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Elan Head

@elanhead.com

Helicopter pilot and senior editor at The Air Current, often exploring the world by air. Signal: elanhead.07

264 Posts2131 Follower439 Folgt
Elan Head@elanhead.com · last wk.

I skipped out of Farnborough early last week for a new project I'm very excited about, which also involved flying a JetRanger through the Swiss Alps. Stay tuned!

View from helicopter windscreen of a glacier flowing through high mountains in Switzerland, with portions of a main rotor blade and instrument panel visible
Elan Head@elanhead.com · 4w ago

The FAA has confirmed that Electra's ultra-short take-off and landing airplane will be certified as... an airplane. Although not surprising, it's a big deal for Electra, which is positioning its EL9 to compete with eVTOLs. Full story in @theaircurrent.com: theaircurrent.com/aircraft-dev...

Electra secures the FAA certification basis that eVTOL developers wanted

FAA closes Electra’s G-1 issue paper, confirming Part 23 certification basis for its “Ultra Short” aircraft

theaircurrent.com

Elan Head@elanhead.com · last mo.

The FAA has been sending mixed messages as to whether it will allow commercial operations in non-certificated aircraft under the eVTOL Integration Pilot Program. My latest story for @theaircurrent.com goes deep on why opinions are divided at the agency: theaircurrent.com/regulation/f...

Opinions split at FAA over prospect of early commercial eVTOL ops

Mixed messages from FAA officials signal lack of agreement on revenue operations under eVTOL Integration Pilot Program

theaircurrent.com

Will Guisbond@willguisbond.com · last mo.

New: Coast Guard pilots said they believe risk of a helicopter-on-helicopter collision near DCA airport is *higher* after the FAA changed the airspace in the wake of a 2025 midair crash. Deep dive on @theaircurrent.com: theaircurrent.com/aviation-saf...

Helicopter collision risk higher after D.C. airspace changes, Coast Guard leaders say

Pilots suggest FAA failed to weigh risk of a helicopter-on-helicopter collision when changing D.C. airspace after 2025 midair

theaircurrent.com

Elan Head@elanhead.com · last mo.

"Finally, if we want to be safer then we need to fund the folks that keep us safe. If we want more oversight then we don’t need more algorithms or data tracking or AI or anything else that keeps inspectors sitting at desks and typing on keyboards."

Colleen Mondor@chasingray.bsky.social · last mo.

I'll have more to say about this tomorrow but here's my latest: an analysis of twenty years of skydiving accident statistics. (FYI - no one was injured in the accident pictured below. It was caused by fuel starvation which is common in skydiving crashes.) colleenmondor.substack.com/p/50-in-ligh...

Will Guisbond@willguisbond.com · 2mo ago

SCOOP: The FAA is close to picking Air Space Intelligence to build its AI-powered air traffic management tool, passing over Palantir and Thales. Story here on @theaircurrent.com: theaircurrent.com/air-traffic-...

FAA close to picking ASI over Palantir, Thales for its AI-powered air traffic management system

Selection will conclude a fiercely competitive vendor challenge process as industry officials express concern over ASI's ability to scale

theaircurrent.com

Elan Head@elanhead.com · 2mo ago

“What I’ve been saying to politicians for the last 12 months is: Do we want this industry still in Europe or no? Do we want this in Germany or no? And luckily, finally, the answer is yes.” How ERC is continuing to keep Germany's eVTOL dreams alive: theaircurrent.com/aircraft-dev...

Germany gives eVTOLs another look as ERC unveils heavy-lift cargo drone

Lilium and Volocopter failed to win political support at home, but ERC stands to benefit from Europe’s new focus on sovereignty

theaircurrent.com

Elan Head@elanhead.com · 2mo ago

Helios Horizon claims to have made "the first flight of a human-piloted electric plane powered by solid-state batteries." Some battery experts would quibble with their definition, but it's still an impressive achievement, as I report for @theaircurrent.com: theaircurrent.com/feed/dispatc...

Helios Horizon pushes the boundaries of battery tech in crewed electric flight

Program performs first flight with so-called “solid-state batteries” that will power its stratospheric record attempt

theaircurrent.com

Elan Head@elanhead.com · 2mo ago

Yesterday Mach Industries alluded to a DIU contract award for runway-independent strike aircraft. Today they revealed they're working with Whisper Aero on the program, leveraging Whisper's "stall-proof" JetFoil tech. My deep dive for @theaircurrent.com: theaircurrent.com/technology/w...

Whisper Aero reveals ‘stall-proof wing,’ Mach Industries partnership

Companies will leverage Whisper Aero’s JetFoil tech for Defense Innovation Unit’s RIMES program to field drones that can carry fighter-class weaponry

theaircurrent.com

Will Guisbond@willguisbond.com · 3mo ago

NEWS: The FAA quietly released its official responses to all of the NTSB's D.C. midair crash recommendations yesterday. The agency said it has addressed six recs & plans to fully address "more than half" by EOY. via @theaircurrent.com w/ no paywall: theaircurrent.com/aviation-saf...

FAA details first official response to D.C. crash safety recommendations

Correspondence provides glimpse into how the FAA will implement NTSB recommendations from January 2025 midair collision

theaircurrent.com

Colleen Mondor@chasingray.bsky.social · 3mo ago

I won. Boutique Airlines sued me & AIN over 2 yrs ago. They called me a liar and a thief. I won in trial court. I just won in Appeals court. I expect it will be a nightmare to get my legal fees back. But I proved that the work was my own. I proved I wrote the truth. I am a good reporter. I won.