The SpaceX Starship explosion causes airline flight diversions, DJI changes its geofencing feature for drone flights, synthetic aviation fuel eyed for military aircraft, Boeing resumes 777X certification flight tests.
Aviation News SpaceX Starship Explosion Causes Flight DiversionsThe January 16 launch of the SpaceX Starship was successful, and the launch tower caught the returning booster with its “chopsticks,” but the spacecraft was lost about 8 minutes into the flight. According to data from FlightRadar24, multiple aircraft, including those flying routes for American Airlines, JetBlue, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines, were placed in holding patterns or landed prior to reaching their final destination.
SpaceX Starship booster returning to the launch pad. (Screen grab courtesy SpaceX.)
The impact of space launches on airline operations and the FAA notification process:
- FAA: Airspace Integration
- FAA Safely Keeps More Airspace Open During Most Florida Space Launches
- Impacts of Space Launch Operations on Florida East Coast Airspace Users
- Impact of Commercial Space Launch Activities on Aviation [PDF]
Video: Safe Integration of Space Launches
https://youtu.be/bTfEykjnbek?si=RiIaUCqefR6SwCbi DJI will no longer stop drones from flying over airports, wildfires, and the White House and DJI Updates GEO System in U.S. Consumer & Enterprise DronesDJI drone control software includes a geofencing feature called Geospatial Environment Online (GEO). It’s designed to preventing drones from flying in restricted or sensitive areas. DJI’s geofencing will now use FAA data instead of DJI datasets. What was previously defined as a Restricted Zone (also known as No-Fly Zone) will be called Enhanced Warning Zones with a warning that the operator can dismiss.
DJI says “this shift puts more responsibility on drone operators to comply with airspace regulations and avoid restricted areas.” The company also notes that Remote ID solutions make detection and enforcement “much easier.”
Lockheed Martin Approves Use of Synthetic Aviation Turbine Fuels for F-35 FleetSee:
- Sustainable aviation fuel approved for Boeing-built military aircraft
- The Air Force partners with Twelve, proves it’s possible to make jet fuel out of thin air
- Twelve Announces $645 Million in Funding Led by TPG to Transform CO2 into Jet Fuel and Electrochemicals at Scale
- Twelve to produce 50,000 gallons of SAF annually at pilot plant, CEO says
From Twelve: “E-Jet® SAF jet fuel made from air with up to 90% lower emissions than conventional fuel. It’s a Power-to-Liquid e-fuel made from CO2, water, and renewable energy.” $645M in funding was announced in September 2024 to support the development of future AirPlants, which will supply Twelve’s E-Jet fuel to customers like Alaska Airlines and International Aviation Group (IAG).
Boeing Set To Resume 777X Certification Flight TestsDuring flight testing, technicians discovered cracks and failures in the engine thrust links of the 777X test aircraft. This issue was first detected in mid-August 2024 on the aircraft registered as N779XY, after a five-hour test flight in Hawaii. The problem led to the grounding of the entire 777X test fleet, halting the certification campaign. The thrust link is a critical component that connects the engine to the aircraft’s wing, and its failure posed a significant safety risk. Boeing engineers replaced the faulty thrust links and conducted thorough inspections of the other test aircraft. The issue was resolved, and certification flights resumed in January 2025.
MentionedOn Jetwhine: Flying Aero: One Passenger’s Experience
Video: CES 2025 Keynote with CEO of Delta, Ed Bastian
https://youtu.be/CV8V6oqP4pw?si=wCmRL4RucL8eqD2DCrop Duster’s Wings Collapse During Flight
Jeppesen FliteDeck Advisor and FliteDeck Pro
From the Flight Safety Detectives podcast, Video: Hair-Raising UAP Encounter Shared by Pilot – Episode 252
https://youtu.be/nM0Q-hR6vGY?si=-aYTDIb2f4rK78Oq Hosts this EpisodeMax Flight, our Main(e) Man Micah, Rob Mark, and Max Trescott.
Fler avsnitt av Airplane Geeks Podcast
Visa alla avsnitt av Airplane Geeks PodcastAirplane Geeks Podcast med Airplane Geeks finns tillgänglig på flera plattformar. Informationen på denna sida kommer från offentliga podd-flöden.