- Photos circulated on social media earlier this week of a new Bombardier Global 5500 with a smashed-in nose up against a damaged chain-link fence and what appears to be a light pole protruding from its nose. The location was at Bombardier’s new assembly plant at Pearson airport (CYZZ) in Mississauga, Ontario. Bombardier confirmed the accident occurred but has not provided further details of how it occurred, saying only that they have launched an independent investigation.
- Three suspects in New York state are facing charges of smuggling drugs from Canada using a drone. U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agents tracked an inbound drone travelling from a winery in Ontario, across the Niagara River from Youngstown, N.Y. The drone dropped its load in the backyard of a house where CBP agents were waiting. The border police then followed the drone to its landing site where its operators were then apprehended. Three kilograms of ecstasy was recovered. Analysis of the drone revealed records of five earlier cross-border flights. Two of the suspects are from New York City and one from California.
- This month marks the last time the RCAF’s fleet of CT-155 Hawk trainers have travelled. Destined to serve as static training assets for the Canadian Forces School of Aerospace Technology and Engineering at CFB Borden in Ontario, the 15 aircraft were towed earlier this week over public roads from Collingwood airport (CNY3), the nearest airport to their new home. The distance was around 45 km and took two days. As there are no replacement aircraft, the air force will be forced to send jet pilot trainees abroad for their final phase of training before they can take command of a CF-18 Hornet.
- A U.S. bankruptcy court judge has approved a reorganization plan submitted by Van’s Aircraft that will see the prolific supplier of the popular home-built kits continue in business. “Assuming that public sentiment stays on their side, and they continue to provide a quality product, they will stay in business,” commented AOPA’s attorney Jeremy Browner, adding “It’s exciting, honestly.”
- As of May 16, ADS-B OUT is now mandatory in Canadian Class B airspace. “Expanding the implementation of the ADS-B mandate to include both Class A and Class B airspace represents another important milestone in our phased approach to fully leveraging the benefits of greater surveillance coverage,” senior Nav Canada executive Jeff Dawson said in a statement.