Langley Flying School in British Columbia Canada is adding a high fidelity ALSIM AL250 simulator to their growing fleet. Langley Flying School has been operating out of the Langley Regional Airport (CYNJ) since 1994 and currently has a record number of students. In May 2020, the Flight Training Unit relocated to a new and larger training facility at the Langley Regional Airport to provide an exceptional and more comfortable experience to all its clients. Their ALSIM AL250 simulator, ideal for single & multi engine piston training with both analogue and glass flight decks and real Garmin GTN650, will be Transport Canada certified Level 2-IPC.  

Aaron Achoba, Chief Flight Instructor at Langley explains: “We carefully considered all options in finding the perfect flight training device because we needed a simulator that not only satisfied our mission of providing safe and effective pilot training, but also one that could meet the enhanced training standards our newly approved Aviation Diploma program promises; at the same time we also wanted a device that would complement our new flight training facility. The AL250 from Alsim was the perfect fit, with the improved visuals, GPS and RNAV capabilities, we believe it has the capacity to not become obsolete in the next few years!”
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“Knowing Aaron for some years now, and at the same time witnessing his School’s growth, we are excited to add Langley as our newest client in Canada. We know they will be extremely happy with this simulator that continues to evolve and helps students learn faster and more efficiently,” adds Dr Scott Firsing of ALSIM’s North America office.

Otto Aviation has recently unveiled its new bullet-shaped plane the Celera 500L, a six-passenger aircraft capable of flying at the speed of a jet with eight times lower fuel consumption. The aviation industry is currently abuzz with this launch, with many experts claiming that the Celera 500L has the potential to revolutionize private aviation. In addition to its’ many brilliant design concepts, the uniqueness of the Celera 500L can also be attributed to its RED A03 engine, a product from RED Aircraft GmbH known to deliver best-in-class efficiency.  

Otto Aviation claims that the Celera 500L can cruise at more than 460 miles per hour, achieves a 4,500 nautical mile range, and has an operating cost of just $328 per hour. This aircraft will make it possible to connect all perceivable city pairings in the United States, owing to its fantastic range. According to the maker, the craft’s laminar flow design is the key factor behind its impressive coverage and fuel consumption. The Celera’s extremely low coefficient of drag combined with its lightweight composite structure enables it to operate on much less horsepower than equivalently sized jets or turboprops.

Another key attribute of Otto Aviation’s Celera 500L private aircraft is its liquid-cooled V12 twin six-cylinder German-built RED A03 engine. This rear-mounted engine is certified to operate using both biodiesels as well as Jet A1.

Mentioned below are some of the factors that influenced Otto Aviation to choose RED Aircraft GmbH’s RED A03 engine for the Celera 500L.

• Liquid-cooled V12, twin 6-cylinder bank, capable of independent operation with mutually independent critical engine sub-systems for each bank
• Type certification approval granted via EASA (TC.E.150) and FAA (E00092EN)
• Certified to operate on readily available Jet A1 and biodiesel
• Capable of 550+ takeoff horsepower and best-in-class fuel efficiency
• Controlled via fully redundant electronic engine control unit with a single power control lever reducing pilot workload
• Lightweight, all-aluminum design

  
Otto Aviation CTO David Bogueremarked, "We evaluated several engine options for the Celera 500L. The RED engine outperformed each one with exceptional efficiency through higher altitudes. We’re delighted to partner with RED on this aircraft using their certified engine." 

Sebastian Glück, Head of Business Development RED Aircraft GmbH said, "We are honoured and excited to be part of this new aircraft design.

The Celera 500L demonstrates the great potential of our game-changing RED A03 engine as well as our own engineering capabilities. The power plant combined with the aircraft’s unique design serves to dramatically reduce operating costs and provide performance with cruise speeds equivalent to similar-sized jet aircraft”
 
More about RED Aircraft GmbH and its products can be found at red-aircraft.com

De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited announced today that Transport Canada has confirmed the extension of approvals that permit the conversion of Dash 8 Series aircraft into Simplified Package Freighters (SPF) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The approvals which now extend to July 31, 2021, will allow for continued flexibility in the transportation of goods in the framework of the COVID-19 pandemic.

​"There is an ongoing, fundamental need for the transport of humanitarian aid and cargo; air cargo services therefore continue to be vital for the economy, financial stability of aircraft operators, and for fighting COVID-19," said Amod Kelkar, Vice President, Customer Services and Support, De Havilland Canada. "We are therefore delighted that Transport Canada has confirmed an extension to the approvals for our Dash 8 Series Simplified Package Freighters.

"Our teams have issued the revised Aircraft Flight Manual supplements to customers who bought this solution and we are working to convert the SPF modifications to permanent Service Bulletins based on the need and the regulatory allowances. Our goal is to stay in close contact with our customers to ensure that their requirements are met during this challenging time and we will provide more updates as we progress further," added Mr. Kelkar.
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De Havilland Canada's Service Bulletins allow Dash 8-100/200, Dash 8-300 and Dash 8-400 aircraft to be quickly converted into Simplified Package Freighters by the removal of seats and seat track covers in the passenger cabins. The converted Dash 8-100/200, Dash 8-300 and Dash 8-400 aircraft provide total potential cargo capacities of up to 6,500 lb, up to 9,625 lb and up to 17,960 lb respectively.

Reliable Robotics, a leader in bringing autonomous capability to airplanes, today announced that they have achieved historic firsts for global commercial aviation by completing successful test flights of remote-piloted passenger airplanes in United States airspace. In the first flight, the pilot pressed a button on a remote user interface and the unmanned four passenger Cessna 172 Skyhawk (C172) automatically taxied, took off, and landed. Most recently, the company demonstrated fully automated remote landing of an even larger aircraft, the Cessna 208 Caravan (C208), capable of carrying 14 passengers.
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“Automated aircraft are going to fundamentally shift the entire airline business, and Reliable Robotics is well positioned to be a key player in this new market. The progress their team has demonstrated in a short amount of time is very impressive,” said David Neeleman, Founder of five commercial airlines including JetBlue Airways.
 
Reliable Robotics seamlessly integrated its autonomous platform onto the 2,550 pound C172. They began the C172 program in January 2018 and completed fully automated gate-to-gate operation before the end of that year. Extensive system safety analysis and testing was conducted prior to the unmanned test flight in September 2019. This marked the first time a privately funded company operated a passenger airplane of this type with no pilot on board over a populated region, and was an important step in certifying the autonomous platform for repeated, safe civil use on certified aircraft.
 
“We spent the first portion of our flight test program focused on the C172. We thoroughly tested every aspect of our system in simulation and conducted rigorous safety checks before operating the aircraft without a pilot on board and are now proud to share what we’ve been working on,” said Robert Rose, Co-founder and CEO of Reliable Robotics. “By bringing advanced automation to aviation, we will deliver higher safety, reliability and convenience for cargo operators and eventually for passengers.”

​The company designed and built a proprietary autonomous platform that can be applied to any fixed-wing aircraft. The platform includes avionics, software, mechanisms, a communications system, remote control interfaces, along with a backup system that has the capability to take over if needed. Following the C172 program, it was adapted for use on the larger C208. Reliable Robotics is now working with the FAA on incrementally bringing this technology to market, having already demonstrated automated landing on the C208 last month.
 
“Reliable Robotics has assembled a proven team with deep experience across aviation, aerospace, self driving cars, medical devices and robotics. I’m excited to see them achieve milestones methodically while prioritizing safety, and navigating a complex regulatory environment,” said Eclipse Ventures Partner Greg Reichow, formerly VP of Manufacturing at Tesla, Inc.
 
Reliable Robotics was founded in 2017 by engineers who believe aircraft should fly themselves. The leadership team includes Co-founder and CEO Robert Rose who led flight software at SpaceX and the Autopilot program at Tesla, launching the Falcon 9 rocket, Dragon spacecraft and the first consumer automobile with fully unassisted self-driving capability. Co-founder and VP of Engineering Juerg Frefel led the team developing the compute platform for the Falcon 9 rocket and the Dragon spacecraft.  Other senior members of the team have played key roles in the development of the Boeing 787, Airbus A380 and other major commercial aircraft and avionics systems.
 
The company has raised $33.5 million in two rounds of funding led by Lightspeed Ventures and Eclipse Ventures respectively; Pathbreaker Ventures, and Teamworthy Ventures also participated. The funding is being used to build components of the remote hardware and software needed to retrofit aircraft and to continue hiring top aerospace and engineering talent.

Lee Budde’s business plan, back in 1998, started out with building enhanced Supercub fuselages, including a wider version. That led to the development of Airframes Inc., a company that has been very successful. Not one to rest on well-earned laurels, however, Lee knew that a lot of the aircraft in Alaska suffer abuse due to off airport landings and deferred maintenance resulting from parts unavailability or unreasonable pricing.  Requests from commercial aircraft operators inspired Lee to develop various STCs and PMAs for items like brake discs, door hinges, bolts for nosewheel struts, or banged up baffles.

So it was that he launched his second successful business in 2008: Airforms, Inc. As he addressed some of the Alaskan pilots’ needs, he began getting requests for parts (even prototype parts)… from all over the world. Today, Airforms holds nearly a thousand PMAs. They have more awaiting FAA approval.

One of the most successful issues Lee addressed was engine baffle kits. Baffles wear out, get bent or fall apart. Starting with the Supercub, Lee found that he could duplicate the original baffles and sell them for a lot less than OEM prices. He now holds PMAs for replacement baffle kits for 60 different models of Cessna, Piper, Beechcraft, Mooney, and Grumman. He has hundreds of different baffle assemblies in inventory, ready to ship.

With all the aging certified aircraft, Lee has shipped over 5,000 baffle kits during the time that he’s been in the business.

Airforms will be introducing several new baffle kits later this year.

They are also a leading supplier for STCs and replacement parts for the Cessna Caravan and CASA series aircraft.

For more information on baffle kits and other parts, visit Airform.biz

Milaca Airport (18Y), north of Minneapolis, MN, will become the site for a new event called the Sod Buster STOL Competition. The event, organized by Jeff Pohl, will be held on August. There will be four categories of competition: Heavy Touring, Light Touring, Bush Class and Light Sport/Light Experimental Aircraft. Trophies will be presented to the winners of the four groups and plaques will be presented to those who finish in 2nd and 3rd place. On Sunday morning the airport will host a fly-in breakfast.
 
The entry fee for pilots will be $50. There will be no charge for tie downs, camping (including showers). A breakfast ticket, for all the eggs, bacon, sausage and pancakes anyone can eat, will be $8. Aircraft approaching Milaca should communicate on 122.9.
 
 “The goal is to have a good time and to make this an annual event,” said Pohl. “We’re hoping we might attract some of the traffic departing EAA AirVenture, and we will be offering camping space starting on the 29th of July.” Milaca has a Super 8 motel and additional accommodation at The Phoenix Hotel.
 
For further information on the STOL contest, contact Jeff Pohl at 612.221.8584 or search Facebook for: Sod Buster STOL Competition.
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​On April 8, Gulfstream announced that the G650ER set a speed record while at the same time increasing the distance flown for the farthest business jet flight in history.
 
The G650ER flew from Singapore to Tucson, Ariz., at an average speed of 597 miles per hour/960 kilometers per hour over a distance of 8,379 nautical miles/15,518 kilometers. The G650ER’s performance beat the previous record by 44 minutes and more than 225 nm/417 km, asserting the aircraft’s title for flying farther faster than any other jet.
 
The G650ER departed Singapore’s Changi Airport at 4:53 p.m. local time March 29, crossing the Pacific at an average speed of Mach 0.85 and arriving in Tucson at 5:16 p.m. local time March 29, with fuel in excess of National Business Aviation Association instrument flight rules reserves. The flight took 15 hours and 23 minutes.
 
“The G650ER has no equal when it comes to its incredible combination of speed and range,” said Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream Aerospace. “Worldwide, you just can’t go farther faster, and this record proves it. With 350 aircraft in service, the G650 and G650ER show day in and day out that they are class-creating and -leading aircraft that set the standard when they were announced and continue to do so today. Simply put, all others follow.”
 
Since the G650ER entered service in 2014, it has demonstrated both its real-world performance capabilities and exceptional comfort. Along with its sister aircraft the G650, the G650ER has earned 90 speed records. In 2015, the G650ER flew 8,010 nm/14,835 km from Singapore to Las Vegas in 14 hours and 32 minutes. Then, in 2019, the G650ER flew 7,475 nm/13,843 km from Singapore to San Francisco in 13 hours and 37 minutes. These flights clearly and consistently show that the G650ER continues to lead with its world-class combination of speed and range.
 
The Singapore-Tucson city-pair record is pending approval by the National Aeronautic Association. The speed for all records is determined by great circle distance, which for this record is 7,990 nm/14,797 km. The actual distance flown by the Gulfstream G650ER was 8,379 nm/15,518 km at an average speed of 626 mph/1,007 kph (544 kts).
 

​The ANJ team is currently attending Sun ‘n Fun 2019 in Florida, which has an impressive lineup of aircraft in attendance. ANJ will be reporting on the exhibition, the second biggest of its kind in the world, as well as the airshow displays. Two night shows, which will include drones and fireworks are planned, and the Blue Angels are scheduled to arrive tomorrow. Follow airshow news on social media with #snf19 and be sure to visit our website next week for photographs and videos.

​Yesterday, the ANJ team had the opportunity to find out more about D-Day Squadron, which aims to fly eighteen DC-3s and C-47s across the North Atlantic Ocean, to participate in the 75th anniversary of the invasion of Normandy. Several of these aircraft are D-Day veterans. After a brief press conference held at Sun ‘n Fun in Florida, photographers and videographers had the opportunity to fly in ‘That’s All, Brother’, the C-47 which led the main airborne invasion over Normandy. Given the incredible history of the aircraft, it was a surreal and even emotional experience to several of its passengers.
 
The D-Day Squadron will be flying from the USA to England, where the aircraft will be joined by about thirty C-47s and DC-3 from other parts of the world, some as far as Russia and South Africa. After participating in the D-Day anniversary, the aircraft will fly to Berlin to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift.
 
“This was one of the pivotal moments — a turning point in the history of the Second World War,” stated Moreno Aguiari, Director of Marketing and Public Relations for the D-Day Squadron. “With the core of our mission focused on flying historic aircraft along the original route used to ferry these same aircraft during the war, we couldn’t think of a better place than Sun ‘n Fun to share the details of this mission. It’s also our opportunity to share living history and honour the veterans of D-Day with both the public and the aviation community.”
 
Please visit www.ddaysquadron.org for further information.
 
More photographs and details will be made available on www.aviationnewsjournal.com, as well as the print edition of ANJ.