Emergency Airworthiness Directives (EAD) for Pilatus training aircrafts

It began a few weeks ago with an 1st Emergency Airworthiness Directive for the Harley-type buckle assemblies in the seat harness of the ejection seat on Pilatus PC-21 training aircraft. French Air Force recognised a problem and informed Martin Baker/Pilatus and the respective governments:

Pilatus PC-21 is the latest turboprop-powered advanced military training aircraft and in use by the Air Forces of Australia (49), France (17), Jordan (12), Qatar (24), Saudi Arabia (55), Singapore (19), Spain (24, 1st delivery end of 2020; will replace mainly the CASA C-101 Aviojet, but will also take over advanced training which is currently carried out on the T-35 Pillan), Switzerland (8), United Arab Ermirates (25) and the United Kingdom (2 for advanced training in ETPS).

At this moment (December 23rd), there are all modern military training aircraft systems of Pilatus Aircraft Ltd listed with the same problem of requiring a specific inspection.

Swiss Air Force flight schedules and Airshows 2020

Our Air Force is very kind to us military aviation lovers again and published some interesting schedules.

Main change is the opened QRA-schedule, now all days from 0600-2200h LT two armed Hornets are on 15mins Alert.

ALPNACH

EMMEN

Pistensperre: 27. Juli - 21. August 2020
Staffelflugbetrieb mit F/A-18 Hornet: 29. Juni - 24. Juli 2020


MEIRINGEN

Tiger-TK's mit jeweils mehreren F-5 Tiger und  F/A-18 Hornet: Woche 7/8/37/38

PAYERNE

SION

Airshows 2020 - update April 29th,2020

Other interesting events in aviation, including ballooning and modelling. Mainly Switzerland. For the full schedule please visit flugzeugforum.de. The RIO in Ecuvillens is rescheduled to Gruyeres and will happen in 2021 again.

COVID19 saw and will cancelling a lot of events - so please inform you in avance on the official homepages !

January
05 Stuckli Ballonfiesta, Sattel-Hochstuckli (CH) - Reserve Feb 02 and 16 www.sattel-hochstuckli.ch
10/11 Youth Olympic Games Lausanne, Les Diablerets (CH) with Patrouille Suisse (10 TRG 1230-1305h/11 Demo 1145-1215h LT) www.lausanne2020.sport
12-18 Ballonwoche, Arosa (CH) www.ballonwoche.ch
16-18 Lauberhornrennen, Wengen (CH) with Patrouille Suisse in formation with SWISS Airbus www.lauberhorn.ch (16.1140h, 17. 1320h, 18. 1140h LT)
17-27 World Economic Forum WEF, Davos (CH) with restricted airspace 17(TRG)/20-25 out of Payerne www.bazl.admin.ch/wef
25-02 Festival International de Ballons, Château-d'Oex (CH) www.festivaldeballons.ch

February
11 1. Schweizer Helitag, Mollis (CH) www.swiss-aerospace-cluster.ch
14-16 Faszination Modellflug, Kirchberg (CH) www.mgburgdorf.ch
21-23 FIS Ski World Cup, Crans-Montana (CH) with PC-7 Team (21. TRG) www.skicm-cransmontana.ch

March

14 Delegiertenversammlung mfvs, Grenchen LSZG (CH) www.mfvs.ch

15 52. Zäziwiler Hangflugwettbewerb, Zäziwil Bueleberg  (CH) www.mg-gh.ch

21 Scale F4 Heli Training, Interlaken (CH) www.modellflug.ch/scale

28/29 Modellflug Ausstellung Untersiggenthal MG UT, Untersiggenthal (CH) www.mg-ut.ch

April

01-04 Aero, Friedrichshafen (D) www.aero-friedrichshafen.de

04 20. Nordwestschweizer Modellbaubörse, Brislach (CH) www.mfvbrislach.ch

11 Frühjahrs-Helitreffen, Leuggern (CH ) www.loorholz-flugtage.ch
14-16 Akrokurs FMA Altenrhein, Mollis (CH) http://www.fliegermuseum.ch
18 Generalversammlung EAS, Grenchen LSZG (CH)  www.experimental.ch

25 Hamilton Swiss Aerobatic Cup, Yverdon (CH) www.saa.ch
27-03 Patrouille des Glaciers, Verbier (CH) with Patrouille Suisse www.pdg.ch
29 Basevisite, Meiringen (CH) www.haslital.ch

May
02/03 Arbon Classics, Arbon (CH) www.arbon-classics.ch
05 GV der Motorflugveteranen des AeCS, Flieger- und Fahrzeugmuseum Altenrhein (FFA) www.mot-flug-veteranen.ch

09 Hamilton Swiss Aerobatic Cup, Sitterdorf (CH) www.saa.ch
13-17 ILA, Berlin (D) www.ila-berlin.de
16 Tage der Aerophilatelie, Langenthal-Bleienbach - LSPL (CH) www.sav-aerophilatelie.ch
21-24 AMPA Swiss Tour, Lausanne (CH) www.ampa.ch
25-29 Flights with Dassault Mirage IIIDS, Payerne (CH) www.clindailes.ch

26-28 EBACE, Geneva (CH) www.ebace.aero

June
05-07 Seaplane Meeting, Hergiswil (CH) http://www.seaplanes.ch

06/07  Journée portes ouvertes de l'aérodrome, Bressaucourt (CH) www.aerojura.ch (Reserve: Sept 12/13)
13 Tag der Bundeswehr, Laage (D)
13 Hamilton Swiss Aerobatic Cup, Buttwil (CH) www.saa.ch
27 Seefest, Zug (CH) with Patrouille Suisse (1730-18h LT) www.zugerseefest.ch

July
11 OldtimAIR Flugparade, Stanserhorn (CH) www.stanserhorn.ch
11 Hamilton Swiss Aerobatic Cup, Bressaucourt (CH) www.saa.ch
29-24 Hornet Flugbetrieb, Emmen - LSME (CH)
31-02 International EAS Summer Fly-In , Langenthal-Bleienbach - LSPL (CH) www.experimental.ch

August
01/02 17. Loorholz Flugtage, Leuggern (CH ) www.loorholz-flugtage.ch
07-24 Pilot school PilS with PC-21, Payerne (normally out of Emmen)
10-14 Flights with Dassault Mirage IIIDS, Payerne (CH) www.clindailes.ch
11-15 4th FAI Women's World Hot Air Balloon Championship, Nałęczów (Poland) http://balloons.aeroklub.lublin.pl/
15 Hamilton Swiss Aerobatic Cup, Motiers (CH) www.saa.ch
15/16 Flugfest, Hagenbuch (CH) www.flugfest.ch
21-23 Acro Show, Villeneuve VD (CH) www.acroshow.ch
21-23 32. OSV Treffen, Ambrì-Piotta - LSPM (CH) www.osv-ch.org

22 Hunterfest, St. Stephan (CH) www.hunterverein.ch
28-04 64th Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett, Wroclaw (Poland)
29/30 Dittinger Flugtage, Dittingen (CH) www.flugtage.ch
29/30 Tag der offenen Tür/40 Jahre Mountainflyers, Belp (CH) www.mountainflyers.ch

September
05/06 12th Oldtimerclassic, Hittnau (CH) www.oldtimerclassic.ch
05/06 Fly-In, Mollis (CH)
06 Meeting de l'Air - "Les 80 ans de la bataille de france'', Cambrai (France) www.fosa.fr/meetingdelair/
06 Schaufliegen Modellfluggruppe Signau, Steinen bei Signau/Bowil (CH) http://www.mg-signau.ch
06 Flügerchilbi, Langenthal (CH) www.sgoberaargau.ch

06-06 6. Internationale Ballon- & Flugtage Alpenrheintal, Widnau (Schweiz) https://ballon-flugtage.ch/

06-13 Swiss National Aerobatic Championship 2020, Bex (CH) www.saa.ch
12/13 Erlebniswochenende Sitterdorf, Sitterdorf (CH) www.erlebnisflugplatz.ch
20-26 24th FAI World Hot Air Balloon Championship, Sobota (Slovenia)

26 11 Scale-Helitreffen, Leuggern (CH ) www.loorholz-flugtage.ch

26-04 47. Internationale Alpine Heissluftballonwoche Flims, Flims (CH) www.ballonwoche-flims.ch
28-02 Flights with Dassault Mirage IIIDS, Payerne (CH) www.clindailes.ch

October

09-11 Air & Space Days Verkehrshaus Luzern, Luzern (CH) Air & Space Days
13/14 Airshow/Shooting Demonstration, Axalp (CH) www.armee.ch/axalp
21 Basevisite, Meiringen (CH) www.haslital.ch

November

04 Giorno dell'unità nazionale/Armed Forces Day, Roma (Italy)

Evaluation NKF - Mission Rafale - Media- and Spotterday

Another successful event perfectly organised by armasuisse and Dassault Aviation - with a lot of information again and many interested visitors, Media and Spotter side. And of course a lot of people from France interested to see there new aircraft from near.

Evaluation NKF - Mission Rafale

Third candidate comes from just the country beside - la France ! With quite a lot of common training between our Air Forces and good relations, France is expected as a favourite. Now they have to show the capabilities of there new generation of fighter aircraft.

Rafale on duty for Sky Police - and the French Air Force says 'desolée' ...

It's really intriguing that the 'normal' people know nothing about the duties of the Air Forces around the globe ... yesterday the French Air Force (Armée de l'Air, AdlA) announced an sorry for the sonic boom created by an Rafale Fighter to intercept an aircraft that have lost radio contact with the ATC (Air Traffic Control) on thursday evening:

(via fb)

Anyway, with those votation coming in Switzerland about the future of our Air Defence (Air2030) it's really important for all you readers out there to inform your family and friends about it. Our Air Force has not enough aircrafts left to fly regularly over crowded areas like Zurich just for fun and show of force, there is normally no need for leaving the regular training areas above the alps and jura mountains. Out of sight, out of mind ....

Serge Dassault passed away

Serge Dassault ( 4 April 1925 – 28 May 2018) was a French heir, business executive and politician. He served as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Dassault Group and a conservative politician.

Groupe Dassault belongs to Dassault Aviation, worldwide known for famous Fighter and Business Jets like Mirage, Rafale and Falcon.

French pilot school visits Emmen

Armee de l'Air sent five (of there 99 remaining) AlphaJets to Switzerland, visiting our schooling 'till tomorrow. Unfortunally the weather ist not as nice today - but flights with Alphajets and PC-21 on mixed crews can be expected.

Flightline
E35 as FAF6441

E42 as FAF6442

E94 as FAF6443

E153 as FAF6444

E163 as FAF6445

Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet (via wikipedia)

The Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet is a light attack jet and advanced jet trainer co-manufactured by Dassault Aviation of France and Dornier Flugzeugwerke of Germany. It was developed specifically to perform the trainer and light attack missions, as well as to perform these duties more ideally than the first generation of jet trainers that preceded it. Following a competition, a design submitted by a team comprising Breguet Aviation, Dassault Aviation, and Dornier Flugzeugwerke, initially designated as the TA501, was selected and subsequently produced as the Alpha Jet.

Both the French Air Force and German Air Force procured the Alpha Jet in large numbers, the former principally as a trainer aircraft and the latter choosing to use it as a light attack platform. As a result of post-Cold War military cutbacks, Germany elected to retire its own fleet of Alpha Jets in the 1990s and has re-sold many of these aircraft to both military and civilian operators. The Alpha Jet has been adopted by a number of air forces across the world and has also seen active combat use by some of these operators.

Armée de l'Air is using this aircraft for the famous Patrouille de France display team.

Alpha Jet in Service by the Belgian Air Component, second largest mid-european user today.

SABCA Gosselies in Belgium finishes with the last overhauled Belgian Air Force Dassault-Breguet Alpha Jet these days. The history of the Alpha Jet and Sabca started in the late 1970s when the factory was responsible for the assembly of 32 (out of 33 ordered) aircraft that were ordered for the Belgian Air Force in late 1973.
In recent years the number of sightings of Belgian Air Force Alpha Jets was reduced considerably as in 2004 the first aircraft moved to Cazaux in France to be operated in the Belgo-French AJeTS (Advanced Jet Training School). In early 2017 the Belgian Air Force announced to end this collaboration and that future pilots would be trained in the United States instead. The future of the remaining Alpha Jets was uncertain, as the last flights of the aircraft were scheduled for mid 2019. At this moment 29 aircraft remain in service and as it appears now 25 of these aircraft will be offered for sale in small batches, the remaining four will be kept for preservation. Noteworthy is that the official authorization by the government still has to be given.
So far no possible interested candidates have made themselves known to the Belgian Air Force.

Belgo-French AJeTS, Casaux (F): AT01/02/03/05/06/08/09/10/11/12/13/14/15/17-33

Portugal has received 50 former German Luftwaffe Alpha Jets, withdrawn there fleet January 13th, 2018.