The Aspiring Pilot

SpaceX receives first FAA license for commercial spacecraft reentry

The FAA today has announced that they have grantedSpaceX a license for spacecraft reentry.  The license will allow Space X to continue testing of it's Dragon capsule and perform reentry back into the Earth's atmosphere.  

Per the SpaceX website, the Dragon is a free-flying, reusable spacecraft that can be utilized to transport cargo and possibly crew-members into low earth orbit.  The capsule was developed under NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program, beginning in 2005.  

For the NASA Statement and more on the story, please visit my General Aviation Examiner article here. 

Proposal for photographs on pilot certificates

So the FAA today proposed to include photographs on pilot certificates.  Personally, I think this is a long time coming.  When I first started flying in early 2000's, my certificate was literally a piece of paper! Easily forged, and pretty much worthless for identification purposes.  

The FAA then moved to the current plastic license, which contained a little more information, a hologram image for anti-counterfeiting and a photo, well, a photo of the Wright brothers actually. 

In 2004, a law was passed to include a photo on the pilot certificate to ensure the person is truly a pilot as well as provide a more secure document. The FAA FINALLY just issued a press release that they are beginning the NPRM process, (notice of proposed rule making), so don't expect a new license anytime soon, but at least it's under way.  

There will be a cost unfortunately, albeit relatively minor.  It will cost $22 to obtain and will be valid for 8 years.  After 8 years, you will have to pay another $22 (unless the fee increases) and get a new picture in order to renew your license.  

Overall, not a bad idea.  It provides an additional government issued photo-id to utilize, makes the pilot certificate a little more official (you wouldn't believe how many people thought mine wasn't real since there was not picture of my on it!) and should help airport security as well.

For my examiner article with specific details on the FAA Press Release, please click here. 

More signs of an aviation rebound? Gulfstream Aerospace this time

Gulfstream G-IV SP

Photo: By Global Jet via flickr.com

Gulfsream on Monday announced plans to expand it's facilities in Savannah over the next seven years along with hiring an additional 1,000 employees, this follows on the heels of the last $400-million expansion that was completed in 2009 along with 1,100 employees hired at that time.  This project totals $500-million.  

The project is based on Gulfstream betting on a recovery, which they feel has already begun.  Orders are at the highest level since mid-2008.  They are adding onto their engineering and tech staffs; however, also on support techs as they  are expecting increased flying time to lead to increase maintenance needs for inspections, annuals, etc.  

What's this mean for pilots?  When a company the size of Gulfstream is expecting an increase in demand for jets, increased hours those just fly, etc, it also means an increase in demand for pilots at firms and employers that utilize Gulfstream aircraft.  I wouldn't doubt that in a few months to a year or two out, we'll start to see a few more postings looking for flight deck crew members.  

It is being a little optimistic, and the pilot pool may take some time to deplete before there's a good demand; however, with the airline hiring predictions and announcements, corporate, bizav manufactures, it more and more appears that the industry is truly beginning a rebound.  Add in a decreasing pilot population, and the pilot shortage being mentioned may truly be more fact than fiction.  

See my full article on the Gulfstream expansion here. 

AOPA announces it's 2010 Fun to Fly Sweepstakes winner

AOPA announced the winner of AOPA's 2010 Fun to Fly Sweepstakes airplane during their annual Aviation Summit in Long Beach, CA.  Yorke Brown of Etna N.H. was introduced as the winner of theRemos GX light sport aircraft.  During the video introduction, AOPA President Craig Fuller said 'The day you give away an airplane is a very good day.' 

For full story, see my General Aviation Examiner Article. 

Now... if only I could win the 2011 sweepstakes aircraft.... 

Cirrus responds to GAMA GA report with positive outlook

Cirrus SR22-GTS Demo Aircraft

Photo: By brianc/Brian Cantoni via flickr.com

I received a media alert email from Cirrus aircraft today containing their analysis of the GAMA 3Q report on general aviation aircraft deliveries (will write a separate story on that later as well).   It seems that overall, even with the 6.6% decline in the single-engine piston airplane category, Cirrus has been doing quite well and expects, hopes, for an even better 2011.  

With companies like Cessna laying off workers, Cirrus seems to have weathered most of the storm entering into what appears to be the slow recovery of the GA market.  With increasing market share attributed to their new turbo'd SR22 upgrades to the SR-20 model, the company is taking advantage of new depreciation rules and record low interest rates and offering trade-in/up specials.   They hope that this will continue into next year.  

See my entire write up here, as well as a link to Cirrus' full post as well. 

Updates and a little catch-up

I know I haven't posted much in the last week, after the vacation.  Had a lot to catch up on and been trying to sort all the information for a series of posts on the STS-133 Tweetup.  Add in the entire family being sick (except for me, I was the only one to get a flu-shot!) and my time has gone out the window.  I have a few aviation posts I will be making as well

As for the launch of Discovery, the next earliest date for launch if November 30 with the window extending to December 6th.  If it holds based on analysis of the leaking plate and two cracks in the external tank, then I will only be able to make the first two nights of the window as I only have two vacation days left.  We'll see, stay  tuned here for more updates.  

I plan on having a few articles up today and throughout the coming weekend.  Stay tuned! 

US Airways hiring back pilots and flight attendants

On Monday, US Airways stated it would hire 420 flight attendants and 80 pilots back off furlough.  This would exhaust the list of furloughed flight attendants and decrease the pilots left on furlough with US Airways from 180 to 100. 

The airline expects to have the FA's and pilots back in the air by June of 2011.  The recalls and new hires are being used to fill open positions from planned retirements and attrition.  

This comes a month after Delta announced the recall and hiring of 1,000 flight attendants, recalling all 425 of their FA's that were on furlough. 

#NASATweetup over, heading home

Well, the vacation is coming to a close and the NASA Tweetup for the STS-133 launch ended yesterday.  This has been one of the best vacations I've had in a long time, and probably the most emotional.   The constant highs and low of the pending launch and the subsequent delays and final scrub took a toll.  

The emotion driving to KSC on Friday was even more pronounced than even the start of the #NASATweetup.  As I drove to the center, seeing the VAB and Shuttle Discovery on the pad was breathtaking.  All looked go for launch, no tech concerns, only wind concerns with no other weather issues.  As I approached the 'Twent' as our tent came to be called, I started to hear word of a 'leak' once again.  At first their pressure increases staved off the flow and maintained it under limits, but shortly after, the hydrogen leak resulted in sensors pegging at over 60,000 PPM which violated launch limits and resulted in a scrub.  That was the final chance to watch Discovery launch for me and many others in the group and some people couldn't withdhold their emotions and tears began to flow.  I 'MAY' get to see it in November if I can work out some vacation scheduling at work and also depending on the cost of a flight.  

As I'm about to board my flight back to Chicago, I'll leave the full details of the Tweetup for later posts this weekend.  Stay tuned, lots of awesome details, pictures and videos! Even without the actual launch, the event was a huge success and we did and saw things that even a lot of KSC employees have not had the opportunity for.  

#NASATweetup for STS-133, continuing

Now listening to Astronaut Ron Garan who's flown on Shuttle Discovery previously and is now training for a March launch on a Soyuz capsule.  He will be spending 6 months on the International Space Station.  In response to my question, most difficult aspect transitioning to the Soyuz was not going from a shuttle to a capsule, but the language.  Everything in the launch, landing, etc is in Russian.  Capsule more cramped, but otherwise, not dramatically different in the experience or training. 

Best comment was that after landing with the shuttle, was told not to look up at the tiles.  Being naturally curious like everyone, he did, and realized it was because as you lean back, the return to gravity will make the body want to keep falling back.  He luckily caught himself in time before hitting the ground. 

Just finished a demonstration of the 'Robonaut' Demo.  Will have video of that off my iPhone later. 

Currently going over the ACES (Advanced Crew Escape Suit) spacesuit demo, showing the suit up process that the crew will go through on Wednesday morning in preparation for launch. G-Suit and a environmental layer (provide cooling and heating to the astronaut) make up the first layers. 

Once the main suit is on, it's pressurized to settle in, but pressurization to 3.5 lbs. is done only in cases of cabin pressure loss.   The helmet actually has an anti-suffocation valve if locked without being on air. Contains water and 2 3,000PSI oxygen canisters, along with life preservers and attachable parachutes.  Crew would bailout down an escape pole that would drop them clear of the leading edge of the wings and activate the pilot chute and deploy a drag chute.  Main chute would activate around 14,000 feet.  

Safety of a bailout only 'theoretically' possible around 40K or lower in altitude.  Suite certified for 100k, but would most likely be impossible. 

View of and in #nasatweetup tent across from launchpad

Listening the the second speaker, Stephanie Stilson (NASA Flow Director).

She was preceeded by Bill Gerstenmaier who discussed a lot of the issues experienced by NASA with Discovery's launch.  He also answered a lot of questions about shuttle and ISS operations. 

Here's a view of the outside of the tent:

Inside view of the tent

Now listening to the Twitter VP of Product, Jason Goldman @goldman, who actually has a degree in astrophysics! Never thought he'd be on a podium at KSC, talking about a shuttle launch and twitter's involvement. 

Plenty more to come!