Woolpert Asia-Pacific’s Post

The “firsts” just keep coming in our FAA SW Region (ASW)! Check this out! Honored to provide remarks this last week at the Texas debut of the Rotor Technologies Sprayhawk at Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport Sprayhawk is the world's largest spray drone, based on the Robinson R-44, it provides a significant step forward in removing the onboard pilot in dangerous, low altitude aerial crop protection operations. So many applications across the U.S. for this! Great updates from Randy Rowles from Helicopter Institute and Hector Xu of Rotor Technologies Just another example of how ASW Leads the Way! #faa #asw City of Fort Worth Hillwood Christopher Ash, C.M., ACE Christina Killman Carey Christian Childs, C.M. Blair Hess

🌲🔥 Wildfires have become more frequent, exacerbated by rising temperatures, unsustainable land use and deforestation. Not only do they destroy ecosystems, they emit large amounts of CO2 and threaten human health. Airbus #helicopters 🚁, #satellites 🛰️ and communication solutions 📡 are already helping #firefighters to detect, monitor and combat wildfires. With new concepts under development such as space-based fire detection services, firefighting kits for transport aircraft ✈️ or Unmanned Aerial Systems and Vehicles, Airbus aims to provide firefighters and rescue teams with more comprehensive means to protect people, wildlife, and ecosystems. 130e congrès national des sapeurs-pompiers - Mâcon 2024 Airbus Helicopters #Defence #Space #Sustainability #DefenceMatters #SpaceMatters #SustainabilityMatters

Skydweller Aero has achieved a major milestone in the aerospace industry by completing the world's first successful autonomous flight of a large solar-powered aircraft. The uncrewed aircraft, with a wingspan greater than a 747, took off, flew, and landed by itself, showcasing its potential for long-duration missions with zero carbon footprint. Skydweller's CEO, Robert Miller, emphasized the revolutionary cost savings and capabilities of their fleet of uncrewed aircraft, which can stay aloft for 90 days or more at altitudes of up to 45,000 feet. These autonomous aircraft have the potential to be deployed for various missions such as continuous aerial coverage above conflict zones, surveillance of naval activity, detection of illegal activities at sea, and tracking wildlife migration. By utilizing cutting-edge technology and artificial intelligence, Skydweller aims to surpass traditional aircraft manufacturers in terms of performance, flight duration, and cost effectiveness. The autonomy of these aircraft also eliminates the need for flight crews to be physically present in dangerous airspace, opening up new possibilities for missions that were previously deemed too risky.

I recently learnt about the altimeter's Barber pole and the many other barber poles and their significabce and evolution in various industries, more common is the kolsman window for aviators. On the altimeter the "Barber Pole" is a crucial feature visible only when altitude is above sea level. It disappears when below sea level to prevent misreading negative altitudes as positive ones. An example is the error of reading –1,000 Ft. as being +10,000 Ft. #AircraftSafety #AltitudeAwareness Source : https://lnkd.in/dHBgTdMM

OTD 2018: We question the wisdom of departing a bright, spot lit, landing site to fly over a remote area with little cultural light on a moonless night. We also look at how long it really takes for eyes to acclimatise to total darkness. https://lnkd.in/d_XBA8H #helicopter #accident #flightsafety #aviationsafety #humanfactors

During water rescue or insertion missions, the VRS is critical in maintaining precision control over the load -- increases safety for all involved. #rescue #helicopteropertions #searchandrescue

There is a civic tech angle to this, stick with me: Four people tragically died Sunday night when a helicopter pilot flew into an unlit radio tower just outside of Houston's downtown. I need to scream to LinkedIn about this tragedy because human centered design could have prevented it. Before pilots depart, they are legally required to receive a briefing containing Notices to Air Missions (NOTAMs) that convey important updates like closures, navigational outages, and obstacles. NOTAMs have existed since at least 1947, with their format having barely changed since inception. Since they were initially sent over limited-capacity networks, they abbreviate to the point of inscrutability. And, due to growth of the National Airspace System, the NOTAM design buckles beneath its weight. Pilots today receive *hundreds* of NOTAMs per flight, with only a small subset relevant to the actual flight plan. Missing the wrong NOTAM can be deadly - in 2014, MH17 was shot down over Russia-occupied Crimea after software failed to reconcile two NOTAMs with competing airspace restrictions. In 2017, Air Canada 759 narrowly avoided causing the worst aviation incident of all time after overlooking a NOTAM that SFO's runway 28L was closed and unlit. Back to Sunday's incident. The NOTAM that would have saved this Houston helicopter is: > !HOU 10/073 HOU OBST TOWER LGT (ASR 1052552) 294527.00N0952020.00W (7.4NM NNW HOU) 1033.8FT (999.0FT AGL) U/S 2410170444-2410312359 Does this scream to you "there is a really tall unlit antenna"? Of course not. If you were a pilot, you may learn that the "U/S" means "unserviceable" (aka "out of service"), but that knowledge won't help you if your eyes glaze over when presented with a list of >100 piles of acronym soup. It was those three characters that could have changed this sightseeing trip's fate - if the pilot knew of this unlit tower on their flight path, they may have altered their behavior to avoid it. This format, I swear to you, is intended to be read by humans. There is no NOTAM schema, and even the best tools on the market can only parse out some of the most commonly used shorthands. If you want to see the absurdity of the full NOTAM list, aviation YouTuber Juan Browne breaks it down well: https://lnkd.in/g8jypDmh Civic Tech surely has more direct ways of helping people than preventing sightseeing helicopter crashes, but this was a reminder that these principles pervade fields even beyond our immediate focus. If anything good can come of this tragedy, let it be a general knowledge that the FAA needs some help with human-centered design.

1. **Thin Ice:** The ice was too thin for people to walk on safely, making it dangerous for them to attempt a rescue. ❄️ 2. **Deer in Distress:** A deer was in distress and needed assistance, but the thin ice made traditional rescue methods difficult. 🦌 3. **Helicopter Pilot:** A helicopter pilot took initiative and found an alternative way to rescue the deer, demonstrating resourcefulness and quick thinking. 🚁 4. **Innovative Solution:** The pilot utilized the helicopter to safely reach and rescue the deer, showcasing innovation in problem-solving. 💡 5. **Successful Rescue:** Despite the challenging conditions, the pilot's efforts led to the successful rescue of the deer, potentially saving its life. ✨ 👍 Follow : Muhammad Imran #ThinIceRescue #DeerInDistress #HelicopterPilotHero #InnovativeRescue #SuccessStory

1. **Thin Ice:** The ice was too thin for people to walk on safely, making it dangerous for them to attempt a rescue. ❄️ 2. **Deer in Distress:** A deer was in distress and needed assistance, but the thin ice made traditional rescue methods difficult. 🦌 3. **Helicopter Pilot:** A helicopter pilot took initiative and found an alternative way to rescue the deer, demonstrating resourcefulness and quick thinking. 🚁 4. **Innovative Solution:** The pilot utilized the helicopter to safely reach and rescue the deer, showcasing innovation in problem-solving. 💡 5. **Successful Rescue:** Despite the challenging conditions, the pilot's efforts led to the successful rescue of the deer, potentially saving its life. ✨ 👍 Follow : Muhammad imran #ThinIceRescue #DeerInDistress #HelicopterPilotHero #InnovativeRescue #SuccessStory

Several hundred liters of fuel were transported by taxis in canisters to the airplanes—a laborious and expensive endeavor. Yet, what choice did they have? Up here, at the edge of the world, the airports only stock Jet A-1 fuel.. Takeoff from Kirkenes International was as complicated as the landing: Special VFR, the formation disbanded by the controller, each pilot navigating the control zone solo to regroup over the sea to the north. This maneuver wasted 20 precious minutes of fuel, which might be needed later on—one can never be sure up here over the icy waters. The plan was to round the North Cape from the east, then fly onward to Hammerfest for refueling. This was their only option in this remote area, 550 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle over the ice sea. Nothing, absolutely nothing, could go wrong now! And so it was. Fate smiled on the Monkeys, and they reached the Cape, shrouded in a low-hanging cloud. It didn’t matter; glimpses of the North Capes' Globe structure could be seen through the mist. This globe, a steel sculpture representing the Earth with its meridians and parallels, was erected in 1978 and is the iconic symbol of the North Cape. The planes buzzed around the cliff like a swarm of wild bees, filming each other to ensure everyone was captured on video—an epic moment, as many pilots have failed in their attempt to reach the northernmost point of the world! Shortly after circling the Cape and setting a course slightly southward, the skies cleared. Upon landing in Hammerfest, the never-setting summer sun blazed into the cockpits—the Monkeys had made it, at least to this point, with a few liters of fuel remaining in the tanks! https://lnkd.in/en-PSUad