Landing Gear — ATA Chapter 32 Wheels, brakes, shock absorbers, lock braces, and side stays are all familiar terms within the aviation industry. But have you ever heard of ACLS? ACLS stands for Air-Cushion Landing System —an innovative concept that replaces conventional landing gear with a cushion of air. The Air Cushion Landing System (ACLS) was invented by T. Desmond Earl and Wilfred J. Eggington at Bell Aerospace in Buffalo, New York. Development began on December 1, 1963, as a...

In the morning of 23 March 2021, a routine operation over the Baltic Sea set the stage for an incident that highlights how small oversights can quickly escalate. A pilot had just completed a photogrammetric flight north of Jastarnia in a Vulcanair P68. The next step was straightforward: return to the home base at Rzeszów–Jasionka Airport. After landing at Gdańsk Lech Wałęsa Airport, the aircraft was parked on apron 1, stand No 1. and prepared for the next leg. The damaged cockpit section of ...

A Douglas C-47A-80-DL, built in 1944, was operating a cargo flight between Panama City–Bay County International Airport (Florida, USA) and Albany–Dougherty County Airport (Georgia, USA). On board were the captain and co-pilot. After departure, the aircraft climbed normally and settled into cruise at an altitude of 1,500 feet (450 meters). The damaged wing following the loss of the engine (© Steve Leonard) During the cruise phase of the flight, the crew suddenly heard a loud “bang” from the...