Boeing’s in the Hot Seat (Again)

Good morning! I just got back from filming the YouTube-famous FreedomFox in Reno, NV. Trent Palmer recently sold his Kitfox, but I was fortunate enough to spend a few hours with the iconic bush plane before the new owner flies it away. I now have five “airplane reviews” filmed and am about to start editing them. And for better or for worse, they will all be posted to a new YouTube channel — one that is dedicated solely to Flybuyer 🛩️

-Rob Roy

In today’s email:

• Boeing Faces New FAA Review

• Around the Skies: F6F-3 Hellcat restored, Pivotal's airborne dream, Next-gen sea travel, New ground for Harbour Air, Fatal EA-18G Growler crash, Garmin unveils G3000

• PilotTube: Astro Mechanica’s Engine Revolution

THE BUSINESS OF AVIATION

Boeing’s Double Trouble: FAA Review and Supplier Furloughs

The Federal Aviation Administration announced a three-month review of Boeing’s compliance with safety regulations, a move that extends the agency's ongoing scrutiny of the aviation giant. This review comes in the wake of an incident where a panel blew off a Boeing 737 Max during an Alaska Airlines flight, raising concerns about the company’s safety culture. The FAA’s focus is to ensure Boeing provides timely and accurate safety information that meets regulatory requirements, although the agency insists that this review was not prompted by any specific event.

Boeing has yet to comment on the FAA's new initiative, which is just the latest chapter in the agency’s heightened oversight of the aircraft manufacturer. FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker has already initiated special audits, but concerns remain. A recent report by the Department of Transportation’s inspector general criticized the FAA's inability to effectively address safety concerns at Boeing, pointing to delays in resolving reports of undue pressure on employees tasked with safety inspections. Of the 34 reported cases of such pressure, only 14 have been closed, with some remaining open for over a year.

Further complicating Boeing’s safety reputation, the National Transportation Safety Board issued an urgent recommendation in September regarding issues with the rudders of certain Boeing 737s, which could affect pilots’ ability to steer after landing. The FAA responded two weeks later with a safety alert to airlines, but the delay raised eyebrows. This string of concerns suggests that while Boeing might be flying high in production, it may have some turbulence to work through when it comes to regulatory compliance.

As the FAA’s review gets underway, the stakes are high for Boeing. With both internal and external audits looming, it seems Boeing may need to fine-tune more than just its airplanes to ensure smooth landings with regulators.

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AROUND THE SKIES

🛩️ A Grumman F6F-3 Hellcat, the oldest surviving example of its kind, is ready for a comeback after decades of ups and downs — including a flashy “Little Nugget” paint job and a barn stay following a 1977 crash. Now, thanks to a meticulous restoration by its devoted owner Bill Compton, the warbird looks like it just rolled out of the 1943 factory and its first flight is imminent.

🛩️ Pivotal’s BlackFly, an eVTOL aircraft requiring no pilot's license, is soaring in popularity, with 13 delivered to customers, including the U.S. Air Force. The ultralight aircraft's unique tilting design and joystick controls make it accessible for non-pilots, as long as they stay in daylight and avoid busy airspace.

🛩️ Sea Cheetah is emerging from stealth mode with a hydrogen-powered wing-in-ground-effect vessel that cruises 10 feet above water, seats up to 20 passengers and has a range of 435 nm. With first deliveries targeted for late 2026, Sea Cheetah is set to bring high-tech maritime transport to new heights (just above the waves).

🛩️ Harbour Air is trading floats for wheels with its first land-based flights between Vancouver and Victoria starting November 4. The seaplane airline’s expansion marks a big shift as they roll out up to three daily round-trips on solid ground.

🛩️ Garmin has unveiled the G3000 Prime, an integrated flight deck designed to make pilots' lives easier with its sleek touch interface, larger buttons and lightning-fast performance. It's like they took the best of the G1000 and G3000, threw in a turbo boost and made sure everything is just a tap away.

🛩️ Two Naval Officers tragically died when their EA-18G Growler crashed in Washington's rugged mountains after a challenging search-and-rescue mission. Both LT Serena "Dug" Wileman, a Naval Aviator, and LCDR Lyndsay "Miley" Evans, a Naval Flight Officer, were part of the VAQ-130 "Zappers” and had recently returned from a high-stakes combat deployment aboard the USS Eisenhower. This heartbreaking incident marks the Navy’s first major jet mishap of 2024 and is one that deeply resonates with me on a personal level.

PilotTube

Astro Mechanica just fired up their Gen 3 engine for the first time and it's ready to launch air travel into the future. This groundbreaking engine is built for a new kind of plane and let's just say, aviation is about to get a serious tech boost!

Do You Have an Aircraft I Can Film?
I’m on the lookout for airplanes to review for the Flybuyer YouTube channel (coming soon). If you own, fly or have access to a piston, turbine, business jet, helicopter, sea plane, bush plane, warbird or blimp I can film, please fill out this form!

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