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Elan Head

@elanhead.com

2K followers 410 following 220 posts

Helicopter pilot and senior editor at The Air Current, often exploring the world by air. Signal: elanhead.07

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Reposted by Elan Head

Edward Russell @byerussell.com · 8d

Electric and hybrid aircraft developer Beta filed for an IPO on Tuesday disclosing plans for a 19-seat regional airplane, writes @elanhead.com.

theaircurrent.com/industry-str...

Elan Head @elanhead.com · 8d

That's so cool you worked with his nephew. Thompson has long been an inspiration to me.

Elan Head @elanhead.com · 8d

Last week, @jonostrower.com and I broke the news that Beta Technologies was preparing an IPO. This week, the electric aircraft developer made it official. For @theaircurrent.com, I pulled out some of the highlights from its newly filed S-1 registration statement: theaircurrent.com/industry-str...

Beta Technologies discloses new partnership, product details in IPO filing

Beta shares financial data plus first details on 19-passenger plane and autonomous military VTOL in new SEC filing.

theaircurrent.com

Reposted by Elan Head

Will Guisbond @willguisbond.com · 9d

Thrilled to share that @theaircurrent.com is hiring! Super unique opportunity to join a fast-growing, collaborative newsroom.

You tell us what you want to cover, and why you're the one set up to do it best.

Apply here and shout with any questions: theaircurrent.com/jobs/senior-...

Reposted by Elan Head

Will Guisbond @willguisbond.com · 13d

SCOOP: The FAA has exempted ATC modernization projects from standard agency acquisition policies, a move that could accelerate procurement timelines but one that may also have unknown additional impacts. (via @theaircurrent.com)

Read here: theaircurrent.com/air-traffic-...

FAA exempts ATC modernization projects from standard acquisition policies

Bedford activates agency’s “unique alternative transaction authorities” to bypass existing procurement framework

theaircurrent.com

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The Air Current @theaircurrent.com · 15d

Electric aircraft developer Beta Technologies prepares for IPO theaircurrent.com/aircraft-dev... (via @elanhead.com & @jonostrower.com) #staycurrent

Electric aircraft developer Beta Technologies prepares for IPO

The Vermont-based eVTOL company is pursuing traditional public offering, not SPAC merger

theaircurrent.com

Reposted by Elan Head

Will Guisbond @willguisbond.com · 21d

SCOOP: Internal FAA documents indicate that the planned move of agency HQ employees to the DOT building in Navy Yard could "impact NAS safety" and cost over $250 million, @theaircurrent.com reports.

Read more here for all the details about this plan: theaircurrent.com/regulation/f...

FAA document warns move to DOT HQ could impact safety, cost $250m

New details emerge about ‘1DOT,’ a plan set to transform the FAA and its workforce

theaircurrent.com

Reposted by Elan Head

Will Guisbond @willguisbond.com · Sep 8

New from me: MOSAIC is causing some trouble as ambiguous language creates confusion surrounding the development of aircraft with highly automated flight controls.

Read more here on @theaircurrent.com: theaircurrent.com/regulation/m...

MOSAIC brings confusion to simplified flight controls

FAA’s final rule could force an about-face for how manufacturers develop highly automated flight controls

theaircurrent.com

Elan Head @elanhead.com · Sep 4

Note that the photo shows Beta's latest Alia eVTOL prototype with redesigned lifting propellers! We should be seeing more of this aircraft in the months to come. The VTOL variant of Alia will be the first application for the turbogenerator, especially for defense missions.

Elan Head @elanhead.com · Sep 4

GE Aerospace is partnering with Beta Technologies to develop a hybrid-electric turbogenerator, and is also making a $300M equity investment in the Vermont-based eVTOL developer. I caught up with both companies to discuss their new strategic partnership: theaircurrent.com/feed/dispatc...

GE Aerospace partners with Beta Technologies on hybrid-electric propulsion

The engine maker will also invest $300 million in the eVTOL developer as part of the companies' strategic partnership.

theaircurrent.com

Reposted by Elan Head

The Air Current @theaircurrent.com · Aug 28

Jaiwon Shin removed as CEO of struggling eVTOL developer Supernal theaircurrent.com/feed/dispatc... (via @elanhead.com and @jonostrower.com) #staycurrent

Jaiwon Shin removed as CEO of struggling eVTOL developer Supernal

Senior director of business development David Rottblatt will step in to lead Supernal as interim chief operating officer.

theaircurrent.com

Reposted by Elan Head

The Air Current @theaircurrent.com · Aug 25

Trump’s executive order on drones will shape U.S. eVTOL roll-out theaircurrent.com/aviation-pol... (via @elanhead.com) #staycurrent

Trump's executive order on drones will shape U.S. eVTOL roll-out

FAA’s Beyond program for small UAS will provide established structure and waiver authority for eVTOL integration effort.

theaircurrent.com

Reposted by Elan Head

Will Guisbond @willguisbond.com · Aug 19

NEW: FAA chief Bryan Bedford is planning on restructuring his sprawling, 46,000-strong agency -- and is starting with leadership.

My latest scoop for @theaircurrent.com: theaircurrent.com/regulation/f...

New FAA administrator plans agency leadership restructuring

Bryan Bedford discusses first step of his broader plan for FAA cultural reform

theaircurrent.com

Elan Head @elanhead.com · Aug 18

"If it’s something you’re thinking about but are scared to take that first step, do it scared. Don’t wait for the day you have the confidence. You must build the necessary confidence by doing hard things." (Adele is as cool as she sounds, btw) www.londonsairambulance.org.uk/news-and-sto...

Introducing our new Pilot Adele on World Helicopter Day

World Helicopter Day aims to raise awareness of the contributions that helicopters make to our society and celebrate the diverse range of people that design, fly and support them. To mark it here at L...

www.londonsairambulance.org.uk

Reposted by Elan Head

The Air Current @theaircurrent.com · Aug 13

FAA to clarify its automation approach in forthcoming framework document theaircurrent.com/aviation-pol... (via @elanhead.com) #staycurrent

FAA to clarify its automation approach in forthcoming framework document

With its Automation Framework, the agency doesn't assume full autonomy is inevitable or that automation is always safer.

theaircurrent.com

Elan Head @elanhead.com · Aug 13

With its forthcoming Automation Framework, the FAA is taking a practical, task-focused approach to evaluating automation technologies without assuming full autonomy is inevitable. “Autonomy is not at all our North Star. Our North Star really is safety." theaircurrent.com/aviation-pol...

FAA to clarify its automation approach in forthcoming framework document

With its Automation Framework, the agency doesn't assume full autonomy is inevitable or that automation is always safer.

theaircurrent.com

Reposted by Elan Head

The Air Current @theaircurrent.com · Aug 7

From flame-out to fade-out: Defining emergency landings for eVTOLs theaircurrent.com/regulation/f... (via @elanhead.com) #staycurrent

From flame-out to fade-out: Defining emergency landings for eVTOLs

FAA documents discuss what an "equivalent means" to a glide or autorotation might be for a battery-electric aircraft

theaircurrent.com

Elan Head @elanhead.com · Aug 6

Today I went through the 15 minutes of purgatory between learning about a fatal plane crash and confirming that my good friend had not been in it. Most pilots come to accept this as a routine experience; this essay explains its associated impacts on loved ones. www.military.com/spouse/recko...

Reckoning with Mortality: The Hidden Toll of Being a Military Family in the Aviation Community

"The aviation community is very small. The rotary aviation world is even smaller. Since I met my husband in 2010, we have not gone a single year without a fatal crash in our community."

www.military.com

Elan Head @elanhead.com · Aug 2

Took me a while to catch up with this fascinating story by @henrywismayer.bsky.social in @noemamag.com but glad I did. It's a great weekend read: www.noemamag.com/the-unseen-f...

The Unseen Fury Of Solar Storms | NOEMA

Lurking in every space weather forecaster’s mind is the hypothetical big one, a solar storm so huge it could bring our networked, planetary civilization to its knees.

www.noemamag.com

Elan Head @elanhead.com · Aug 1

I spoke with Joby executive chairman Paul Sciarra about the company's new partnership with L3Harris to develop a gas turbine hybrid VTOL for defense missions, including the implications for its partnership with Toyota: theaircurrent.com/feed/dispatc...

Joby and L3Harris partner on hybrid VTOL for counter-UAS, electronic warfare

Contested logistics another main focus for optionally piloted aircraft

theaircurrent.com

Reposted by Elan Head

Will Guisbond @willguisbond.com · Jul 31

NTSB Chair Homendy has ‘20 pages of questions’ on day two of DCA hearing (via @theaircurrent.com ) w/ no paywall: theaircurrent.com/feed/dispatc...

NTSB Chair Homendy has ‘20 pages of questions’ on day two of DCA hearing

Live updates continue from the hearing room

theaircurrent.com

Reposted by Elan Head

Will Guisbond @willguisbond.com · Jul 30

FOLLOW ALONG: @theaircurrent.com will be posting live updates from the NTSB's three-day DCA crash investigative hearing on our website, free as a public service.

Read here: theaircurrent.com/feed/dispatc...

Live Updates: NTSB investigative hearing on DCA mid-air collision

Air safety investigators conduct three-day hearing to gather sworn testimony regarding January’s D.C. midair collision

theaircurrent.com

Elan Head @elanhead.com · Jul 23

Yep!

Reposted by Elan Head

Will Guisbond @willguisbond.com · Jul 22

My first story from Oshkosh is not something I found at the show. Instead, it asks the question: how do you put a price on safety?

The FAA’s decades-long struggle to put a price on aviation safety (via @theaircurrent.com) -- no paywall!

theaircurrent.com/aviation-saf...

The FAA’s decades-long struggle to put a price on aviation safety

The agency’s requirement to conduct a benefit-cost analysis on major new rules favors tangible economic impact over potential improvements to safety

theaircurrent.com

Elan Head @elanhead.com · Jul 21

The podcast doesn't go into much detail about those elements, but here's a video clip of the rescue to drive those points home!