This Month in Aviation Training — November 2020

Another month has passed in the global pandemic and saying that it has had an impact on the aviation world would be an enormous understatement. Some countries and regions in the world are still in a lockdown, and some are preparing to re-introduce one. We’re quite fortunate in Europe and the US that the flight schools and pilot training isn’t largely affected at the moment, other than by some social distancing rules imposed by the FAA, CAA and other regulatory bodies.

Despite the situation, a lot is happening in the industry, so we hope that this round-up will help discover the most interesting and important news of this month.

Garmin launches cheaper pilot watch

A company best known for its suite of general aviation hardware products has introduced a new model of the pilot’s smartwatch. Priced at $499 (or a little over £450 in the UK) is the cheapest available watch in this manufacturer’s line-up and, with a rich feature-set, is an interesting alternative to the much more expensive models. While we wouldn’t recommend using it as your primary navigational instrument, it can definitely function as a back-up. Read more about the D2 Air on the Garmin’s website.

EAA and United Airlines Join Forces to Promote Flying Careers

As published on the Flying Magazine’s website, the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) and United Airlines teamed up to encourage young people to pursue aviation on all levels through a variety of programs and activities that build on the strength of each organisation. It’s a very positive initiative in these difficult for the aviation world times!

FAA released 737 Max draft pilot training rules

The 737 Max saga seems to be reaching its end as the FAA releases a draft report proposing training requirements for 737 Max pilots, another step towards the agency’s certification of the grounded jet. The proposed training items address pilot and training concerns highlighted by the Max crashes, however the FAA says they still need to review Boeing’s final documentation, to evaluate compliance with all regulations. Read more on FlightGlobal.

Avidyne Announces the Addition of SkyDemon Flight Planning App for Connectivity with the IFD Series of FMS/GPS/NAV/COMS

SkyDemon, Europe’s most popular flight planning and navigation app, has just become even more useful. A new integration with Avidyne avionics will allow pilots connect their systems to the SkyDemon app and support both pre-flight planning and in-flight navigation. More information available in the press release on the Avidyne website.