Flying Magazine reports, “Pratt & Whitney has received FAA certification for the GTF engine that will power the Airbus A321XLR. According to a Monday news release from Connecticut-based RTX—Pratt & Whitney’s parent company—the engine type certificate was updated to include the A321XLR after being granted Thursday for the PW1100G-JM engine.”
Full Story (Flying Magazine)
Tag: FAA Approval
Rolls-Royce Pearl 700 Engine for Gulfstream Officially Receives FAA Approval
Aviation Week reports that Rolls-Royce has “earned FAA type certification for its Pearl 700 engine designed for Gulfstream’s new G700 and G800 ultra-long-range business jets.” The engine, which “was custom designed to power the two aircraft, received EASA certification in September 2022.”
Full Story (Aviation Week)
Pearland Police First in US to Receive FAA Approval for Station-Controlled Drone
The Houston Chronicle reports that Pearland’s police department “has become the nation’s first law enforcement agency to win Federal Aviation Administration approval to use a system in which drones controlled from a police station can be dispatched throughout a municipality to assess incidents, which officials say can save time, resources and lives.” Drone pilot and Pearland police officer Herbert Oubre said that the approval will allow the department to “better assess a scene prior to getting an officer on the scene.” The police drones “will rely on a technology called Casia G, developed by Iris Automation Inc., that enables remote airspace awareness during flight.” The drones “will use another system, called DroneSense, to relay information to the operator at the station.”
Full Story (Houston Chronicle)
FAA Approves Bezos’ Blue Origin for Crewed Space Travel
Reuters reports that the FAA announced Monday that it is approving Blue Origin’s application to carry humans into space on the New Shepard launch system. The license “is valid through August and is approved to conduct these missions from its Launch Site One facility in Texas.” Fox Business reports that Amazon founder Jeff Bezos “is scheduled to fly into space on July 20 on New Shepard’s 16th flight.”
Full Story (Reuters); More Info (Fox Business)
Joby Receives FAA Approval to Launch Air Taxi Flight Academy
Flying Magazine reports Joby on Tuesday “said it received Part 141 flight academy certification from the FAA, laying the groundwork to begin training qualified aviators at its Joby Aviation Academy in Watsonville, California, a short air taxi flight away from its headquarters in Santa Cruz. The company intends to offer private pilot, instrument rating, commercial pilot, and certified flight instructor courses, beginning at entry level. Graduates could go on to fly air taxis for Joby or a competitor.”
Full Story (Flying Magazine)
SpaceX Receives FAA Approval to Increase Rate of Starship Launches from Texas
Reuters reports, “SpaceX received key U.S. regulatory approval on Tuesday to increase the annual rate of Starship rocket launches from Texas and booster landings in various bodies of water, allowing” the space company “to significantly expand development of its giant Mars rocket … The Federal Aviation Administration, capping a years-long review, said SpaceX’s proposal to increase the number of Texas Starship launches from five to 25 would not have a major impact on the surrounding environment, nor would associated booster landings or potential rocket explosions over the Gulf of Mexico and some international waters.”
Full Story (Reuters)