AVweb’s search of news around the world found a newly revamped aviation program at Parkland College, the unveiling of a helicopter laboratory at the University of Miami, an upcoming STC for Aerocet floats, and announcements for this year’s Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame.The Parkland College Institute of Aviation at the University of Illinois announcedspecial opportunities for students who wish to pursue aviation as a career. Parkland College took over the aviation institute from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in the fall of 2014. As the University of Illinois reformulated its approach to flight training, interested students were turned away but now Parkland is reinvigorating the aviation curriculum and is seeking to rebuild the pipeline of new flight students.The University of Miami (UM) Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science unveiled its one-of-a-kind flying scientific laboratory, the Helicopter Observation Platform.The commercial Airbus Helicopters H125 aircraft (formerly AS350 B3e) is equipped with state-of-the-art technology to support the research missions of the Rosenstiel School scientists and research institutions around the world.
Aerocet Inc. announced it has received FAA approval on the 6650 amphibious aircraft floats to Technical Standard Order TSO-C27 for Twin Seaplane Floats. The next phase of approval, STC, which would allow the floats to be installed on an aircraft, is also close to completion. Aerocet has installed the 6650 amphibious floats onto three different Quest Kodiak 100s.Lt. Col. Maryse Carmichael, CD, RCAF (ret’d), will be the guest speaker at the 42nd annual induction ceremony of Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame. The former RCAF pilot was the first woman chosen to be part of the Snowbirds demonstration flight team, and later became the Commanding Officer of the squadron. The Hall will induct four new members at the gala, to be held June 4, 2015, at the Skyservice Business Aviation Hangar at Toronto / Lester B. Pearson International Airport.Newly minted members for 2015 are Arthur Roy Brown, James Stuart “Jim” McBride, George Miller, and Owen Bartley “O.B.” Philp, C.M., all to be presented by Carmichael. AeroVelo Inc. will be presented with the Belt of Orion Award for Excellence.
