Author: FlyMarshall Newsroom
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — The conclusion of the Army’s inaugural Best Drone Warfighter Competition saw soldiers awarded in Best Operator, Best Innovation and Best Tactical Squad categories. On hand to present awards to the winners, who were selected from more than 200 competitors during the Feb. 17-19 event, were Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and Maj. Gen. Clair A. Gill, commanding general of the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence. Driscoll, who flew to the Huntsville, Alabama, ceremony after participating in Ukraine-Russia peace talks in Geneva, Switzerland, spoke to Military Times about the significance of the event and how it will inform…
Airports have changed a lot over the years, both for better and worse. On the one hand, they have some unbelievable amenities that would have been unimaginable decades ago. On the other hand, many airports just haven’t grown efficiently, and don’t seem to consider the passenger experience. In this post, I thought it would be fun to talk a bit about the world’s best airports. I’ll share what I consider the best airports to be, and then I’d love to hear what OMAAT readers think. What makes an airport great? The fundamental issue with deciding which airport is “best” is…
After Landing, The Pilot Noticed That Rudder Had Been Damaged Due To A Rotor Strike, Which Likely Occurred When The Rotor Flapped During Takeoff Analysis: The pilot stated that it was a very windy day with winds above 20 mph and gusts to 30 mph when he attempted a takeoff in his gyroplane. He stated that during the takeoff roll with the pre-rotor engaged to 130 to140 RPM, he gently eased back on the cyclic and a gust of wind caught the rotors. He felt the rotor flap and then a bump. He immediately arrested the rotor flap and then…
From 2016 (YouTube Edition): Hartzell’s Joe Brown Promotes Pilot Proficiency, and Takes Action to Help it Happenen… While at EAA AirVenture 2016 ANN CEO and Editor-In-Chief, Jim Campbell, sat down to talk with Joe Brown, the President of Hartzell Propeller. You would think they were going to talk about props, but the topic of this conversation was actually about pilot proficiency. It so happens that Brown is not only responsible for the production of great propellers, he is dedicated to pilots becoming and remaining proficient. This was demonstrated at EAA AirVenture at the Pilot Proficiency Center. The facility was sponsored…
Decision Altitude (DA) A specified altitude (mean sea level (MSL)) on an instrument approach procedure (ILS, GLS, vertically guided RNAV) at which the pilot must decide whether to continue the approach or initiate an immediate missed approach if the pilot does not see the required visual references.
"As we mark Black History Month, we also honor those whose excellence has advanced aviation while opening doors for future generations. We honor pioneers such as the Tuskegee Airmen, whose courage and performance under the most demanding conditions elevated the standard of excellence in military aviation. We also honor every past and present Black trailblazer in aviation who met each test and every challenge without concession, exemplifying that diversity reinforces, not detracts from safety and professionalism." Source: From a statement by The Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP) who noted that their mission is rooted in inspiring, mentoring, and developing…
Former Airbus and EADS chief Tom Enders, now a member of the board of the Munich-based drone and AI developer Helsing, has publicly warned Germany against launching a national fighter program, arguing that Berlin would spend hundreds of billions on a prestige project that would arrive too late to strengthen the Luftwaffe in the medium term. In a guest commentary published by RND on February 23, 2026, Enders said Germany should prioritize uncrewed combat aircraft instead of pursuing “its own fighter aircraft,” as the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) faces growing political and industrial strain. Enders was Airbus’ Chief Executive Officer in…
The U.S. Air Force and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. recently completed a successful manned-unmanned teamed demonstration between an F-22 Raptor and an MQ-20 Avenger unmanned aircraft, advancing the integration of autonomous systems into tactical fighter operations, according to a Feb. 23 company release. The live-flight exercise, conducted at Edwards Air Force Base in California, featured a human-piloted F-22 issuing real-time commands to the MQ-20 via advanced autonomy software and a tactical data link. The Avenger drone responded by executing a range of mission tasks, including waypoint navigation, combat air patrol patterns and simulated engagement of airborne threats, functioning as…
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has taken the highly unusual step of suspending the RNAV (GPS) Z approach to Runway 32 at Steamboat Springs Airport (KSBS) in Colorado, a procedure many pilots have called “the most dangerous in America,” after the fatal crash of an Epic E1000 during an overnight arrival on February 13, 2026. The agency issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) declaring the RNAV (GPS) Z Runway 32 instrument approach procedure “NA” for “not available” with the restriction extending to at least October 1, 2026. Four people died when the Epic E1000 crashed near Steamboat Springs, Colorado, as it initiated the approach shortly after midnight, according to the FAA. The FAA did not publicly explain why it pulled the approach.…
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