while we wait on more news, some play, some recap re ULCCsThis is just my takeaway from three aviation-related sites -- broadcastify.com, flightaware.com, flightradar24.com -- that I used to monitor a flight of interest. Parts of this post are not specifically about FLYHT, but you may find this interesting.
As I understand things, FLYHT is in the process of having test flights of the Edge performed (on the Boeing Max 8 and the Airbus A320 family) so they can get full STCs. The provisional STCs (installation only) are SA23-41 and SA22-70. They can be viewed at the Transport Canada website. Enter either of these in the Certificate # search field to view.
https://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/saf-sec-sur/2/nico-celn/c_s.aspx?lang=eng Back in January, when looking for a WestJet test flight, I figured that a test flight would show up as a flight from YYC to YYC. Flightradar24 can display any like this on their Departures page. A test flight for the AFIRS 228 was identified at the time. I believe it was needed for an update to SA13-02.
A more recent find is flightaware.com's ability to search for YYC to YYC flights.
https://flightaware.com/live/findflight?origin=CYYC&destination=CYYC (Note: limitations in date range and data accuracy exist with most of these tracking sites.)
Earlier today I saw a YYC to YYC flight had been scheduled by Lynx Air.
Scheduled departure 2:30 PM (Mountain Time)
Airline Lynx Air
Callsign DAT2050
Equipment B38M (C-FULJ)
Aircraft Boeing 737 MAX 8
So I had some time to poke around before watching the flight happen in real time.
I thought it might be interesting to see the plane actually take off, but I couldn't find an airport cam.
Then I thought I might be able to listen to the Calgary tower for radio communications with the plane. I found this site, with a link for Calgary International Airport (CYYC)...
https://www.broadcastify.com/listen/feed/30894 (one brief commercial before the broadcast begins) Possibly useful for information gathering by passengers, might be worth a try next time you are waiting on the tarmac for takeoff for an unknown reason.
There seems to be two air traffic controllers, one in each ear if you listen in stereo.
A lack of experience with the content makes it hard to understand, as does the abrupt cutting in and out of the mics. And, of course, there are periods of silence of varying lengths.
I listened to the tower while watching the airplane activity around YYC on flightradar24.com. The call letters of the different aircraft that flightradar24 provides helps with seeing the result of a request being received or a command being followed.
Just before 3 PM MT, using flightradar24.com, I could see DAT2050 taxi and line up for take off, then take off (2:56 PM MT).
The flight ended at 4:07 PM MT.
The flight can be "played" here.
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/flights/y92050#30e6af5d (See note about limitations above.)
Simplified, the plane took off, turned right, headed E, then turned SE to Lethbridge, then looped left and took a heading of approximately 330 back towards the airport. The plane lined up for 35R, but remained at 4,500 feet and 160 knots, then veered off to the right just as the start of the runway was reached and looped around to make a second approach. (Manipulate the playback to see details during flight.)
I really hadn't heard anything I could positively say was tower communication with DAT2050 until the second half of the racetrack loop. Early on, I thought I heard something about taxiing, and I also think I heard a heads up about some traffic nearby. (The communications are brief and to the point, very little banter.)
What I think I heard was:
"2050 trainer turn right to heading 190." (pilot replies to confirm)
"2050 trainer turn right to heading 250." (pilot replies to confirm)
"2050 trainer descend 6000, heading 250." (pilot replies to confirm)
"2050 trainer turn right to ILS 350." (pilot replies to confirm)
"2050 trainer contact Calgary tower 118.7" (pilot replies to confirm)
So, this flight seems to have been a pilot training flight, or pilot familiarization flight. Lynx Air is based in Calgary, so this makes some sense. So does the fact that they are looking for pilots.
From a job search site: "Are you excited about the prospect of joining a startup organization on the ground floor? Interested in being a part of the changing skies in Canada and beyond? Want to work with world-class leaders who have extensive industry know-how? If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you!
Lynx Air is seeking experienced Pilots to join our rapidly expanding, dynamic team!"
"Our brand-new fleet of Boeing 737 MAX planes will take Canadians to select Canadian and USA destinations at an ultra-affordable price point and we're excited to be building our team that will help us get there. With backing from prominent investors, we're poised to revolutionize the Canadian airline industry." There will likely be more flights like this in the short future.
Possible FLYHT client some day?
Bill Tempany, in December, 2022, in the Alpha Wolf interview, made a comment about ULCCs, that there were four airlines headquartered in Alberta looking at FLYHT technology to help build their ULCC (ultra low cost carrier) companies.
At the time, I researched this and posted that Lynx Air could well be one of them. Flair was another, and Flair is now a client. Swoop, we know, is one. For reasons given then, I thought Canada Jetlines might be the fourth. See the rest of this post here...
https://stockhouse.com/companies/bullboard/v.fly/flyht-aerospace-solutions-ltd?postid=35219299
"2050 trainer turn right to heading 190."
(pilot replies to confirm)
"2050 trainer turn right to heading 250."
(pilot replies to confirm)
"2050 trainer descend 6000, heading 250."
(pilot replies to confirm)
"2050 trainer turn right to ILS 350."
(pilot replies to confirm)
"2050 trainer contact Calgary tower 118.7"