Industry Round-up, March 15, 2019

This week, AVweb's news roundup found reports on new aircraft batteries from True Blue Power, a website supporting congressional action to allow flight operations at airports closed by presidential visits and good news for several military airfields in the U.K. True Blue Power introduced its new, fifth-generation main ship batteries at the Helicopter Association International (HAI) Heli-Expo late last month. According to the company, the ultra-lightweight TB20 (20 amp-hour), TB30 (30 amp-hour) and TB40 (40 amp-hour) are the its first on-condition, lithium-ion engine-start batteries.

The website PTFR.AERO has been created to encourage pilots to support congressional action that would allow flight operations at airports closed during recurring Presidential Temporary Flight Restrictions put in place during presidential visits outside of Washington. The site is sponsored by the New Jersey Aviation Association and Mid-Atlantic Aviation Coalition.

Six military airfields in the U.K. that were due to be closed were either saved or had their decommissioning delayedthis week. Airstrips at Royal Marine's (RM) Condor, RM Chivenor and Ministry of Defence (MoD) Woodbridge bases will now be retained permanently. Decommissioning of Royal Air Force (RAF) Henlow has been delayed until 2023, while RAF Halton and RAF Colerne will remain open until at least 2025.