Skyryse has achieved what it claims are the first-ever fully automated autorotation landings with its modified Robinson R66 helicopter. The R66 testbed is equipped with Skyryse’s highly automated flight control system, called FlightOS, which the company said will reduce pilot workload in a variety of helicopters, airplanes, and eVTOLs.

According to the California-based company, it has completed dozens of automated autorotation landings at its flight-test facility near Los Angeles. The breakthrough flight happened on July 22 but was not reported until this week. The company intends to unveil the first production example of the modified R66 during the first quarter of 2024.

Skyryse’s FlightOS system can detect an engine failure and automatically set the autorotation procedure into motion—the pilot needs to press only one button. This is much faster and easier than manual autorotation, which is a four-step process involving a series of multiple control movements that have been too complex to automate with existing autopilot systems.

FlightOS automatically “lowers the pitch, aligns the nose, manages aircraft stability, completes the flare, and lands gracefully at the desired landing location,” according to Skyryse.

Aviation entrepreneurs seem increasingly interested in purchasing aircraft charter companies opportunistically from the thousands that exist today. Others who want to enter the aircraft charter business believe the cleanest way to do so is to apply to the FAA for a new air carrier certificate authorizing operations under FAR Part 135.

In most cases, a potential buyer fares better by purchasing the legal entity (Part 135 operator) to which the FAA issued a certificate. That purchase may take several months to close, whereas an applicant may have to devote a year or more to obtaining two separate authorizations—one from the Department of Transportation (DOT) under FAR Part 119, and a related certificate from the FAA.

Although you may have heard or read that a buyer can purchase a 135 certificate itself from a Part 135 operator, the FAR does not allow such a direct purchase. However, using various structures, a buyer can purchase a Part 135 operator with the effect of transferring the certificate to the buyer.

NBAA yesterday announced a new working group focused specifically on runway incursions and other surface incidents. It revealed the working group in written testimony submitted as part of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation Subcommittee hearing yesterday to address runway close calls.

The runway and surface safety working group "will bring experts together across our committees, and across the industry, to address recent runway incidents and incursions,” said NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen. Its objectives “add to the cross-disciplinary approach [NBAA] and its members have long taken to glean underlying causes from accidents and apply the learnings to future accident avoidance.”

In his testimony, Bolen commended government leaders with the FAA, NTSB, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, and other stakeholder organizations to “support an industry-wide focus on safety vigilance.”

The NTSB is investigating six high-profile close calls between airliners and business aircraft between January 13 and February 27. The Safety Board is also investigating the recent ground collision of a Hawker 850 and a Cessna Mustang on October 24 at Houston Hobby Airport (KHOU).

Canada’s Transportation Safety Board has launched an investigation into a November 3 in-flight incident involving a privately operated, Canadian-registered Pilatus PC-24. The TSB said the crew of the light jet declared an emergency after an in-flight “loss of control” incident and landed uneventfully at Kelowna International Airport in British Columbia.

According to Flight Safety Foundation’s Aviation Safety Network (ASN), after departing Vancouver, “tracking data show a sudden loss of altitude of nearly 1,000 feet as the twinjet was climbing through FL240.” Registration data for the 2020-model aircraft (S/N 192) show it is registered to Mark Anthony Group, an international drinks company based in Vancouver.

Since 2020, ASN has recorded four incidents involving PC-24s. One of the more serious incidents occurred on Dec. 9, 2022, in the UK when a German-registered PC-24 owned by Platoon Aviation and operated by Volkswagen AirService suffered an uncommanded pitch down due to a loss of elevator control, causing the autopilot to disconnect. The aircraft was controllable using pitch trim until the elevator became usable, but there was possible obstruction due to icing, the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) said. The AAIB’s investigation into the incident is ongoing.

On November 6, the federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals threw out criminal charges against Hansen Helicopters chief pilot Kenneth Crowe, a key defendant in the Hansen case. Under the ruling, he cannot be retried for multiple offenses related to Hansen’s hiring of unlicensed pilots and mechanics, use of unapproved parts, bribery, money laundering, obstruction, forgery, and fraud.

Hansen owner and CEO John Walker and Hansen as a corporate entity were convicted of these crimes in September 2022. Crowe and the company’s director of maintenance and v-p of operations were also charged, along with two key Hansen suppliers.

The circuit court said that when a mistrial is declared, a retrial can only occur with the defendant’s consent unless the dismissal was required by “manifest necessity.” It ruled that neither condition applied. Crowe had appealed the Guam District Court’s ruling for retrial on double jeopardy grounds that prohibit being tried twice for the same crime.

In March 2022, Judge Frances Tydingco-Gatewood severed Crowe from the main trial against Hansen, effectively declaring a mistrial in his case. Tydingco-Gatewood later severed the case for co-defendant Phillip Turner Kapp, Hansen’s maintenance director, for medical reasons, as well of that of Marvin Reed, the company’s former v-p of operations.

F/List, a provider of luxury interior materials for the aircraft, yacht, and luxury residence markets, opened a new facility yesterday near Fort Lauderdale, Florida. For the company, which is headquartered in Thomasberg, Austria, this represents its fourth North American production facility, joining those in Denver; Savannah, Georgia; and Montreal.

The location includes two separate sites: an 11,500-sq-ft building in Davie and a 1,700-sq-ft workshop at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (KFXE). The former features a sample design showroom, upholstery studio, cabinetry workshop, and paint booth for specialized varnishing. At KFXE, the workshop provides customer service and installation. F/List's capabilities in South Florida range from minor repairs of leather and veneers to cabin refurbishments and complete interiors.

Led by company veteran Stefan Rust, who formerly managed F/List’s Dubai operation, the Florida facilities have a staff of 13. That is expected to increase early next year to support new and existing customers.

“Our U.S. customer base is growing daily, with airframe manufacturers, aircraft owners and operators, architects, designers, and luxury residential proprietors recognizing the added value our top quality, innovative, and singular products bring to their interiors,” said company CEO Katharina List-Nagl. “We’re excited to add this facility to a dynamic part of the region to ensure continued service excellence and look forward to continued growth across North America.”