Hello, my name is Ben Lovegrove and here is this week's round-up of aviation news from
high altitude to below 400 feet.
In this edition:
1.
A design team at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology have designed N.O.R.M., the first
UAV intended for emergency response professionals.
2.
The General Aviation Awareness Council presents a Briefing Paper outlining the importance
of General Aviation (GA) to the UK economy.
3.
Zipline Drones now delivering blood supplies to twenty-one hospitals in Rwanda.
4.
Engine Failure After Take-Off - How fresh are your skills?
1.
A design team at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology have designed N.O.R.M., the first
UAV intended for emergency response professionals.
N.O.R.M.
is a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).
Large enough to carry a useful payload and compact enough to be transported without disassembly
N.O.R.M.
operates almost completely autonomously.
The acronym N.O.R.M.
(Network Of Rescue Machines) refers to the team's vision that multiple autonomous landing
stations and UAVs could operate in one area to provide UAV rescue support to a whole city
or town.
If you would like to help with the development of this fascinating idea then search for 'N.O.R.M.
the Emergency Response UAV' on indiegogo.com.
Their page describes the project in detail along with a three minute video.
2.
Representatives from the General Aviation Awareness Council recently presented a briefing
paper to the Minister for Aviation that outlines the importance of General Aviation to the
UK economy.
General Aviation employs nearly 40,000 in the UK and contributes £3 billion to the
national economy.
The paper stressed the need to maintain a network of airfields to ensure that aspiring
pilots have access to training facilities as well as the environments that provide the
encouragement and inspiration for a commercial career in aviation.
The General Aviation Awareness Council (GAAC) is an organisation founded by UK General Aviation
associations and supported by commercial and professional bodies.
Its mission is to try to ensure that GA activity in the UK not only does not decline but also
to encourage its expansion, whether that's in business flying, pilot training, sport,
recreation or other forms.
Visit www.gaac.org.uk for more information and to subscribe to their newsletter.
3.
Zipline drones are now delivering emergency supplies to 21 hospitals in Rwanda.
These fixed wing drones can fly up to 75 jm from the launch site and they drop supplies
by parachute.
They can deliver blood and vaccines to remote areas where the roads are impassable or where
time is of the essence.
With payloads of up to 1.5 kilos these life saving drones can make 500 deliveries per
day.
Zipline plan to expand their operation to inclue the delivery of medical testing kits,
contraceptives, and a whole host of other medicinal supplies.
This is just another example of the many benefits that the rapidly expanding UAV industry is
delivering in a variety of fields of human activity.
4.
Engine failure after take-off is one of those risks that are best mitigated with regular
practice and situational awareness.
Recently, Lee Barlow a pilot flying a 1965 Cessna 150E out of Fort Bragg airport in California
made an emergency landing on a nearby highway.
Both he and the aircraft survived unscathed and he even managed to pull over to the hard
shoulder to await the arrival of the emergency services.
His quick thinking and decision making concluded this incident with no injury to himself nor
people on the ground.
His fifty year old aircraft did not sustain any damage either but it's not known what
cause the engine failure.
When did you last practice EFATO procdures for your home airfield?
Do you consider all the options when taking off from other airfields?
EFATO is a stressful experience during which reaction time is crucial.
You're at low altitude with low power and your options are limited.
Make sure you are aware of the procedures for your aircraft at any given airfield.
Briefly these are:
Aviate - keep flying the aircraft.
Navigate - choose a suitable landing area.
Communicate - if appropriate, alert ATC to your intentions.
That's all for this edition so subscribe to my channel for the next.
This was a Redspan Solutions production.
Head over to Redspan.com to find out how we can make internet marketing videos for your
aviation business.