But headquartered in the same region is Oshkosh Corp., which—among other functions—is a major player in fire truck manufacturing. The firm also specializes in aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) equipment with its line of specialized trucks.

Oshkosh Corp. has carved a niche in the firefighting industry with its line of airport fire trucks. These specialized vehicles are designed to handle the unique challenges posed by aviation accidents, offering a level of capability that sets them apart.

Among these are water tanks that are significantly larger than those of traditional municipal fire trucks, ensuring that firefighters have ample water to combat large-scale fires without needing frequent refills. The fire trucks boast powerful pumps capable of delivering high-pressure water streams, essential for penetrating the outer skin of aircraft and reaching internal fires. Many of these vehicles are also outfitted with advanced foam systems that can create a blanket over fires, helping to suppress flames and reduce the spread of smoke.

The company’s Striker 8×8 model can hold up to 4,500 gallons of water and 630 gallons of foam at a time. In comparison, a normal municipal fire truck can hold around 1,500 gallons of water alone.

In addition to their water capacity and firefighting capabilities, these vehicles are designed to handle various terrain, including runways, taxiways, and grassy areas. Some of Oshkosh’s Striker models can go from 0 to 60 mph in approximately 35 seconds.

Over 5,000 Oshkosh Striker vehicles have been made and shipped to airports around the globe. The company is also rolling out an electric fire truck called Volterra, which has already been adopted by some airports.

AirlineGeeks had the opportunity to visit Oshkosh’s manufacturing facility in its namesake city. A video from the tour is below:

Editor’s Note: This article first appeared on AirlineGeeks.com.

The post Why Airport Fire Trucks Are So Unique appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Eight members of the Last Generation—an organization aiming to persuade the German government to sign on to an international ban on the use of oil, gas, and coal by 2030—used bolt cutters to breach fences at Berlin Brandenburg Airport (EDDB), Cologne Bonn Airport (EDDK), Nuremberg Airport (EDDN), and Stuttgart Airport (EDDS).

Once they reached the tarmac at about 5 a.m. local time, protestors stuck themselves to the ground, raising signs that read “Oil Kills” and “Sign the Treaty.” Flights at Cologne Bonn and Nuremberg were briefly suspended due to police efforts to remove the protestors. The activists did not reach the airports’ main runways.

All eight protestors were detained by police but later released, Last Generation said in a post on X.

“Friends, if you are worried about your flights: We are not the ones who will prevent most of them,” the group added.

Last Generation, which has a presence in several countries, is known for its disruptive, headline-grabbing protests, such as throwing mashed potatoes and pea soup at famous paintings in museums.

In recent months, though, the group has turned its attention to airports.

According to the United Nations, the transport sector is responsible for about a quarter of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, with aviation accounting for roughly 12 percent of those emissions. Various sources place aviation’s share of global carbon dioxide emissions between 2 and 4 percent.

In July, Last Generation shut down hundreds of flights at Frankfurt Airport (EDDF), the country’s busiest airfield, and Cologne Bonn using similar tactics. In May, activists targeted Munich Airport (EDDM), canceling 60 flights. The group has also spray painted private jets, sometimes causing tens of thousands of dollars worth of damage.

German airport association ADV on Thursday condemned the recent demonstrations, calling on the German government to implement stricter penalties for the protestors.

“[Thursday’s] disruptive actions at several airports are a concerted act of criminal blackmail,” the association said. “This is not a peaceful protest and there are no supposedly higher goals at stake. These are malicious intrusions into air traffic and into the personal rights of every traveler who cannot take their flight as scheduled.”

Nancy Faeser, Germany’s federal minister of the interior and home affairs, similarly criticized the activists, calling their actions “dangerous and stupid.”

“We have proposed severe prison sentences,” Faeser said in a post on X. “And we are requiring airports to make their facilities much more secure.”

The proposal Faeser refers to is a bill that was passed by the country’s cabinet last month but requires further approval to take effect. The measure would implement prison sentences of two to five years for people who break through airport perimeters, a violation that currently carries only a fine.

“They repeat themselves, so again: Their political failure is dangerous and is driving us ever deeper into catastrophe!” Last Generation responded to Faeser.

In another post, it said: “Things cannot go on like this. While storms and disasters are increasing worldwide and the climate catastrophe is also clearly noticeable here in Germany, it is unacceptable that our government continues to invest in fossil industries and energies.”

The aviation industry writ large has committed to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, with regulators and private companies backing plans put forth by organizations such as the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

However, not all stakeholders agree on how to get there, and some experts believe the industry is running out of time to change its trajectory. Sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), which are being developed by several companies, are expected to play a large role in the push for decarbonization, but airlines have concerns around its costs and production. Alternative fuels such as hydrogen face similar barriers to scale.

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The post German Climate Activists Glue Themselves to Tarmac, Halting Flights appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The funding comes from President Joe Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Airport Infrastructure Grants (AIG) program that helps cover the cost of airport improvements for projects such as expansion and remodeling of passenger terminals, baggage system upgrades, and runway and ramp rehabilitation.

• READ MORE: FAA Boosts Infrastructure Funding at 71 U.S. Airports

“Millions of Americans fly every day, and it’s important that our nation’s airports be equipped to handle such a volume of passengers,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “The grants we’re announcing [Thursday] will make key improvements to ensure passengers move safely and efficiently through our airports and is another example of the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to modernizing our nation’s aviation systems.” 

Safety and Efficiency

According to Shannetta Griffin, FAA associate administrator for airports, “these grants help make key improvements that enhance safety and efficiency at airports of all sizes across the nation.”

This round of funding includes:

• $6.4 million to Colorado Springs Municipal Airport (KCOS) to rehabilitate the existing terminal building to accommodate a 14,000-square-foot federal inspection service facility that will allow passengers to clear customs more efficiently upon arrival. The space will be reconfigured to meet current Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements and increase energy efficiency.
• $3 million to Melbourne Orlando International Airport (KMLB) in Florida to install a new baggage system.
• $1.8 million to South Bend International Airport (KSBN) in Indiana for reconstruction of existing Taxiway B pavement, which airport officials note has “reached the end of its useful life,” as well as a redesign of the taxiway and ramp layout to improve operational safety of the nonmovement area. The airport dates back to 1929 when Vincent Bendix, the founder of the Bendix Aviation Corporation, purchased 610 acres northwest of South Bend on which to build an airport. Bendix was the sponsor of several air races. The airport is one of the oldest constantly functioning facilities in the Midwest.
• $1 million to Friday Harbor Airport (KFHR) in Washington state for improvements to the fuel farm, including the installation of a supplemental tank for jet-A fuel.

A search of airports selected for project funding may be found here. Airports are listed as large and small, airline hubs and non-hubs.

A full list of  fiscal 2024 AIG grants may be found here.

To date, nearly $9 billion of the $15 million total of AIG funding has been made available to airports across the country.

The post FAA Announces $76 million in Airport Modernization Grants appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The notice is to inform pilots and aircraft operators of possible impacts to traffic and safety along the path within 50 nautical miles of the center of the eclipse between the hours of 10:00 UTC April 7 to 04:00 UTC April 10.

• READ MORE: NASA Gears Up for 2024 Total Solar Eclipse

The notice includes a general section advising of possible delays issued in the form of ground holds such as Expect Departure Clearance Time (EDCT) for IFR departures and arrivals, airborne holds and reroutes. The FAA also warns that VFR flight following services, practice approaches and touch-and-go operations involving airspace in the path of the eclipse may be “extremely limited and possibly prohibited” for the duration of the time period.

• READ MORE: FAA Tells Pilots to Plan Before 2024 Total Solar Eclipse

The Domestic Notice also includes a list—with contact information—of 458 airports in the pathway. The airports are listed by the eight Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCCs) they fall into. There are also NASA-generated maps showing the eclipse pathway and the times when the eclipse will be in totality along the route and a link to the NASA website page that contains full information on the event.

• Shop in Space

Editor’s Note: This article first appeared on AVweb.

The post FAA Issues Domestic Notice on Eclipse’s Impact on Operations appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Projects include taxiway improvements, aircraft rescue, firefighting and snow removal equipment.

The $110 million in grants from the Airport Infrastructure Grant (AIG) program are funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law enacted in 2022 that allots $15 billion  over a span of five years. According to the FAA, nearly $9 billion in AIG funding has been awarded to airports.

• READ MORE: Federal Airport Improvement Grants to Fund Tower Upgrades

“These grants help airports across the nation sustain and improve critical infrastructure to advance the safest, most efficient airport system in the world,” Shannetta Griffin,  FAA associate administrator for airports, said in a statement.

FAA said projects funded through the latest round of grants include:

• $43 million for Charlotte Douglas International Airport (KCLT) in North Carolina to construct a new 6,400-foot, end-around taxiway at the Runway 18C end to increase safety and reduce air traffic delays. 
• $617,763 for Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (KBWI) in Glen Burnie, Maryland, to rehabilitate a portion of the existing Taxiway T lighting system to extend its useful life and enhance safe airfield operations during low visibility conditions. 
• $326,000 for Omak Airport (KOMK) in Washington to reconstruct 2,000 feet of the existing Taxiway A north pavement that has reached the end of its useful life.  

• $8.6 million for Gerald R. Ford International Airport (KGRR) in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to reconstruct the existing aircraft rescue and firefighting building to continue housing eligible vehicles, equipment, supplies, and personnel.  
• $1.3 million for Jamestown Regional Airport (KJMS) in North Dakota to rehabilitate an existing on-airport roadway to provide a path for aircraft rescue and firefighting trucks, airport vehicles, and ground service equipment to operate without entering airfield movement areas. 

• $881,000 for Southwest Minnesota Regional Marshall Airport/Ryan Field (KMML) in Marshall to construct a 2,470-square-foot building to store snow removal equipment. 
• $722,220 for Pocatello Regional Airport (KPIH) in Idaho to acquire a new wheel loader with ramp plow and bucket.  
• $497,484 for Walla Walla Regional Airport (KALW) in Washington to acquire replacement snow removal equipment with plow and deice distributor. 
• $448,000 for Mora Municipal Airport (KJMR) in Minnesota to acquire a replacement carrier vehicle with plow and sweeper attachments. 
• $292,000 for Marshfield Municipal Airport-George Harlow Field (KGHG) in Massachusetts to acquire replacement snow removal equipment. 
• $113,003 for Glen Ullin Regional Airport (D57) in North Dakota to acquire a new blower attachment. 
• $41,951 for Big Horn County Airport (KGEY) in Hardin, Montana, to acquire a new truck and plow equipment. 

More information about airport infrastructure projects funded by the Bipartisan Instructure Law and where they are located may be found here.

The post FAA Boosts Infrastructure Funding at 71 U.S. Airports appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

On Monday, Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (KSBA) was closed due to flooding from as much as 10 inches of rain. According to the airport website, the facility will remain shut down until further notice—more specifically until the water recedes and authorities can check for and repair any damage.

The airport saw 35 flights were canceled on Monday.

According to multiple media sources, Santa Barbara County has been hammered by heavy rain, leading to landslides, downed power lines, and flooding in multiple areas, including the airport that sits at an elevation of just 13.5 feet above sea level. The facility is located in the city of Goleta and bordered by a wetland area known as the Goleta Slough. Local aviation sites note the airport closes frequently due to flooding caused by heavy rains. The entire area is under a flood warning, and there have been multiple evacuations.

FAA NOTAMs have been published to warn pilots that Runways 15R/33L and 15L/33R are closed, and the safety area of Runway 07/25 has standing water.

• READ MORE: California Airports Reeling from Heavy Rain

Early in its use, the airport, opened in 1914, had a seaplane base established by the Lockheed brothers. In 1942 the government took over the airport to create Marine Corps Air Station Santa Barbara, but it reverted to civilian use in 1946. Today it covers 948 acres with three runways and is served by several major airlines in addition to general aviation operations.

The post Santa Barbara Airport Closed Due to Flooding appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Landon Wilkinson, who became a pilot in 2020, provided details surrounding the airstrip’s background and what makes the land surrounding it so special.  

“My dad has been a pilot all of my life and has owned several different airplanes,” said Wilkinson. “He acquired the property in 1991, and the airstrip was put in within a short period of time after that. For a while, it was grass, then he lengthened and paved it. And it’s funny. The name of the airstrip [a sign observed from the road] says ‘Landon Strip.’ It’s technically named after me, and I was the first of my dad’s three sons to land on the runway.”

Wilkinson now flies a Mooney M20E, which he owns with his younger brother and another partner. The property’s airstrip is a central figure in many of their aerial adventures but also for those who fly in for celebrations. 

“Oakshire Estate & Airfield is a wedding venue, although it was never designed intentionally for that purpose,” said Wilkinson. “My dad has planted a couple thousand trees on the property since he bought it, and the long, tree-lined driveway is just spectacular, as is the estate in general. Every year, they are refining the property…We have had weddings there over the years, but then several years ago, they opened it up to book a limited number of weddings there each year.”

Not only can people fly into weddings, they don’t have far to go from the ramp to the dance floor. 

“We have a lot of weddings that make use of the runway, which is basically 100 feet from the venue’s front door,” he said. “We have had people fly in, where the groomsmen will come and then walk up the aisle [after getting out of the airplane]. It’s been fun to have those things working together here.”

The 30-year-old private pilot saw the success that his parents had with the wedding venue and sought to bring other equally unique offerings to the property. He started by converting a 100-year-old barn that sat derelict for many years. While an ambitious project, he had been doing renovations and house flipping since he was a kid. 

“I purchased about 50 acres from my dad, which is southeast of the same road,” he said. “The first project of ours, in 2019, was the barn conversion. The shipping container home was completed about two years ago now. We have a really good view of the Yakima Ridge and thought that it would make a really good short-term rental experience for people. So, we basically did the shipping container and the barn conversion ourselves and put a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into them. But I think that they turned out pretty special.”

Both the barn and shipping container are available for short-term rental. And while Wilkinson is proud of the rentals and has received rave reviews, he admits that the airstrip is one of his favorite aspects of his family’s property. 

“So, when you’re coming into land, it’s really a one-way-in airstrip, because of these pretty tall trees around the house on the western end,” he said. “Then there’s a wind turbine and a cell tower in the vicinity, about a quarter mile north. They’re not at all really in your way, but just something to be aware of. And the runway is wider at the outset. On the eastern end, I would say it’s probably about 30 feet [wide] and then it reduces to around 25 or so feet [wide].”

Wilkinson’s time spent marketing his short-term rentals has demonstrated an issue within that industry. He believes aviators are in perhaps the greatest position to take advantage of unbooked nights on short-term notice.  

“Part of the motivation for starting [booking platform website] Hostshare had to do with being a pilot,” he said. “As pilots we are usually more at the mercy of the weather, so we are often required to have a lot of flexibility as it comes to lodging. With a lot of the short-term rentals, the cancellation policy is usually nonrefundable, or at least a portion of it. Hostshare makes it much more economical to travel last minute with your family, if you own an Airbnb. That was part of the motivation.”

Wilkinson pointed out that sharing time equally among the partners in his Mooney fortunately hasn’t been an issue yet. But the process of sharing time in the asset with others was another component of his ongoing inspiration for his new website. Several fly-in destinations are already on the platform, including Beaver Creek in Maine.

The post Wilkinson Ranch Airport Features Wedding Venue, Short-Term Rentals appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

According to the MiseryMap as of Friday, there were noticeable delays at both San Francisco International (KSFO) and Los Angeles International (KLAX) airports to Seattle and Denver.

Ground travel  has also been impacted as the California Department of Transportation reports landslides on highways and power companies report thousands of people without electricity as a result of downed power lines and felled trees because of the saturated soil. In addition, law enforcement officials in parts of Southern California have reported downed trees that appeared to have been caught in a tornado.

There is so much rain that officials in Southern California issued a warning about excessive rainfall. According to data from the National Weather Service, record amounts of rain fell in a single day in multiple locations, including at several airports.

Van Nuys Airport (KVNY) has received a total of 9 inches and KLAX 5.68 inches, including 2.37 inches in one day. Other one-day, record-breaking totals include Long Beach Airport (KLGB) with 2.31 inches and Burbank’s Bob Hope Airport (KBUR) with 2.08 inches.

Earlier in the week, Santa Barbara Airport (KSBC) was closed to all traffic because of flooding. Travelers were urged to contact their airlines directly for more information.

In the San Francisco Bay Area, some residents have been without power for more than five days and are bracing for another strong storm set to move in over the weekend, bringing with it more heavy rain and wind gusts of up to 60 mph.

This story is evolving and will be updated as appropriate.

The post California Airports Reeling From Heavy Rain appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The Orlando, Florida-headquartered company said it is supporting government and law enforcement agencies, nonprofit organizations, and corporate groups in their efforts to detect, track, and curb human trafficking. The announcement coincides with the annual increase in public awareness of private aviation that occurs as people travel to Super Bowl LVIII on Sunday in Las Vegas in personal, corporate, and charter aircraft.

“Signature is the largest network of private aviation terminals in the world, which gives us a unique opportunity to help combat human trafficking,” said Tony Lefebvre, CEO of Signature. “The International Organization for Migration has stated that nearly 80 percent of international human trafficking journeys cross through official border control points, including airports. That makes this an incredibly important and relevant issue for us, and one where we have the ability to make a tangible difference.”

The company said its collaboration efforts include signing the U.S. Department of Transportation’s pledge for Transportation Leaders Against Human Trafficking, a program under which transport organizations work to increase awareness and educate their employees about the pervasive crime. Signature also joined the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Blue Lightning Initiative for training aviation personnel to identify possible traffickers and their victims.

Signature became a corporate sponsor of nonprofit Covenant House, which provides support for young people facing crises including the effects of human trafficking. The company is also sponsoring the Freedom Aviation Network, a nonprofit that provides air transportation for survivors of human trafficking. The group has made 85 flights and transported more than 100 passengers since 2022.

Signature is also partnering with the American Association of Airport Executives to develop training programs to address human trafficking tailored to those working in general and business aviation.

“Private aviation operators are on the frontlines of the fight to end human trafficking,” said Michael Camal, senior engagement manager with the DHS Center for Countering Human Trafficking. “We are grateful that Signature is leveraging its vast resources and global workforce to combat this heinous crime.”

The post Signature Aviation Joins Support Groups, Government Agencies, and Law Enforcement to Combat Human Trafficking appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Answer: Not at all. An airshow involves aerial acts that require an aerobatics box, oft-paid performers and announcers, the designation of a show line (to keep the viewing public out of harm’s way from performers), along with procedures and staff for emergencies, just to mention a few things. The FAA needs to approve the event, and a NOTAM is issued. Airshows usually charge a fee for entry.

The airport sponsor needs to approve the airshow before it happens, along with the FAA, which has guidance here.

An airshow usually takes about a year to plan. For example, the airshow in Grant County, Washington, is held on Father’s Day weekend, and by August 1, they have started planning for the next year.

Fly-ins do not typically have paid performers, although they may have fly-bys of aircraft in the pattern, or Young Eagles rides taking place. Fly-ins require permission from the airport sponsor, such as the county, city, or port, making arrangements not to disrupt regular activities at the airport—like flight school operations. Usually, you do not need FAA permission—or have to issue a NOTAM about the fly-in.

A fly-in is more like a car show with aircraft on static display—and often the two are paired, classic cars and classic airplanes. Usually there isn’t a fee to enter the fly-in, although they are often cast as fundraisers for aviation or civic organizations and donations are appreciated. Many aviation fly-ins have a pancake breakfast for a price, and that money is considered a donation.

Both an airshow and fly-in require the organization putting on the event to obtain an appropriate level of insurance, often determined by the airport sponsor. Sometimes, this can be the killer of the event, as the amount of insurance required by the airport sponsor risk management team is beyond the capability of the organization that wants to put on the event. This is particularly true if the fly-in is a fundraiser for a non-profit. Both events also require attention to infrastructure, such as getting an adequate number of porta-potties, parking assistance, first aid stations, etc.

In both cases, approaching the airport sponsor well in advance (at least a year to six months out) with a plan on when the event will take place, what activities and exhibits to be at the event, how many staff and volunteers you will have working the event, the footprint of the event on the airport, how you will address the issue of not interrupting regular airport operations, and how many people you anticipate having will go a long way to making your event a success.

The post What Is the Difference Between a Fly-In and an Airshow? appeared first on FLYING Magazine.