortium, Helijet and Beta estimate that, over the next 15 to 20 years, the Greater Vancouver area has the potential to serve 4.2 million passengers using eVTOL aircraft. That could translate to about $1.5 billion (2.1 million Canadian dollars) in new AAM business activity.

To support those aims, Helijet is leading the development of a commercial vertiport at its downtown Vancouver waterfront heliport. The site is planned to be an intermodal transportation hub, connecting AAM passengers with road, marine, air, and rail access throughout the region.

“This provincial government recognizes the potential of advanced air mobility to decarbonize the aviation sector, improve regional connectivity, improve emergency response times and introduce new manufacturing opportunities in our province,” said British Columbia Premier David Eby, who attended the announcement of the deal at Helijet’s Victoria Harbour Heliport (CBF7).

Alia’s Flight Path

Per Tuesday’s announcement, Alia is in “advanced flight standards development” and on track for commercial certification in 2026, one year after Beta’s eCTOL (electric conventional takeoff and landing) variant is expected to be approved. Shortly after, it will be available for private and commercial service.

Beta so far has conducted eVTOL evaluation flights with the FAA, U.S. Air Force, and U.S. Army. The aircraft has completed multiple thousand-mile-plus jaunts across the U.S., the most recent of which saw it travel more than 1,500 nm across 12 states en route to Duke Field (KEGI), a military airport at Florida’s Eglin Air Force Base. Beta also delivered an electric aircraft charging station to Eglin in September, the first to arrive on an Air Force base.

Alia’s flight from the company’s home field in Plattsburgh, New York, to Eglin represented Beta’s first eVTOL delivery to a contracted partner. Just weeks earlier, the firm’s eCTOL completed a cross-border flight from Plattsburgh to Montreal, marking the first time a battery-utilizing electric aircraft landed in the city.

“Between our growing engineering hub in Montreal, our first cross-border flight to the region earlier this year, and the support we’ve received from the government and regulators across Canada, we look forward to continuing to grow our presence in the country,” said Kyle Clark, founder and CEO of Beta.

In addition to Helijet, Beta has Alia purchase orders from UPS, Blade, Bristow Group, LCI Aviation, United Therapeutics, and Air New Zealand, and the aircraft are expected to fulfill a variety of use cases. However, Beta plans to target cargo and medical delivery and military and defense missions before transporting passengers, per Tuesday’s announcement.

Earlier this month, the company opened a 188,500-square-foot final assembly plant at Vermont’s Burlington International Airport (KBTV), which it says is the first such operational facility for electric aircraft in the U.S. Beta also claims the site is the largest net-zero manufacturing plant east of the Mississippi River.

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McFarlane Aviation has achieved a significant milestone by receiving FAA-PMA approval for two new fuel selector valves, part numbers MC0311070 and MC0311070-1, extending the lineup of options for Cessna owners. These valves serve as direct replacements for Cessna OEM part numbers 0311025, 0311070, and 0311070-1. 

“Our fuel valve has improved corrosion resistance from the anodized coating,” McFarlane lead project engineer Val Yancey-Jardon said in a release. “They’re precision machined for the O-ring capture cavity, and we fully test each assembly before leaving the facility [in Baldwin City, Kansas].”

The development is part of McFarlane’s broader effort to provide cost-effective and top-quality replacement parts for various Cessna aircraft models, from the 150s through the 190s. With this addition, Cessna owners now have access to a more-affordable alternative to the OEM valves without compromising on quality.

In addition to offering brand-new valves, McFarlane provides comprehensive repair services for Cessna fuel valves. Its inventory includes repair kits, seal kits, gaskets, fittings, and replacement parts. For Cessna fuel valves, McFarlane features long-life, fuel-proof Viton seals, ensuring lasting performance.

McFarlane said it caters to a wide range of aircraft applications with its line of fuel system replacement parts, benefiting various aircraft models, including Piper, Beechcraft, Mooney, Maule, and more.

McFarlane Aviation is a leading supplier of premium aircraft parts, accessories, and innovative solutions for general aviation. The company said its commitment to engineering meticulous products guarantees exceptional quality and extended lifespan.

McFarlane also owns and operates a diverse family of brands, including CJ Aviation, Flight-Resource/MT Propellers, and Airforms.

Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared on planeandpilotmag.com.

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One of the most highly regarded healthcare providers in the U.S. will soon deliver prescriptions via drone.

Cleveland Clinic, considered one of the top hospital systems in the world based on rankings by outlets such as U.S. News & World Report and Newsweek, is partnering with drone delivery provider Zipline to fly certain medications directly to patients’ porches, patio tables, or front steps starting in 2025.

Deliveries will be made using Zipline’s Platform 2 (P2) delivery system, which is designed to complete 10 sm (8.7 nm) trips to dense, urban areas in about 10 minutes.

The largest drone delivery provider on Earth in terms of sheer volume, Zipline has completed more than 800,000 deliveries of some 8.3 million items to date, per the company’s website. The bulk of these are on-demand healthcare deliveries of cargo such as blood, vaccines, and prescription medications.

Already, Zipline is partnered with several U.S. retailers and healthcare providers, including Walmart, Cardinal Health, and MultiCare Health System. It added agreements with Michigan Medicine, Intermountain Healthcare, and OhioHealth earlier this year. The company currently flies in Arkansas, Utah, and North Carolina, with plans to expand into other states in the months ahead.

Earlier this month, competitor Amazon Prime Air added prescription drone delivery to its service in College Station, Texas, as more firms begin exploring the use case.

“This technology will help us achieve our goal to expand our pharmacy home delivery program and provide easier, quicker access to prescribed medications in our communities,” said Geoff Gates, senior director of supply chain management at Cleveland Clinic.

Starting next year, Cleveland Clinic will coordinate with local government officials to check its compliance with safety and technical requirements for launching the drone delivery service. It will also begin to install Zipline docks and loading portals at locations in northeast Ohio, mostly facilities at its main campus in Cleveland and in nearby Beechwood.

Initially, the service will deliver specialty medications and other prescriptions—which typically would be shipped via ground delivery—from more than a dozen Cleveland Clinic locations. Eventually, it’s expected to offer emergency or “rush” prescriptions, lab samples, prescription meals, medical and surgical supplies, and items for “hospital-at-home” services.

Cleveland Clinic has been lauded for its supply chain (for which it earned the top spot on Gartner’s 2021 ranking) and innovative use of technology, in particular. That makes it somewhat unsurprising that the hospital system would add an emerging technology like drone delivery, which is already changing the healthcare landscape in regions such as Africa. Zipline’s drones, for example, have delivered blood, vaccines, and other medical supplies in Rwanda since 2016.

“We are always looking for solutions that are cost effective, reliable and reduce the burden of getting medications to our patients,” said Bill Peacock, chief of operations at Cleveland Clinic. “Not only are deliveries via drone more accurate and efficient, the technology we are utilizing is environmentally friendly. The drones are small, electric, and use very little energy for deliveries.”

Zipline’s P2 drones, or Zips, include a detachable delivery “droid.” The droid docks on loading portals that can be installed directly on buildings, sliding back and forth between the building’s interior and exterior through a small opening—like a fast-food restaurant employee handing off meals through a drive-thru window.

When a prescription is ready to be delivered, a Cleveland Clinic technician will load the droid, which can carry up to 8 pounds of cargo. The small capsule then slides out of the window, undocks from the loading portal, and docks with the Zip, all on its own.

The drones will cruise at around 70 mph (61 knots) at an altitude near 300 feet, and customers will be able to track their orders in real time. Once it arrives at the delivery address, the Zip will deploy the droid, which uses a mix of onboard perception technology and electric fans to quietly and precisely steer itself to a dropoff point as small as a patio table. The Zip will then fly back to a Cleveland Clinic site and dock itself.

“Zipline has been focused on improving access to healthcare for eight years,” said Keller Rinaudo Cliffton, co-founder and CEO of Zipline. “We’re thrilled to soon bring fast, sustainable, and convenient delivery to Cleveland Clinic patients.”

Zipline announced P2 in March, but the system is not yet in action. However, the company expects the new hardware and software will enable quicker, quieter deliveries. 

In addition to the upgraded Zips, easier integrations with retailers, and other technology upgrades, a big benefit of P2 will be flexibility. The new drones will be able to fly up to 24 miles in a single direction and land on any dock in the network, allowing Zipline to send additional capacity to locations experiencing high volume (or divert it from sites that aren’t).

Already, the firm has several P2 customers lined up, including the government of Rwanda, Michigan Medicine, MultiCare, and American restaurant chain Sweetgreen. It will continue to deploy its Platform 1 (P1) system—which airdrops packages using a parachute—for certain clients.

Zipline is one of five U.S. drone delivery companies—the others being Prime Air, UPS Flight Forward, Alphabet’s Wing, and Causey Aviation Unmanned, a longtime partner of Israel’s Flytrex—to receive Part 135 air carrier certification from the FAA. The firm’s approval authorizes commercial operations spanning up to 26 sm (22.5 nm), including beyond the visual line of sight (BVLOS) of the pilot.

In September, Zipline obtained an FAA BVLOS exemption for its services in Utah and Arkansas with P1. The waiver allows the company to remove visual observers from those routes, which it said it will begin doing later this year. Three other firms, including Flight Forward, received similar permissions.

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The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI/World Air Sports Federation) completed its 117th General Conference, attended by representatives from more than 35 countries, last week.

Hosted by the National Aeronautical Association (NAA), the 117th conference took place in Dayton, Ohio, marking the first time in 40 years for it to be in the U.S. Activities included committee meetings, awards banquet, special drone event, and visit to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.

“From aviation’s earliest days, FAI has taken a leading role in supporting and promoting the art, sport, and science of aviation,” said former NAA president and CEO Greg Principato. “As a founding member of FAI, the National Aeronautic Association is proud to welcome FAI, for the first time, to the ‘Birthplace of Aviation’: Dayton, Ohio. The Wright brothers themselves played key roles in both organizations, so it is natural that the aviation world should reconvene in Dayton.”

Among the awards highlighted at the conference was the inaugural FAI Aeromodeling Commission (CIAM) Legends Medal, which recognizes “pilots who have won the title of FAI world champion in any aeromodeling or spacemodeling competition at least three times.” For its first year, 59 recipients were identified by FAI from its records of almost 800 world championships dating to 1951. Over a dozen medals were presented at the event.

Also awarded at the conference was the Louis Bleriot medal for “the highest records for speed, altitude, and distance in a straight line established in the previous year by light aircraft.” This year’s medal went to Germany’s Klaus Ohlmann who, on April 20, 2022, set a world record for fastest speed in a powered airplane over a closed circuit of 500 kilometers. Ohlmann, 71, averaged 207.65 kph (112.12 knots) on the course in the electric e-Genius, an aircraft developed by the University of Stuttgart’s Institute of Aircraft Design.

The FAI General Conference is open to the organization’s  delegates, designated representatives of international affiliate members, FAI-elected officers, presidents of honor, honorary patrons, designated representatives of corporate patrons, companions of honor, and delegates appointed by presidents of commissions. 

The next conference is set for November 20-21, 2024, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

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