Sep 24
It’s been nearly a century since airships floated by the Empire State Building. But now that the aluminum airship of the future
     |
Jul 31
Insitu’s Scan Eagle X200 and AeroVironment’s Puma (above) are the first UAVs to snag FAA approval for commercial operations, and they’re set to take to the skies later this summer. Prior to this, the only way the private sector could fly an unmanned vessel in US airspace was with an experimental airworthiness certification — and that cert prohibits business activities. It’s worth noting that these craft weigh less than 55 pounds and measure four and a half feet long; they aren’t Predator drones, by any means.
Come August, a “major energy company” will use the X200 to patrol the Alaskan coast, keeping an eye on ice floes and migrating whales where the firm is doing petroleum exploration. Plans for the Puma sound slightly more action-packed, as it’s expected to support oil spill emergency response-crews and watch over wildlife in the Beaufort Sea. See, this is how it all begins: First we start trusting them with our lives, then it all takes a turn for the worse.
[Image credit: Wikimedia Commons]
Filed under: Transportation, Alt
Via: Gizmodo
Source: FAA
Jun 26
Despite our international obsession with drones—both their awesome powers and terrifying repercussions—the truth is that they’re an incredibly immature technology. And, like most immature technologies, that means they’re not quite all they’re cracked up to be.
| |
Jun 25
Yesterday this Airbus A330 was zipping down the runway of Manchester Airport, UK, ready to take off and head to the Dominican Republic. And then, holy crap, its engine exploded.
| |
Jun 21
We’ve been hearing rumblings that the FAA wants to start letting you use certain gadgets on airplanes through the “terrible 10,000 feet,” and according to the WSJ, it’s about to do just that. A 28-member industry and government panel’s draft report strongly recommended relaxing blanket rules against electronics that have been in place since 1966 due to massive changes in technology since then. The committee also cited reports showing that passengers often forget to turn off gadgets without any consequences and that airlines, left to enact their own rules, are much too conservative. If it goes along with the document, the FAA will likely allow the use of certain devices, like e-readers and music players, during all phases of flight — though the ban on cellphones is expected to continue since the panel wasn’t authorized to broach that controversial issue. As for other devices, the details are still being bandied about, and the FAA is unlikely to announce a formal decision until the end of September. Still, now might be a good time to start fortifying that music and book collection ahead of your next big trip.
Filed under: Misc
Source: WSJ (subscription)
Jun 17
While you were sleeping earlier today, we were getting trampled by crazed commuters at a train station, overheated in a steamy bus that inched through traffic at one mile per hour, and soaked by heavy rains and an overflowing airport sewage system. But all in all, it was a pretty fantastic day. That’s due in no small part to the dozens of incredible aircraft we had a chance to get up close and personal with, the fighter jets demonstrating slow flight and vertical climbs a few hundred feet above the ground, and the A350 cockpit we stumbled upon in the Airbus booth.
Yes, we’re here at the 2013 Paris Air Show — France’s gigantic biennial aviation fest. It’s more or less like any other trade show we’ve visited in the past few weeks, just instead of tablet accessories, we’re digging through aircraft components, and the Airbus A350 is this expo’s Zenbook Infinity. There’s been no shortage of press on TV and all over the web today, so you’re probably familiar with the show’s theme: Airbus versus Boeing. Sure, that’s more or less been the case every time Le Bourget Airport has opened its doors to the aviation community, but with the Dreamliner’s recent dilemma and the A350’s budding ascendance, the competition this year is furious. But we’ll leave the industry analysis to aviation publications — we’re here for the gear. And some pretty ambitious flight demos. You can catch more of today’s action in our video after the break.
Gallery: 2013 Paris Air Show
Filed under: Transportation
Apr 26
Japan’s transport minster, Akihiro Ohta, announced today that the country’s airliners can resume flying grounded Boeing 787 Dreamliners once a newly approved battery system is installed. “We have reached a conclusion that there is no problem with the judgment by the FAA,” Ohta told the Associated Press. Back in January two separate fires caused by the 787’s lithium ion batteries led to the FAA temporarily grounding all Dreamliners. Japan’s decision comes shortly after Boeing’s CEO, Jim McNerney, stated during the company’s recent fiscal conference call that he expected all 50 aircraft to be fixed by the middle of May. Japanese airline officials are forecasting a slightly longer timeline, with the country’s 787s returning to the skies around June and test flights scheduled to begin on April 28th.
Filed under: Transportation
Via: The Verge
Source: Associated Press
Mar 26
Packing what appears to be a couple of bombs capable of wiping out a small city, this fighter jet-themed pendant light will hang from the ceiling and provide air superiority—and soft illumination—to any room. It requires six 40 watt bulbs in total—installed inside and outside the frosted fuselage and bombs—and when compared to the hundreds of millions of dollars the Air Force spends on fighters, $260 for this sounds like a bargain. [Trans Globe Lighting via 7Gadgets] More »
Mar 24
FAA may ease ‘reading device’ restriction during takeoff and landing later this year
Posted in: Today's Chili 
By early 2014, passengers may be able to use certain electronic devices in airplane mode during takeoff and landing, according to a New York Times report. The publication’s industry sources say that the Federal Aviation Administration may announce more lenient electronics policies later this year, allowing passengers to use “reading devices” during takeoff and landing — while it’s not clear which gadgets would qualify, cellphones would remain on the ban list. The FAA commissioned an industry group to study the issue of in-flight electronics use — the team, which includes representatives from Amazon, Boeing, the CEA, FCC, and others, will announce the results of its study by July 31st.
The issue has support from key lawmakers as well. Senator Claire McCaskill is calling the FAA out on its authorization of pilots to use iPads in the cockpit and flight attendants to use devices of their own, while restricting passengers from reading books on e-readers — “A flying copy of ‘War and Peace’ is more dangerous than a Kindle,” she told the Times. And we’d have to agree. Until the FAA announces a policy revision, we all have no choice but to reluctantly comply with the ban, but with devices like Google Glass on the horizon, updated restrictions could not come too soon.
Filed under: Transportation, Wireless
Source: The New York Times
Feb 08
Google considering $82 million general aviation facility at San Jose International Airport
Posted in: Today's Chili 
It’s no secret that Google has an interest in the automotive industry, but over the years the popular search giant has also managed to amass quite the collection of aircraft. So many, in fact, that the company is in the process of inking an $82 million construction deal that would bring its fleet to San Jose International Airport. Pending city council approval, the privately funded facility would generate an annual $2.6 million in rent and around $400,000 in fuel revenues, while also creating some 236 jobs. If agreed upon, the 29-acre Googleport will take up to two years to build and will include an executive terminal along with hangars to house the company’s fleet. Google currently parks its jets at Moffett Federal Airfield, where the company has offered to renovate NASA Ames’ Hangar One in exchange for two-thirds of its facility space. There’s no word if either deal will affect the other, but as it stands San Jose’s city council is expected to vote on its proposal sometime in April.
Update: Initially, we incorrectly reported that Google owns a fleet or 747 aircraft. We have corrected the error.
Via: Gizmodo
Source: Mercury News
Who's in charge here?
This is site is run by Sascha Endlicher, M.A., during ungodly late night hours. Wanna know more about him? Connect via Social Media by jumping to about.me/sascha.endlicher.