A few days ago, the plate tectonics of the Ukraine-Russian war quickened as the US and its allies gave policy-level approval to transfer fourth-generation F-16s to Ukraine. The implications of the new missions the Ukrainian air force may be able to attempt with these fighter aircraft are significant.
Sanjay Kaeley, Head of Product Solutions, Commercial Training Solutions at L3Harris, drew our attention during WATS 2023 to another future-leaning part of the company’s portfolio – a prototype eVTOL training device.
Flight training device OEMs are reporting attention-getting sales across the full spectrum of flight simulation training devices. Group Editor Marty Kauchak spoke with several FSTD providers to gain insight into these trends.
With the exception of current US DoD discussions on transferring F-16s to Ukraine, Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) is at the center of most major US Air Force and joint operations and activities around the globe.
CAT has included big data as one of its editorial programs of interest and with good reasons. Marty Kauchak was on hand to mine the data talk at BASS 2023.
A major focal point at BASS 2023 was Safety Management Systems (SMSs) – and with very good reason. In January, the FAA issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would require all Part 135 certificate holders, Part 91.147 air tour operators and certain Part 21 Type Certificate and Production Certificate holders to implement a SMS.
Culture has a multi-faceted role in the aviation enterprise, Capt Kimberly Perkins, PhD Candidate, University of Washington, and Jennifer Pickerel, Vice President, Aviation Personnel International, explained to BASS attendees.
“If we’ve gotten it right from the regulatory framework, from the level of safety the public expects, and all of that comes together, then a world we only thought about in science fiction becomes science fact,” mused outgoing FAA Acting Administrator at the ‘Future of Everything Festival’ in New York City this week.
One of the more spirited exchanges during the WATS 2023 pilot training track was generated by the presentation of self-described “human performance geek” Samantha Brown, Lead Human Factors Team Member, ALPA-International, a United Airlines First Officer.