Briefing: July 2019

A prominent Alaskan airline and tour company voluntarily ceased operations in late May after two fatal crashes involving its floatplanes in a week. A total of six people, most of them cruise ship passengers, died May 13 when two Taquan aircraft collided while taking the passengers on a flightseeing trip. On May 21, a pilot and passenger died when a Taquan commuter flight from Ketchikan to Metlakatla Harbor cartwheeled on landing and came to rest inverted with the cabin submerged. On May 22, the airline issued a statement saying it had stopped flying indefinitely and that the tragedies left the company and staff reeling.

Editorial Staff

Monday, July 01, 2019 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Boeing completed a software update for its 737 MAX aircraft, aimed at fixing the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS) linked to two fatal crashes, making it less powerful and easier for pilots to override.
An Alaskan flightseeing and tour company, Taquan Air, indefinitely suspended operations after two fatal floatplane crashes in a week resulted in six deaths.
Twenty-three aircraft at the EBACE show utilized sustainable alternative jet fuel (SAJF) to demonstrate its viability and the aviation industry's commitment to reducing its carbon footprint.
A South African company, Pegasus Universal Aerospace, proposed a new VTOL business jet designed for versatile point-to-point travel, seeking $400 million for certification.

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Flightseeing Company Suspends Operations

A prominent Alaskan airline and tour company voluntarily ceased operations in late May after two fatal crashes involving its floatplanes in a week. A total of six people, most of them cruise ship passengers, died May 13 when two Taquan aircraft collided while taking the passengers on a flightseeing trip. On May 21, a pilot and passenger died when a Taquan commuter flight from Ketchikan to Metlakatla Harbor cartwheeled on landing and came to rest inverted with the cabin submerged. On May 22, the airline issued a statement saying it had stopped flying “indefinitely” and that the tragedies left the company and staff “reeling.”

Sustainable Fuels Used For EBACE Flights

A total of 23 aircraft taking part in the annual European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (EBACE) show in Geneva got there using “sustainable alternative jet fuel” (SAJF) which is derived from renewable feedstocks. The industry is trying to reduce its carbon footprint by 50 percent by 2050 and using renewable energy sources is fundamental to reaching that goal. “These flights are intended to demonstrate to everyone in our industry that SAJF is, quite simply, Jet-A in every way: a drop-in fuel that has undergone exhaustive testing and meets all specifications and requirements,” said GAMA President and CEO Pete Bunce.