Cirrus Certifies SR10 Trainer
Cirrus has obtained U.S. type certification for a new trainer but it doesn’t seem likely it will produce the SR10 in the U.S. anytime soon. The type certificate was filed in April of 2023 but Cirrus spokeswoman Ivey McIver told AVweb the company has not pursued a production certificate, largely because its manufacturing facilities are already at capacity. The SR10 is a Rotax 915-powered three-place trainer that looks like a smaller version of the SR20/22 line. It weighs 2150 pounds compared to the 3050-pound SR20. It was developed in conjunction with Cirrus owner Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) and first flew in China as the AG100 in 2023.
Air Force Tests Airborne Augmented Reality
The Air Force and Red 6 have begun flight testing an onboard augmented reality system that simulates battle conditions in airborne aircraft. The tests are being conducted in the TA-4J Skyhawk but the plan is to put it in the new T-7 Red Hawk advanced trainer now being developed by the Air Force. The venture uses Red 6’s Advanced Tactical Augmented Reality System (ATARS) and Augmented Reality Command and Analytic Data Environment (ARCADE). According to Boeing, the technology allows pilots to “to see and interact with virtual aircraft, targets and threats on the ground and in the air, while also experiencing the cognitive loads of physically flying the airplane.”
Liquid Hydrogen Flight Completed
Textron subsidiary Pipistrel flew a crewed liquid hydrogen-powered airplane and believes it might be one path to a lower emission future for aviation. The HEAVEN project HY4 demonstrator took off from Maribor, Slovenia, with two pilots onboard and “demonstrated safe and efficient operation throughout multiple flight tests,” the company said. The system uses liquid hydrogen to power a fuel cell that in turn creates electricity to power an electric motor. Pipistrel says using liquid hydrogen roughly doubles the range of systems that use compressed hydrogen gas.
Bizav Pilot Salaries Up 12 Percent
NBAA’s annual compensation survey says the average salary for business aviation pilots jumped 12 percent last year and pay across all bizav jobs went up 7.22 percent. Dr. Christopher Broyhill, who helped author the study, said the results mirror industry water cooler talk. “We’re hearing a lot of anecdotal stuff about pay raises out there and people getting more money for these positions, but that pretty much anchors it, shows that what we’re hearing is true,” he said. The study also revealed that captains received retention bonuses averaging $27,000. “We’re seeing the results of airline pressure on wages in our industry because people are having to pay pilots more to keep them from leaving and going to the airlines or going to other operators who lose people to the airlines,” Broyhill said.
Chinese Training Defended
A South African company that contracts fighter pilots from numerous countries to train China’s military pilots says its instructors don’t share Western secrets. The Test Flying Academy of South Africa has allegedly contracted with pilots from several NATO countries and Canada has identified three former RCAF F-18 pilots who work for TFASA in China. “The training TFASA provides never includes information about NATO,” TFASA spokesman Edward Lee told the Globe and Mail. “TFASA has strict protocols and a code of conduct in place that are designed to prevent any TFASA employee sharing any information or training that is, or might be considered to be, legally or operationally sensitive, or security classified.” Shortly after the revelation, Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown sent a memo to all personnel warning against accepting jobs that lead to training the Chinese military.
NOTAMs
FAA certified Rolls-Royce Pearl 700 engine … Wisconsin pilot flies 10,000th Young Eagle … NASA says more UAP study needed … George Mattson named new Wheels Up CEO … The FAA extended the drone ID deadline six months … The Air Force says it missed pilot training target … Scientist says climate change making turbulence worse … NetJets to buy 1500 Citations … Find breaking news in general aviation at AVweb.com.
