Airborne 05.15.26: AOPA Mtg Underwhelms, Hal Shevers Remembered, MD-11s Return

Añadido: 2026-05-15

[00:00:00]Coming up on today's episode of Airborne Unlimited, AOPA member meeting attempts to focus on modernization and culture change, remembering Hal Chevvers, a legacy of leadership and aviation excellence. MD11's return to flight after 6 months grounded for Crash Probe.

[00:00:24]Welcome to Airborne Unlimited. I'm your host, Holland Lee. Let's get into today's stories.

[00:00:29]AOPA member meeting attempts to focus on modernization and culture change.

[00:00:35]New AOPA board chairman Luke Whipler kicked off the May 12th meeting in Frederick, Maryland, saying he's taken on the role with the quote heavy weight of gaining your trust, support, and continued membership. I recognize we need to rebuild your trust end quote. He said in taking on the job, quote, I felt compelled to step up in the interest of GA and ensure AOPA is a strong and vibrant membership association for decades to come. end quote. Whipler has been board chairman for eight weeks. He said he understood that many people were in attendance at the meeting to learn about how AOPA operates in light of the board's decision to modernize and bring new leadership. The membership has been concerned about leadership of the organization since the firing of former CEO Darren Pleasants. Those concerns were expressed by a number of the members at the end of the regular session. Still, the current leadership refused to offer proper transparency about the past and instead explained it wanted to concentrate on the future, seemingly oblivious to the fact that faulty, incomplete foundations do not make for stable futures, and continued to refuse to answer basic questions, including the state of current membership numbers, among other continuing issues.

[00:01:43]After the break, a life in flight and service remembering Dan Ford Ice.

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[00:02:46]Welcome back. Now, let's take a trip around the patch for some shorter stories. A life in flight and service remembering Dan Ford.

[00:02:55]The aviation community is mourning a heartbreaking loss following Tuesday's fatal crash near Tula Vixsburg Regional Airport. Just before 3:30 p.m., Dan Ford was flying a P-51 Mustang when the aircraft went down. The NTSB is now investigating the cause of the accident.

[00:03:12]He was far more than an experienced pilot. A veteran, businessman, and philanthropist, Fordise earned respect both in and outside the aviation world.

[00:03:21]With more than 5,000 hours, he became well known through air shows, warird flying, and his work with the Southern Heritage Air Foundation.

[00:03:29]Skyborn expands US pilot training pipeline.

[00:03:34]Skyborn expands its US training offering with two major additions designed to carry pilots from commercial certification all the way to airline readiness. The academy is introducing an ATP certification training program, better known as ATPCTP, alongside a new CFI pathway for commercial pilots looking to build experience and advance toward the airlines. ATPCTP is the final major training requirement before pilots can take the FAA ATP written exam. Skyborn says the training will be delivered through approved simulator partners in Miami and Orlando.

[00:04:09]Five US bases selected for anti- drone pilot program.

[00:04:14]The US task force responsible for countering small unmanned aircraft chose five military installations to partake in an upcoming anti- drone pilot program. The US Army joint inter agency task force 401 which stood up in August 2025 and included in the fiscal 2026 national defense authorization act selected two southern border installations to join and assist the program in advanced directed energy capabilities. Brigadier General Matt Ross JitF 401 director said quote countering unlawful and adversarial drone activity is a homeland defense imperative end quote.

[00:04:52]Governor grounded.

[00:04:55]There is always a spotlight on government aircraft use. This week, that spotlight landed on Bob Ferguson after Washington's executive ethics board ruled that he violated state ethics law by allowing a former aid to join him on state aircraft for personal travel.

[00:05:09]Former chief strategy officer Mike Webb accompanied Ferguson on a June 2020 flight to the Tri Cities despite no longer working for the state. Ferguson later admitted the decision was a mistake.

[00:05:22]That's it for today's Tripper on the patch. Let's get back to the rest of the news. Remembering Hal Shvers, a legacy of leadership and aviation excellence.

[00:05:32]Hal Chevvers, age 90, founder and longtime chairman of Sporties, a pioneering force in pilot training and a beloved leader in the aviation community, died Tuesday, May 12th in Florida. Chevver's life's work shaped the landscape of GA for more than six decades. As a mechanical engineering student at Purdue University, he earned his private pilot certificate as a member of the Purdue Flying Club. After graduation, he combined his technical skills and his love of flying to launch what would become Sporty's pilot shop by selling from the trunk of his car a small radio that picked up airport control tower transmissions. This innovative entrepreneurial venture eventually grew into the world's largest pilot shop and a leader in product development. From cutting edge ADSB receivers to pilot friendly radios, Chevvers was a pioneer in pilot education, creating one of the first three-day ground school courses in the early 1960s, traveling the country in general aviation aircraft to teach ground school to pilots nationwide. His teaching extended to thousands of pilots through Sporty's Academy, the FAA approved part 141 flight school that he founded to provide in-person instruction and industryleading online courses.

[00:06:40]Additionally, he was our good friend and he will be forever missed.

[00:06:46]After these messages, MD11s returned to flight after 6 months grounded for crash probe.

[00:07:09]Yeah.

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[00:07:55]Welcome back. MD11's return to flight after 6 months grounded for crash probe.

[00:08:01]The MD11 is back in the air, though not quite back in regular service yet. A short FedEx test flight marked the first step toward the trijet's return to service after last November's fatal accident left the jet grounded. FedEx's MD11F completed the test flight out of Memphis on May 9th. The aircraft November 621 Foxtrot Echo departed Memphis International Airport at 5:39 p.m. and returned at 653, earning a little over 70 minutes in the air. This marked the first reported flight of the type since the global grounding that followed last November's fatal UPS crash in Louisville. The flight was part of FedEx's undoubtedly long return to service process as the carrier works through inspections, modifications, and FAA approval tied to the MD11's engine pylon structure. Flight tracking data showed the aircraft climbed to 20,000 ft, flew east, then descended, and flew some laps near Huntsville before returning to Memphis. The grounding took effect after UPS flight 2976 crashed almost immediately after takeoff from Louisville on November 4th, 2025, killing 15 people. Investigators have focused on the left engine and pylon, which separated from the aircraft within seconds of it leaving the ground.

[00:09:14]Reports show that fatigue cracking was previously found in a pylon support component that Boeing had flagged in a 2011 service advisory, though the final NTSB probable cause has not been released.

[00:09:27]And that's our show for today. You can catch episodes of Airborne on YouTube, Roku, or Fire TV. Just search for Aeronnews or Airborne. And don't forget to follow us on social media. Thanks for watching.