News
Navy P-8A Poseidon Pulled From Bay in Hawaii
FLYING Magazine A U.S. Navy maritime reconnaissance aircraft that ended up in Hawaii’s Kaneohe Bay after overrunning a runway on approach two weeks ago has been recovered and is back on dry land. The P-8A Poseidon made the water landing November 20 while attempting an approach at Marine Corps Base Hawaii during rainy conditions. The Boeing 737-based Poseidon is used by the Navy for submarine hunting, as well as anti-surface warfare, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance ... read more
Sullenberger Aviation Museum launches Flight Path fundraising campaign
General Aviation News The Charlotte museum is selling bricks on its Flight Path to help raise funds. Read More read more
Pilots Say Goodbye To Buttonville
AVweb As we’ve reported, Buttonville, one of Canada’s largest GA airports, closed last week, destined to become a sea of featureless warehouses on prime real estate next to Toronto. In addition to the practical necessities of scattering the various businesses, a college flight training program and numerous aircraft in an area already short of GA facilities, there was a lot of emotional attachment to the field. As might be expected, those who called the airport home for decades wanted to ... read more
Top Letters And Comments: Dec. 5, 2023
AVweb Dangerous Osprey? The V-22 Osprey is the only aircraft that I would refuse to fly on. If a helicopter is a group of parts trying to shake itself apart, these things are worse. How many of these things has to crash before someone up high decides the design is just too complicated for routine military maintenance and flight and shuts it down? I have no quarrel with the need for an airplane that can fulfil the MISSION of the V-22 … my beef is that the designs — throughout the years … ... read more
Van’s Files For Chapter 11 Protection
AVweb Van’s Aircraft has filed for Chapter 11 protection while it reorganizes with the goal of maintaining existing services and emerging as a solvent company again. In a statement posted late Monday, Van’s tried to assure owners of 10,000 finished aircraft, builders and future customers the company has a future. “During this period of reorganization, we will continue to source, produce, and provide parts, service, and support to our customers. We will also be crating and shipping kit ... read more
Van’s enters Chapter 11 bankruptcy
AOPA General Aviation News Van’s Aircraft, the world’s largest manufacturer of experimental aircraft kits, has entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy court protection with a business plan in place to continue operations. Read More read more
Training and Safety Tip: The downside of training in actual IMC
AOPA General Aviation News Students and instrument flight instructors often put a lot of emphasis on experiencing instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) during training for the instrument rating, but is that an effective use of time? Read More read more
NASA launches its first on-demand streaming service
General Aviation News Just launched is NASA+, the agency’s no cost, ad-free streaming service featuring live coverage and original video series. Read More read more
Mooney’s yoke comes loose while landing
General Aviation News With landing assured, I began to ease the power back while rounding out into a flare. At about 5 feet AGL, the right control yoke came loose in my hand and the aircraft immediately pitched down toward the runway. Read More read more
An Aviation Chat with a Bot
FLYING Magazine Artificial intelligence is in the news these days. Hardly a day goes by without an apocalyptic warning that AI is going to destroy the human race, or worse, deprive writers of their livelihood. Alarmed by these portents, I decided to see whether I was, in fact, in danger of being replaced by a digital text generator. It would have compelling advantages over me: It would be omniscient and would work for free. I logged in to OpenAI.com and asked to speak to ChatGPT. It ... read more
DIY Tow Bar Upgrades
Plane & Pilot Magazine While nothing about aviation can really be called ‘cheap,’ there are a few projects you can do to extend the life of your airplane, protect … Read More "DIY Tow Bar Upgrades" The post DIY Tow Bar Upgrades appeared first on Plane & Pilot Magazine. Read More read more
Insuring Your Ideal Aircraft: Bracing for the Ups and Downs
FLYING Magazine Time certainly flies. It feels like we just moved Annie, our Commander 114B, into her new hangar, but in fact we are commemorating our first year of aircraft ownership. While recalling interesting destinations, challenging flights, and beautiful scenery brings us great joy, not every detail about hitting the 12-month mark warrants celebration. Yes, I am talking about insurance renewal. As our first year wound down, I was thinking more about annual inspection, our hangar ... read more
YouTuber Jailed For Intentional Crash Stunt
AVweb Trevor Jacob, the California pilot and YouTuber who intentionally crashed a Taylorcraft for video views in 2021, will spend six months in a federal prison for the stunt. Jacob took a plea deal in the protracted case and pleaded guilty to one count of destruction and concealment with the intent to obstruct a federal investigation. That charge resulted from Jacob, 30, a former Olympian and YouTube pitchman for a wallet company, and one of his buddies hauling the wreckage of the T-craft ... read more
Five Bodies Found In Osprey Wreckage
AVweb Navy divers have found a large piece of the V-22 Osprey that went down off Japan Nov. 29. The wreckage, which includes the flight deck, contains the bodies of five of the eight people who were aboard the aircraft. Two of the bodies were recovered Monday. There are still two bodies missing. The remains of Staff Sgt. Jacob Galliher, 24, of Massachusetts, was found shortly after the crash, which occurred off the coast of Yakushima Island. The crew of the tiltrotor declared an emergency ... read more
PIA Flight Attendants Fleeing To Canada
AVweb It seems like every airline is having retention problems these days but Pakistan International Airlines is shedding flight attendants in Toronto. In the past few months at least four flight attendants have failed to show up for the return leg to Islamabad or Lahore after landing in Toronto. Two jumped ship in November prompting the airline to implement stricter regulations for crews travelling to Canada and Europe according to Pakistan Today. Assuming they’re still in Canada, the ... read more
UCA Aviation Academy ready to take flight at KCXW
General Aviation News The University of Central Arkansas, in partnership with the city of Conway, Arkansas, and Conway Regional Airport (KCXW), will open the new UCA Aviation Academy in the spring of 2024. The program will be open to anyone 17 or older, whether they are a student at the university or not. Read More read more
GAN columnist launches new social media site
General Aviation News Jamie Beckett, General Aviation News' Politics for Pilots columnist, has partnered with DPE Pat Brown on Mad Props Aero, a website "designed to educate, entertain, and inspire people of all ages and experience levels who harbor an interest in aviation." Read More read more
What’s going on with the oil pressure in my airplane?
General Aviation News I'm having trouble finding anyone who wants to handle this issue and the sale of the airplane is in escrow pending the resolution of the oil pressure issue. Read More read more
Picture of the Day: Winter maintenance
General Aviation News John Schmidt submitted this photo and note: "Commemorative Air Force members Ron Bombeck, crew chief Dan Bombeck, and pilot Jeff Knutson inspect the Pratt and Whitney R-985 on the nose of the Minnesota Wing's Oshkosh-award-winning BT-13 in the hangar at South St. Paul Airport (KSGS). Winter maintenance has begun, and it's an excellent time to see the warbirds, with inspection panels off, as crews of volunteers prepare the airplanes for another air show season." Read More read more
Demo flight goes awry
General Aviation News Fuel starvation resulting in a loss of engine power. Read More read more
GA advocate flies west
General Aviation News Selena Shilad, the executive director of the Alliance for Aviation Across America, died Nov. 24, 2023, following a brief illness. She was 45. Read More read more
Colorado community college to open A&P school in 2026
General Aviation News Aims Community College is set to open a new Aircraft Maintenance Training Center at KFNL along with the launch of an Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic (A&P) degree program in January 2026. Read More read more
GA volunteers get to work at 1U1
General Aviation News When the president of the Recreational Aviation Foundation learned that there was a volunteer opportunity that he and his fellow pilots were uniquely suited to help with at the Moose Creek USFS Airport (1U1) in Idaho, he jumped at the opportunity, according to officials with the U.S. Forest Service. Read More read more
Airport holds first fly-in in 22 years
General Aviation News For the first time since 2001, Safford Regional Airport (KSAD) in Arizona, hosted a fly-in and Air Fair for the community — and it was an "overwhelming success," according to airport officials. Read More read more
Picture of the Day: Resting easy
General Aviation News Chris Priaulx submitted this photo and note: "Resting easy at Wendover Airport (KENV) in Utah. Read More read more
Spirit Sky Club Looks to Establish Community-Focused Hangar Space
FLYING Magazine According to a recent count by the St. Louis Airport Authority, there were 155 parties waiting for a covered spot to store their aircraft at Spirit of St. Louis Airport (KSUS) in Chesterfield, Missouri. This delta between supply and demand is something that Alex Martin and his family experienced firsthand. Several years ago, the Martins began considering the purchase of a larger family hauler, which wouldn’t fit in the T-hangar where they had long kept their Cessna 182. ... read more
YouTuber Trevor Jacob Sentenced to 6 Months
FLYING Magazine Pilot, skydiver, and former U.S. Olympic snowboarder Trevor Jacob has been sentenced to six months in federal prison for “obstructing a federal investigation by deliberately destroying the wreckage of an airplane that he intentionally crashed.” Jacob, 30, gained notoriety when, on November 24, 2021, he filmed himself bailing out of his Taylorcraft BL-65 after it suffered an alleged engine failure 35 minutes into a flight from California’s Lompoc City Airport (KLPC) to ... read more
NetJets Pilot Union Airs Grievances in Wall Street Journal Ad
FLYING Magazine A group of pilots has called out its boss, famous investor and Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffet, with a Wall Street Journal ad criticizing corporate policy at NetJets Aviation Inc., the Berkshire Hathaway unit where it works. The pilots, who are members of the NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots (NJASAP), an independent pilot labor union, said they took out the front-page ad after their negotiations with NetJets soured. The union said NetJets has refused “to ... read more
Dassault Falcon 6X Enters Service
FLYING Magazine Dassault Aviation announced on Monday that its Falcon 6X business jet has officially entered service. The Falcon 6X received its type certifications from the FAA and European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) on August 22. Dassault noted that the model has since received some post-certification upgrades that required EASA approval. READ MORE: We Fly: Dassault Falcon 6X “Dassault Aviation shares this remarkable occasion with its customers, who are sure to receive an ... read more
‘I felt a spark light in my soul’
AOPA General Aviation News Until her senior year of high school, Alexis Noel was uninspired and had no idea what she wanted to do in life. It wasn’t until she attended an Explorer Post/STEM club event at the Boeing campus that she finally found her calling in aviation. Read More read more
Airframe Delivery Launches Coast Guard’s MH-60T Extension Program
FLYING Magazine The U.S. Coast Guard has received the first of 45 MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter replacement airframes as part of a program to extend the aircraft’s service life into the 2040s, according to Lockheed Martin subsidiary Sikorsky. A workhorse of the Coast Guard, the MH-60T all-weather, medium-range recovery helicopter has been used by the service for rapid-response missions since the 1990s. Its airframe’s maximum operational life limit is 20,000 flight hours. READ MORE: Sikorsky ... read more
‘I felt a spark light in my soul’
AOPA General Aviation News Until her senior year of high school, Alexis Noel was uninspired and had no idea what she wanted to do in life. It wasn’t until she attended an Explorer Post/STEM club event at the Boeing campus that she finally found her calling in aviation. Read More read more
Alaska Airlines Seeks to Acquire Hawaiian Airlines
FLYING Magazine Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines may soon merge to become one of the largest air carriers in the world. On Sunday, Alaska Air Group Inc. (NYSE: ALK) announced plans to acquire Hawaiian Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: HA). According to a statement from the air carriers, the Seattle-based airline will “acquire Hawaiian Airlines for $18 per share in cash, for a transaction value of approximately $1.9 billion, inclusive of $0.9 billion of Hawaiian Airlines net debt.” An identical ... read more
This 1975 Great Lakes 2T-1A-2 Is a Golden Age, Aerobatic ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Each day, the team at Aircraft For Sale picks an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, represents a good deal, or has other interesting qualities. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1975 Great Lakes 2T-1A-2. The Great Lakes 2T-1A-2 matches the image that appears in people’s imagination when someone says “biplane” with its swept wings, sleek lines and graceful proportions. The model’s ancestors ... read more
South Korea to Buy Embraer C-390 for Military Transport
FLYING Magazine The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) is set to buy an undisclosed number of Embraer C-390 Millennium military transport aircraft, according to the Brazilian manufacturer. The aircraft was selected by South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) as the winner of the Large Transport Aircraft (LTA) II public tender for a new military transport airplane for ROKAF, Embraer said Monday. READ MORE: Agreement Expands Embraer Expands Foothold in Saudi ... read more
CV-22 Wreckage, Crew Remains Located in Search Off Coast of Japan
FLYING Magazine U.S. and Japanese military search teams have located the sunken fuselage and remains of five additional crewmembers who were on board an Air Force CV-22B Osprey that crashed off the coast of Japan last week, Air Force Special Operations Command said Monday. The CV-22B assigned to the Air Force’s 353rd Special Operations Wing at Yokota Air Base, Japan went down offshore of Yakushima Island Wednesday afternoon with eight crew members on board during a routine training ... read more
Drone Hunting Jet Drone Unveiled
AVweb A Silicone Valley defense contractor (yep) says it’s come up with a relatively inexpensive high-speed jet drone to counteract the drone swarms that are reshaping war half a world away. Both Ukraine and Russia are becoming increasingly reliant on pilotless kamikaze drones that can loiter invisibly for hours and pounce on unsuspecting targets with high explosive payloads. The hunter becomes the hunted when Anduril’s new Roadrunner is on station. It will use artificial intelligence to ... read more
New Hope For Flight Medical Clarity?
AVweb About 10 years ago, the Federal Flight Surgeon’s Office decided that sleep apnea was the next scourge of the skies and must be eliminated. New research had determined that certain physical characteristics made it more likely that a person might suffer from the disorder, which can increase the chance of heart failure and sudden death. So it ordered AMEs across the country to send every pilot with a paunch for a sleep study at a cost of thousands of dollars. Filled with bureaucratic ... read more
Poll: Is Collings Foundation Right To End Air Tours?
AVweb Poll: Is Collings Foundation Right To End Air Tours? Poll: Is Collings Foundation Right To End Air Tours No. Accidents happen and we learn from them. No. It will set a precedent for other air tour operators. It was a difficult but necessary decision. Taking passengers in old warbirds has always been a bad idea. Other Δ The post Poll: Is Collings Foundation Right To End Air Tours? appeared first on AVweb. Read More read more
How New England Air Museum Restores Aircraft
AVweb Most people only see the public areas of flight museums and wonder how all that historic beauty and precision is created and maintained. Aviation Consumer Editor-in-Chief Larry Anglisano got to see where the real magic happens at the New England Air Museum. The post How New England Air Museum Restores Aircraft appeared first on AVweb. Read More read more
Finding Wilbur Wright on the Wabash
FLYING Magazine Flying from Cincinnati west to Columbus, Indiana (KBAK) is popular with local pilots because it’s only about 60 miles and the airport restaurant is great. Naturally, it’s also popular with the locals, so getting a table for 6 or 8 fly-in airplane pilots usually involves a wait. I don’t mind because I like remembering so many interesting hours (and days) in that terminal build- ing doing Part 135 flight checks and type rating rides in Rhoades Aviation Douglas DC-3 ... read more
American Flies Gold Star Families to Orlando in Snowball Express Airlift
FLYING Magazine American Airlines has partnered with the Gary Sinise Foundation to once again transport Gold Star families as part of Snowball Express, an annual event that brings together the surviving spouses and children of fallen military service members for a five-day experience at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla. The Snowball Express program is more than just a vacation to the happiest place on earth. It’s an opportunity for families to connect with others who understand their ... read more
Alaska Air Hopes To Buy Hawaiian Airlines
AVweb Alaska Air Group intends to buy Hawaiian Airlines for $1.9 billion in cash. Alaska announced the deal on Sunday and said the two airlines are complementary in terms of route structure and culture. Hawaiian has the most flights to the Lower 48 but most are limited to airports along the west coast. It’s only flight to the East is to JFK. Alaska, on the other hand, links West Coast and Alaska cities to most major airports in the contiguous U.S. Where the two carriers diverge is in ... read more
Collings Foundation Ends Aircraft Tours
AVweb FLYING Magazine is reporting that four years after the deadly crash of its B-17 and the damning investigation that followed, the Collings Foundation has announced it will end its popular Wings of Freedom tours and put its aircraft on static display. Nine-O-Nine crashed while the crew tried to coax it back to Bradley International Airport in Hatford, Connecticut in 2019, after a partial power loss shortly after takeoff. There were seven passengers and three crew onboard and only three ... read more
Gipps AirVan Founder Buys Back Company
AVweb GippsAero, maker of the Airvan 8 utility aircraft, is returning to its Australian roots after founder and former CEO George Morgan bought out the shares owned by India’s biggest company. Since 2010 Mahindra Aerospace has been the majority shareholder in the company, which certified and began manufacturing the Airvan 8 in the mid-2000s. The partnership didn’t work out as planned and in 2020 Mahindra ceased production. Morgan told Austrailian Flying he’s anxious to take the original ... read more
This 1978 Beechcraft B60 Duke is a Fast, Pressurized ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Each day, the team at Aircraft For Sale picks an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, represents a good deal, or has other interesting qualities. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1978 Beechcraft B60 Duke. Many general aviation pilots who are determined to advance to ever more complex high-performance aircraft will eventually end up in pressurized cabin-class twins. Those wishing to give ... read more
Volato Completes PACI Merger, Prepares to Go Public
FLYING Magazine Volato has officially completed a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) merger with PROOF Acquisition Corp I (PACI), clearing the way for the private aviation company to go public. Volato, which offers fractional ownership, aircraft management, jet card, deposit, and charter programs, announced its plans to become a publicly traded company last August. PACI shareholders approved the move at a special shareholders meeting on November 28. Volato’s common stock and ... read more
After Years of Doubt and Decline, Toronto’s Buttonville Airport Is Closed
FLYING Magazine After years of speculation, rumors, and a drawn-out process one local pilot said was akin to a roller-coaster ride, Toronto’s Buttonville Airport (CYKZ), once one of Canada’s busiest, has closed. Airport management announced in May that the airport would shut down on November 30 and that all aircraft, including about 300 based at the field, would have to be removed by then. While that single message seemed clear, it was part of a series of communications that were not ... read more
Rotorcraft or Reindeer?
Plane & Pilot Magazine Does Santa’s sleigh run on horsepower or reindeer power? The point is moot this week, as the jolly old soul opts for an updated mode … Read More "Rotorcraft or Reindeer?" The post Rotorcraft or Reindeer? appeared first on Plane & Pilot Magazine. Read More read more
Pilots Share Their ‘Gift’ Flights
FLYING Magazine Turns out, many of us feel grateful for the gift of flight. At least that’s based on the response we had to my recent Thanksgiving “View From Above” installment, in which I reflected on several recent flights that were meaningful. At the end of it, I asked readers to share their own stories. Here is a trio of them. Dear Julie… “I read your excellent article with a smile. Having just turned 59 (a fact that truly shocks me), your quips about changes as we age rang deep and ... read more
Fire Destroys Greenville Hangar
FLYING Magazine Four aircraft were lost when a hangar at South Carolina’s Greenville Downtown Airport (KGMU) was destroyed in an early-morning fire last month. No one was injured in the blaze. The hangar was owned by the Greenville-based charter, maintenance, and aircraft management company Special Services Corporation (SSC). In addition to the aircraft, two of which belonged to SSC’s charter fleet and two of which were client-owned aircraft in for maintenance, the company lost much of ... read more
NASA, Air Force, and ResilienX Partner to Build AAM Operations Center
FLYING Magazine Two U.S. agencies working to usher in the era of advanced air mobility (AAM) are stepping up their partnership. AFWERX, the innovation arm of the U.S. Air Force, is collaborating with NASA to develop a digital operations center for AAM services, such as electric air taxis, nationwide. The project follows a partnership agreed on by AFWERX and the FAA in June to exchange flight test data and testing capabilities for emerging aircraft designs, such as electric vertical ... read more
Festive Fun: Santa Lands by Helicopter at Museum
FLYING Magazine Does Santa’s sleigh run on horsepower or reindeer power? The point is moot this week, as the jolly old soul opts for an updated mode of transportation. Santa Claus will make a grand entrance at the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire in style—in a helicopter. The touchdown is scheduled for 11 a.m. right outside the museum. One can only assume the reindeer are resting up in anticipation of their most intense workday of the year later this month. Families eager to witness ... read more
Van’s 4-seat RV-10 is an S-LSA — in Brazil
General Aviation News It is amazing what can happen when there is a desire to make something happen. Read More read more
Picture of the Day: Love the view
General Aviation News Diana Layton submitted this photo and note: "Coming in for a landing at Grant County Airport (W99) in Petersburg, West Virginia." Read More read more
An unnecessary hazard
General Aviation News I write this in the hope that seaplanes no longer be allowed to take off under a traffic pattern of a non-towered airport when the use of radios are not required. Read More read more
New prop certified for Cessna 414
General Aviation News The STC applies to aircraft with or without RAM IV and VII, powered by Continental TSIO-520-N, -NB or TSIO-520-NB engines modified through an FAA STC, according to officials with the German company. Read More read more
New Michigan maintenance technician school gets FAA nod
General Aviation News While most AMTS programs are 18 to 24 months long, Legacy Aviation offers a 12 month timeline that accelerates a student’s trajectory into the workforce, according to officials. Read More read more
Take flight in a Sopwith Camel
General Aviation News The Museum of Flight in Seattle recently unveiled two Sopwith Camel simulators designed and built by one-G Simulation, in collaboration with Cignatec, an education technology company. Read More read more
The pilot population is getting younger
General Aviation News The average age of a pilot who holds a medical certificate is 39.6 years. Read More read more
Pictures of the Day: SeaReys fly around Devil’s Island
General Aviation News Hal Roberts submitted these photos and note: "A long anticipated trip finally happened with weather cooperating. Tom Platner with wife Janet and Wes Tanaka and I and my wife Joan had hoped to fly to Madeline Island in Wisconsin for a weekend stay early September 2023. To land on Lake Superior water requires an unusually low wind day but we were lucky! After landing at the Beach Club beach in La Pointe on Madeline Island we had lunch then took off for a tour around the ... read more
Takeoff into IMC fatal for student pilot and passenger
General Aviation News The student pilot’s decision to depart into night instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation and a loss of airplane control. Read More read more
NTSB summit focuses on pilot mental health
General Aviation News “Everyone should feel safe speaking up, getting the mental health care they need, regardless of their profession. Aviation should be no different, and yet it is different,” said NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy. “Current federal rules incentivize people to either lie about their needs or avoid seeking help in the first place — and that’s not safe for anyone.” Read More read more
GA Leaders Say FAA Reauthorization ‘Absolutely Critical’
Plane & Pilot Magazine By Julie Boatman The FAA Reauthorization Bill made it this far through a polarized U.S. House of Representatives earlier this year. Now it faces an … Read More "GA Leaders Say FAA Reauthorization ‘Absolutely Critical’" The post GA Leaders Say FAA Reauthorization ‘Absolutely Critical’ appeared first on Plane & Pilot Magazine. Read More read more
This Incredible Plane: T-38 Talon
Plane & Pilot Magazine The T-38 has managed to be forgiving enough to allow aspiring young U.S. Air Force pilots, with a little more than 100 hours flight time in their logbooks, to solo in it in just 10 to 12 hours. Read More "This Incredible Plane: T-38 Talon" The post This Incredible Plane: T-38 Talon appeared first on Plane & Pilot Magazine. Read More read more
Air Force Orders 15 More KC-46A Pegasus Tankers
FLYING Magazine The U.S. Air Force awarded Boeing a $2.3 billion contract award to purchase 15 additional KC-46A Pegasus tankers, the aircraft manufacturer announced. The deal increases current global orders for the aerial refuelers to 153 aircraft, Boeing said. READ MORE: Air Force KC-46 Flies Refueling Mission Without Copilot “We appreciate our partnership with the U.S. Air Force, which allows for the expansion of the capacity and capability of the KC-46A fleet,” Lynn Fox, vice ... read more
Search for Missing CV-22 Crew Remains Ongoing in Japan
FLYING Magazine The U.S. and Japanese military continued a search and rescue operation for seven missing CV-22B Osprey crew members Friday, two days after the tiltrotor aircraft they were on board crashed off the coast of Japan. The remains of one crew member on board the aircraft at the time of the mishap have been recovered, Air Forces Special Operations Command (AFSOC) confirmed in a statement Friday morning. According to the command, the seven remaining aircrew were considered to be ... read more
Stakeholders Push for FAA Reauthorization Through the Senate
FLYING Magazine The FAA Reauthorization Bill made it this far through a polarized U.S. House of Representatives earlier this year. Now it faces an equally charged path through the Senate in order to cross the finish line. With more than 2,000 “unique requests” logged from members of Congress and around the industry, according to a statement posted on its website, the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure’s Subcommittee on Aviation invited key stakeholders from the ... read more
Picture Of The Week: Dec. 1, 2023
AVweb 1 of 5 Photo by Ryan Carson Sunset flight north of Albuquerque, NM on November 26, 2023. The moon is rising and the instrumen Sunset Flight Photo by Erik Swanberg Just before engine start at SBN for a Notre Dame game. Preflight Complete Photo by Lorne Direnfeld This photo was taken at 6500 feet, ... read more
GAMA Leader Calls On Congress To Secure FAA Funding Stability
AVweb Yesterday (Nov. 30), General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) president and CEO Pete Bunce testified before the Aviation Subcommittee of the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The hearing, titled “Turbulence Ahead: Consequences of Delaying a Long-Term FAA Bill” addressed the importance of providing funding and leadership stability within the Federal Aviation Administration. In his opening statement, Bunce praised the subcommittee for its bipartisan ... read more
Aviation Thriller ‘The Shepherd’ Will Boost Any Pilot’s Holiday Runup
FLYING Magazine It is Christmas Eve, 1957, and a young Royal Air Force officer stationed in Germany is granted leave at nearly the last minute, allowing him just enough time to fly home for the holiday. The pilot straps into his de Havilland Vampire fighter, is cleared for takeoff and heads toward his home field, RAF Lakenheath. The night flight will take about an hour and he has plenty of fuel. The weather is overcast with fog but our protagonist is instrument-rated and current so all ... read more
11 Mistakes that Student Pilots Make
FLYING Magazine Mistakes are part of the learning process. Expect to make some as you learn to fly, or when you pursue additional certificates and/or ratings. Be careful where you get your information from—when you are beginning the journey, you don’t know what you don’t know. And sometimes myths and rumors abound from fellow learners. But we’re here to help: We’ve put together a list of some of the most common mistakes that fledgling pilots make. 1. Trying to steer with the yoke on the ... read more
ForeFlight Teams With Honda Aircraft On Runway Analysis Product
AVweb Aviation software company ForeFlight announced today (Nov. 30) it has teamed with Honda Aircraft on its new HondaJet HA-420 Runway Analysis product, available as part of the operators’ regular subscription plan. The application supports HondaJet pilots in evaluating takeoff and landing parameters using ForeFlight’s integrated obstacle analysis technology. The new capability enhances ForeFlight’s existing weight and balance calculations as well as enroute performance data. The new ... read more
NTSB Plans Summit On Pilot Mental Health Next Week
AVweb The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will conduct a roundtable discussion next Wednesday (Dec. 6) on the issue of concern over pilots’ mental health issues. The summit, titled “Navigating Mental Health in Aviation,” will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST at the NTSB Boardroom and Conference Center in Washington, D.C., and will be open to the public. To register, go to NTSB Aviation Safety Summit: Navigating Mental Health in Aviation. The event will not be ... read more
Tamarack-Modified King Air Logs A Pair Of Record Flights
AVweb Sandpoint, Idaho-based Tamarack Aerospace announced earlier this week it has received recognition from both the U.S. National Aeronautic Association (NAA) and the European Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) for record flights involving Tamarack’s modified and upgraded Beechcraft King Air 350 twin turboprop. The King Air is equipped with Tamarack’s Smartwing upgrade, which increases wing length and adds winglets. Unique to the Smartwing winglet installation is its autonomous ... read more
FAA Wants To Increase Recording Times On CVRs To 25 Hours
AVweb The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proposing to extend cockpit voice recorders (CVRs) recording time to 25 hours for all newly manufactured aircraft that require them, according to a press release issued today (Nov. 30). Existing regulations require CVRs, commonly known as black boxes, to record a minimum of two hours before new data begins to overwrite the previous recording. A summary of the agency’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) states that increasing the ... read more
NTSB Releases New Data On AUS Near-Collision
AVweb The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released new details in its ongoing investigation of a near-collision between a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 and a FedEx Boeing 767 cargo plane at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), Texas, earlier this year. The agency collected roughly 3,000 pages of transcripts from interviews with the involved pilots, controllers, and other factual data from the incident, which occurred on Feb. 4. The close call is one of several the NTSB ... read more
Titan takes over Aeroshell team sponsorship
AOPA General Aviation News The airshow demonstration team known to fans for decades as the Aeroshell Aerobatic Team announced that beginning December 3, it will replace its distinctive orange-and-white livery with new colors, and fly as the Titan Aerobatic Team sponsored by Titan Aviation Fuels. Read More read more
FAA expanding weather camera coverage
AOPA General Aviation News FAA weather cameras have been a popular source of weather information since they were first deployed in Alaska nearly a quarter-century ago. Read More read more
‘A very positive thing’
AOPA General Aviation News A third-generation pilot in Texas is poised to fire up a new streaming service made with the singular overarching goal of fostering love of aviation, and active participation. Read More read more
GA STAKEHOLDERS URGE PASSAGE OF LONG-TERM FAA REAUTHORIZATION BILL
AOPA General Aviation News WASHINGTON, D.C., November 30, 2023 – Several general aviation (GA) groups today advised Congress that continued short-term extensions of authorization for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) would “challenge the certainty that industry and the FAA depend on to enable long-term planning and investment in many critical areas required to ensure the safety of the NAS and America’s global leadership in aviation.” Read More read more
This 1977 Cessna T210 Centurion is a Fast, Heavy-Lifting ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Each day, the team at Aircraft For Sale picks an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, represents a good deal, or has other interesting qualities. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1977 Cessna T210 Centurion. When I went shopping for a high-performance retractable piston single that could haul my family around quickly and operate from short fields I began with the Cessna 210. There are many ... read more
Hearing and Doing
Plane & Pilot Magazine It’s not just me. Many of the pilot population in my circle confess to having the same difficulty: understanding what the heck ATC is saying, … Read More "Hearing and Doing" The post Hearing and Doing appeared first on Plane & Pilot Magazine. Read More read more
Collings Foundation Grounds WWII Aircraft
FLYING Magazine “In the wake of the 2019 B-17 Flying Fortress accident…” The message begins in the Collings Foundation American Heritage Museum newsletter, “We are moving forward on our long-term plans to bring the aircraft from a nationwide flying exhibition to permanent display here in Massachusetts.” For decades, the Wings of Freedom tour brought World War II aircraft to thousands of aviation fans at airports across the country, offering rides for a price aboard the Boeing B-17G, B-25, ... read more
Schweizer Receives FAA Part 145 Repair Station Certificate
FLYING Magazine Schweizer, the Fort Worth, Texas, company that manufactures Schweizer S300, S300CBi, and S333 helicopters, said it received an FAA Part 145 repair station certification, allowing it to repair and overhaul its aircraft and components under an FAA-approved quality system. READ MORE: Schweizer Finishes First Factory Refreshed S300CBi Helicopter “We are extremely grateful to our partners at the FAA who helped us earn this additional level of quality assurance and capability as ... read more
Titan takes over Aeroshell team sponsorship
AOPA General Aviation News The airshow demonstration team known to fans for decades as the Aeroshell Aerobatic Team announced that beginning December 3, it will replace its distinctive orange-and-white livery with new colors, and fly as the Titan Aerobatic Team sponsored by Titan Aviation Fuels. Read More read more
Crash Prompts Japan To Call on U.S. Military To Ground Ospreys
FLYING Magazine A day after a fatal Air Force CV-22 Osprey crash, Japan’s military has temporarily grounded its fleet of the tiltrotor aircraft and is calling on the U.S. military to do the same. A CV-22B assigned to the Air Force’s 353rd Special Operations Wing at Yokota Air Base, Japan went down offshore of Yakushima Island Wednesday afternoon during a routine training mission, killing at least one of the eight airmen on board, according to reports. Thursday, Japanese military officials ... read more
Lessons from the Truckee NTSB Case Study
FLYING Magazine The only good thing to come out of aviation accidents, be they large or small, is that we can often learn from the mistakes of others. I adopted this mindset years ago when I was tasked with writing up accident reports from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). In hindsight, the mistakes can be glaring, leaping off the page. How to mitigate the risks and the failures that led to the event takes a little more thought. The NTSB recently released a video of a panel ... read more
How New England Air Museum Restores Aircraft
FLYING Magazine Walk the multiple hangars of aircraft on display at the New England Air Museum (NEAM) in Connecticut and you’ll see a healthy collection of flying machines and accessories—many of which are one-of-a-kind and the only ones in the world. But perhaps even more impressive than NEAM’s collection is how it restores and preserves these machines. FLYING Media Group’s Larry Anglisano recently spent some time behind the scenes with museum restoration lead Bob Vozzola for an ... read more
NAA, FAI Recognize Record Flights In King Air With Tamarack Aerospace Smartwing Upgrade
FLYING Magazine Tamarack Aerospace received recognition from the National Aeronautic Association (NAA) and the European Federation Aeronautique International (FAI) for two record-setting flights in a Beechcraft King Air 350 modified with the company’s Smartwing technology. The Smartwing upgrade includes extending the aircraft’s wingspan and adding winglets and autonomous control surfaces that respond to turbulence to reduce its effect. Tamarack said the technology results in as much as a ... read more
GA STAKEHOLDERS URGE PASSAGE OF LONG-TERM FAA REAUTHORIZATION BILL
AOPA General Aviation News WASHINGTON, D.C., November 30, 2023 – Several general aviation (GA) groups today advised Congress that continued short-term extensions of authorization for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) would “challenge the certainty that industry and the FAA depend on to enable long-term planning and investment in many critical areas required to ensure the safety of the NAS and America’s global leadership in aviation.” Read More read more
Should We All Be Frightened of the GA Future Ahead?
FLYING Magazine “Do you want to fly to Lakeland and back?” It’s my friend Tom with an offer to fly from Tampa Executive Airport (KVDF) to KLAL, a distance of 17 nautical miles, for an airplane swap. By airplane swap, I mean just that. Tom owns not one, but two Aerostars. We’ll take Mike Echo to Aeromech for an annual and fly back in Juliet Alpha. How could such an enticing invitation turn my mood so sour? Actually, I started out already feeling somewhat bummed. I’ve been licking my wounds ... read more
Airbus NH90 Sea Tiger Naval Helicopter Makes First Flight
FLYING Magazine Airbus’ NH90 Sea Tiger multi-role frigate helicopter variant designed for Germany’s navy made its first flight Thursday, the aircraft manufacturer announced. The maiden flight occurred at Airbus Helicopters’ production facility in Donauwörth, Germany. The aircraft will now enter a qualification phase that includes flight testing with newly installed systems before deliveries begin by the end of 2025. The aircraft is the newest variant of the Airbus NH90 naval helicopter, ... read more
FAA expanding weather camera coverage
AOPA General Aviation News FAA weather cameras have been a popular source of weather information since they were first deployed in Alaska nearly a quarter-century ago. Read More read more
‘A very positive thing’
AOPA General Aviation News A third-generation pilot in Texas is poised to fire up a new streaming service made with the singular overarching goal of fostering love of aviation, and active participation. Read More read more
Watch: The RAF at 20 Years into Moose Creek
FLYING Magazine The airstrips that the Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF) has defended and nurtured over the past 20 years remain viable because an urgent message was triggered to safeguard them for the future. They represent some of our most precious resources in aviation, and a collection of more than 11,000 volunteers coordinated by the RAF have helped maintain them and promote them to the flying community. Join FLYING’s editor-in-chief Julie Boatman as she flies in with a work ... read more
FAA Approves Testing Landmark For Unleaded Avgas Contender
AVweb The Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions (EAGLE) team announced today (Nov. 29) that the first high-octane unleaded aviation fuel has reached an FAA milestone. According to an FAA announcement today, the agency “has approved the advancement to full-scale engine and flight testing of unleaded UL100E aviation fuel for piston-engine aircraft developed by LyondellBasell Industries/VP Racing. The UL100E fuel successfully passed a 150-hour engine durability test under the Piston ... read more
USAF Osprey Tiltrotor Lost Off Japan Coast: At Least One Confirmed Dead
AVweb A U.S. Air Force CV-22B Osprey tiltrotor crashed yesterday (U.S. time) off the southern coast of Japan. One body has been recovered, and the remaining seven crew members were still missing as of 4 p.m. EST Wednesday (Nov. 29), according to the Japanese coast guard. According to the USAF Special Operations Command statement, the Osprey was assigned to the 353rd Special Operations Wing at the Yokota Air Base. The tiltrotor departed along with a second Osprey from the U.S. Marine Corps ... read more
November 10 Near-Collision At JFK
AVweb The crew of American Airlines Flight 28 asked to speak to air traffic controllers after a near-collision at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York on November 10. As illustrated in ATC recordings posted on YouTube at the You Can See ATC channel, their Airbus A321, on approach to JFK on a flight from Los Angeles, was cleared for the approach to Runway 22 Left at the same time a VFR Tradewind Aviation Pilatus PC12 was cleared for its visual approach to Runway 22 ... read more
Honeywell Awarded Lead Role In AI-Based Single-Pilot Research
AVweb Earlier this month, Honeywell announced it is leading the DARWIN project under the European Union SESAR 3 Joint Undertaking. The goal of DARWIN (a painfully stretched acronym for “Digital Assistants for Reducing Workload and Increasing…collaboration”) is “to leverage artificial intelligence [AI] and advance single-pilot operations in Europe.” The research is designed to develop a human-AI system that will define “clear roles and responsibilities; with human pilots remaining the ... read more
GA Industry Mourns Passing Of AAAA’s Selina Shilad
AVweb The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) was among several general aviation organizations mourning the passing of Selena Shilad, leader of the Alliance for Aviation Across America (AAAA). Shilad died on Nov. 24 at age 45 after a short illness. NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen, who serves as chair of AAAA, said, “Selena was one of the most committed, passionate, resourceful, and effective coalition builders and aviation advocates imaginable. Every single day, she engaged with ... read more
Short Final: Do Over
AVweb I was making a late‐night approach to Des Moines International Airport. Me: “Des Moines approach, Baron 12KA, 15 east at 3000.” Tower: “12KA turn left heading 180, descend then right to land on 23.” Me: “Roger, 12KA.” I was on a heading of 270, then turned left to 180 and headed south. With the airport in sight, I started a turn to the right on an initial heading of about 195 toward the airport. Tower: “Baron 12 KA, I realize you are the only plane in the sky but your clearance was ... read more
Short Final: Optical Delusion
AVweb All my flying for the first several years of owning my Grumman AA1-B was VFR, even at night. And my electronic navigation was limited to the Narco Escort 110 in the panel, which could navigate and communicate, but not both at the same time. I learned the trick of setting what seemed like a good heading, then looking out at something distinctive near the horizon – a large town, brightly lit highway intersection, or a night baseball game – and steering toward it. Then picking up the ... read more
This 1961 Mooney M20B Is a Fast, Fuel-Sipping ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Each day, the team at Aircraft For Sale picks an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, represents a good deal, or has other interesting qualities. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1961 Mooney M20B. Albert Mooney designed several aircraft for a variety of missions during his career. A number of them were well-known, including the Culver Cadet and Mooney M-18 Mite. The M20 series, which debuted ... read more
Fly a Virtual Sopwith Camel
FLYING Magazine Visitors to the Museum of Flight in Seattle will soon have an opportunity to experience the earliest days of military aviation thanks to the collaboration of two local technology companies. The talents of One-G Simulation, the makers of FAA-approved flight training devices, and education technology company Cignatec have created two Sopwith Camel simulators as part of the Museum’s World War I exhibit. The museum commissioned One-G to design and build the devices to give ... read more
UNLEADED FUEL CANDIDATE ADVANCES INTO NEXT STAGE OF PAFI TESTING
AOPA General Aviation News WASHINGTON, D.C. – November 29, 2023 – General aviation industry members of the Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions (EAGLE) initiative are applauding the news of the first unleaded fuel candidate to successfully pass the most rigorous Piston Aviation Fuels Initiative (PAFI) initial detonation and 150-hour engine durability test phase, and continued progress toward an unleaded future. Read More read more
Protecting Africa’s wildlife starts in the sky
AOPA General Aviation News In Nairobi National Park in Kenya, orphaned infant African elephants are fighting for a future. Read More read more
3 Ways You Might be Sabotaging Your Own Insurance Renewal
AOPA General Aviation News The annual letter arrives from your aviation insurance company sounding the alarm for another approaching renewal. Read More read more
Cirrus Adds Second Vision Jet Simulator
FLYING Magazine Cirrus Aircraft has installed a second SF50 Vision Jet flight simulator at its Cirrus Aircraft Vision Center in Knoxville, Tennessee, the company announced on Tuesday. The simulator was built by Canada-based simulator manufacturer CAE. The FAA-certified Level D Vision Jet simulator is intended for use in the Cirrus’ flight training program as well as to “to serve the company’s expansion plans.” Training activities at the Center include initial type rating and recurrent ... read more
Search and Rescue Underway After AFSOC CV-22 Goes Down Off Coast of Japan
FLYING Magazine The U.S. Air Force launched a search and rescue operation Wednesday after a CV-22B Osprey with eight airmen on board crashed off the coast of Japan. As of Wednesday afternoon, the crew’s conditions were unknown, Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) said in a statement. The tiltrotor aircraft was assigned to the 353rd Special Operations Wing at Yokota Air Base, Japan. The mishap occurred during a routine training mission offshore of Yakushima Island, AFSOC ... read more
Another Unleaded Avgas Contender Goes Into Full[-Scale Testing
Plane & Pilot Magazine The LyondellBasell/VP Racing UL100E fuel becomes the first to pass a key PAFI durability test. Read More "Another Unleaded Avgas Contender Goes Into Full[-Scale Testing" The post Another Unleaded Avgas Contender Goes Into Full[-Scale Testing appeared first on Plane & Pilot Magazine. Read More read more
Bristow Places Deposit for Early Delivery of Five Electra eSTOLs
FLYING Magazine Vertical flight solutions provider Bristow Group is looking to shorten the runway for short-hop advanced air mobility (AAM) flights. The Houston-based operator on Wednesday placed a deposit on early delivery positions for five hybrid-electric, ultra-short takeoff and landing (eSTOL) aircraft from manufacturer Electra.aero. The companies signed a memorandum of understanding for the preorder of up to 50 aircraft in 2021, and Bristow is expected to be Electra’s principal ... read more
What Is the Difference Between RNAV Z and Y Approaches?
FLYING Magazine Question: I am an instrument pilot in training at an airport that has two RNAV approaches for the same runway. One is labeled RNAV (GPS) Y RWY 16; the other is RNAV (GPS) Z 16. Why would the FAA create two GPS approaches to the same runway? Answer: Broadly speaking, the Y approach is more geared toward single-engine, piston-powered aircraft, and the Z approach more appropriate for jets. Put the approach plates side by side and you’ll note the Z has lower weather minimums ... read more
Unleaded Avgas Candidate Passes Critical Engine Tests, Moves Ahead
FLYING Magazine Encouraging news about unleaded aviation fuel arrived from the FAA on Wednesday. The agency cleared the unleaded UL100E avgas developed by LyondellBasell Industries/VP Racing for piston-engine aircraft to move ahead to full-scale engine and flight testing. The announcement came after the fuel passed a 150-hour engine durability test under the Piston Aviation Fuels Initiative (PAFI), a collaborative industry and government testing program established in 2014. The FAA noted ... read more
Autonomous Flight Leaders Join Forces in Bid to Speed Certification
FLYING Magazine Two of the leading companies looking to bring autonomy to the cockpit are joining forces. On Wednesday, San Francisco-based Xwing partnered with Swiss firm Daedalean in a bid to accelerate both companies’ path to market. The intelligent systems developers agreed to share data, knowledge, and processes around artificial intelligence and machine learning as a way to harmonize their approaches to certification. Xwing makes modular systems designed to integrate with a wide ... read more
Agreement Expands Embraer Expands Foothold in Saudi Arabia
FLYING Magazine Embraer and a Saudi Arabian defense firm have entered into an agreement that promotes and expands the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer’s presence in the country, starting with its C-390 Millennium military transport aircraft. Representatives of Embraer and Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI)—the country’s state-owned defense company—signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) establishing cooperation in the aerospace sector Wednesday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. “This is ... read more
Protecting Africa’s wildlife starts in the sky
AOPA General Aviation News In Nairobi National Park in Kenya, orphaned infant African elephants are fighting for a future. Read More read more
3 Ways You Might be Sabotaging Your Own Insurance Renewal
AOPA General Aviation News The annual letter arrives from your aviation insurance company sounding the alarm for another approaching renewal. Read More read more
Virgin Completes 100 Percent SAF Flight
AVweb A Virgin Atlantic Boeing 787 became the first airliner to cross the Atlantic using 100 percent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) on Tuesday, but it will make the return flight on Jet A. The Dreamliner touched down at JFK after an uneventful flight from Heathrow, but Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson did his best to make it an event. He told reporters on the ramp at Heathrow the flight was intended to put a spotlight on making aviation more climate friendly and to send a message to fuel ... read more
Air Travel Record Set Sunday
AVweb The TSA says Sunday was the busiest day on record for air travel in the U.S. TSA head David Pekoske said screeners put more than 2.9 million passengers through checkpoints at the nation’s airport as he headed for more than 50,000 flights. The Sunday total eclipsed the previous record of 2.8 million on June 30. Before that, Dec. 1, 2019, stood as the busiest day. Hordes of travelers continue to flock to the airport. About 2.6 million were expected on Tuesday and 2.7 million will fly ... read more
Breakthrough Reported In FAA Reauthorization Impasse
AVweb Republican Sen. John Thune told Reuters on Tuesday there’s been a breakthrough that may allow the FAA Reauthorization Bill to be taken up by the Senate. The House passed its version of the bill in the summer but there’s been a logjam in the Senate over relaxing airline pilot training, specifically a proposal to increase the number of loggable simulator hours from 100 to 150. Thune wouldn’t comment in detail on the discussions but said there is an agreement that “deals with the pilot ... read more
FAA Approves Inspection Drone Swarms
AVweb It would appear drone swarms have come to civil aviation with the FAA’s granting of a waiver to an Israeli company. According to DroneDJ, the FAA is allowing Percepto to fly up to 30 drones under the control of a single pilot beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS). The company specializes in infrastructure and pipeline inspections, and the ability to team up the drones will greatly increase the efficiency of those operations according to the company. That, Percepto says, will make the ... read more
UNLEADED FUEL CANDIDATE ADVANCES INTO NEXT STAGE OF PAFI TESTING
AOPA General Aviation News WASHINGTON, D.C. – November 29, 2023 – General aviation industry members of the Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions (EAGLE) initiative are applauding the news of the first unleaded fuel candidate to successfully pass the most rigorous Piston Aviation Fuels Initiative (PAFI) initial detonation and 150-hour engine durability test phase, and continued progress toward an unleaded future. Read More read more
A Flightless Bird Returns to the Skies
FLYING Magazine Looking down the western slope of our home airstrip, one’s first impression is of a lot of very large trees, both bounding the runway and beyond. The second thing you notice is the striking, stirringly vertiginous wall of the Olympic Mountains, seemingly close enough to touch, but in fact a good ten miles distant, across the Hood Canal. The terrain carries no threat to the flight Dawn and I are about to take, but the trees are another matter, for they thoroughly blanket ... read more
Training and Safety Tip: Don’t stray as you find your way
AOPA General Aviation News Long before electronic instruments became the norm in general aviation aircraft, there were (and still are) two primary means for identifying an aircraft’s heading: the magnetic compass and the heading indicator or directional gyro. Read More read more
Hartzell Engine Tech expands its portfolio
AOPA General Aviation News Hartzell Engine Tech recently acquired the assets of Kelly Aero LLC and plans to rebrand them as PowerUp Ignition Systems. Read More read more
Education grant opens aviation pathways
AOPA General Aviation News K-12 students at 20 Nebraska schools will benefit from a $2 million Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) grant that will launch Operation Taking Flight and initiate the Bellevue Public Schools (BPS) Aviation Academy. Read More read more
Protecing Africa’s wildlife starts in the sky
AOPA General Aviation News In Nairobi National Park in Kenya, orphaned infant African elephants are fighting for a future. Read More read more
20,000th Airline Transport Pilot Graduates from ATP Flight School
FLYING Magazine ATP JETS, one of the largest providers of airline pilot training within ATP Flight School’s portfolio, has reached a significant milestone with the graduation of its 20,000th Airline Transport Pilot Certification Training Program (ATP CTP) student. This achievement comes as many airlines look to hire new pilots at a rapid pace following the COVID-19 pandemic. Located just a stone’s throw away from the world’s second busiest airport, ATP JETS operates a 29,380 square-foot ... read more
Virgin Atlantic Makes First Transatlantic Flight on 100% SAF
FLYING Magazine Virgin Atlantic on Tuesday completed its long-planned flight, known as “Flight100, from London’s Heathrow Airport (EGLL) to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (KJFK) using 100 percent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), the first such flight by a major airline. The aircraft, a Boeing 787, was equipped with Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines. Rolls-Royce recently confirmed that all of its current jet engines were compatible with SAF. Virgin Atlantic said the flight ... read more
The First Aircraft Mechanic
FLYING Magazine The Wright brothers flew into history on December 17, 1903, achieving the once-unheard-of feat of powered flight. Although debated, the accomplishment is globally accepted as the first flight of its kind. While the Wrights earned a place in the spotlight as daring aviators, one key figure is often overlooked: mechanician Charles Taylor. An Introduction There is a fantastic book, Charles E. Taylor: 1868-1956 The Wright Brothers Mechanician, by H. R. DuFour with Peter J. ... read more
Tips and Tricks for Flight Sims
FLYING Magazine Over the last two years, I have been using many different tweaks and tips found online or invented by myself. Some of them everybody seems to know, so I won’t go into those now. But here at FLYING, I feel most of the real pilots dabbling in the sim world probably don’t know about some simple, effective things that can really help out their experience. Hazy Skies Let’s start with my favorite on X-Plane 11 (XP11) that concerns the never-ending “hazy sky” issue that has ... read more
This 2005 Cirrus SR22 G2 Is a Thoroughly Modern ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Each day, the team at Aircraft For Sale picks an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, represents a good deal, or has other interesting qualities. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 2005 Cirrus SR22 G2. In more than 20 years on the general aviation market, Cirrus has evolved from an ambitious startup to an industry powerhouse turning out today’s most popular GA aircraft. I recently reread Free ... read more
Education grant opens aviation pathways
AOPA General Aviation News K-12 students at 20 Nebraska schools will benefit from a $2 million Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) grant that will launch Operation Taking Flight and initiate the Bellevue Public Schools (BPS) Aviation Academy. Read More read more
Protecing Africa’s wildlife starts in the sky
AOPA General Aviation News In Nairobi National Park in Kenya, orphaned infant African elephants are fighting for a future. Read More read more
Hartzell Engine Tech expands its portfolio
AOPA General Aviation News Hartzell Engine Tech recently acquired the assets of Kelly Aero LLC and plans to rebrand them as PowerUp Ignition Systems. Read More read more
HevenDrones Unveils 2 Hydrogen-Powered Drones
FLYING Magazine By and large, developers of hydrogen propulsion for aviation are starting by integrating their systems on light GA airplanes. Some are looking at an even smaller aircraft. At the Monaco Hydrogen Forum on Monday, Israeli manufacturer HevenDrones unveiled two new hydrogen-powered drones designed for everything from defense to last-mile delivery. The company introduced the H2D200 series, which comprises two models: the H2D200 and H2D250. Hydrogen fuel cells offer a greater ... read more
More Than 100 Electric Aircraft for First Responders May Be Headed to Oregon
FLYING Magazine An electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) design purpose-built for first responders may soon fly in Oregon skies. Jump Aero, a manufacturer of eVTOL aircraft for emergency response, on Tuesday announced it is working with the Oregon Department of Aviation to bring its JA1 Pulse to the state’s rural population. A memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the partners cements Oregon as the latest state with plans to introduce the model, which Jump Aero bills as the ... read more
The Search for Multiengine Time
FLYING Magazine If you are planning on a job in the corporate or airline world, you will need to have logged pilot in command (PIC) time in a multiengine aircraft. How much time you need varies by job. If you pay for it out of pocket, it will likely be among the most expensive time you log—so make sure you get your money’s worth. Multiengine cross-country time is especially coveted, so plan for it. Several of my airport children (the pilots I have trained over the years) saved up their ... read more
Stratolaunch Nabs Navy-Backed Contract for 5 Hypersonic Flight Tests
FLYING Magazine Stratolaunch announced it has been awarded a contract for five hypersonic flight tests for the U.S. Navy’s Multiservice Advanced Capability Test Bed (MACH-TB). The contract was awarded by MACH-TB prime contractor Leidos and was funded by the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), Crane Division, Stratolaunch said. READ MORE: Stratolaunch, U.S. Air Force Research Lab Announce Contract The deal is the latest military contract for the company behind the aircraft with the ... read more
Half Moon Bay RNAV (GPS) Runway 30
FLYING Magazine “Half Moon Bay boasts the best of Northern California’s San Francisco Bay Area all in one place. With a vast and diverse landscape that encompasses miles of wide sandy beaches, lush blufftop meadows, and rolling forested hills, there is plenty to explore.” According to the visitor’s website, I can see why I might want to go, and I suspect—like me—you might want to fly there. The GPS approach to Runway 30 could just end up being the approach any of us need to get below some ... read more
DOD Awards $3.7M to Qarbon Aerospace for Military Aviation Composite Production
FLYING Magazine The Defense Department (DOD) announced it has awarded Qarbon Aerospace $3.7 million for the design and production of advanced composites for military aviation applications. The Red Oak, Texas-based company manufactures medium to large complex composite components and assemblies. The deal—made through the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) program—will assist the company in the design and development of a continuous fiber thermoplastic composite structure for ... read more
GPS Spoofing Signals Traced To Tehran
AVweb A University of Texas student has traced the source of alarming GPS spoofing signals in the Middle East to the eastern outskirts of Tehran, but it would seem there is little anyone can do to stop the navigation interference. Todd Humphreys, who heads up the Radionavigation Laboratory at UT, said the grad student, Zach Clements, was able to use gear on the International Space Station to scan for the bogus signals and approximate their source. He said analysis of the signals themselves ... read more
Passenger Jumps From 737 At New Orleans
AVweb A passenger suffering an apparent “mental health emergency” popped an overwing emergency exit on a Southwest plane in New Orleans and jumped to the ramp Sunday evening. Airport police were called to the gate after ground personnel detained the passenger. No one was hurt but the passenger was described as being “incoherent.” “When deputies made contact with the man, they found he was incoherent and not fully aware of his surroundings,” a news release from the police said. He was still ... read more
China Says Missile Simulation Shot Down B-21
AVweb Chinese researchers say they’ve already shot down a B-21 Raider in a computer simulation and they’re confident the $700 million bomber, along with all other Western stealth aircraft, will be sitting ducks for its hypersonic missiles. The B-21 has just begun flight testing at Edwards Air Force Base and won’t be flying over Asia anytime soon. But according to the Eurasian Times (quoting the South China Morning Post), scientists at the Northwestern Polytechnical University in Xian claim ... read more
IFR X-Country Training: Which Approaches
AVweb Any pilot who got an instrument rating in the last 25 years knows that part of the training requires a 250-NM (for airplanes) cross‑country flight under IFR. It is called the “long cross‑country” flight, although there’s no “short cross‑country” flight. That flight requires three approaches, but which three has been a source of confusion. The instrument cross-country training article in the current issue of IFR Magazine sorts it out. Read the story here. The post IFR X-Country ... read more
Training and Safety Tip: Don’t stray as you find your way
AOPA General Aviation News Long before electronic instruments became the norm in general aviation aircraft, there were (and still are) two primary means for identifying an aircraft’s heading: the magnetic compass and the heading indicator or directional gyro. Read More read more
Hartzell Engine Tech Acquires Kelly Aero
Plane & Pilot Magazine Hartzell Engine Tech, a prominent name in aviation, has successfully acquired Kelly Aero LLC, renowned for manufacturing aftermarket aircraft magnetos, replacement parts, and ignition harnesses … Read More "Hartzell Engine Tech Acquires Kelly Aero" The post Hartzell Engine Tech Acquires Kelly Aero appeared first on Plane & Pilot Magazine. Read More read more
Piper Club Says Rudder AD Needs Work
AVweb The Short Wing Piper Club says a proposed AD to replace rudders on almost 31,000 Piper aircraft built before 1974 is a huge overreach and the process itself is deeply flawed. Last week the FAA issued a notice that the comment period for the AD would be extended 90 days until late February. The Short Wing Piper Club has issued a statement noting the extension but also asking the FAA to change the AD to include much more information. The poposed AD came following an NTSB investigation ... read more
BAA Training Agrees to Buy 48 Cessna Skyhawks from Textron Aviation
FLYING Magazine Textron Aviation announced an agreement with BAA Training for the purchase of 48 Cessna Skyhawks, which are expected to be delivered during 2026. The companies said the deal, struck at the Dubai Airshow, is a significant addition to BAA’s training fleet. With the new aircraft, BAA will be able to offer students increased capacity and a more streamlined flight training process. READ MORE: ATP Inks Deal for 40 Cessna Skyhawks The Cessna Skyhawk, designed and built by ... read more
An Electric Propulsion Pioneer
Plane & Pilot Magazine Earthstar Aircraft’s Thunder Gull, a remarkable small, single-seater—until the company’s Odyssey model came out—was ahead of its time. Over a successful run dating back to … Read More "An Electric Propulsion Pioneer" The post An Electric Propulsion Pioneer appeared first on Plane & Pilot Magazine. Read More read more
ZeroAvia Completes $116 Million Series C to Support Hydrogen-Electric Engine Tech
FLYING Magazine When it comes to decarbonizing aviation, investors largely view hydrogen as a key ingredient in the quest for sustainable aviation, with some investing in companies developing fuel from hydrogen in its pure form. ZeroAvia, a developer of hydrogen-electric propulsion systems, on Monday announced it completed a $116 million Series C funding round to support certification of its ZA600 engines and the scaling of its technology for larger aircraft. The round was co-led by ... read more
Novel Design Makes This 1969 Cessna 337D Skymaster an ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Each day, the team at Aircraft For Sale picks an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, represents a good deal, or has other interesting qualities. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1969 Cessna 337D Skymaster. Cessna designed the 337 Skymaster to be a safer light twin. The idea surfaced after the company’s popular 310 twin had been on the market for a few years. Like many light twins, ... read more
Lilium Receives EASA Design Organization Approval for Electric Air Taxi
FLYING Magazine German electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxi developer Lilium is steadily clearing obstructions on its runway to achieve type certification. The manufacturer of the six-passenger Lilium Jet on Monday announced it received Design Organization Approval (DOA) from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), its primary regulatory authority. DOA is a required step in the type certification process for companies developing EASA Part 21 commercial ... read more
India’s Prime Minister Takes Flight in Tejas Fighter
FLYING Magazine India Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed confidence in the country’s fighter aircraft manufacturing capability after flying a sortie in a twin-seat light combat aircraft (LCA) Tejas on Saturday. Modi’s flight—reportedly the first for an Indian prime minister in a fighter jet—comes in the wake of the Indian Air Force (IAF) taking delivery of its first LCA Tejas fighter, produced by state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), in October. READ MORE: Indian Air Force ... read more
Hartzell Acquires Kelly Aero
FLYING Magazine Hartzell Engine Tech has acquired Kelly Aero LLC, the makers of aftermarket aircraft magnetos, replacement parts, and ignition harnesses for general aviation and military aircraft. Hartzell Engine Tech president Keith Bagley notes the acquisition will “add manufacturing capabilities for aircraft ignition products to our existing lines of engineered, firewall forward, engine accessories. We extend our appreciation to Jeffrey Kelly, his family, and Neil Clark for creating ... read more
Cuyler Airfield a Dream Come True
FLYING Magazine Jennifer and Vince Santorelly have been pleasantly surprised by airpark living. They spent three decades thinking that they would “one day” move to a fly-in community and finally made the dream a reality in 2022. “My husband and I came to live here at Cuyler Airfield (FD27) a little over a year ago,” said Jennifer Santorelly. “[My husband] has spent his whole life…restoring World War II airplanes for a living. We met about 30 years ago when we were both working for ... read more
How a 1926 Law Affects U.S. Airline Workers Today
FLYING Magazine Considered to be one of the most heavily regulated industries, aviation – and specifically airlines – are subject to a wide variety of both international and domestic legislation and regulations. As commercial aviation took off in the U.S., so did the checks and balances surrounding it, particularly on safety and competition rules. Often buried among the plethora of aviation laws and regulations are those having to do with labor, specifically the Railway Labor Act (RLA). ... read more
Navy Recovers Data Recorder from Downed P-8A Poseidon
FLYING Magazine The U.S. Navy has retrieved a flight data recorder as part of its aircraft recovery efforts days after a P-8A Poseidon aircraft overshot a runway, landing in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. The accident occurred November 20 during rainy conditions when the maritime reconnaissance aircraft was on approach at Marine Corps Base Hawaii. Three pilots and six crewmembers on board the P-8A were assigned to Whidbey Island, Washington-based Patrol Squadron (VP) 4 “Skinny Dragons” and were on ... read more
Low-Cost Bizjet Charter Enforces Dress Code
AVweb You don’t have to be well-heeled to fly on one of the latest entries in the jet membership/on-demand charter market but you do have to look sharp. Set Jet members can hop on a flight aboard one of the company’s five Challenger 850s for as little as $750 but not if they’re wearing flip-flops. The price of saving on flying with class is dressing the part, at least a little bit, thanks to a modest dress code. “To maintain a respectful atmosphere, Set Jet requests that all Members, as ... read more
Best Of The Web: Gliding To Corsica
AVweb It’s been dream of Swiss glider pilot Yves Gerster to fly his motorglider from the Italian Alps to the island of Corsica and back without fossil fuel help (except for takeoff and initial climb). See how he did in this nicely produced video. The post Best Of The Web: Gliding To Corsica appeared first on AVweb. Read More read more
Guest Blog: Lessons Well Learned And Too Often Ignored
AVweb Tuesday, November 14th, 2023, three pilots took to the skies in what appeared to be a sightseeing flight of the nearby mountains. Allegedly having completed a similar flight (or flights), it appears as though this one may have started out routine. Good weather, airplane in generally good condition, and a few friends not too terribly detracted from anything on the IMSAFE checklist. Somehow, only one of the three pilots still walks about, while sadly the other two perished in a tragic ... read more
A Skymaster Taking Off on One Engine?
FLYING Magazine Alaskan flying entails decisions and improvisations that pilots in the contiguous U.S. seldom contemplate. Remote locations, rugged terrain, and harsh weather on one hand, and, on the other, the urgent human needs that airplanes fulfill, create a press-on-regardless mentality. It takes a hardy pilot to survive. In June 2000, near the Yukon River in the state’s southwestern corner, a Cessna 337 crashed shortly after takeoff, killing one such pilot. The airstrip near the ... read more
Russia Seized 10 Times More Airliners Than It Lost To Sanctions
AVweb Russia’s Transport Minister has come out with what he says is the final tally of aircraft lost and gained when sanctions from the Ukraine invasion were imposed and it would appear the country made out like bandits. Vitaly Savelyev told Russian media outlet RBC (and translated by Business Insider) that 76 Russian-registered aircraft were stranded outside the country when most countries closed their airspace to them almost two years ago. By contrast, Russia effectively seized more than ... read more
UN Aviation Conference Reduces Carbon Reduction Target
AVweb During U.N.-led discussions on Friday, countries agreed to reduce a 2030 goal to cut carbon emissions from international aviation by incorporating cleaner energy including sustainable aviation fuel, according to reporting from Reuters The agreement came after days of discussions led by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in Dubai, where countries called for 5% lower carbon emissions—a decrease from its earlier target of 5-8%. ICAO called it a “giant leap to ... read more
Top Letters and Comments: Nov. 27, 2023
AVweb Space Bureaucracy Prompted by this AVweb article I looked a little up about this issueWant to launch a commercial space vehicle and you have to deal with: EPA on the groundFAA in the atmosphereNOAA – Office of Space CommerceFCC – Allocated radio frequenciesMaybe NASA but I am not sure about thatand once you get up thereThe US Space Force Quite a number of bureaucratic organizations to deal with. Each having a different mission (agenda). Getting them all in line in a certain time ... read more
Last Week’s Poll Result
AVweb AVweb readers are solidly in favor of the FAA putting resources into pilot mental health initiatives. Almost two-thirds of respondents were strongly in favor and a tiny minority thought it a waste of time. The post Last Week’s Poll Result appeared first on AVweb. Read More read more
Poll: Should ATC College Grads Skip The FAA Academy?
AVweb Last week the FAA announced that graduates of the Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) program at various universities will no longer attend the ATC Academy in Oklahoma City. It could free up space in the Academy to train more controllers but is it a good idea? The post Poll: Should ATC College Grads Skip The FAA Academy? appeared first on AVweb. Read More read more
87-Year-Old Pilot Killed In Go-Around Attempt
AVweb A Mooney M20C that crashed Tuesday outside of a strip mall in Plano, Texas, killing the 87-year-old pilot, was reportedly attempting a go-around, according to a newly released incident report. The aircraft crashed within a mile of Air-Park Dallas Airport—a nearby uncontrolled field. Witnesses told the Dallas Morning News they heard a loud boom and also saw the right wing dip before the crash. The aircraft ended up in the parking lot of the strip mall but no one on the ground was ... read more
StableLight Helicopter Autopilot Earns FAA STC
FLYING Magazine Thales and StandardAero have announced that their StableLight four-axis autopilot has been granted a supplemental type certificate (STC) by the FAA. Available as a retrofit for Airbus AS350 and H125 helicopters, StableLight is based on Thales’ previously certified Compact Autopilot system for light and medium helicopters. Thales credits “a recent revolution in actuator design” by its engineers for allowing it to create a “true” autopilot light enough and cost-effective ... read more
This 1929 Brunner-Winkle Bird Model A is a Golden Age ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Each day, the team at Aircraft For Sale picks an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, represents a good deal, or has other interesting qualities. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1929 Brunner-Winkle Bird Model A. After years of owning and operating modern all-metal or composite aircraft for the usual business, family travel, and leisure activities, many pilots look for ways to branch out ... read more
There’s a Whale on the Runway at a Seaside Pacific Northwest Airport
FLYING Magazine Pilots who intend to head to Copalis Beach (S16) in Washington state might want to reconsider, as a deceased whale has washed up on shore in close proximity to the stretch of sand used as a runway. According to the Washington State Department of Transportation Aviation division, the deceased cetacean is a fin whale. According to whalefacts.org, the fin whale is a baleen whale that can grow up to 90 feet long and weigh up to 130 tons, making them the second largest whale in ... read more
Recreating the Final Flight of the Red Baron
FLYING Magazine Today in Microsoft Flight Simulator, I’m going to be checking out the Fokker Dr.I triplane, made famous in World War I by “The Red Baron.” Anthony Fokker was Dutch, born in the colonial East Indies (present-day Indonesia). In 1910, when he was 20, his father sent him to Germany to train as an auto mechanic. But inspired by the Wright Brothers’ demonstration flights in Europe, his passion soon shifted to aviation, and he began learning to fly and building his own airplanes. ... read more
Brazilian Air Force Takes Delivery of Embraer E-99
FLYING Magazine The Brazilian Air Force has taken delivery of its fifth Embraer E-99M surveillance aircraft—the first delivered to the service with full operational capability, the aircraft manufacturer announced. The military variant of the Embraer’s EMB 145 regional jet is designed for airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) functionality, such as detecting, identifying and tracking targets for missions that include airspace surveillance and border monitoring. The surveillance ... read more
Senate Leaders Press FAA To Speed Up Space Launch Approvals
AVweb Leaders of the Senate space and science subcommittee have sent a letter to the FAA urging it to further streamline commercial space launch and reentry approvals. Majority Leader Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, R-Arizona, and Ranking Member Eris Schmitt, D-Missouri, say red tape at the agency is threatening the country’s competitiveness, and in getting high-profile missions like the Artemis moon landing program off the ground. “As the pace of launches from U.S. commercial spaceflight companies ... read more
Welcome to Oshkosh
Plane & Pilot Magazine The traffic targets were thick on ForeFlight, a swarm of blue triangles trying to wedge into the same path. I fell in behind a Cessna … Read More "Welcome to Oshkosh" The post Welcome to Oshkosh appeared first on Plane & Pilot Magazine. Read More read more
Aviation Gifts that Take Flight
Plane & Pilot Magazine Have you begun your holiday shopping? If you’re on the lookout for gifts suitable for pilots, mechanics, or aviation enthusiasts, the vast selection available can … Read More "Aviation Gifts that Take Flight" The post Aviation Gifts that Take Flight appeared first on Plane & Pilot Magazine. Read More read more
Holiday Shopping Ideas for Aviation Fans
FLYING Magazine Have you started your holiday shopping yet? If you are looking for gifts for a pilot, mechanic, or aviation enthusiast, there’s so much out there to choose from that it is easy to get overwhelmed. We at FLYING braved the cyber crowds, visiting with as many pilot and aerospace supply companies as we could to find out what is “hot” this holiday season and queried mechanics, technicians, pilots, and enthusiasts as to what was on their wish list. The Classics: Headsets, Gear ... read more
Piper Rudder AD Comment Period Extended
AVweb The FAA has extended the comment period on an AD that would require the replacement of rudders on almost 31,000 Piper aircraft made before 1974. The issue is explained in the video above produced by Airframes Alaska. In a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in October, the agency ordered every rudder equipped with a rudder post made of 1025 carbon steel be replaced with rudders that have posts made of 4130N low-alloy steel. Piper switched from 1025 to 4130N in 1974. The estimated cost of ... read more
MAX 10 Gets Certification Flight Test Nod
AVweb The FAA says Boeing can start certification flight testing of its MAX 10, the flagship of the latest generation 737 and a key part of the overall business plan for the brand. The 10 hadn’t been certified when the MAX 8 and MAX 9 fleet was grounded in 2019 and that, combined with a rule change, delayed its certification by years. The MAX 10 is the biggest of the type and is designed to directly challenge the Airbus A321 NEO in the long-range single-aisle space. On Wednesday the FAA ... read more
Jump Pilot Guilty Of Involuntary Manslaughter In Wingsuiter’s Decapitation
AVweb A French pilot received a one year suspended sentence and was banned from flying for a year after being found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the decapitation death of wingsuit flyer in 2018. French media identified the pilot as 64-year-old Alain C. During the freak accident, the wing hit Nicolas Galy 40 seconds after Galy jumped from the plane at an altitude of roughly 13,000 feet, Le Parisian reported. According to the French newspaper, no communications on the flight paths ... read more
This 1965 Piper PA-28-180 is an Economical, All-Around ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Each day, the team at Aircraft For Sale picks an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, represents a good deal, or has other interesting qualities. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1965 Piper PA-28-180. The PA-28 was Piper’s answer to the Cessna 172, and for pilots on a budget who prefer a low wing, it was the answer for which they were waiting. The airplane had a sleeker, more modern look ... read more
A Father Goes Flying with ‘The Kid’
Plane & Pilot Magazine By Wayne Pinger I dipped the fuel tanks with my home-calibrated doweling, a dipstick gas gauge I made and strategically notched at 9 and 18 … Read More "A Father Goes Flying with ‘The Kid’" The post A Father Goes Flying with ‘The Kid’ appeared first on Plane & Pilot Magazine. Read More read more
Every Flight Is a Gift
FLYING Magazine I am going to admit something that not many folks know. In fact, I’m not even sure I’ve told my husband (also a pilot) this. After years of putting my left foot on the postage-stamp-sized “step” Cessna deemed the right balance between weight, drag, cost, and product liability on the nose of its high-wing 150s, 152s, 172s, 182s… when I came back to check out in a 172 in 2019 after a hiatus, I went to step up—and nothing happened. What??? I tried again, lunging at the move ... read more
A Father Goes Flying With The Kid
Plane & Pilot Magazine By Wayne Pinger I dipped the fuel tanks with my home-calibrated doweling, a dipstick gas gauge I made and strategically notched at 9 and 18 … Read More "A Father Goes Flying With The Kid" The post A Father Goes Flying With The Kid appeared first on Plane & Pilot Magazine. Read More read more
Imaginative Flight
FLYING Magazine A formative memory of my childhood is standing on the street in front of my house in Staten Island. It was summer. Late afternoon. I already had the overactive imagination that would come to serve me later as a screenwriter. Sometimes I think it was put to better use back then, as I didn’t understand what constraints or limitations were. Certainly none that you’d find in a POH. I was a six-year-old playing alone on the sidewalk when I heard the sound of a jet overhead. It ... read more
It’s Time to Winterize Your Flying
FLYING Magazine Flying does not stop in the winter. Despite the cold, there can be days with calm winds, unlimited visibility, and blue skies just begging to be filled with aircraft. However, if you are in a part of the world prone to snow, ice, and basic freezing conditions, getting from the ramp to the sky can take a little more time and planning. Aircraft Stored in Hangars If you are lucky enough to have an enclosed hangar, do your preflight inspection inside with the door closed to ... read more
A Life in Pursuit with Clay Lacy
FLYING Magazine Born on August 14, 1932, in Wichita, Kansas, Clay Lacy came by his lifetime in aviation honestly from the very beginning. He began flying at age 12 and had 1,000 hours by the time he joined United Airlines as a Douglas DC-3 copilot at age 19 in 1952. At UAL he also flew the Convair 340, DC-4, DC-6, DC-7, DC-8, DC-10, and Boeing 727. He retired off the Boeing 747-400 in 1992, holding seniority number 1. He set an around-the-world record in a Boeing 747SP in 1988, making it ... read more
NBAA: Be Thankful For General Aviation
AVweb The National Business Aviation Association took this year’s Thanksgiving season as an opportunity to remind Americans of the value of not only business aviation, but all of general aviation (GA). The bizav advocacy group also pointed out to frustrated airline passengers that attempts to blame “fat cat” private aviation for delays are misplaced. NBAA wrote, “Particularly in towns with little or no airline service, business aviation provides a critical link for companies to reach ... read more
FAA Administrator Exhorts Holiday Travelers: ‘Be Nice To Your Flight Crew’
AVweb With close to 50,000 flights scheduled, today (Wednesday, Nov. 22) is the busiest day of the year for airline travel. During a press briefing to address the travel tsunami, newly appointed FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker urged passengers to “Be nice to your flight crew. They’re there for your safety.” Whitaker added that the FAA has opened its Holiday Airspace Release program to reduce volume, particularly along East Coast routes. The agency has cleared 169 new, faster routes along ... read more
L2 Teams With Klatt Works On HUD-Like Tech For Smoke Emergencies
AVweb L2 Aviation, self-described as a supplier of engineering, certification, installation and manufacturing services, announced earlier this week it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with California-based Klatt Works to further develop the latter’s Smoke Assured Vision Enhanced Display (SAVED) system for aircraft. SAVED is a wearable safety device that incorporates a type of virtual-reality-goggle technology into conventional aircraft oxygen masks to enable flight crews to ... read more
Short Final: Listen Carefully
AVweb A few years ago during my private‐pilot solo long cross‐country I was heading to a southern Wisconsin airport with a tower known to be easily annoyed. So I was an over‐prepared nervous student pilot who had ATIS as soon as I could get it and listened to it more times than I needed. Full of anxiety and right before I was going to call tower this exchanged happened. Pilot: “Tower N1234 we just finished eating at the restaurant but can’t seem to get a hold of ground.”Tower: “Do you have ... read more
Textron Signs Deal For 48 Skyhawks With Lithuania-Based BAA Training
AVweb The seemingly insatiable appetite for pilot training continues to grow unabated, as Textron Aviation announced today (Nov. 22) it recently signed an agreement with Lithuania-based Baltic Air Academy (dba BAA Training) for 48 Cessna 172 Skyhawks. The piston trainers are to be delivered in 2026. BAA Training is a member of the Avia Solutions Group, which has close to 100 locations and production facilities worldwide, according to the Textron announcement. Marijus Ravoitis, BAA Training ... read more
Green Bay Packers’ Innovations Include An Aviation-Related First
AVweb The iconic Green Bay Packers football franchise is responsible for a number of professional football innovations, including the forward pass. What is now a staple of the game is originally credited to Packers founder, coach and player Earl “Curly” Lambeau, for whom the Packers’ National Football League (NFL) stadium is named. This month marks the 83rd anniversary of a lesser-known milestone for an NFL team, but of particular interest to aviation fans. As related in a 2018 article ... read more
This 1949 Luscombe 8A Is an ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick Among Vintage Non-Cub Taildraggers
FLYING Magazine Each day, the team at Aircraft For Sale picks an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, represents a good deal, or has other interesting qualities. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1949 Luscombe 8A. There were a lot of two-seat taildraggers to choose from after World War II, including Piper J-3 Cubs, Taylorcrafts, Aeronca Champs, and Cessna 120s and 140s. There was also the Luscombe 8 series, ... read more
Dates for Next 4 EAA AirVenture Conventions Announced
FLYING Magazine One of the character traits of aviators is that we like to plan—in advance. Sometimes several years in advance. For this reason, it shouldn’t be a surprise that the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) has released the dates of the next four AirVenture fly-in conventions, also known as Oshkosh,’ at Wittman Regional Airport (KOSH) in Wisconsin. The upcoming dates are: 2024: July 22-28 2025: July 21-27 2026: July 20-26 2027: July 26-August 1 For the aviation community, ... read more
Boeing 737 Max 10 Clears Significant FAA Hurdle
FLYING Magazine Boeing has something extra to be thankful for this Thanksgiving as the Federal Aviation Administration has granted type inspection authorization for the 737-10 Max. According to a statement from Boeing, this “clears the airplane to begin certification flight testing.” “With more than 400 flights and nearly 1,000 flight hours, the 737-10 continues to perform well as we prove…its safety, reliability, and performance through a rigorous testing and certification process,” the ... read more
A Guide for Retraining After Revocation
FLYING Magazine Question: I am a flight instructor and have just been approached by a pilot who had his certificate revoked. He wants me to give him three hours of training and sign him off for the private pilot check ride so he can get his certificate back. I went through his logbook and he had a commercial certificate and lots of hours. I asked to see the notice of revocation because I figure there has to be some guidance from the FAA on how to proceed, but the client said there isn’t ... read more
Buyer Be Aware: Having Your Own Airplane Is So Worth It
FLYING Magazine During flight training, it’s important to push and even exceed your aircraft’s capabilities occasionally. Whether you’re performing stalls, spins, unusual attitude recovery, or any other maneuver that pushes the boundaries without exceeding limitations, there’s much to be learned in the dusty corners of the flight envelope. Doing so expands your understanding of the airplane, enabling you to extract the maximum performance and enjoyment out of it. It’s also important to ... read more
Our Guide to Black Friday Drone Deals
FLYING Magazine Looking to give the gift of drones this holiday season? Well, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are upon us, and it’s time to snap up that drone for a friend, family member, or colleague while the getting is good. Welcome to FLYING’s Black Friday drone discount guide, your source for the best uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) technology available at cut price. We rounded up the biggest and best deals from manufacturers such as DJI, Autel, and Holy Stone to help match you with the ... read more
GAMA Numbers Show Continuing Health of General Aviation Market
FLYING Magazine The general aviation market continues its upward trend following the pandemic, according to the latest update from the General Aviation Manufacturers Association. GAMA released its report catching up on the year through the third quarter late Tuesday. Overall, aircraft shipments increased 10.1 percent year over year from 2022. The growth further claws back ground over 2021 and 2020, and continues to gain over 2019 levels. Total billings are on track to surpass 2022 as ... read more
Bell 360 Invictus Prototype Advances with T901 Engine Delivery
FLYING Magazine Bell has taken delivery of the General Electric Aerospace T901 Improved Turbine Engine Program (ITEP) from the Army for its 360 Invictus attack helicopter prototype, marking a new milestone in its development, the company announced. The T901 ITEP engine was delivered to Bell Textron Inc.’s Flight Research Center in Arlington, Texas, where it was installed in the aircraft. Bell 360 Invictus T901 engine delivery. [Courtesy: Bell] “Since beginning the build in late 2020, Bell ... read more
Try That Instrument Approach Again
Plane & Pilot Magazine Imagine you just went missed on an approach down to minimums. Based on what the ATIS, ASOS, or AWOS indicated, it seems like the weather … Read More "Try That Instrument Approach Again" The post Try That Instrument Approach Again appeared first on Plane & Pilot Magazine. Read More read more
Signals of strength, stress in aircraft market
AOPA General Aviation News The bottom-line numbers for the year to date released by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association show gains in all segments of GA aircraft sales, including strong performance by European airframers in the piston segment driving an 11.9-percent increase in piston airplane sales worldwide. Turbine deliveries held steady despite a dip for the market leader. Read More read more
First Flight Society Selects 2023 Honorees
FLYING Magazine It is safe to say that without the Wright brothers, we would not have aviation as we know it. The First Flight Society, a nonprofit organization whose mission tells the story of the famous inventors and recognizes those who carry on their commitment to promote and encourage aviation through their Honorary Membership program, have selected two new Honorary Lifetime Members: aviation record-holder Mack Rutherford and aviator Erik Lindbergh. The Honorary Membership program ... read more
Signals of strength, stress in aircraft market
AOPA General Aviation News The bottom-line numbers for the year to date released by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association show gains in all segments of GA aircraft sales, including strong performance by European airframers in the piston segment driving an 11.9-percent increase in piston airplane sales worldwide. Turbine deliveries held steady despite a dip for the market leader. Read More read more
Courtesy Aircraft Sales Marks 500 North American Aviation Models Sold Since 1992
FLYING Magazine Courtesy Aircraft, the well-known warbird brokerage firm based in Rockford, Illinois, announced that it is the first company to reach 500 North American Aviation aircraft sales since 1992. To help mark the occasion, Courtesy is offering clients a one-year membership in the North American Trainer Association and a three-day professional T-28 ground school for all North American T-28 aircraft sold during November and December. READ MORE: How to Buy a Warbird “Five hundred ... read more
Lockheed Martin Deploys Jumbotron Tech in Fighter Pilot Training Sim
FLYING Magazine Lockheed Martin has unveiled a new flight simulator system incorporating jumbotron technology that it says boosts realism for military fighter pilots during training. The system—called the Amorphic Appearance Zero-Projector Environment visual display system, or AMAZE—uses LED modules and light relays to create a more immersive training environment. The light relays allow for the unique shapes needed to create a 360-degree dome, according to Lockheed Martin. READ MORE: Air ... read more
Aircraft Sales Up Across The Board
AVweb GA has apparently shrugged off inflation, geopolitical crises and political mayhem as sales continue to outpace last year’s numbers. In its quarterly report on GA shipments and billings, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association said all sectors were up, sometimes by double digits, both in terms of shipment numbers and their value in the first three quarters of the year compared to 2022. GAMA President Pete Bunce used the good news as a soapbox to push for regulatory stability. ... read more
Leaving in the Chocks
FLYING Magazine My friend, the late Bill Kershner, who encouraged me to write my flight testing book, wrote his own book titled Logging Flight Time, published by Iowa State University Press. It’s about Bill’s humorous experiences during his flying career. In that book he had a chapter entitled “Chocks.” Bill thought that most everyone in aviation has had a humorous experience with those devices used to keep an airplane from rolling on the ground. I believe that Bill was correct; I ... read more
GA thanks Browns for Hartzell props
AOPA General Aviation News In 1914, the friendship between Orville Wright and Robert Hartzell resulted in the manufacturing of the first Hartzell airplane propeller. Read More read more
FAA grants AOPA request for more time to comment on Piper rudder AD
AOPA General Aviation News At the request of AOPA and others, the FAA extended into February the public comment deadline on a proposed airworthiness directive that would affect nearly 31,000 aircraft. The proposed AD requires replacement of rudder posts made from a certain carbon steel alloy. Read More read more
Affordable Aviation Grows With New Aircraft
Plane & Pilot Magazine After a drought of new designs during 2020–21, the spring of 2023 shows incredible promise. And it’s not just the high end of the general … Read More "Affordable Aviation Grows With New Aircraft" The post Affordable Aviation Grows With New Aircraft appeared first on Plane & Pilot Magazine. Read More read more
France’s Robin Aircraft Liquidated
AVweb Robin Aircraft, perhaps the last manufacturer of wood and fabric certified airplanes, was ordered liquidated by a French court last week. According to Flyer Magazine, the company had been in receivership since September after bonding issues with the spars in its DR400, its most popular model, resulted in an AD from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). Recognizable by its upturned wingtips, the four-place DR400 was in production for almost 50 years. Over the years Robin made a ... read more
United Suspends Pilot For Hamas Comments
AVweb United Airlines has suspended a pilot after a Facebook post he put up calling the Hamas attack on Israeli civilians “a resistance by a brave people who have endured decades of occupation, oppression, humiliation, apartheid and straight-up murder.” In the post, Capt. Ibrahim R. Mossallam also accused U.S. media of bias toward Israel and urged his unknown number of followers to “work on expanding your media literacy.” The post went up on Oct. 7, the day Hamas members killed an ... read more
This 1974 MiG-21 Is a Supersonic ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Each day, the team at Aircraft For Sale picks an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, represents a good deal, or has other interesting qualities. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1974 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21UM. When somebody says “warbird,” I think of the piston-powered fighters and bombers of World War II. Wasps, Wrights, and Merlins swinging huge propellers come to mind. But there is so ... read more
FAA Moves to Improve Controller Training, Safety Reporting
FLYING Magazine The FAA says it is taking immediate action to improve air traffic controller (ATC) training and safety reporting in response to a recently released National Airspace System Safety Review Team report. The assessment was commissioned by the agency following its March Safety Summit, which focused on a recent string of close calls at airports across the country. Conducted by an independent safety review team, the report covered the FAA’s internal safety processes, staffing ... read more
Cockpit Communication Skills Matter for Instructors
FLYING Magazine “Have you ever flown an NDB approach?” To me this seems like a straightforward question. The answer is either yes or no. However, the CFI I posed this question replied, “Maybe.” “Maybe?” I queried. “You either have, or you have not.” “Maybe,” he replied again with a cheesy grin. There was an awkward pause. It was the kind of smartass comeback you expect from middle schoolers who aren’t getting enough attention at home. If the question has a yes or no answer, “maybe” is a ... read more
MT-Propeller Receives STCs for Composite Props on Piper, Cessna Twins
FLYING Magazine MT-Propeller received a supplemental type certificate (STC) for the installation of its three-blade MTV-12 propeller on Piper PA-23-235 and PA-23-250 Aztec light twins. The STC applies to aircraft powered by Lycoming O-540A, O-540B, and IO-540C engines. The company said the damping characteristics of the new props result in nearly vibration-free operation. The composite blades have unlimited service life and can be repaired if damaged by foreign object debris. READ MORE: ... read more
Piasecki Earns $37M Air Force Contract to Develop ARES VTOL
FLYING Magazine A few years ago, uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) developer Piasecki Aircraft struck out when its contract with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) was canceled due to delays and high costs. On Tuesday, though, the company had a reversal of fortune. Piasecki announced it was awarded a multiyear, $37 million contract with AFWERX, the innovation arm of the U.S. Air Force, through the division’s Strategic Funding Increase (STRATFI) program. The agreement will ... read more
Boeing Delivers Last MH-139A Test Helicopter to Air Force
FLYING Magazine Boeing (NYSE: BA) has delivered the last of six MH-139A Grey Wolf test helicopters to the U.S. Air Force, marking the program’s transition from research and development phase to low rate initial production. The helicopters are slated to replace the Air Force’s aging fleet of Bell UH-1N Hueys that perform missions such as off-base nuclear weapons convoy surveillance and routine missile site support. The service has operated the military variant of the Bell 212 since ... read more
Zipline Flies Without Ground Observers Under ‘Holy Grail’ of Drone Approvals
FLYING Magazine If a delivery drone flies and nobody is there to see it, did it really fly? Trick question—the FAA requires commercial drone operators to station humans on the ground, called visual observers (VOs), to keep an eye on every flight. So, the aircraft technically aren’t allowed to fly where no one sees them. That is, unless you have a waiver, like the one drone delivery provider Zipline secured in September. On Friday, Zipline, which primarily delivers medical cargo such as ... read more
Picture of the Day: Hanging out in the EAA Chapter 25 hangar
General Aviation News John Schmidt submitted this photo and note: "Some members of EAA Chapter 25 meeting at the chapter hangar in Airlake Airport (KLVN) in Lakeville, Minnesota, at 7 p.m. on a warm Wednesday night in September 2023. A Pietenpol, a Gusty, a Hatz biplane, and a model of Bert Sisler's trimotor design, the "6-Pack" (one of his last designs), are visible. The photo was taken by Ken Tuvman, the presenter that night, who shared stories of his father's B-17 World War II ... read more
FAA grants AOPA request for more time to comment on Piper rudder AD
AOPA General Aviation News At the request of AOPA and others, the FAA extended into February the public comment deadline on a proposed airworthiness directive that would affect nearly 31,000 aircraft. The proposed AD requires replacement of rudder posts made from a certain carbon steel alloy. Read More read more
Here comes the night
General Aviation News For a pilot the early sunset is a gift. Or at least it can be. Especially for flight students and CFIs who need to log a specific amount of night flying to qualify for a certificate. Read More read more
GA thanks Browns for Hartzell props
AOPA General Aviation News In 1914, the friendship between Orville Wright and Robert Hartzell resulted in the manufacturing of the first Hartzell airplane propeller. Read More read more
Gulfstream Aerospace Completes First Transatlantic Flight on 100 Percent SAF
FLYING Magazine Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. said it completed the world’s first transatlantic flight using 100 percent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). A Gulfstream G600 performed the flight on Sunday, taking off from the company’s headquarters in Savannah, Georgia (KSAV), and landing 6 hours and 56 minutes later at Farnborough, England (EGLF). The aircraft’s Pratt & Whitney PW815GA engines ran on 100 percent SAF, demonstrating aviation’s potential for wider use of renewable fuels with ... read more
Accidents up in 2021, but increase in flight hours creates downward trend
General Aviation News The report notes an increase in total accidents from 1,050 in 2020 to 1,124 in 2021, including 202 fatal accidents. However, 4 million additional flight hours — compared to the previous year — helped offset the increase in accidents, according to AOPA officials. Read More read more
Navy P-8A Overshoots Runway, Ends Up in Kaneohe Bay
FLYING Magazine A U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon maritime reconnaissance aircraft on approach at Marine Corps Base Hawaii during rainy conditions ended up in Kaneohe Bay on Monday afternoon. “The aircraft was landing and overshot[ the runway],” said 1st Lieutenant Hailey Harms, a Marine Corps Base Hawaii spokesperson, U.S. Naval Institute (USNI) reported. The base is located north of Honolulu on the main island of Oahu. The incident occurred around 2 p.m. local time, as rainy conditions had ... read more
FAA tackles ATC shortage
General Aviation News “Aviation is safe because we are continuously looking for ways to improve,” said FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker. “The independent safety review team made some excellent recommendations and we are adopting some of them immediately.” Read More read more
Hybrid ‘eSTOL’ Demonstrator Flies
AVweb A Virginia company may have created a new category for the burgeoning advanced air mobility sector when it flew its eSTOL hybrid electric Goldfinch on Nov. 19. The aircraft is powered by a “turbogenerator” that charges batteries to supply electricity to eight motors on the high wing. The motors provide blown lift over the wings, giving the aircraft its STOL performance. The two-place technology demonstrator flew for 23 minutes and got to 3,200 feet after taking off in Manassas. In ... read more
NATCA Wants Oversight Of Controller Training Changes
AVweb The National Air Traffic Controllers Association says it wants to take part in the oversight of a new training process for some prospective controllers under changes announced last week by the FAA. The agency said last week it will allow graduates of Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Institute (AT-CTI) to skip training at the FAA ATC Academy in Oklahoma City to free up seats for would-be trainees who come from other recruiting streams. That will theoretically increase the number of ... read more
P-8 Overrun Ends In Ocean Off Oahu
AVweb There were no fatalities when a P-8 Poseidon overran the runway at Marine Corps Hawaii’s base on Monday and ended up in Kaneohe just north of Honolulu. Wind was reported gusting to 21 knots in mist when the plane went into the drink. There were nine people on board but it’s not clear if there were any injuries. The plane has what looks like a fracture in the fuselage behind the flight deck and will be a write-off. More details as they become available. The post P-8 Overrun Ends In ... read more
ASA releases new book on managing FBOs
General Aviation News In the book author Dr. C. Daniel Prather "presents key considerations for FBO managers and prepares university-level students for this competitive business field," according to ASA officials. Read More read more
Engine trouble in flight provides valuable teaching moment
General Aviation News As a low-time private pilot and student instrument pilot, this was an incredible learning opportunity and lesson that I will remember for the rest of my flying career. Read More read more
United Maintains Pilot Hiring Blitz
AVweb United Airlines is on pace to beat its 2022 record of hiring 2,500 pilots in a year. According to AirlineGeeks the airline brought in 270 pilots in October, bringing its new-pilot total for 2023 to 2,296. The airline has embarked on a rapid expansion program which includes the addition of 230 aircraft in the next year and a total of 700 new aircraft by 2033. United’s quest for more pilots may be aided by slower hiring at many of its competitors. AirlineGeeks says most other airlines ... read more
Faulty Foam System Fills Hangar
AVweb Airlive is reporting that at least three aircraft were damaged when a malfunctioning foam fire suppression system filled a hangar in Texas. According to the time stamp on the surveillance video, the mishap happened on Oct. 28 at McKinney National Airport likely just before noon. It’s not clear what triggered the foam but it’s most commonly referred to as an equipment problem and not human error. The time lapse of the video shows about 10 minutes of the incident and in that time foam ... read more
Bahamas Retreat Provides Remote Beachfront Paradise
FLYING Magazine Hawk’s Nest Resort and Marina is a tropical beachfront paradise on the southern tip of Cat Island, Bahamas. As its name suggests, the coveted tourist destination features a 28-slip marina and is widely regarded for its relaxed pace and world-class fishing. Not only are mariners welcomed here, but aviators are also, as there is a private 3,100-foot long paved runway. Robert Moss, whose family presently owns the resort, advised that the resort’s airstrip (MYCH) was burdened ... read more
This 1978 Cessna 152 II Is an economical ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Each day, the team at Aircraft For Sale picks an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, represents a good deal, or has other interesting qualities. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1978 Cessna 152 II. People like to make jokes and disparaging comments about the Cessna 152, until they train in it. The small two-seater arguably is just the right size and has the right characteristics for ... read more
Madrid’s Quality Fly Soars with New Tecnams
Plane & Pilot Magazine By Amy Wilder Quality Fly, a Madrid-based flight school, has announced a remarkable 37 percent growth in its fleet in 2023, recently adding a Tecnam … Read More "Madrid’s Quality Fly Soars with New Tecnams" The post Madrid’s Quality Fly Soars with New Tecnams appeared first on Plane & Pilot Magazine. Read More read more
MT-Propeller offers three-blade prop for Piper PA–23
AOPA General Aviation News MT-Propeller announced it has received FAA STC approval for its three-blade MTV-12 propeller for installation on Piper PA–23 series aircraft. Read More read more
Air Force to Upgrade Pilot Eyewear with Laser, Ballistic Protection
FLYING Magazine U.S. Air Force pilots will soon receive upgraded eyewear that includes protection against laser strikes, the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center announced. The eyewear consists of eight devices, known as the “Block 3 Family,” and also includes separate day and night spectacles, ballistics spectacles, and visors designed to integrate with night vision goggles. The upgrades include night eyewear that increases visibility through lenses that allow more natural light, and ... read more
Window Shopping Can Be Antidote for Annual Inspection Blues
FLYING Magazine As I wait for the call to retrieve my airplane from its first annual inspection under my ownership, I have confirmed that absence indeed makes the heart grow fonder. It can also make the eyes wander, especially when temptations abound. Because I spend a lot of time perusing the used market on Aircraft For Sale I have a strong sense of the interesting makes and models looking for new homes. From nearly new four-seat family aircraft to rare antiques and warbirds, the general ... read more
Electra Completes ‘World’s First’ Flight of Hybrid-Electric STOL Design
FLYING Magazine The American goldfinch is no stranger to U.S. skies: The little yellow creature is the state bird of Iowa, New Jersey, and Washington. But this month in Virginia, a different, much larger species of Goldfinch flew for the first time. Aircraft manufacturer Electra.aero’s EL-2 Goldfinch demonstrator pays homage to its namesake’s golden hue. Unlike a bird, however, the hybrid-electric ultra-short takeoff and landing (eSTOL) aircraft took off from the runway like a ... read more
The Implications of SpaceX’s Second Starship Test Flight
FLYING Magazine The most powerful rocket ever built is grounded—again. SpaceX’s massive Starship rocket and Super Heavy booster flew for the second time on Saturday, and the results were a mixed bag. Stage separation—the point at which the spaceship’s maiden voyage in April went off the rails—was a success. But like last time, both the rocket and booster exploded and were lost, prompting another mishap investigation by the FAA. Starship will not be able to fly again until the ... read more
United Doubles Down on Pilot Hiring, Sets New Record
FLYING Magazine Amid a recent flurry of headlines around slowdowns in hiring among some airlines, United is keeping its foot on the gas. The Chicago-based carrier just hired a record number of pilots in October. According to data from FAPA – a pilot career advisory group that’s been tracking hiring trends across 13 major U.S. airlines for over 30 years – United hired 270 pilots in October 2023, the carrier’s highest amount of new hires in a single month. This boils down to nearly 70 new ... read more
D-Day Squadron Names 10 Aircraft Participating in Legacy Tour
FLYING Magazine Mustering time has arrived again for the D-Day Squadron, a group of Douglas C-47 and DC-3 military transports participating in next year’s celebrations of D-Day and the Berlin Airlift. READ MORE: D-Day Squadron Details Plans for 80th Anniversary Flight To Normandy The group announced the first 10 aircraft joining its Legacy Tour to make the journey to Europe in the spring to mark the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasions and 75th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift. More ... read more
Lockheed Martin’s Derco Signs Maintenance Agreement for Romania’s F-16s
FLYING Magazine Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) subsidiary Derco has entered into a maintenance agreement with Aerostar S.A. for the support of the Romanian Air Force’s F-16 fleet. Under the deal announced Friday, the Romania-based aerospace and defense company is expected to repair F-16 landing gear, wheels, and brakes. Derco will provide Aerostar S.A. specialized tooling, equipment, training, and technical documentation to enable the repairs. The partnership, according to Lockheed Martin, ... read more
Picture of the Day: Sunrise flight
General Aviation News Neal Wright sent in this photo his wife, Rose, took, with this note: "My neighbor, John Bouyea, and me taxiing for takeoff on Sept. 17, 2023, for a flight in my Piper Comanche from Olinger Airpark (OR81) in Oregon to Brookings Regional Airport (KBKX) in South Dakota." Read More read more
RAF Protector RG Mk1 Takes First Flight
FLYING Magazine The Royal Air Force’s (RAF) first Protector RG Mk1 remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS) has taken its first flight in the U.K., the service announced. Last month, the RAF said that it was preparing its first delivered Protector for ground and air testing. Initial trials were to include ground testing of satellite links and taxi procedures, as well as takeoff and landing procedures. The uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) flew a series of circuits around Royal Air Force ... read more
I hope they’re ready
General Aviation News It isn’t often that a new airport opens. Read More read more
U.S. Pilot Hiring Plateaus in September and October
FLYING Magazine Following a record-breaking year of hiring in 2022, some U.S. airlines are beginning to level off on pilot recruitment. Across 13 non-regional airlines, September and October saw a reduction in pilot hiring of nearly 11% compared to last year. This comes on the heels of some shake-ups in the post-COVID blitz to recruit new aviators. According to data from pilot career advisory group FAPA, major U.S. airlines hired a total of 2,116 pilots between September and October. The ... read more
Video: The Myth of Multitasking
General Aviation News A distracted pilot is a dangerous pilot. Read More read more
EAA inducts five into Halls of Fame
General Aviation News Five individuals who contributed to recreational aviation were inducted into the EAA Sport Aviation Halls of Fame during a November 2023 ceremony. Read More read more
Improve Safety By Reducing Training? FAA Addresses Controller Shortage
AVweb Well, it seems like a strange strategy for what is ultimately a safety initiative but nothing else has worked so maybe it’s worth a try, provided it’s monitored carefully. A few days after a damning report from the National Airspace System Safety Review Team essentially told the FAA that the clock is ticking on a major aviation catastrophe in the U.S., the agency had no choice but to respond. On Friday it came out with some plans to address a disturbing spike in serious incursions ... read more
Dreamliner Lands In Antarctica
AVweb A Norse Atlantic Airways Boeing 787 landed at Troll Airfield (QAT) in Antarctica on Nov. 15, making it the largest aircraft to touch down on the ice runway. According to the Norwegian carrier’s press release, the Dreamliner carried 45 passengers including scientists from the Norwegian Polar Institute and various countries along with 12 tons of research equipment for the journey. The aircraft took off Nov. 13 from Oslo, and made a stop in Cape Town, South Africa, before heading on ... read more
This Month In Aviation Consumer: G100UL Flight Trial
AVweb Thanks to some technical issues and some rethinking of the concept, we’re proud to offer AVweb subscribers a peek at the exclusive content packed into Aviation Consumer magazine each month. How does a 215-HP Lycoming run on GAMI’s unleaded avgas? Sister publication Aviation Consumer magazine loaded some in a Van’s RV-14 and put it through the wringer with predictable results. Read the story here. The post This Month In Aviation Consumer: G100UL Flight Trial appeared first on ... read more
GAMI G100UL In The Tank
AVweb How does the only approved (so far) unleaded 100 octane aviation fuel perform in the real world? Just fine as you might expect. The post GAMI G100UL In The Tank appeared first on AVweb. Read More read more
Poll: Is The FAA Correct To Put More Resources Into Pilot Mental Health?
AVweb Poll: Is The FAA Correct To Put More Resources Into Pilot Mental Health? Is The FAA Correct To Put More Resources Into Pilot Mental Health? Absolutely. It's a very important issue. It's worth looking at but there are bigger priorities. It's a minor issue that's being overblown. It's a waste of time. Other Δ The post Poll: Is The FAA Correct To Put More Resources Into Pilot Mental Health? appeared first on AVweb. Read More read more
MT-Propeller offers three-blade prop for Piper PA–23
AOPA General Aviation News MT-Propeller announced it has received FAA STC approval for its three-blade MTV-12 propeller for installation on Piper PA–23 series aircraft. Read More read more
Flight-Resource partners with Bushliner
General Aviation News Flight-Resource has partnered with aircraft manufacturer Bushliner to offer MT propellers for Bushliner aircraft. Read More read more
Engine Troubleshooting in Double Time
FLYING Magazine Knock on wood: I’ve been fortunate not to have experienced an in-flight mechanical event of any consequence with any of the airplanes I’ve owned. Until recently. And despite the seriousness of the event, the aftermath included positive aspects. With my Piper Arrow loaded to its full capacity of four people (including me, two journalists, and an environmental executive director), the Lycoming IO-360 engine decided it no longer wanted to participate at full power. Instead, ... read more
Pilot seriously injured after VFR turns into IMC
General Aviation News The pilot’s decision to commence the flight in marginal visual flight rules conditions at night, and his failure to maintain a safe altitude once instrument conditions were encountered. Read More read more
College Controller Grads To Skip FAA ATC Academy
AVweb The FAA is allowing graduates of college and university air traffic control programs to skip training at its own ATC academy in Oklahoma City and go directly to on-the-job training at ATC facilities. The measure was among a series of immediate actions announced by the agency to boost ATC recruitment and increase staffing levels at facilities across the country. A shortage of controllers has been a common theme in various studies, reports and seminars on a spate of runway incursions ... read more
Buttonville Airport Destruction Starts Monday
AVweb Machinery will move onto one of Canada’s busiest GA airports Monday to begin the destruction of the facility to make way for a warehouse development. Buttonville Airport, just north of Toronto, will officially close on Nov. 30 but the decommissioning of the first of two runways will take place this week. Local pilot Phil Lightstone told AVweb that airport officials advised operators of the 30 to 40 aircraft still parked at Buttonville to fly them out as soon as possible. It’s not ... read more
The Snowbirds return to Salinas
General Aviation News After 42 years of shows and $8 million in local donations, the California International Airshow Salinas is one of the most successful air shows to support charitable organizations in North America. Read More read more
Picture of the Day: Devotion
General Aviation News Jim Jazdzewski submitted this photo and note: "The Experimental Aircraft Association's devotion to aviation. Jessie Brown's devotion to service. Tom Hudner's devotion to his fellow man. The volunteers in the control tower and their devotion to safety during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2023. The F-18 Hornet and their crews devotion to our freedom." Read More read more
SpaceX Says Second Failed Starship Launch An Improvement
AVweb SpaceX’s second test flight of its Starship rocket was cut short early Saturday after the spacecraft exploded but the company noted some major improvements over its first attempt last April. According to The Wall Street Journal, SpaceX lost contact with the spacecraft about 15 minutes after launch from its spaceport, near Brownsville, Texas around 8 a.m. ET. In a post on X, SpaceX explained “the booster experienced a rapid unscheduled disassembly shortly after stage separation while ... read more
KMAO reopens with longer runway
General Aviation News The runway at Marion County Airport (KMAO) in South Carolina officially reopened Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023, after a five-month repaving and extension project. Read More read more
Picture of the Week, November 20, 2023
AVweb 1 of 5 Photo by Robert Bismuth The view as I turned downwind to land back at home base, Paine Field, Washington. My Christen Eagle's two wings and I-struct made the perfect frame for the sun as it headed towards the Olympic Mountains on the other side of Puget Sound. Picture of the Week: Framing the view of the Olympic Mountains Photo by Edward Figuli I was ... read more
Registration opens for NGPA Winter Warm-Up
General Aviation News The event will encompass a wide range of activities, including a career fair, industry expo, networking socials, a weekend fly-in, member socials, hiring sessions, and LGBTQ+ advocacy breakout sessions, according to association officials. Read More read more
Flying Media Featured Offer: Track Used Aircraft Price Changes With Aircraft For Sale
AVweb In the often-volatile used aircraft market, it can be hard to keep track of prices for individual listings. Now Flying’s Aircraft For Sale classified marketplace does it for you. Read more here The post Flying Media Featured Offer: Track Used Aircraft Price Changes With Aircraft For Sale appeared first on AVweb. Read More read more
First Diamond DA50 RG Delivered to Middle East
FLYING Magazine Diamond Aircraft handed over the first DA50 RG to a customer in the Middle East this week at the Dubai Airshow. Khalid Al Khater, CEO of Qatar-based aircraft sales and services company Aviation Home Qatar, took delivery of the aircraft. Al Khater reports that he has previously owned a DA40, DA42-VI, and DA62 that he has flown in the Middle East and Europe. The aircraft was on display at the show Friday, marking the first time the model has been exhibited at the United ... read more
DeltaHawk High on Testing of Hydrogen Engine
FLYING Magazine DeltaHawk Engines, the Wisconsin-based builder of an FAA-certified, jet-fueled piston engine for GA aircraft, is encouraged by preliminary testing of its new hydrogen-fueled variant using simulations and computer-based trials. According to the company, the test results indicate the new engine will have applications in multiple markets in addition to aviation, such as commercial power applications, defense platforms, and zero-emission vehicles. “Environmental ... read more
This 2004 Lancair ES Is an ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick for Kit-Built Enthusiasts
FLYING Magazine Each day, the team at Aircraft For Sale picks an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, represents a good deal, or has other interesting qualities. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 2004 Lancair ES. Lancair’s products have long been examples of kit-built aircraft done right, especially for customers looking for the same basic qualities and capabilities found in certified models. From the first ... read more
This Incredible Pilot: Katherine Stinson
Plane & Pilot Magazine When we think of pioneer women aviators, there are a few names that stand out: Jacqueline “Jackie” Cochran, Bessie Coleman, and Amelia Earhart among them. … Read More "This Incredible Pilot: Katherine Stinson" The post This Incredible Pilot: Katherine Stinson appeared first on Plane & Pilot Magazine. Read More read more
Training and Safety Tip: Shedding light on defining night
AOPA General Aviation News For most people, once the sun sets it’s nighttime. But it’s not that simple when it comes to FAA regulations pertaining to night flight: The rules for aircraft lighting, carrying passengers, and logging night flight all use completely different definitions of night. Read More read more
When VFR Turns Into IFR
FLYING Magazine I live in the Seattle area, where we have so much moisture the AIRMET for mountain obscuration is as common as a Starbucks on every corner. For this reason, when I pursued my instrument rating all those years ago I insisted on having at least 15 hours of actual IFR logged before I would take the check ride. I pursued the IFR rating as an exercise in risk management, and it didn’t make sense to me to get the ticket without ever going into the clouds. Logging time in actual ... read more
EAA Honors 5 Halls of Fame Inductees for 2023
FLYING Magazine The Experimental Aircraft Association recently honored five people for their contributions to sport aviation with induction into the EAA Sport Aviation Halls of Fame during a ceremony at its aviation center in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The inductees for 2023 include: the late Neal Loving, EAA Homebuilders Hall of Fame; Lew Shattuck of Yelm, Washington, International Aerobatic Club Hall of Fame; the late Charles “Chuck” Greenhill, Warbirds of America Hall of Fame; John Parish ... read more
FAA Investigating Drone Incursion at Thursday Night NFL Game
FLYING Magazine Close to two years ago, an unwelcome visitor to an NFL playoff game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Oakland (now Las Vegas) Raiders briefly drew fans’ eyes away from the action on the playing field and up to the skies. The culprit? A small drone. Perhaps the Bengals are simply unlucky. Because this week, the team’s game against its divisional rival the Baltimore Ravens on Amazon Prime Video’s Thursday Night Football was halted not just once, but twice, by another drone. ... read more
AOPA Safety Report Released
FLYING Magazine Richard McSpadden Jr., senior vice president of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Air Safety Institute, was known for his dedication to analyzing aviation accidents to identify causal factors with the hopes of preventing future mishaps. This information was gathered by AOPA and released in the annual study known as the Joseph T. Nall Report. Sadly, McSpadden was killed in an airplane accident on October 1 in Lake Placid, New York. AOPA has decided to honor him by ... read more
Air Force Kicks Off ‘Hot Pitting’ Testing of Electric Alia
FLYING Magazine The U.S. Air Force began its first round of testing of Beta Technologies’ electric aircraft Alia in Florida, the service announced this week. The Alia arrived at Duke Field (KEGI), located about 10 miles north of Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, in late October, marking Beta Technologies’ first delivery of an aircraft to a contracted partner. READ MORE: Beta Technologies’ Alia Electric Aircraft, Crew Arrive at Eglin AFB for Testing Program During the first trial, which began ... read more
Archer Plans Sale of 100 Electric Air Taxis to UAE’s Air Chateau, Its Third Commercial Customer
FLYING Magazine Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft manufacturer Archer Aviation looks like it may have locked down its third commercial customer. On Thursday at the Dubai Airshow in the United Arab Emirates, Archer signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Emirati private heliport operator Air Chateau International for the planned purchase of 100 Midnight electric air taxis, which the latter plans to own and operate regionwide. Archer estimated the value of the ... read more
Boeing 747 From the Flight Deck
FLYING Magazine The final 747—a 747-8 model—left the production line for its inaugural flight on February 1 this year. The crew traced a unique pattern in the sky: a queen’s crown underlaid by the numbers “7-4-7.” Pilots have long held a deep connection to the airplane that Joe Sutter and his team built. I for one devoured the legendary engineer’s book, 747: Creating the World’s First Jumbo Jet and Other Adventures, and witnessed from afar the genius woven into that airplane. I would have ... read more
The Merlin Lite Is an Ultralight Motorglider Floatplane You Can Afford
Plane & Pilot Magazine A few other airplanes have drawn large numbers of readers but Chip Erwin creations like the Merlin Lite seem to do that with regularity. Read More "The Merlin Lite Is an Ultralight Motorglider Floatplane You Can Afford" The post The Merlin Lite Is an Ultralight Motorglider Floatplane You Can Afford appeared first on Plane & Pilot Magazine. Read More read more
Apollo astronaut Frank Borman remembered
AOPA General Aviation News Frank Borman, commander of the 1968 Apollo 8 mission that circled the moon for the first time, died November 7 at age 95. Read More read more
Switchblade roadable aircraft makes first flight
AOPA General Aviation News The Switchblade, billed as a “flying sportscar” by its manufacturer, took its first test flight on November 9 at Grant County International Airport in Moses Lake, Washington. Read More read more
Stalling around
AOPA General Aviation News I suspect I’ve had a few students who’ve never performed a full, breaking stall by themselves. Read More read more
Training and Safety Tip: Shedding light on defining night
AOPA General Aviation News For most people, once the sun sets it’s nighttime. But it’s not that simple when it comes to FAA regulations pertaining to night flight: The rules for aircraft lighting, carrying passengers, and logging night flight all use completely different definitions of night. Read More read more
SpaceX Starship Launch Hits Snag
FLYING Magazine SpaceX’s long-anticipated second launch of its Starship rocket, initially set for Friday morning, has been delayed due to the need to replace flight control hardware, according to chief executive Elon Musk. Earlier in the week, SpaceX had been given the all clear by the FAA for the second orbital test flight of the 400-foot-tall Starship upper stage rocket and Super Heavy booster. On Thursday, Starship was stacked on the launch pad, ready for flight. “This is another ... read more
The Last 747, Queen of the Skies
FLYING Magazine The last 747 has rolled off Boeing’s production line, but the iconic jumbo jet still has plenty of history to make. Atlas Air took delivery of a 747-8 freighter on Janu- ary 31, 2023, marking the end of an era for an iconic air- craft that transformed air travel and made it accessible to the average person. From the 747-100 to the 747-400, and then the modern 747-8, The Boeing Company built both passenger and freighter versions, and many used 747s that began in passenger ... read more
Switchblade roadable aircraft makes first flight
AOPA General Aviation News The Switchblade, billed as a “flying sportscar” by its manufacturer, took its first test flight on November 9 at Grant County International Airport in Moses Lake, Washington. Read More read more
Stalling around
AOPA General Aviation News I suspect I’ve had a few students who’ve never performed a full, breaking stall by themselves. Read More read more
Apollo astronaut Frank Borman remembered
AOPA General Aviation News Frank Borman, commander of the 1968 Apollo 8 mission that circled the moon for the first time, died November 7 at age 95. Read More read more
Flying High with Aircraft For Sale’s Latest Feature: Introducing ‘Price Change’
FLYING Magazine Hold onto your headsets because we’ve got some thrilling news to share. Aircraft For Sale has just rolled out an industry-changing feature called “Price Change.” Now, you can track the rise and fall of aircraft from their original asking prices without even as much as a click of a button. Watch Ian Hoyt, FLYING Media Group’s director of marketplace, share more about this exciting update in our feature release video: Gone are the days of endlessly scouring the internet, ... read more
ASA releases online ground school for drone pilots
General Aviation News The virtual test prep course is designed for those who are flying a drone for non-hobby operations, which requires a Remote Pilot Certificate. Earning that certificate requires you to pass an FAA knowledge exam. Read More read more
Improper fuel planning leads to fuel starvation
General Aviation News The pilot’s inadequate fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. Read More read more
CubCrafters goes infrared
AOPA General Aviation News Aircraft designer and manufacturer CubCrafters announced the integration of a thermal infrared camera option for improved situational awareness in low light and reduced visibility. Read More read more
Inspiration in Orlando
AOPA General Aviation News Astronauts, fighter pilots, and aerospace executives primed about 500 teachers to continue growing the AOPA You Can Fly High School STEM Curriculum that has helped more than 72,000 students get a leg up on aerospace careers. Read More read more
FAA updates seaplane operation safety information
AOPA General Aviation News In an effort to improve pilot and passenger safety during seaplane operations under FAR Part 91, the FAA issued an advisory circular (AC) that revises guidance on a range of operational and safety considerations. Read More read more
New York-Belgium Horse-Transport Flight Ends Tragically
AVweb A cargo flight including up to 15 horses turned back after reaching cruise altitude due to a panicked horse breaking loose from its stall in a specially designed cargo container. As posted by an audio recording and flight track on You Can See ATC, the pilot of Air Atlantic Icelandic cargo Flight CC4592, a Boeing 747 freighter, notified Boston Center at 4:06 p.m. local time from 31,000 feet that he needed to return to JFK International in New York. He told controllers a horse had ... read more
FAA-Appointed Panel Lays Blame On Congress For Safety Issues
AVweb The National Airspace System Safety Review Team (SRT), an FAA-appointed panel of experts, blames Congress’s “shutdown politics” and inadequate FAA funding for increases in close calls involving air safety. In a report released yesterday (Nov. 15), the panel addressed what it describes as recurring gridlock; “This stop-and-start process in Congress has resulted in the disruption of critical activities, notably including the hiring and training of air traffic controllers. It has also ... read more
Vegas-Area Airport Fees Scaled Back, But Not Enough For AOPA
AVweb Following backlash from pilots and aviation groups over high special event fees for the upcoming F1 race, Las Vegas’ Clark County has made more parking available and drastically reduced costs for certain general aviation aircraft. In a Nov. 15 press release, AOPA says it has met with Clark County officials on several occasions regarding ‘egregious fees’ associated with a Prior Permission Required (PPR) program ahead of the Formula 1 Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix. Initially, ... read more
Air Force Takes Delivery Of First Boeing T-7A Red Hawk Trainer
AVweb Earlier this month, the first Boeing T-7A Red Hawk advanced jet trainer was delivered to Edwards Air Force Base in California. The ensuing flight test program is expected to result in the new aircraft type replacing the Northrop T-38 Talon, in service since the third month of the Kennedy Administration. Known officially as the APT-2, the twin-engine trainer was flown on the delivery mission by a joint USAF/Boeing crew, according to the Air Force. The journey included stops at Vance ... read more
This Douglas AD-4N Skyraider Is an ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick for Warbird Fans
FLYING Magazine Each day, the team at Aircraft For Sale picks an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, represents a good deal, or has other interesting qualities. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1952 Douglas AD-4N Skyraider. When I was a kid, building model airplanes was my main avocation and the local hobby shop, my favorite destination. Proprietors Bob and Ed had served in the Korean War, so when I bought ... read more
Flight Schools Discuss Getting the Lead Out
FLYING Magazine The recent news about the University of North Dakota (UND) returning its fleet to leaded fuel after discovering excessive valve recession in aircraft using Swift Fuels UL94 has grabbed the attention of many aircraft operators looking to use lead-free fuel. Excessive valve recession can result in blow-by that can cause an uncommanded loss of engine power, compression, and in worst cases, valve failure. As reported by FLYING last week, UND resumed the use of 100LL after ... read more
DOD Officials ‘Encouraged’ by Prospect of Direct Talks with China’s Military
FLYING Magazine Defense officials are encouraged by the prospect of the U.S. resuming communications directly with China’s military, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Thursday. Austin’s comments come one day after President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to restore a military-to-military communication agreement. READ MORE: Chinese Fighter Intercepts Air Force B-52 Over South China Sea “The president is determined to see the reestablishment of military-to-military ties ... read more
Will the Most Powerful Rocket Ever Built Fly Again This Week?
FLYING Magazine Hello, and welcome to the Future of FLYING newsletter, our weekly look at the biggest stories in emerging aviation technology. From low-altitude drones to high-flying rockets at the edge of the atmosphere, we’ll take you on a tour of the modern flying world to help you make sense of it all. Now for this week’s top story: SpaceX’s Starship Could Fly Again This Week (Courtesy: SpaceX) What happened? It’s official: The FAA has cleared SpaceX’s Starship rocket and Super Heavy ... read more
Schweizer Finishes First Factory Refreshed S300CBi Helicopter
FLYING Magazine Schweizer has finished the first of its factory refreshed S300CBi helicopters. The new program will put certified pre-owned rotorcraft in the hands of customers for well below the price of a new model, according to the company. The OEM Certified Helicopters Program replaces several key components, including the engine, blades, and interior, applies new paint, and introduces other low-time parts to the finished product. “The former owners of the Schweizer brand did not ... read more
A Peek Behind the Scenes of Repair Station Ops
FLYING Magazine There is a time in every aircraft owner’s life when they hear an utterance that sends a chill through their entire body—and their checkbook. “Hey, boss. I think we have a problem with Four Six Echo.” Mechanics typically identify aircraft by the last three places of the N-number, and any A&P worth their salt will always use the phonetic alphabet. In our example, Four Six Echo is the company’s Beechcraft King Air scheduled for a trip to close a big deal with a client in ... read more
NASA Engineers Tackle Aircraft Engine Noise
FLYING Magazine In the ongoing quest to make airplane engines quieter, a team of NASA researchers is turning to Pleiades, one of the world’s most powerful supercomputers. Engineers and researchers at NASA’s Ames Research Center at Moffett Field (KNUQ) in California are modeling aerodynamic and acoustic fields around turbofan engines in order to develop software that can model engine configurations faster and cheaper. Project results will be compared to data collected at the Low Speed ... read more
Valdor Aviation Receives STC for De Havilland Beaver Turboprop Conversion
FLYING Magazine Valdor Aircraft, a Quebec company that provides a range of aircraft services, received supplemental type certificate (STC) approval to install Pratt & Whitney Canada PT-6A-34 engines in de Havilland DHC-2 Beavers. The recently approved upgrade goes beyond replacing the Beaver’s original Pratt & Whitney R985 radial engine with a modern turbine to increase performance and efficiency. The re-engined Beavers receive new wings, fuel, oil, and electrical systems, engine ... read more
Elroy Air Conducts Groundbreaking Flight of Hybrid-Electric Cargo Drone
FLYING Magazine Look up in the sky: Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s a turbogenerator-hybrid electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft—and it’s the first in the world to fly, according to manufacturer Elroy Air. The aircraft type is a mouthful, so we’ll use Elroy’s abbreviation: hVTOL. The San Francisco Bay Area-based firm, best known for manufacturing the autonomous Chaparral cargo drone, on Sunday took the hVTOL on its maiden voyage, claiming it is the first aircraft of its ... read more
Tri-Cities/Bristol, Tennessee ILS or LOC Runway 23
FLYING Magazine Whether you’re flying in for country music of a lap around the speedway, a visitor to Bristol, Tennessee—billed as the birthplace of country music—might drop into the museum focused on that fact, or perhaps for the several yearly NASCAR events at the Bristol Motor Speedway. Nestled in a deceivingly mountainous locale on the Tennessee-Virginia border, the approach plate hints at some terrain in the area, especially to the south and east. A. Glade Spring VOR IAF A pilot ... read more
Picture of the Day: Flying over Fall colors
General Aviation News Ryan Weir submitted this photo and note: "Ryan Weir flying a Boeing PT-17 Stearman over Enumclaw, Washington, on a crisp November evening." Read More read more
Schweizer Creates Like-New S300CBi Copters with Factory Program
Plane & Pilot Magazine The Schweizer 300C series has trained a whole lot of new helicopter pilots over its long lifetime, and now the new company shepherding this classic … Read More "Schweizer Creates Like-New S300CBi Copters with Factory Program" The post Schweizer Creates Like-New S300CBi Copters with Factory Program appeared first on Plane & Pilot Magazine. Read More read more
Can I mix different brands of oil in my aircraft’s engine?
General Aviation News While conventional wisdom says you shouldn't mix different brands of oil in your aircraft engine, our expert says otherwise. Read More read more
CubCrafters goes infrared
AOPA General Aviation News Aircraft designer and manufacturer CubCrafters announced the integration of a thermal infrared camera option for improved situational awareness in low light and reduced visibility. Read More read more
Inspiration in Orlando
AOPA General Aviation News Astronauts, fighter pilots, and aerospace executives primed about 500 teachers to continue growing the AOPA You Can Fly High School STEM Curriculum that has helped more than 72,000 students get a leg up on aerospace careers. Read More read more
FAA updates seaplane operation safety information
AOPA General Aviation News In an effort to improve pilot and passenger safety during seaplane operations under FAR Part 91, the FAA issued an advisory circular (AC) that revises guidance on a range of operational and safety considerations. Read More read more
NATO to Modernize AWACS Fleet with Boeing E-7A
FLYING Magazine NATO will update its aging airborne warning and control system (AWACS) fleet with the purchase of six Boeing E-7A Wedgetail surveillance aircraft, it announced Wednesday. The E-7 Wedgetail, a military variant of the Boeing 737 jet, will be equipped with a radar able to detect hostile aircraft, missiles, and ships at great distances. It is set to replace NATO’s fleet of E-3A AWACS aircraft that have operated since the 1980s. NATO is expected to retire its fleet of 14 E-3A ... read more
FAA committee to examine pilot mental health
General Aviation News The FAA is establishing a Pilot Mental Health Aviation Rulemaking Committee "to provide recommendations on breaking down the barriers that prevent pilots from reporting mental health issues to the agency," according to FAA officials. Read More read more
New video focuses on how to depart safely in low IMC
General Aviation News “How to Depart Safely in Low IMC offers tips on using tools to stay clear of obstacles when visibility is low,” said ASI Senior Director Paul Deres. Read More read more
West Star Aviation launches in-house academy
General Aviation News West Star Aviation Academy will accelerate the skill development and abilities required to certify new technicians more quickly than the industry’s traditional 18-30-month on-the-job apprenticeship program," company officials said in a press release. Read More read more
Overair Partners with DFW Airport and City of Arlington to Bring Air Taxis to Texas
FLYING Magazine The Dallas-Fort Worth metro area has already welcomed small delivery drones to the region. But as they say: Everything is bigger in Texas. On Thursday, Santa Ana, California-based Overair announced a pair of partnerships to bring a much larger kind of emerging aircraft to the area: electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxis. The manufacturer plans to launch advanced air mobility (AAM) operations out of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (KDFW) and ... read more
An unnecessary headache for controllers
General Aviation News As I reflect on how all this happened, I ask the basic question: Why are there taxiways on this airport which are not visible to the Tower? Both of these locations look and act like ramps to me. Neither taxiway goes anywhere except to a dead end. Read More read more
Five Years After Fatal Crash, Ethiopian Airlines Orders More 737 Maxes
AVweb Ethiopian Airlines placed an order yesterday (Nov. 14), including 20 Boeing 737-9 and 737-11 Max single-aisle airliners. The deal comes five years after the crash of an Ethiopian Airlines 737 Max that killed all 157 on board. Fallout from that accident, as well as a fatal Max crash involving Indonesia’s Lion Air five months earlier, led to worldwide grounding of the Max fleet. Boeing’s long-term financial setback due to the grounding and subsequent legal action is estimated at some ... read more
Britten-Norman To Support UK-based Airborne 5G Platform Test Program
AVweb A U.K.-based research project, announced today, will explore the concept of establishing a High-Altitude Platform (HAP) with airborne antennas to provide high-performance 5G service from the stratosphere. The project is led by Stratospheric Platforms Ltd. (SPL), described as a non-terrestrial networks telecom developer, and aircraft manufacturer Britten-Norman will provide “key design and trials support” for the research, including use of a turbine-powered variant of its BN2T ... read more
Short Final: Cub Comedy
AVweb While doing some pattern work recently at our small rural airport in Pella, Iowa (KPEA), I was practicing wheel landings and three‐point landings with my 1946 Piper Cub when on the CTAF I heard a local business’ Lear‐45 announce their approach to the airport from five miles to the south. Though the corporate pilots know me and are generally very courteous, I knew that I was somewhat of a nuisance to them in the pattern and would be hard to identify. I chose to climb to 1000 feet ... read more
Rocky Landing
AVweb Some flying moments are memorable for the wrong reasons, and it’s fair to say everyone aboard an Air Canada flight landing at Toronto’s Pearson Airport from Tokyo on Monday was left with a lasting impression of their arrival. The Boeing 777 was landing in a stiff crosswind (17 G 26) and might have encountered wind shear as the windward wing suddenly dipped sharply, planting the right main gear firmly on the runway. The plane then rocked left as the crew wrestled it down to a safe ... read more
Tecnam Inks Deal For 10 Trainers With New Zealand Flight School
AVweb Tecnam recently announced that New Zealand Airline Academy Ltd. (NZAAL) has ordered 10 training aircraft. The order includes eight single-engine Tecnam P2008 JC Night VFR models, one single-engine P-Mentor IFR trainer and one twin-engine piston P2006T Premium Edition advanced multi-engine trainer. The twin is currently en route from the Tecnam factory in Capua, Italy, to NZAAL’s home-base airport in Oamaru, New Zealand. Deliveries of the rest are scheduled to start in the second ... read more
CLARK COUNTY, NEVADA, LOWERS SPECIAL EVENT FEES IN ADVANCE OF F1 RACE
AOPA General Aviation News The Clark County Department of Aviation released additional parking spots at Las Vegas valley airports at a significantly lower price after reassessing availability and costs when pilots, AOPA, and other aviation organizations pushed back against egregious “special event” fees tied to the Formula 1 Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix on November 18. Read More read more
Electrifying news from Joby
AOPA General Aviation News On November 12, Joby Aviation staked a claim to the first electric air taxi flight in New York City. Read More read more
Real Pilot Story: Hidden Hazard
AOPA General Aviation News A Mooney pilot was overcome by carbon monoxide poisoning and lost consciousness while airborne and miraculously survived a crash landing to tell his story. Read More read more
Members of EAA 983 Honored for Safe Operation
FLYING Magazine The Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award is bestowed on pilots who have been flying for 50 years without revocation of their certificate. The Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award is given to mechanics who have been working on aircraft for 50 years. Usually, one of these two awards are bestowed annually by the FAA, but this year the agency handed out 31 for master pilot and one for master mechanic to members of Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 983 in Granbury, ... read more
A 1975 Cessna A185F Skywagon with Amphibious Floats Is an ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick for Adventure
FLYING Magazine Each day, the team at Aircraft For Sale picks an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, represents a good deal, or has other interesting qualities. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1975 Cessna A185F Skywagon. Cessna’s 185 is the stuff of dreams for many pilots with backcountry and bush- flying aspirations. Capable of hauling big loads into and out of short fields, the airplane has long been a ... read more
CLARK COUNTY, NEVADA, LOWERS SPECIAL EVENT FEES IN ADVANCE OF F1 RACE
AOPA General Aviation News The Clark County Department of Aviation released additional parking spots at Las Vegas valley airports at a significantly lower price after reassessing availability and costs when pilots, AOPA, and other aviation organizations pushed back against egregious “special event” fees tied to the Formula 1 Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix on November 18. Read More read more
Electrifying news from Joby
AOPA General Aviation News On November 12, Joby Aviation staked a claim to the first electric air taxi flight in New York City. Read More read more
Real Pilot Story: Hidden Hazard
AOPA General Aviation News A Mooney pilot was overcome by carbon monoxide poisoning and lost consciousness while airborne and miraculously survived a crash landing to tell his story. Read More read more
Navy Deploys Flexrotor UAVs for ISR in Gulf of Oman
FLYING Magazine U.S. Navy sailors deployed in the Gulf of Oman turned to uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAV) to increase maritime domain awareness during a recent operation that included tracking Iranian Navy and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy ships. During the November 8-9 event, sailors aboard the USS Stethem—an Arleigh Burke-class, guided-missile destroyer—used small Aerovel Flexrotor tactical UAVs to “put more eyes in the sky” for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance ... read more
What Prompted Congress to Change the FAA’s Original “Dual Mandate”?
FLYING Magazine Question: In August 1958, the President signed the Federal Aviation Act, which transferred the Civil Aeronautics Authority’s functions to a new and independent Federal Aviation Agency (now the Federal Aviation Administration). The FAA was charged with regulating air commerce to promote its development and safety and with promoting, encouraging, and developing civil aeronautics. How, when, and why did these congressionally-mandated functions change? Answer: After the May ... read more
Bose’s A30 Headset Shows Off New Design
Plane & Pilot Magazine Bose's new A30 headset incorporates new design features that engineers at the company found made the best wearing experience for pilots in light airplanes. Read More "Bose’s A30 Headset Shows Off New Design" The post Bose’s A30 Headset Shows Off New Design appeared first on Plane & Pilot Magazine. Read More read more
AeroGuard to Acquire 90 Archers from Piper Aircraft
FLYING Magazine Piper Aircraft and AeroGuard Flight Training Center announced an agreement under which AeroGuard has placed an order for 90 new PA-28 Archer TXs. The addition of the Piper trainers will nearly double the size of AeroGuard’s fleet to more than 200 aircraft. AeroGuard has three campuses in the U.S. and one in Saudi Arabia. Together they train more than 2,000 student pilots for careers with airlines such as Cathay Pacific and SkyWest. AeroGuard also has a number of other ... read more
Clark County lowers special event fees in advance of F1 race
AOPA General Aviation News The Clark County Department of Aviation released additional parking spots at Las Vegas valley airports at a significantly lower price after reassessing availability and costs when pilots, AOPA, and other aviation organizations pushed back against egregious “special event” fees tied to the Formula 1 Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix on November 18. Read More read more
Elon Musk Says SpaceX Starship Could Launch Friday—and He May be Right This Time
FLYING Magazine SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has not enjoyed a great track record when it comes to predicting the second orbital test flight of Starship, the largest and most powerful rocket ever built. But Musk’s assertion this week—that the 400-foot-tall Starship upper stage and Super Heavy booster could fly again as soon as Friday—looks like it could come true. “Was just informed that approval to launch should happen in time for a Friday launch,” Musk wrote in a post on his social media ... read more
Picture of the Day: A storm rolling in
General Aviation News Diana Layton submitted this photo and note: "A photo of our squadron's Civil Air Patrol plane after towing glider flights until the storm rolled in." Read More read more
Clark County lowers special event fees in advance of F1 race
AOPA General Aviation News The Clark County Department of Aviation released additional parking spots at Las Vegas valley airports at a significantly lower price after reassessing availability and costs when pilots, AOPA, and other aviation organizations pushed back against egregious “special event” fees tied to the Formula 1 Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix on November 18. Read More read more
A nice send off
General Aviation News I’m sad for this former subscriber, but grateful he took the time to email. Read More read more
After the Accident: Worst Glide
Plane & Pilot Magazine A little after 9 a.m., 45 seconds after takeoff, one of the pilots of a Velocity V-Twin radioed the tower at Janesville, Wisconsin (KJVL): “We’d … Read More "After the Accident: Worst Glide" The post After the Accident: Worst Glide appeared first on Plane & Pilot Magazine. Read More read more
First flight: Switchblade flying car
General Aviation News Samson Sky's flying car, the Switchblade, recently completed its maiden flight at Grant County International Airport (KMWH) in Washington state. Read More read more
Coast Guard MH-60 Helicopter Crashes During Alaska Rescue Op
FLYING Magazine An investigation is underway after a U.S. Coast Guard MH-60 Jawhawk helicopter crashed during a search and rescue mission in Alaska, injuring all four crew members, two seriously. The accident occurred late Monday night on Read Island in southeastern Alaska as the aircrew dispatched from Air Station Sitka responded to a distress call from a fishing boat, the Lydia Marie. READ MORE: Flying Blind: Trust Is the Cornerstone for This Alaska Air Rescue Team Following the crash, ... read more
D-Day Squadron reveals planes that will participate in 2024 tour
General Aviation News The initial list of 10 includes U.S.-based C-47s and DC-3s, as well as planes from France and England. Read More read more
ASA releases new resource for CFIs
General Aviation News Aviation Supplies & Academics (ASA) has released "The Pilots In Command Student Workbook," a free instructor resource for CFIs using the book "Pilots In Command: Your Best Trip, Every Trip" for their courses. Read More read more
F-16 Training Base Opens In Romania
AVweb An F-16 training base that will teach Ukrainian pilots opened Monday in Romania. The school is at a Romanian air force base in Fetesti. Romania’s defense ministry said the facility will train pilots from Ukraine and “other partners” but didn’t specify who those other pilots might be. Most NATO countries are parking their fourth-generation fighters and upgrading to F-35s, including Romania. The aircraft to be used in Romania are being donated by the Royal Netherlands Air Force, which ... read more
Piper Announces 90-Ship Deal With AeroGuard Flight Training Center
AVweb Piper announced yesterday (November 14) it has received an order for 90 Archer TX training aircraft from AeroGuard Flight Training. AeroGuard has four locations, three in the U.S. and one in Saudi Arabia. The company specializes in airline training, partnering with training providers at Cathay Pacific, SkyWest, and Korea Aerospace University, among other airline and university partners throughout the Middle East, India, and other Asian regions. AeroGuard, which says it has graduated ... read more
Pilot hits parked airplane after losing control on landing
General Aviation News The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with a parked airplane. Read More read more
Iceland’s Volcano May Threaten Air Missions
FLYING Magazine As seismic activity increases beneath Iceland’s Fagradalsfjall volcano, experts warn of a potential eruption that could have far-reaching consequences for air travel. The Icelandic Meteorological Office has been closely monitoring the situation, raising the alert level, and prompting discussions about the potential impact on both commercial and general aviation operations. The Icelandic Met Office reports a surge in seismic activity near the volcano, signaling a possible ... read more
Training and Safety Tip: Dancing with drones
AOPA General Aviation News With nearly 864,000 drones now registered with the FAA, chances are increasing that you may encounter one in flight. Read More read more
Airdrop Bomb Threat Interrupts Flight
AVweb A United Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Vancouver was diverted to San Francisco Monday night after some passengers received an alleged bomb threat via Airdrop. “There was a threat that was ultimately deemed noncredible,” the FBI said in a statement. The threat would have had to have been sent by someone onboard using an Apple device and only those onboard with Apple devices set up to receive Airdrop files would have received the threat. Airdrop uses Bluetooth and WiFi to allow ... read more
B-29 Scale Replica Flight Video Released
AVweb Video of the first flight of what might be the most complex homebuilt project ever conceived or built has been released, a week after the aircraft was involved in a landing mishap in Indiana. Tom Hodgson has been working on a 35 percent scale B-29 replica for years and flew it on Nov. 5. The accompanying video shows a series of low altitude flights around the pattern at Glenndale Airport in Kokomo. One of those passes may have been a go-around. The first flight happened on the same ... read more
Vickers Flip-Proof Amphib Finishes Flight Testing
AVweb A New Zealand company says it’s solved one of the biggest safety issues affecting amphibious aircraft operations. Paul Vickers, president of Vickers Aircraft told AVweb the WAVE pusher amphib will not flip if the pilot forgets to raise the landing gear before a water landing. Vickers declined to discuss the flip-proof design in detail for proprietary reasons but said it’s among a host of innovations included in the plane, which he said recently completed flight testing. “The WAVE ... read more
This Month In Aviation Consumer: G100UL Flight Trial
AVweb How does a 215-HP Lycoming run on GAMI’s unleaded avgas? Sister publication Aviation Consumer magazine loaded some in a Van’s RV-14 and put it through the wringer with predictable results. Read the analysis by subscribing here. The post This Month In Aviation Consumer: G100UL Flight Trial appeared first on AVweb. Read More read more
Always Remember to Mind Your Passengers
FLYING Magazine One of the first questions I ask a private pilot candidate is, “Who will your first passenger be?” Most often, it is a family member. We talk about the limitation noted in FAR 61.89 that states carriage of passengers is not permitted by student pilots since they cannot legally act as pilot in command (PIC) in an aircraft with passengers. However, during dual lessons the flight instructor is the PIC, therefore, if your aircraft has a back seat, you could legally carry a ... read more
Lightspeed Aviation Names New President
FLYING Magazine Headset manufacturer Lightspeed Aviation announced Monday that it is bringing Heider Lazzarini on board as the company’s new president. Lazzarini succeeds Lightspeed founder Allan Schrader, who will remain with the company as its CEO and chairman of the board of directors. According to Lightspeed, Lazzarini will be responsible for day-to-day operations while Schrader will focus on “developing adjacent market opportunities utilizing existing and evolving technologies.” “I’m ... read more
Fire Boss Is Heading for Europe
FLYING Magazine Fire Boss LLC, part of the Wipaire company, is sending technology to Europe to help combat wildfires. The company is the designer and manufacturer of the Fire Boss water scooping system installed exclusively on the Air Tractor AT-802. The system allows the single-engine air tanker to scoop up approximately 800 gallons in 15 seconds. Fire Boss will be sending 31 of the units to Air Tractor Europe, with delivery beginning in 2024 and extending through 2026. The deal was made ... read more
Convair Model 48 Charger Featured Stubby Wings
FLYING Magazine Imagine, for a moment, that you are a young engineer in the early 1960s, fresh out of college and looking for your first job. Luck smiles upon you, and you’re offered a job at Convair, manufacturer of a wide variety of aircraft from interceptors to fighters to airliners. As you report for your first day of work with visions of the magnificent XB-70 Valkyrie strategic bomber streaking through your head, you are informed that you’ll instead be assigned to an odd little ... read more
This 1984 Piper PA-31P-350 Mojave Is a Long-Range, High-Flying ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Each day, the team at Aircraft For Sale picks an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, represents a good deal, or has other interesting qualities. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1984 Piper PA-31P 350 Mojave. Piper developed the PA-31 to compete with other heavy twins that were cropping up on the market, like Cessna’s 400 series models from the 1970s and 80s. The airplane was a departure ... read more
Icelandic Volcano Puts Aviation on Alert
Plane & Pilot Magazine By Amy Wilder As seismic activity increases beneath Iceland’s Fagradalsfjall volcano, experts warn of a potential eruption that could have far-reaching consequences for air travel. … Read More "Icelandic Volcano Puts Aviation on Alert" The post Icelandic Volcano Puts Aviation on Alert appeared first on Plane & Pilot Magazine. Read More read more
Training and Safety Tip: Dancing with drones
AOPA General Aviation News With nearly 864,000 drones now registered with the FAA, chances are increasing that you may encounter one in flight. Read More read more
NTSB Releases Preliminary Report on Vanyo Accident
FLYING Magazine The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released preliminary findings in the investigation of the accident involving well-known backcountry pilot David “Dooley” Vanyo, 59. Vanyo was killed in his amateur-built CubCrafters Carbon Cub near Twisp, Washington, last month. Twisp is 112 miles north of Moses Lake in an area popular for outdoor recreation. What Happened According to the NTSB, on the morning of October 1 Vanyo was taking a flight accompanied by a friend ... read more
Rolls-Royce Confirms All of Its Current Engines Can Run On 100 Percent SAF
FLYING Magazine Rolls-Royce announced that it has completed compatibility testing of 100 percent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) on all its civil aero engine types in production. The company said the completion of testing fulfills a commitment it made in 2021 to show that engine technology is not a barrier to the use of 100 percent SAF. Rolls-Royce conducted a range of ground and flight tests designed to replicate operating conditions, and in each case they showed the use of 100 percent ... read more
South Korea’s Navy Takes Delivery of 3 Bell 505 Helicopters
FLYING Magazine The Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) has received its first three ordered Bell 505 helicopters, Bell Textron Inc. said Monday. The delivery is part of a contract signed in May 2022 by Bell and the Republic of Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration for delivery of up to 40 of the light single helicopters by 2025 for use as trainers by both the country’s army and navy. “The Republic of Korea Armed Forces’ decision to induct the Bell 505 is a testament to their need ... read more
Airbus U.S. Space & Defense Adds a New Line of Business in Drones
FLYING Magazine Airbus has plenty of experience developing groundbreaking uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs)—the long-range, high-flying, record-setting Zephyr is perhaps the best example. Now, Airbus U.S. Space and Defense is building on the success of Zephyr by launching a new, purpose-built business line dedicated to military UAVs, the company announced Thursday. The business doesn’t yet have a name. But its goal will be to effectively optimize, scale, and deploy uncrewed aircraft systems ... read more
Wheels up the wrong way
General Aviation News Pilots should make a serious effort to keep the wheels downward on a regular basis. From takeoff to landing and even to temporarily storing the airplane on the ramp, that goal should be included in our mission plan. If nothing else, the successful execution of that plan will prevent us from having a humbling conversation with our insurance carrier. Read More read more
Picture of the Day: Sunrise in Western Wisconsin
General Aviation News Richard George submitted this photo and note: "Early morning fog in the coulees of western Wisconsin. The beauty of this country never ceases to amaze. Photo taken from my 34-year-old RV4 on Sept. 9, 2023." Read More read more
Honeywell AAM Business Racks Up $10B Worth of Contracts
FLYING Magazine Advanced air mobility (AAM) is already a multibillion-dollar business. It certainly is for Honeywell, as the company reported at the Dubai Airshow in the United Arab Emirates. The aerospace and defense manufacturer on Sunday said its AAM business unit has now won contracts worth more than $10 billion, just three years after it was launched. That figure represents Honeywell’s estimate of the contracts’ lifetime value, which the company based on an internal forecast of the ... read more
STC gives new life to the legendary deHavilland Beaver
General Aviation News After more than six years in the making, Valdor Aircraft has received an STC from Transport Canada to replace the original piston engines on the legendary deHavilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver with turboprop engines from Pratt & Whitney Canada, along with the installation of BX wings, built at the company's plant in Val-D'Or, France. Read More read more
New airport opens in Texas
General Aviation News The land was previously a crop duster dirt airstrip in the 1970s, but has been abandoned for several decades, according to officials, who note this is the first airfield to open in Texas since 2008. Read More read more
The Points Forecast Sheds New Light on TAFs
FLYING Magazine As a flight instructor and former National Weather Service (NWS) research meteorologist, I’ve accepted that pilots like to rag on meteorologists for issuing bad forecasts. Even so, once I got the full backstory behind the pilot’s dissent for a majority of these cases, there was nothing inherently wrong with the forecast; it was how the pilot was trying to use the forecast that was often problematic. This is not to imply that meteorologists are always accurate in every ... read more
Pilot downplays near miss in the pattern
General Aviation News I cannot know if I heard the complete truth from the 172 pilot. Perhaps they were not using push-to-talk when they thought they were. Perhaps the long day waiting for a tire change had made them frazzled. Read More read more
Next Generation Chrome-Free Epoxy Primer introduced
General Aviation News The Next Generation Chrome-Free Epoxy Primer, a two-component, corrosion-inhibitive primer that contains no chromate, is designed for all types of aircraft, including general aviation aircraft. Read More read more
Balloonist Charged After Being Ordered To Land In National Park
AVweb The pilot of a balloon carrying six passengers that landed in Grand Teton National Park in July is facing criminal charges. As reported by a local Wyoming news source, Richard Glas told a court an unexpected wind shift took him into the Jackson Hole Airport airspace. Glas said an aircraft operations specialist directed him to land immediately, which resulted in a citation by federal park employees. Federal law states “the landing of aircraft is prohibited on lands or waters ... read more
Whitaker Gets NextGen Marching Orders From GAO
AVweb Recently confirmed FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker has received his first assignment from the Government Accountability Office, and he should be familiar with the subject matter. The GAO says Whitaker should get cracking on the NextGen air navigation modernization program. Whitaker was in charge of the program as the assistant administrator from 2013 to 2016. The GAO said the program has eaten up $14 billion so far but progress is lagging. “In recent years, FAA has had mixed ... read more
Fire Wrecks Four Aircraft At Greenville Downtown Airport
AVweb A charter operator in South Carolina has likely been hard hit by an early morning fire in its hangar. Authorities say at least four aircraft in the hangar owned by Special Services Corporation at Greenville Downtown Airport were destroyed by the fire, which was first noticed about 3 a.m. The company lists five aircraft for hire on its Web site, including a Cirrus SR22, King Air 200, Piper Mirage, Cessna Ultra and Cessna Encore. It’s not clear which, if any of those aircraft were ... read more
SpaceX Aims For Friday Starship Launch
AVweb SpaceX says it’s ready to launch its Starship rocket as early as Friday if the FAA can grant permission by then. The 400-foot system has been poised at the pad at SpaceX’s Boca Chica, Texas “Starbase” for several weeks while the FAA and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service go over the potential environmental impact of the new water deluge system designed to minimize the mayhem unleashed by the 33 engines on the Falcon Super Heavy booster in the April 20 launch. Without the water ... read more
AOPA’S AIR SAFETY INSTITUTE RELEASES HOW TO DEPART SAFELY IN LOW IMC IN THE BEYOND PROFICIENT: IFR VIDEO SERIES
AOPA General Aviation News The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Air Safety Institute (ASI) released a new video in its Beyond Proficient: IFR video series that provides practical advice on properly planning an IFR departure in low instrument meteorological conditions. Read More read more
Freedom, safety, luxury built in: Piper’s M600/SLS
AOPA General Aviation News Safety, luxury, and support —the Piper M600/SLS brings even more meaning to Piper’s freedom of flight legacy. Read More read more
Visiting Aviation’s Birthplace
FLYING Magazine When I was a kid, my Uncle Dennis recognized my aviation obsession and began feeding it with a steady stream of books. He would visit from New York on holidays and handoff the latest aircraft encyclopedia or a decades-old, out-of-print aviation reference guide packed with history, photos, and specifications. One included a section about the North American XB-70 Valkyrie, a nuclear strike bomber prototype designed in the 1950s to fly long distances at Mach 3above 70,000 ... read more
This 2010 Cessna 162 Skycatcher Is a Rare, Rewarding ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Each day, the team at Aircraft For Sale picks an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, represents a good deal, or has other interesting qualities. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 2010 Cessna 162 Skycatcher. Cessna designed the 162 Skycatcher as a modern trainer and personal aircraft that could take over where ancient Cessna 150s and 152s left off. Like the older airplanes, the Skycatcher has ... read more
FlytoPlaces Provides an App for That
FLYING Magazine Sushee Perumal, of Ontario, Canada, has been a pilot for nearly two decades. After working through earning additional ratings and flying more frequently, he determined there was a problem with general aviation. Perumal felt that there was not an inclusive source where he could learn of new places he could fly to for recreational purposes. As a result, he created the FlytoPlaces app in summer 2023. This aviation-centric digital resource can be found in the App Store, with ... read more
AOPA’S AIR SAFETY INSTITUTE RELEASES HOW TO DEPART SAFELY IN LOW IMC IN THE BEYOND PROFICIENT: IFR VIDEO SERIES
AOPA General Aviation News The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Air Safety Institute (ASI) released a new video in its Beyond Proficient: IFR video series that provides practical advice on properly planning an IFR departure in low instrument meteorological conditions. Read More read more
Southern Airways, Wheels Up Partner on Improving Pilot Attrition
FLYING Magazine Southern Airways Express, a Part 135 operator based in Palm Beach, Fla., is looking for new ways to bring pilots on board with the company. News this past July broke that the carrier was suing previous pilots who left the company for breaking contracts they had signed with the airline for training. The decision to come after former pilots has seen a string of backlash from those in the industry and the federal government. However, amidst a shortage in workforce for ... read more
Lilium Nabs Order for 10 Pioneer Edition Jets from ArcosJet
FLYING Magazine Germany’s Lilium is the latest electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) manufacturer to put down roots in the Middle East. On Monday, Lilium announced that Dubai-based ArcosJet agreed to purchase 10 of the firm’s Pioneer Edition Jets. The deal follows Lilium’s appointment of ArcosJet as its exclusive authorized dealer for private sales in the United Arab Emirates, Israel, and Cyprus. The partners are showcasing a full-scale mock-up of the Jet’s interior at the Dubai ... read more
European F-16 Training Center Opens in Romania
FLYING Magazine Officials from Lockheed Martin and the defense ministries of Romania and the Netherlands officially opened the European F-16 Training Center (EFTC) in Romania Monday. The flight training facility located at Romanian Air Force 86th Air Base near Fetești, Romania, will train pilots from Romania and Ukraine. Last week, five Dutch F-16s were delivered to the center. The Netherlands has pledged to provide up to 18 F-16s for flight training. The center will serve as a model for ... read more
Questions from the Cockpit: Plane sharing
General Aviation News Mac, a private pilot in California asks: With the cost of airplane rentals so high, do you have any tips on the best way to maximize hours to keep current? Absolutely, says our expert: Plane sharing. Read More read more
Picture of the Day: At Ryan Field
General Aviation News Glenn Brasch, the man behind AirportCourtesyCars.com, submitted this photo with a note: "A beautiful Cessna 180 owned by Joe McDonough sits near two newly completed cabins at Ryan Field (2MT1) in Montana. A total of four cabins are available for use for supporters of the Recreational Aviation Foundation who fly into the field." Read More read more
Work begins on Emerging Aviation Technology Center
General Aviation News The center, located near Redden, Oklahoma, will serve as a hub for research, development, testing, and evaluation for crewed and uncrewed aerial system technologies, according of officials. Read More read more
Freedom, safety, luxury built in: Piper’s M600/SLS
AOPA General Aviation News Safety, luxury, and support —the Piper M600/SLS brings even more meaning to Piper’s freedom of flight legacy. Read More read more
Joby Performs First eVTOL Test Flights in New York
FLYING Magazine Joby Aviation Inc. performed a demonstration flight in New York City on Sunday, marking the first time an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxi has flown in the city and the first flight for the company’s aircraft in an urban setting. The Joby eVTOL flew from the well-known Downtown Heliport (KJRB) in Manhattan, where New York Mayor Eric Adams on Monday announced the city’s plans to electrify the heliport. The move would be a major step toward development ... read more
Warbird propeller debuts
General Aviation News The new 4-blade propeller was recently certified by EASA, with FAA certification in the works. Initial certification was for the Twin Mustang F82, but the propeller can also be installed on the P-51, according to officials with the German company. Read More read more
Guest Blog: Airships Will Always Be A Niche Market
AVweb By Gianfranco Ghiringhelli As the potential Chief Pilot and Director of Operations of what would have become the first commercial airship operation in the U.S.—outside of Goodyear—I don’t see a broad application for commercial viability, which in a way is a bit sad. I think airships will always have a niche market and maintain a fascination for anyone who sees one floating across the sky. In the 1980s, I trained on Airship Industries Skyship 500 and 600 series, obtaining both FAA and ... read more
Best Of The Web: Chinook Helicopter Plucks Crashed CL-215 From Wilderness
AVweb Buffalo Airways in Canada’s Northwest Territories is known for its can-do attitude, and when one of its CL-215 waterbombers was in a mishap on a remote lake, the decision was made to bring it home. It flew back to Yellowknife thanks to a lift from a Billings Flying Services CH-47 Chinook helicopter. Sherwin Media posted the video. The post Best Of The Web: Chinook Helicopter Plucks Crashed CL-215 From Wilderness appeared first on AVweb. Read More read more
5 Special Ops Aviation Soldiers Killed in Blackhawk Crash in Mediterranean
FLYING Magazine An investigation is underway after a U.S. Army MH-60 Blackhawk crashed into the Mediterranean Sea during routine training over the weekend, killing five special operations aviation regiment soldiers, defense officials said. There is no indication the crash was caused by enemy or hostile actions, the Department of Defense (DOD) said. “The MH-60 Blackhawk was conducting aerial refueling training when the aircraft experienced an in-flight emergency resulting in the crash,” ... read more
Specialized ladder for aircraft maintenance introduced
General Aviation News The free-standing ladder, made of aerospace grade aluminum, comes in six-, eight- and 10-foot sizes and includes a tray for tools and parts. Read More read more
Precautionary landing ends in seriously injured pilot
General Aviation News The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed while on approach for landing which, resulted in an aerodynamic stall and collision with terrain. Read More read more
Top Letters And Comments: Nov. 13, 2023
AVweb In Praise of Paul Thanks for everything! How’s about occasional titillation just to remind us all of what we’re missing. Good luck in whatever comes next. Larry Stencel Writing well is hard. When it appears to have been easily grasped by the reader, it proves the point. Paul proved this continually – on subjects ranging through the full spectrum of the human condition, philosophy, science, humor and imagination and gathered it all to shoot through the prism of aviation for each of us ... read more
Picture of the Day: The true adventure
General Aviation News Garry Dudley submitted this photo and note: "At Chadron Municipal Airport (KCDR) in Nebraska beginning the third day of our four-day trip returning to Turlock Municipal Airport (O15) in California, from EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2023. Oshkosh was exciting, but the 3,300 mile flight was the true adventure!" Read More read more
Plane Hits Car After Overrun
AVweb There were no injuries when a Lancair IV-P Jetprop overran the runway at Aero Country Airport in McKinney, Texas, on Saturday and collided with a car on a road adjacent to the airport. Jack Schneider, who was at the airport picking up an aircraft to trailer home, got his cellphone recording just in time to capture the crash sequence. According to WFAA News, the pilot told authorities the prop wouldn’t reverse. According to the Aviation Safety Network, the pilot reported a ... read more
Heavy metal: The Junkers armored patrol plane
General Aviation News The armored Junkers J.I reached frontline units toward the end of 1917 during World War I. The biplane gained affection for the rugged protection it offered its crews, who flew at low altitudes to determine the ebb and flow of the front lines of combat. Read More read more
B-21 First Flight
AVweb The highly classified B-21 Raider took its first flight on Friday and there was nothing secretive about it. The aircraft took off from Palmdale Airport in California on a bluebird day with hundreds of people watching from the roads ringing the airport. The stealth bomber that will eventually replace the B-2 Spirit is optionally piloted and employs numerous system and cloaking technologies designed to overcome the advances in detection technology that have eroded the B-2’s strategic ... read more
Video: Are you fit for flight?
General Aviation News "When it comes to your airman medical status, just how honest and thorough are you when filling out that MedExpress or BasicMed form?" FAA officials ask in the video's introduction. "Are you telling your AME everything he or she needs to know? If you are gaming the system, it's time to come clean." Read More read more
New maintenance training facility opens at KDAY
General Aviation News Located in a renovated hangar at James M. Cox Dayton International Airport in Ohio, Sinclair’s Aviation Maintenance Training Facility provides students with the latest technology and hands-on experience required for careers in the aviation maintenance industry, according to college officials. Read More read more
Watsonville Eyes Closing Crosswind Runway
AVweb City officials and pilots at Watsonville Municipal Airport (KWVI) are at odds on the future of the airport’s crosswind runway. After unanimously approving the airport’s first Master Plan update in 20 years, city officials are entertaining options to shorten the crosswind runway or close it entirely in favor of development. According to Airport Director Rayvon Williams, the FAA noted the airport’s shorter crosswind Runway 09/27 did not meet federal visibility standards for ... read more
Senate Committee Probes Runway Safety
AVweb On Thursday, lawmakers and aviation experts gathered for a hearing to address a series of aviation incidents that have raised concerns about the FAA’s air traffic control arm and overall safety. The Nov. 9 hearing included testimony from National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy, FAA Air Traffic Organization Chief Operating Officer Tim Arel, National Air Traffic Controller Association President Rich Santa, Air Line Pilots Association Capt. Jason Ambrosi, and former ... read more
Pilot Tried To Shut Off Engines To Escape Hallucinogenic Dream
AVweb The Alaska Airlines pilot who tried to shut off the engines from a flight deck jumpseat says his earlier consumption of magic mushrooms triggered deep-seated mental issues that put him in a dream-like state. In an exclusive interview with the New York Times, Joseph Emerson, who was the safety representative for Alaska’s San Francisco-based pilots, said he tried to deploy the engine fire suppression systems for both engines on the E175 to snap out of the hallucinogenic state. “I ... read more
This Stemme S12 Is an ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick for Aspiring Soaring Pilots
FLYING Magazine Each day, the team at Aircraft For Sale picks an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, represents a good deal, or has other interesting qualities. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 2019 Stemme S12. I have thought many times about adding a glider rating to my pilot certificate, but certain details about gliding, such as dealing with towplanes and off-airport landings, have kept me from pursuing ... read more
University of North Dakota Stops UL94 Use Following Valve Recession Concerns
FLYING Magazine While many flight schools across the country are making the transition to operations using 100LL aviation fuel to UL94, the University of North Dakota (UND) has reversed course. UND has returned to 100LL after citing an issue with “exhaust valve recession” in the Lycoming engines that power its fleet of Piper PA-28-181 Archers and PA-44-180 Seminoles. What Is Valve Recession? According to Richard Scarbrough, A&P mechanic and contributor to FLYING, “exhaust valve ... read more
Making a Simulated Norway Getaway
FLYING Magazine Often I will set out to formulate a piece within Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 (MFS2020) or X-Plane 12 only to completely redo it as I go. Part of the fun in showcasing these sims is that I am often surprised and shocked at something that steals the show or at least deviates from my theme at hand. This is another example. I recently flew in real time from the U.S. over to Europe to explore. Norway is a place I had not been to in MFS2020, and I have never gone in real ... read more
Flying For Food: The Butcher Block Edition
FLYING Magazine As my mother was told, in the fall of 1941, my grandfather Abraham Samuel Dennis was in his early twenties while stationed at Kessler Field in Biloxi, Mississippi, serving as a mess sergeant in the United States Army Air Corps. As the fall season brought about a welcome drop in sticky Southern temperatures, so too came rumors which would soon deploy my grandfather’s unit to a base little known to most Americans. Its name was Pearl Harbor. Abe, Mary, and Sam, during World ... read more
Downed WWII Lancaster Bomber Raised from Sea Floor
FLYING Magazine The remains of Avro Lancaster ED603 and several of its crewmembers have been recovered from the sea floor, eight decades after the British heavy bomber was shot down during World War II while returning to the U.K. following an air raid over Germany, the Royal Air Force has announced. Avro Lancaster [Courtesy: Royal Air Force] The recovery mission was conducted by the RAF’s Joint Aircraft Recovery and Transport Squadron (JARTS) and Dutch Air Force counterparts. It is part ... read more
Christmas Epaulets Raise Funds for the Snowball Express, Other Charities
FLYING Magazine The colorful boards start showing up on pilot’s shoulders around Thanksgiving, just like other holiday decorations. “Christmas epaulets,” they’re called, because they replace the regular colored-stripe epaulets worn by airline pilots with alternating red and green. The holiday drive raises funds for the Gary Sinise Foundation’s Snowball Express program and the Chetek-Weyerhauser Scholarship Foundation and honors former Northwest Airlines captain and U.S. Army veteran John ... read more
Skywings Flight Training Boosts Fleet
FLYING Magazine Skywings Flight Training has secured a deal for four new Austro Engine jet-fuel powered DA40 NG airplanes from Diamond Aircraft, the school announced at the European Airline Training Symposium (EATS) in Cascais, Portugal. Skywings also purchased a Diamond flight simulator, and its aircraft investment increases the Diamond Aircraft fleet at Antwerp International Airport (EBAW) in Belgium to seven aircraft (six DA 40s and one DA 42), plus one convertible DA40/42 FNPT ... read more
Skyryse’s Automated Autorotation Tech Lands Guinness World Record
FLYING Magazine A Los Angeles-area startup angling to simplify the cockpit for pilots—and which has already taken nonpilots such as Emmy award-winning actor Jon Hamm and U.S. Representative Julia Brownley (D-Calif.) to the skies—just broke serious ground. Aviation software and safety technology firm Skyryse this week announced it completed the world’s first fully automated autorotation procedure for an emergency landing—a feat certified by Guinness World Records. The flight took place on ... read more
Skywings Modernizes Fleet with Diamond Aircraft
Plane & Pilot Magazine Skywings Flight Training has secured a deal for four new Austro Engine jet-fuel powered DA40 NG aircraft from Diamond Aircraft, the school announced at the … Read More "Skywings Modernizes Fleet with Diamond Aircraft" The post Skywings Modernizes Fleet with Diamond Aircraft appeared first on Plane & Pilot Magazine. Read More read more
Air Force Conducts First Commercial Air-to-Air Refueling of Fighter
FLYING Magazine The U.S. Air Force has conducted its first commercial air-to-air refueling of a fighter jet in a proof-of-concept demonstration of a capability the service asserts will help build and maintain operational readiness while also further projecting airpower. On Monday, a commercial KDC-10 tanker refueled an F-16 Fighting Falcon while it was en route from Osan Air Base, South Korea, to the Commando Sling 23 exercise taking place in Paya Lebar Air Base, Singapore. The bilateral ... read more
Former NASA Astronaut Frank Borman Dead at 95
FLYING Magazine NASA is mourning the passing of former NASA astronaut Frank Borman, who died in Billings, Montana, on Tuesday at the age of 95. Borman, a retired Air Force colonel, enjoyed a long career with NASA and is perhaps best remembered as the commander of the Apollo 8 mission, the first lunar orbital mission in 1968. Frank Frederick Borman II was born March 14, 1928, in Gary, Indiana, and raised in Tucson, Arizona. Borman developed an interest in aviation as a teenager. He wanted ... read more
B-21 Raider Takes First Flight
FLYING Magazine The U.S. Air Force’s top-secret B-21 Raider stealth bomber has conducted its first flight. The stealth bomber, which was unveiled by Northrop Grumman to the public in December and confirmed by the service to be undergoing taxi testing last month, had long been projected to make its first flight by the end of the year. That met deadline was confirmed Friday when freelance journalist Matt Hartman posted a video of an aloft B-21 on X, formerly known as Twitter. Air Force ... read more
Watch: We Fly Diamond DA50 RG
FLYING Magazine The latest contender to steal the crown of best single-engine retract has to be the Diamond DA50 RG, which just received FAA certification over the summer. Fly along with FLYING editor-in-chief Julie Boatman on a cross-country flight from Friedrichshafen, Germany, to Wiener Neustadt, Austria, and on a local demo flight as she tests the airplane’s phenomenal low-speed handling and creditable cruise, all while hauling a show’s worth of people and bags. The post Watch: We ... read more
CubCrafters introduces thermal infrared camera system
General Aviation News CubCrafters has introduced a new thermal infrared imaging system option for Garmin G3X equipped aircraft that "dramatically improves flight crew situational awareness during both air and ground operations in reduced visibility or low light situations." Read More read more
Switchblade First Flight
AVweb Switchblade, the flying car concept developed over the last 14 years, flew for the first time Thursday according to a YouTube video posted by the company. The aircraft, which is powered by a hybrid electric drive system that supplies power to the pusher prop in the air and the wheels on the road, did at least one loop around Grant County Airport in Moses Lake, Washington, and went as high as 500 feet in its six-minute maiden flight, according to the company’s news release ... read more
UND Drops Unleaded Fuel
Plane & Pilot Magazine By Paul Bertorelli University of North Dakota’s flight school has decided to abandon Swift UL94 and return to 100LL after exhaust valve recession in Lycoming-powered … Read More "UND Drops Unleaded Fuel" The post UND Drops Unleaded Fuel appeared first on Plane & Pilot Magazine. Read More read more
Improper checklist use bends Beech
General Aviation News The pilot’s improper checklist use, which resulted in an electrical malfunction and subsequent gear up landing. Read More read more
FAA Launches Rulemaking Committee On Pilots’ Mental Health
AVweb With concerns raised over whether pilots fear seeking treatment for mental health issues, the FAA announced today (Nov. 9) it will establish a Pilot Mental Health Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) to address the issue. According to the announcement, the FAA “expects the committee to provide recommendations on breaking down the barriers that prevent pilots from reporting mental health issues to the agency.” Members of the committee will include medical experts and representatives ... read more
Short Final: Tuning In Seattle Departures
AVweb I flew out of Boeing Field in Seattle and was assigned the CBAIN departure with fixes GNEXX, KURRT and CBAIN. If you depart in the opposite direction you might get the NRVNA departure (just the one fix, “NRVNA”). It doesn’t get much more Seattle than that! Eric Berman, Woodinville, Washington The post Short Final: Tuning In Seattle Departures appeared first on AVweb. Read More read more
NTSB Report: Accident Hawker Crew Departed Without Clearance
AVweb The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released its Preliminary Report on the runway-intersection collision between a Textron Hawker 850XP (N269AA) and a Cessna Citation Mustang (N510HM) at Houston Hobby Airport on Oct. 24 (NTSB Accident No. DCA24FA017). No one was injured among the three on board the Hawker, which was taking off for a planned flight to Waukesha, Wisconsin (KUES), or the four on board the landing Citation, which was arriving on a flight from Fulton ... read more
Frank Borman, Astronaut And Avid GA Pilot, Dies At 95
AVweb Astronaut Frank Borman, commander of the first manned flight to circle the moon, died Tuesday (Nov. 7) in Billings, Montana. He was 95. Borman spent almost 20 full days in space over two missions and later served as the leader of Eastern Airlines. He was a committed general aviation pilot, very active in the effort to promote safety among the Mitsubishi MU-2 pilot community. Borman was the oldest living astronaut, a distinction now passed to Jim Lovell, who is also 95, but 11 days ... read more
Textron Signs For Up To $100 Million In Foreign Military Sales Aircraft
AVweb The U.S. Army has inked a contract with Textron Aviation for Special Missions-configured aircraft, including Cessna SkyCouriers and Grand Caravans as well as Beechcraft King Air 360s and 260s. Filed under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) provision, the indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract allows for up to $100 million in acquisitions over a five-year time frame. Bob Gibbs, Textron’s v-p of Special Mission Sales, said, “This [deal] aligns with Defense Secretary Lloyd ... read more
Aircraft Maintenance: Understanding ‘standard parts’
AOPA General Aviation News In the world of certified aircraft maintenance, we’re used to thinking of things as “aircraft parts” and “everything else.” But what happens when we need something that’s not in the aircraft parts catalog? What if we need a switch, a resistor, a bulb, a bolt, or a nut? When is a part “small enough” or “normal enough” to just be…standard? Read More read more
AOPA fights price gouging at Las Vegas valley airports
AOPA General Aviation News Special event fees at Las Vegas valley airports are reaching astronomical heights ahead of the Formula 1 Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix on November 18. AOPA is looking into the how and why of this disturbing trend, working with the Clark County aviation management, the FAA, pilots, and advocacy groups to ensure this doesn’t become standard practice across the country. Read More read more
Breitling announces Avenger collection
AOPA General Aviation News The latest news from Breitling, the Swiss watchmaker with ties to aviation, is the newly redesigned Avenger collection. Read More read more
LTA Pathfinder Debuts
FLYING Magazine Pathfinder 1, the airship from LTA Research, has made its public debut. According to TechCrunch.com, the prototype electric airship was unveiled earlyWednesday morning at Moffett Field (KNUQ) in Sunnyvale-Mountain View, California, in the heart of Silicon Valley. According to ltaresearch.com, Pathfinder 1 is a proof of concept design. Work began on the next-generation airship shortly after LTA Research was founded in 2016. The company, backed by Google co-founder Sergey ... read more
Switchblade Flying Sports Car Prototype Makes Maiden Flight
FLYING Magazine Somebody page George Jetson—a U.S. company just flew one of the first of the new generation of flying cars. Samson Sky, maker of the two-seat Switchblade, which it bills as a “flying sports car,” on Thursday announced that a prototype of the drive-and-fly vehicle completed its maiden flight. [Courtesy: Samson Sky] The company shared a video of the street-legal aircraft soaring high above the runway for the first time at Grant County International Airport (KMWH) in Lake ... read more
Will U.S. Sanctions Dull Russian Lancets?
FLYING Magazine Hello, and welcome to the Future of FLYING newsletter, our weekly look at the biggest stories in emerging aviation technology. From low-altitude drones to high-flying rockets at the edge of the atmosphere, we’ll take you on a tour of the modern flying world to help you make sense of it all. Now for this week’s top story: U.S. Sanctions Take Aim at Russian Lancet Suicide Drones (Courtesy: Zala Aero) What happened? The U.S. State, Commerce, and Treasury departments brought ... read more
Tustin Hangar Destroyed by Fire
FLYING Magazine Fire officials in Orange County, California are poring through the smoldering remains of a 1940s-era airship hangar, trying to determine what set it ablaze Tuesday morning. The fire at the north hangar of the former Marine Corps Air Station in Tustin was so massive that it garnered a response of three-alarms, equating to 70 firefighters, 11 engines, five trucks, and water-dropping helicopters. The building, constructed mostly of Oregon Douglas fir, burned rapidly. ... read more
Launch Date Set for Space Force’s X-37B Reusable Spaceplane
FLYING Magazine The U.S. Space Force is set to soon launch the X-37B orbital test vehicle on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket on a mission to experiment with future space domain awareness technologies. Launch of the seventh mission of the Boeing-built reusable X-37B spaceplane, which has been designated USSF-52, will be December 7 from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, the service said. READ MORE: SpaceX Launches Falcon Heavy for First Time in Three Years The mission will mark the first X-37B ... read more
This 2006 Seawind 3000 Is a Unique, Kit-Built ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Each day, the team at Aircraft For Sale picks an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, represents a good deal, or has other interesting qualities. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 2006 Seawind 3000 The Seawind series of amphibian aircraft dates back to the late 1970s when aircraft designers, engineers, and experimenters were discovering the impressive properties of composite construction. ... read more
Boom Supersonic Announces Milestones Including Taxi-Testing Its XB-1 Demonstrator Aircraft
FLYING Magazine Aircraft developer Boom Supersonic said it reached milestones in projects including its Overture airliner, Symphony engine, and XB-1 supersonic demonstrator aircraft. Boom also announced the closing of a round of investment that increased its total funding to more than $700 million. “Our goal is to bring the world closer together through faster flights,” said Blake Scholl, founder and CEO of Boom Supersonic. “We’re excited to collaborate with partners and investors around ... read more
Is There Shear Up There?
Plane & Pilot Magazine Explore the world of wind shear in Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts (TAF) and how it impacts light aircraft Read More "Is There Shear Up There?" The post Is There Shear Up There? appeared first on Plane & Pilot Magazine. Read More read more
Picture of the Day: Ready to go
General Aviation News Steven Meyer submitted this photo and note: "A PT-19 readies for engine start in Tucson, Arizona." Read More read more
Human Factors: Stoned and stupefied
General Aviation News What can we learn from a fatal accident that involves an uncertificated pilot with methamphetamine and THC in his system? Believe it or not, there is a lesson here for all pilots. Read More read more
Aircraft Maintenance: Understanding ‘standard parts’
AOPA General Aviation News In the world of certified aircraft maintenance, we’re used to thinking of things as “aircraft parts” and “everything else.” But what happens when we need something that’s not in the aircraft parts catalog? What if we need a switch, a resistor, a bulb, a bolt, or a nut? When is a part “small enough” or “normal enough” to just be…standard? Read More read more
AOPA fights price gouging at Las Vegas valley airports
AOPA General Aviation News Special event fees at Las Vegas valley airports are reaching astronomical heights ahead of the Formula 1 Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix on November 18. AOPA is looking into the how and why of this disturbing trend, working with the Clark County aviation management, the FAA, pilots, and advocacy groups to ensure this doesn’t become standard practice across the country. Read More read more
Iconic aviation photographer honored
General Aviation News Family and friends of renowned aviation photographer Eric Dumigan gathered at Tillsonburg Regional Airport in Ontario, Canada, Sept. 23, 2023, to celebrate his life. Eric’s photographs of air shows, fly-ins, and aviation events appeared in many publications, including General Aviation News. Read More read more
Breitling announces Avenger collection
AOPA General Aviation News The latest news from Breitling, the Swiss watchmaker with ties to aviation, is the newly redesigned Avenger collection. Read More read more
Air Force’s T-7A Trainer to Begin Next Phase of Flight Testing
FLYING Magazine The U.S. Air Force’s first Boeing T-7A Red Hawk advanced trainer has logged its first cross-country flight and is set to begin the next phase of flight testing at Edwards Air Force Base in California. The T-7A—known as APT-2—was designed to train Air Force fighter and bomber pilots and replace the 1960s-era T-38 trainer. Its iconic red-tail livery honors the Tuskegee Airmen of World War II, the U.S. Army Air Forces’ first Black aviation unit to serve. The Air Force’s $9.2 ... read more
Sporty’s selected by LIFT Academy for online training
General Aviation News Sporty’s has partnered with LIFT Academy, a flight training program owned by Republic Airways, to provide Sporty’s online training courses to LIFT Academy students. Read More read more
AOPA updates flight instructor refresher course
General Aviation News Air Safety Institute officials note that as they renewed the electronic Flight Instructor Refresher Course (eFIRC) with the FAA, "we took the opportunity to incorporate fresh scenarios, including new videos and images." Read More read more
Confused pilot reverses runway numbers
General Aviation News Early in my training I often mixed up the two ends of the same runway. I don't know why. I practiced runway directions a lot and got comfortable with the numbering system. Read More read more
Archer Plans Sale of 200 Electric Air Taxis to Partner in India, Eyeing 2026 Launch
FLYING Magazine The future of rideshare services in India—which is notorious for its congested, heavily trafficked streets—may be up in the air…literally. San Jose, California-based Archer Aviation, the maker of the Midnight electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, on Thursday revealed plans to bring electric air taxi services to India in partnership with InterGlobe, one of the country’s largest travel conglomerates. A memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the partners ... read more
NH Company Completes Autonomous Helicopter Flight Test Program
AVweb Nashua, New Hampshire-based Rotor Technologies announced yesterday (Nov. 7) it has completed a test campaign for its uncrewed R220Y, a derivative of the Robinson R22 piston-powered helicopter. Rotor, which self-describes as a developer of autonomous vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft, claims theirs is the first-ever test program involving an uncrewed full-scale civilian helicopter. A video on the campaign is posted on the company website. The flight test regime involved two ... read more
U.S. Reaper Drone Shot Down Over Red Sea
AVweb This afternoon (Nov. 8), U.S. defense officials confirmed that Iranian-backed Houthi forces shot down a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aircraft over the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen. The Reaper was reportedly on a surveillance mission over Yemen and the U.S. said it was in international airspace and over international waters when it was hit by missiles. About an hour later, the U.S. announced it had initiated air strikes against Houthi forces in Syria. Last month, Houthi militants fired ... read more
Avionics Sales Setting Records In 2023
AVweb One measure of the health of general aviation is the activity within the avionics sector—involving both forward-fit (factory installations) and retrofit sales. The Aircraft Electronics Association (AEA) released its Third Quarter Market Report Monday (Nov. 6) and the results are encouraging. Overall sales for the July-September time frame were up by 9.9 percent compared with Q3 2022, though sales figures were down slightly (1.1 percent) compared with Q2 this year. But at better than ... read more
Citing Valve Damage, UND Drops Unleaded Fuel And Returns To 100LL
AVweb After an extensive trial, the University of North Dakota’s flight school has dropped Swift UL94 fuel and resumed use of 100LL. The school said ongoing maintenance monitoring of aircraft using UL94—almost exclusively Lycoming-powered Piper Archers and Seminoles—resulted in measurable exhaust valve recession. The school made the switch back to 100LL on Oct. 27. Partly because students were interested in a less-polluting fuel, the school switched to Swift Fuel’s ASTM-spec UL94 in late ... read more
NASA And Partners Explore SAF’s Contrail-Production Qualities
AVweb Not to be confused with fanciful speculation about toxic “chemtrails” (chemical trails), actual condensation trails—better known as contrails—have been legitimately shown to contribute to global warming. This is because, just as with any cloud, lingering contrails can trap heat and keep it from escaping the atmosphere. If the aviation industry can minimize the formation of contrails without significant knock-on effects, it would be another way to move toward achieving carbon ... read more
Ontario-Based Ornge Air Ambulance Updates Its Pilatus PC-12 Fleet
AVweb Ontario, Canada-based air ambulance service provider Ornge has placed an order for a dozen Pilatus PC-12s. The single-engine turboprops are scheduled to be delivered between 2026 and 2030. Ornge has operated PC-12s since 2009, and its current fleet of eight PC-12 NGs will be progressively phased out of service as the newer aircraft arrive. According to its November 9 announcement of the order, Ornge maintains an Operations Control Centre in Mississauga, Ontario, where it coordinates ... read more
AOPA’S AIR SAFETY INSTITUTE RELEASES RENEWED EFIRC
AOPA General Aviation News The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Air Safety Institute (ASI) has released the latest version of its best-in-industry online flight instructor refresher course. Read More read more
AOPA DEMONSTRATES USE OF 100-OCTANE UNLEADED FUEL
AOPA General Aviation News To help move general aviation’s unleaded future forward, AOPA President Mark Baker flew a Beechcraft Baron twin-engine aircraft over Ada, Oklahoma, on October 31 to begin a program to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of General Aviation Modifications Inc.’s G100UL fuel, which received FAA supplemental type certification approval in 2022. Read More read more
Beyond Proficient: Departing Safely in Low IMC
AOPA General Aviation News Part Six, How to Depart Safely in Low IMC, offers tips on using tools to stay clear of obstacles when visibility is low. Learn how to interpret obstacle departure procedures and ensure aircraft performance meets established takeoff minimums. Read More read more
Volocopter on a roll
AOPA General Aviation News On November 2, Volocopter kicked off a test campaign—a series of flights to gather data on aircraft performance—at Tampa International Airport in Florida. Read More read more
Is Freezing Fog Considered ‘Known Icing Conditions’?
FLYING Magazine Question: Is freezing fog considered “known icing conditions”? Answer: As we start to move into the cold season over the next couple of months, you may begin to see freezing fog (FZFG) appear in a surface observation (METAR) or terminal aerodrome forecast (TAF). So, let’s get ahead of the game and discuss some high-level details of what freezing fog is all about and whether or not it constitutes known icing conditions. In simple terms, freezing fog is nothing more than ... read more
This 1966 Piper PA-32-260 Cherokee Six Is a Utilitarian ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Each day, the team at Aircraft For Sale picks an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, represents a good deal, or has other interesting qualities. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1966 Piper PA-32-260 Cherokee Six. Piper’s Cherokee Six grew out of the company’s need to diversify its product line. By the mid-1960s, the general aviation market was humming and manufacturers were looking beyond ... read more
Air Force B-1 Bomber Missions Underway in Middle East
FLYING Magazine An Air Force B-1 Lancer bomber flew a mission in the Middle East on Wednesday—the second one in less than a week, according to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). “On November 8, 2023, and for the second time in three days, a U.S. B-1 Lancer conducted a mission over the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. U.S. F-16s escorted the bomber,” CENTCOM said on X, formerly Twitter. Earlier in the week, CENTCOM confirmed that the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group had ... read more
Skyborne Signs Deal with Piper for 11 Pilot 100i Aircraft
FLYING Magazine Piper Aircraft has announced the delivery of Skyborne Airline Academy’s first Pilot 100i, marking a milestone in the long-standing partnership between the aircraft manufacturer and flight school. Based in Vero Beach, Florida, Skyborne signed a multiyear fleet agreement for 11 new Pilot 100i aircraft, further expanding its commitment to Piper’s reliable training platforms. The Pilot 100i has recently impacted the flight training sphere, becoming a top choice among flight ... read more
AOPA DEMONSTRATES USE OF 100-OCTANE UNLEADED FUEL
AOPA General Aviation News To help move general aviation’s unleaded future forward, AOPA President Mark Baker flew a Beechcraft Baron twin-engine aircraft over Ada, Oklahoma, on October 31 to begin a program to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of General Aviation Modifications Inc.’s G100UL fuel, which received FAA supplemental type certification approval in 2022. Read More read more
AOPA’S AIR SAFETY INSTITUTE RELEASES RENEWED EFIRC
AOPA General Aviation News The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Air Safety Institute (ASI) has released the latest version of its best-in-industry online flight instructor refresher course. Read More read more
NAA Names McDonald Award Honorees
FLYING Magazine You can spend a lifetime in aviation, and those who do make significant contributions to aeronautics that deserve to be recognized. Each year, the National Aeronautic Association (NAA) does this through the presentation of the McDonald Award. Established in 1954, the award honors outstanding living Americans who, through their efforts over an extended period of years, have made significant contributions to aeronautics and reflected credit upon America and themselves. This ... read more
Virgin Atlantic Takes Big Step Toward SAF-Powered Transatlantic Flight
FLYING Magazine Virgin Atlantic received a permit this week from the UK Civil Aviation Authority to conduct a long-planned transatlantic flight using 100 percent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The landmark flight from London’s Heathrow Airport (EGLL) to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (KJFK) in a Boeing 787 equipped with Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines is set for November 28. READ MORE: Could SAF Be a Cost-Effective Solution to Rising Aviation Fuel Prices? Last summer, ... read more
Love the One You’re With
FLYING Magazine I love my Cessna 170B. I love its handling characteristics. I love how docile and forgiving it is. I love its unique balance of qualities, and I love how it looks. I feel good about the money I paid for it and the money I’ve paid to maintain and improve it. Last week, I decided to risk all of this happiness, satisfaction, and contentment by going up for a flight with my friend Marty in his newly purchased Cessna 180. Every technical aspect of the 180 is objectively ... read more
Picture of the Day: The Greatest Generation leading the latest generation
General Aviation News Isaac Mattingly submitted this photo and note: "This photo was taken in July 2023 during practice at the 2023 Sioux Falls Airshow where the plane flying is the very same C-47 “That's All Brother” that led the D-Day invasion of Normandy. The Jumper in the photo is a member of the SOCOM Para-Commandos jump team. The team is made up different members from different branches of the Special Operations Command (SOCOM)." Read More read more
Volocopter on a roll
AOPA General Aviation News On November 2, Volocopter kicked off a test campaign—a series of flights to gather data on aircraft performance—at Tampa International Airport in Florida. Read More read more
Aviation Consumer Live: G100UL Unleaded Avgas Flight Trial
FLYING Magazine While GAMI’s G100UL high-octane, unleaded avgas is FAA approved for every aircraft model in the agency’s database, there’s still some mystery as to its viability among many aircraft owners, both certified and experimental kit builders. Moreover, how does the new fuel run in a typical GA aircraft engine? In this video, The Aviation Consumer’s Larry Anglisano Zoomed up with Audio Authority founder and CEO Jon Sisk, who recently conducted an exhaustive G100UL flight trial in ... read more
NASA’s Super Guppy Makes Ferry Flight
FLYING Magazine NASA’s Super Guppy was in flight this week, ferrying the Orion spacecraft heat shield from Kennedy Space Center in Florida to Alabama. The massive turboprop cargo aircraft was designed in the 1960s to accommodate oversized loads, such as body sections of the Saturn V rocket. READ MORE: Inside NASA’s Super Guppy On Monday, the behemoth landed at Huntsville Regional Airport (KUTS). “This unique visitor is always a sight to see!” the airport said on X, formerly ... read more
Are two grades of fuel needed in the quest for unleaded avgas?
General Aviation News The most common suggestion I have received concerning the future of unleaded avgas is that there is a need for two grades of fuels, not just one. Read More read more
Piper Delivers First Pilot 100i to Skyborne
Plane & Pilot Magazine Piper Aircraft has announced the delivery of Skyborne Airline Academy’s first Pilot 100i, marking a milestone in the long-standing partnership between the aircraft manufacturer and … Read More "Piper Delivers First Pilot 100i to Skyborne" The post Piper Delivers First Pilot 100i to Skyborne appeared first on Plane & Pilot Magazine. Read More read more
Beyond Proficient: Departing Safely in Low IMC
AOPA General Aviation News Part Six, How to Depart Safely in Low IMC, offers tips on using tools to stay clear of obstacles when visibility is low. Learn how to interpret obstacle departure procedures and ensure aircraft performance meets established takeoff minimums. Read More read more
Training and Safety Tip: Mastering energy
AOPA General Aviation News By Alden Baartz-Bowman During my private pilot training, I remember my instructors emphasizing the need to maintain appropriate airspeeds on downwind, base, and final. This helped maintain safety margins close to the ground. Read More read more
5 Dutch F-16s Positioned for Ukrainian Pilot Training
FLYING Magazine Five Dutch F-16 fighter jets pledged to Ukraine have arrived at a flight training facility in Romania this week, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed Tuesday. The aircraft are among those pledged by the Netherlands, Denmark, and Norway to bolster Ukraine’s military, which has long campaigned for access to the fighter jets following Russia’s 2022 invasion. READ MORE: Russia Will Down F-16s Pledged to Ukraine, Defense Minister Vows The Netherlands have pledged to provide ... read more
Epic Flight Academy partners with Purdue Global
General Aviation News Epic Flight Academy in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, has partnered with Purdue Global to offer an online bachelor’s degree in Aviation Management or Professional Flight through the Purdue Global Aviation Program. Read More read more
Rare Peashooter donated to Spirit of Flight Museum
General Aviation News The Boeing P-26 was the first all-metal monoplane structure and last open cockpit fighter to be used by the U.S. Army Air Corps. It was a significant step in the evolution of fighter aircraft. Read More read more
Training and Safety Tip: Mastering energy
AOPA General Aviation News By Alden Baartz-Bowman During my private pilot training, I remember my instructors emphasizing the need to maintain appropriate airspeeds on downwind, base, and final. This helped maintain safety margins close to the ground. Read More read more
Flight Outfitters introduces Airfoil jacket tailored for women
General Aviation News This lightweight and water-repellent jacket is specifically tailored for the aviation community and is easily packable in its own pocket, according to company officials. Read More read more
FAA, Airlines Monitoring Pilot Experience Issues
AVweb The FAA is monitoring the correlation between pilot inexperience and aviation incidents and so far it isn’t finding much. In the recent hiring sprees at most airlines, pilots have been moving up the ranks at unprecedented rates. Rather than taking years, sometimes decades, to move up to larger and more complex equipment, the hiring blitz of the past few years is upsetting that methodical and predictable career path. According to a Wall Street Journal story, the FAA and the airlines ... read more
193 UPS Pilots Take Buyouts, Regional Offers Soft Landing
AVweb A total of 193 pilots have accepted buyouts offered by UPS, and they can all walk straight into a job at American Airlines subsidiary PSA. According to Freight Waves, UPS offered the buyouts in August and hoped that 167 pilots would bite. At the same time, PSA, which is actively recruiting pilots, asked UPS if it would be OK to contact the pilots who decided to leave. Those pilots are being offered $250,000 signing bonuses and left-seat jobs in Embraer and CRJ regional jets. As we ... read more
Fire Destroys Historic Blimp Hangar
AVweb Firefighters used water-dropping helicopters to try to quell a fire at one of two enormous blimp hangars in Tustin, California, but the historic structure couldn’t be saved. The massive building, 1,000 feet long, almost 200 feet tall and 300 feet wide, caught fire overnight and continued to burn through the day. Firefighters on the ground couldn’t get close enough to have much effect on the fire as the all-wood structure progressively collapsed. By nightfall, most of the structure ... read more
Non-certificated pilot and airplane crash on takeoff
General Aviation News A sudden loss of engine power after takeoff for undetermined reasons based on the information available. Read More read more
China Tests Reusable Rocket
AVweb China’s version of SpaceX has successfully launched and recovered a rocket in a critical step toward developing reusable spacecraft. iSpace’s Hyperbola-2 methane-liquid oxygen rocket went up about 600 feet and then descended under power to a soft landing on its four legs. The 60-foot rocket is a test stage only and is used for evaluating the various guidance and navigation systems and the variable thrust Focus-1 engine that makes it possible. iSpace is more formally known as the ... read more
Airlines draw pilots from business aviation
AOPA General Aviation News Big salaries, signing bonuses, and a strong recruiting presence at aviation colleges have more new pilots than ever flocking to the major airlines, while private business aviation faces a challenging new reality. Read More read more
AOPA, Choose Aerospace partner on aviation education, workforce development
AOPA General Aviation News With an intent to meet the ongoing and increasing demand for pilots and mechanics, AOPA and Choose Aerospace are teaming up to share ideas, best practices, and training resources. Read More read more
CubCrafters Adds Camera Option
FLYING Magazine CubCrafters, the manufacturer of FAA-certified, ASTM-accepted, and experimental category aircraft designed to get you into every remote place, is now offering a thermal imaging system for Garmin G3X-equipped aircraft to improve pilot situational awareness in reduced visibility situations. If the airplane is equipped with a Garmin G3X avionics package, the owner has the option to add a wing-mounted, forward-looking IR camera that displays directly on the G3X main screen in ... read more
AEA Reports Year-to-Date Avionics Sales Top $2.4 Billion
FLYING Magazine The Aircraft Electronics Association (AEA) has found that avionics sales topped $2.4 billion over the first nine months of the year. In its recently released Avionics Market Report, the organization also noted that third-quarter sales increased 9.9 percent compared to the same time period last year. While avionics sales increased year over year, Q3 numbers dropped 1.1 percent compared to the previous quarter, which set a record for the highest quarterly sales volume in the ... read more
Army Awards Contract for 3 Beechcraft King Air Turboprops
FLYING Magazine The U.S. Army has awarded Textron Aviation a contract for three special mission Beechcraft King Air turboprops as part of an indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract in support of foreign military sales (FMS), the company has announced. The IDIQ for the Cessna SkyCourier, Cessna Grand Caravan EX, and Beechcraft King Air 360/ Beechcraft King Air 260—all designed and manufactured by Textron—is valued at up to $100 million over the span of five ... read more
FAA Names Next 16 Airports to Host Runway Safety Action Team Meetings
FLYING Magazine As part of a continuing program to address risks to runway safety, the FAA has named 16 airports where it plans to conduct meetings with its Runway Safety Action Team between now and the end of the year. The agency has so far conducted 90 such meetings across the country this year. The meetings, which the FAA hosts annually at towered airports, serve as forums for identifying risks on and around runways that are specific to each airport. The sessions help stakeholders ... read more
Embraer’s Eve Air Mobility Names 3 More eVTOL Suppliers
FLYING Magazine A few months after selecting a trio of suppliers, Eve Air Mobility—the electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) manufacturing subsidiary of Embraer—has named three more. Brazil-based Eve on Monday picked out suppliers for the flight controls, avionics, and thermal management system of its electric air taxi. The aircraft is designed to ferry as many as four passengers on short-hop flights over distances of up to 60 sm (52 nm). Avionics OEM Garmin will send Eve its ... read more
This 1976 Bellanca 17-30A Viking Is a Speedy, Wood-Wing ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Each day, the team at Aircraft For Sale picks an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, represents a good deal, or has other interesting qualities. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1976 Bellanca 17-30A Viking. Bellanca Vikings are famous for their wooden wings made of Sitka spruce, and their fabric-covered frames. When you walk up to one of these four-seaters on the ramp, the first impression ... read more
CubCrafters Unveils Infrared System for Backcountry Safety
Plane & Pilot Magazine By Amy Wilder Flying over terrain without the safety net of civilization—and the airfields that go with it—can be unnerving in the best of times. … Read More "CubCrafters Unveils Infrared System for Backcountry Safety" The post CubCrafters Unveils Infrared System for Backcountry Safety appeared first on Plane & Pilot Magazine. Read More read more
Iraq Cleared to Buy $300M in Logistics, Maintenance for Bell Helicopters
FLYING Magazine The State Department has cleared the path for Iraq to purchase $300 million in aircraft maintenance logistical support for Bell Helicopters. The approval for the possible foreign military sale was granted after the Iraq government requested Bell contract logistics support and field service representative contract for three 407 variants, 206B3, OH-58A/C Kiowa, Huey II, and 505 aircraft. “The proposed sale will improve the Republic of Iraq’s capability to meet current and ... read more
Picture of the Day: A work of art
General Aviation News David Hayes submitted this photo and note: "I commissioned an artist to paint my Cirrus landing at my summer home at Mountain Air (2NC0), the highest runway east of the Mississippi." Read More read more
AOPA, Choose Aerospace partner on aviation education, workforce development
AOPA General Aviation News With an intent to meet the ongoing and increasing demand for pilots and mechanics, AOPA and Choose Aerospace are teaming up to share ideas, best practices, and training resources. Read More read more
DeLaurentis Airport Proves to Be a ‘Really Interesting Project’
FLYING Magazine Robert DeLaurentis, commonly known as the “Zen Pilot,” can be labeled as ambitious, with a demonstrated history of success. A recent inductee into the International Air & Space Hall of Fame at the San Diego Air & Space Museum, the retired Naval lieutenant commander has circumnavigated the globe (from the South Pole to the North Pole, as well as the “‘conventional way”’), holds several aviation records, and has written two books. After many years chasing aerial ... read more
Tustin Hangar One Burns
FLYING Magazine A piece of aviation history and a Southern California landmark has gone up in smoke. According to the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA), crews were called to the former Tustin Air Base around 12:55 a.m. PST on Tuesday. When crews arrived, they found the north hangar, one of two megastructures built to house blimps during World War II, was fully engulfed. More than 70 firefighters were called to the scene. At one point, ground crews were aided by water-dropping ... read more
Beta Sells Electric Aircraft Chargers to Archer, Partners to Expand Network
FLYING Magazine In the electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) space, type certification dominates many discussions. But what good is a type-certified electric aircraft with a dead battery? Beta Technologies and Archer Aviation, two leaders in the eVTOL industry, can tell you: not much. In what the companies are calling an industry-first agreement, Beta and Archer are collaborating on the adoption of a shared charging system for electric aircraft, one that any eVTOL model can use. ... read more
Fog: the Malignant Weather Ninja
FLYING Magazine Every pilot certificate and every rating you pursue will have a weather learning component to it. One of the most important concepts you cover is about clouds—how they are classified and formed and what their appearance means in terms of atmospheric stability. I live in the Pacific Northwest, where fog—the lowest of the low clouds—is a nearly daily occurrence, especially in the fall and winter. I live close to the water, and on some days it never lifts. Other days, we get ... read more
Inspiration, motivation, and a resource rich environment
General Aviation News Could we be on the cusp of a whole new wave of productive, effective, inspirational educational opportunities that use aviation as a tool to engage students? I think so. I truly do. Read More read more
Tuskegee Fighter Pilot, 100, Receives Honorary Promotion to Colonel
FLYING Magazine Retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel James H. Harvey III, 100, boasts many military honors to his name. Harvey was one of the first African American fighter pilots with the Tuskegee Airmen, the famous World War II military aviators who opened doors for Black pilots in the U.S. He was the military’s first Black fighter jet pilot to fly in Korean airspace, according to the Air Force. In 1949, Harvey and his fellow 332nd Fighter Group Tuskegee Airmen were also the ... read more
Avionics sales continue strong
General Aviation News Total avionics sales topped $2.4 billion in the first nine months of 2023, a 15.9% increase in total sales compared to the first nine months of 2022, according to the latest figures from the Aircraft Electronics Association. Read More read more
Airlines draw pilots from business aviation
AOPA General Aviation News Big salaries, signing bonuses, and a strong recruiting presence at aviation colleges have more new pilots than ever flocking to the major airlines, while private business aviation faces a challenging new reality. Read More read more
Inflight Aviation begins renovation of newly acquired FBO at KFCM
General Aviation News The six-acre facility, formerly operated by Elliott Aviation, signifies Inflight's first foray into the Fixed Base Operation (FBO) sector, according to company officials. Read More read more
Say again, please
General Aviation News "In 'Say Again, Please,' Bob Gardner explains how the ATC system works and teaches pilots what to say, what to expect to hear, and how to interpret and react to clearances and instructions. Read More read more
Pilot Mental Health Treatment Changes Urged
AVweb It’s time to change the approach to mental health in pilots from clinical to performance-based, according to a neurologist who specializes in air crew brain health and pilot health care behavior. William Hoffman, an affiliated assistant professor of aviation at the University of North Dakota John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Science, said in an opinion piece in the Seattle Times that the current regime encourages pilots to avoid seeking help. He also said the emphasis should be on ... read more
Near miss provides ‘many lessons’ for RV-9 pilot
General Aviation News When I talked to them on the radio, they said that they did not know I was there until my plane cast a shadow over the cockpit. We were close enough that I could see the paint scheme, type of airplane, and tail number. Read More read more
Federal Airlines Adds 6 New Cessna Grand Caravan 208B EX Aircraft to Fleet
FLYING Magazine South African air carrier Federal Airlines, known as FedAir, has announced the addition of six new Cessna Grand Caravan 208B EX aircraft to its fleet. The company said the aircraft set a standard in reliability and passenger comfort. According to the company, the aircraft are especially well suited to its focus on providing air travel to key safari and game reserve destinations in South Africa. FedAir said the Caravan 208B EX allows it to provide its guests with improved ... read more
Woman Hurt In Collision With Scaled, Piloted B-29 Replica
AVweb The FAA is investigating the collision between a piloted 35 percent scale replica of a B-29 with a golf cart at Glenndale Airport near Kokomo, Indiana that sent a woman to the hospital on Sunday. Howard County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement the woman was at the side of the runway at the small airport shooting video of the homebuilt aircraft from a golf cart. “As the plane came down for a landing, the plane drifted and struck the golf cart causing it to roll over, knocking the ... read more
FAA Schedules More Runway Meetings
AVweb The FAA announced Monday it will hold runway safety meetings at 16 more airports in an attempt to quell what may be an unusual concentration of incursions. The call came a week after two business jets, one landing and one taking off, made contact at the intersection of two runways at Houston Hobby Airport. There were no injuries and the incident was quickly blamed on the departing pilot doing so without clearance. The agency held meetings at 90 airports over the summer on the topic. ... read more
Virgin Atlantic To Operate 100 Percent SAF Transatlantic Flight
AVweb If three other countries agree, a Virgin Atlantic flight will cross the pond from Heathrow to JFK using only sustainable aviation fuel on Nov. 28. The U.K.’s Civil Aviation Administration has approved the flight, citing numerous tests and studies that indicate SAF is a safe and more climate-friendly alternative to Jet A. “As the UK’s aviation regulator, it’s important that we safely enable the industry to embrace more sustainable practices and push the boundaries of what’s possible ... read more
Pass the Vision Portion of Your Medical
AOPA General Aviation News It’s unbelievable how one simple change can dramatically improve your performance. Read More read more
Art Exhibit Celebrating WASPs Open at Nashville International Airport
FLYING Magazine If your travels take you through Nashville International Airport (KNBA) in Tennessee, be sure to take a look at the artwork on display through the Arts at the Airport program. Among the works to grace the walls is “Fly Girls: The Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) of World War II,” done in encaustic wax (beeswax) by Alison Fullerton. You’ll find the exhibit consisting of 30-by-40-foot panels on display on the first floor of the international terminal. Fullerton says she ... read more
The Shortest Year: It’s Time for Your Ideal Aircraft’s Annual Inspection
FLYING Magazine One day last week, I took the familiar drive to the airport, performed a preflight inspection on Annie, our 1992 Commander 114B, and took off from Runway 3. The day was clear and cool with a bright, blue sky and a density altitude of minus-500 feet—ideal for flying. This is the kind of weather Annie (like many naturally aspirated piston airplanes) likes best. It was not cold enough to make starting the engine difficult, but at takeoff time, the big-bore Lycoming roared ... read more
King Schools, NAFI Team Up to Offer CFI Training Scholarship
FLYING Magazine If becoming a CFI or adding to your instructor ratings is on your to-do list, listen up: King Schools and the National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI) have teamed up to create a scholarship opportunity. The award includes $5,000 to apply toward an initial CFI rating, or it can be used for any CFI add-on rating. The scholarship includes lifelong access to the entire library of King Schools online courses and Flight Instructor Refresher Courses (FIRCs). The ... read more
Dassault to Establish New MRO in Brazil
FLYING Magazine Dassault Aviation has announced plans to open a new company-owned maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) operation at Catarina International Executive Airport (SNJH) in São Paulo. The Brazilian service center is intended to replace Dassault’s Sorocaba facility. The new location will include nearly 40,000 square feet of floor and office space. According to Dassault, the facility will be capable of accommodating up to five Falcon aircraft at a time as well as having enough ... read more
This 1959 Cessna 310C’s Speed and Useful Load Make It an ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Each day, the team at Aircraft For Sale picks an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, represents a good deal, or has other interesting qualities. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1959 Cessna 310C. I have a long-standing affection for the Cessna 310, and I know I am not alone. There is something about the design that makes it especially appealing. Make that a few things, like two powerful ... read more
AOPA Releases Updated eFIRC
FLYING Magazine If a flight instructor refresher clinic (FIRC) is on your agenda for this month, check out the renewed eFIRC from the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association’s Air Safety Institute. According to AOPA ASI aviation safety programs manager John Collins, the new course will work on any device and sports a faster loading and response time than previous versions. AOPA’s eFIRCs are illustrated with videos of scenarios that pilots may encounter in the real world. Watching other ... read more
U.S. Sanctions Take Aim at Russia’s Lancet Kamikaze Drones for First Time
FLYING Magazine The U.S. government has taken aim at a prolific Russian suicide drone for the first time. Last week, the U.S. State, Commerce, and Treasury departments brought an array of sanctions against Russian entities and individuals, including Zala Aero, the manufacturer of the Lancet kamikaze drone that is being deployed by the Russian military against Ukraine. The sanctions target Zala and several firms in Russia and abroad thought to be supplying Moscow with uncrewed aerial ... read more
Making Flying Great Again
General Aviation News Driving to the monthly airport breakfast, I pass a sign on the outskirts of Madisonville, Tennessee, proclaiming, “Monroe County Airport…Making Flying Great Again.” Read More read more
Picture of the Day: Tail beacon as sunrise
General Aviation News Rusty Eichorn submitted this photo and note: "The sunrise did a pretty good job as the tail beacon this morning. N18DP at Northbound Seaplane Base (5MN6) on Pokegama Lake in Grand Rapids, Minnesota." Read More read more
Stockton Airport Partners with Atlantic Aviation, AvFuel to Offer SAF on Demand
FLYING Magazine General aviation pilots can now fill their tanks with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at Stockton Metropolitan Airport (KSCK) on demand, without a reservation or fueling contract. The airport said it entered a partnership with FBO operator Atlantic Aviation and fuel supplier AvFuel to make SAF available to jet fuel customers traveling in Northern California. The company also offers documentation to aid in tracking emissions reduction. READ MORE: SAF To Be Available at ... read more
AOPA president flies on new unleaded fuel
General Aviation News AOPA President Mark Baker flew the Baron for one hour with G100UL feeding the left engine and 100LL in the right. He said the performance of the two engines was nearly identical and "the Baron flew beautifully." Read More read more
Pass the Vision Portion of Your Medical
AOPA General Aviation News It’s unbelievable how one simple change can dramatically improve your performance. Read More read more
Zenith’s Kit Building Workshop returns to Florida in December
General Aviation News The workshop will be held Dec. 1 on the SUN ’n FUN Expo campus on Lakeland Linder International Airport (KLAL). An informal regional Zenith fly-in gathering will be held at the airport Dec. 2, 2023. Read More read more
Protective boot for uAvionix tailBeaconX introduced
General Aviation News Made of high visibility orange plastic, the boot is customized to provide a "hand-in-glove" protective fit over the tailBeaconX’s clear glass globe and dual ADS-B antennas to prevent accidental breakage, according to company officials. Read More read more
FedEx Pilots Advised To Work For Regional Airline
AVweb FedEx has given some career advice to its pilots: Go work for someone else. According to Freight Waves, the world’s largest parcel shipping company says it doesn’t have enough business to keep its pilots fully employed so Pat DiMento, the company’s VP of flight operations and training, says they should take an offer by American Airlines regional subsidiary PSA. PSA is particularly targeting FedEx pilots with a $250,000 signing bonus to become PSA captains and a direct pathway to the ... read more
Landing at mountaintop airport goes awry
General Aviation News The pilot’s failure to compensate for the high density altitude and the tailwind component while landing at a mountaintop airport, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and a loss of aircraft control. Read More read more
I Could Never Get Away With This Again
AVweb At the end of his legendary career, famed aviation pioneer Jimmy Doolittle titled his autobiography, “I Could Never Be So Lucky Again.” From down here in the flatlands of 21st century general aviation, Doolittle’s Olympian perch is a smudge on the horizon, but I nonetheless have mustered the unmitigated temerity to steal his idea and name my own book, “I Could Never Get Away With This Again.” Or I would if I were writing a book, which I am not because a three-volume history on pork ... read more
Poll: Do You Think Commercial Airships Have Market Legs
AVweb Poll: Do You Think Commercial Airships Have Market Legs? Poll: Do You Think Commercial Airships Have Market Legs? Not really. I think it’s a fad. Yes. They promise efficient flight for cargo. Maybe, but is there enough helium? Other Δ The post Poll: Do You Think Commercial Airships Have Market Legs appeared first on AVweb. Read More read more
Best of the Web: Duxford’s Unique Bf 109
AVweb Great Britain’s Imperial War Museum at Duxford has one of the best collections of World War II aircraft to be found anywhere and the staff is good at the kind of outreach videos we’re featuring this week. This video explains the fascinating tale of a Messerschmitt Bf 109 forced down in England during the Battle of Britain in 1940. The pilot landed the aircraft gear-up and it remained remarkably intact. It later toured both the U.K. and the U.S. to raise money for the war effort. At ... read more
Bellanca Factory Re-location Update
Bellanca Aircraft, Inc. The new Bellanca Aircraft factory and maintenance facility in Sulphur, Oklahoma is operational with some limitations on services. Aircraft owners can now schedule maintenance services, including annual inspections, repairs and preventive maintenance work. Prospective aircraft buyers can arrange for prebuy inspections as well. The facility at the Sulphur airport (F30) is divided between the aircraft maintenance hangar and the company’s warehouse, manufacturing ... read more
Re-location of Vital Inventory – Parts Availability Status
Selected inventory, critical to the maintenance of the fleet, has been relocated to the new factory in Sulphur, Oklahoma. Throughout the process of moving the entire factory from Minnesota to the new facility the company will strive to keep the supply of parts moving to our customers. Owners and repair facilities my contact the factory at 580-202-3100 to place parts orders. read more
Bellanca Aircraft Begins Factory Re-location
The relocation of over seventy years of equipment, tooling, engineering documentation, inventory and office equipment has begun. These assets are being moved to the company’s new home in Sulphur, Oklahoma. Bellanca Aircraft, Inc. company President, Mike Redpath is personally overseeing the move which will happen in phases over the next several months. read more
Bellanca Aircraft, Inc. Acquires Alexandria Aircraft, LLC
The entire assets of Alexandria Aircraft, LLC of Alexandria, Minnesota have been acquired by a small group of investors who plan to continue operations in Sulphur, Oklahoma, a location more centrally located to a large percentage of the Viking and Cruisemaster aircraft. read more