Cirrus Aircraft opened the doors to its new Innovation Center this week at the company’s headquarters in Duluth, Minnesota. Located in the former Northwest Airlines Corp. facility, the center includes a freshly renovated 189,000-square-foot building on 39 acres at Duluth International Airport (KDLH). Cirrus says it will use the Innovation Center to support development of […]
ICON Aircraft announced on Wednesday that it has completed assembly of its 200th A5 amphibious light sport aircraft (LSA). The first A5s were delivered to customers in 2017 with ICON reporting that there are currently owners in “30 states and 13 countries across five continents.” The A5 is manufactured at the company’s facility in Tijuana, […]
The FAA has officially closed its investigation into the crash of Blue Origin’s New Shepard suborbital rocket system shortly after launch on Sept. 12, 2022. According to the agency, the loss of the uncrewed research mission was the result of the “structural failure of an engine nozzle caused by higher than expected engine operating temperatures.” […]
Airbus Helicopters introduced its new PioneerLab flying laboratory during the German National Aviation Conference on Monday. According to the company, the helicopter demonstrator will be used to test technologies designed to reduce emissions, increase autonomy and integrate biomaterials. PioneerLab is based on the H145 twin-engine light utility helicopter. “With PioneerLab, we continue our ambitious strategy […]
The Flying Musicians Association (FMA) is accepting nominations for its 2024 FMA Solo Learn to Fly scholarship program for high school music students. Now in its tenth year, FMA Solo provides scholarships for flight training through first solo as well as assistance obtaining flight training materials and gear and a student membership to FMA. To […]
The FAA has proposed a rule designed to limit new orbital debris from commercial space vehicles, citing the need to “reduce the potential for collisions with spacecraft and satellites to promote a sustainable space environment.” According to the agency, current estimates put the number of orbital objects measuring 10 cm or greater at over 23,000 […]
Zenith Aircraft Company hosted its 32nd annual Homecoming fly-in last week, welcoming an estimated 500 visitors during the two-day event. The fly-in took place Sept. 15-16 at the kit aircraft manufacturer’s factory on Mexico Memorial Airport (KMYJ) in Mexico, Missouri. Zenith Homecoming organizers reported that around 50 aircraft flew in for the event with a […]
KLM Flight Academy has ordered 14 Diamond aircraft with the goal of replacing its aging training fleet. The firm order includes 12 single-engine DA40 NGs and two twin-engine DA42-VI aircraft, with deliveries slated to begin during the first quarter of 2024. The school is currently using Socata TB-10s and TB-20s for single-engine training. “With the […]
U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff General Charles Q. Brown was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on Wednesday. He succeeds Army General Mark Milley, who has held the position since October 2019. An F-16 pilot with more than 3,000 flight hours, Brown has logged 130 combat hours […]
Virginia-based Liberty University has announced a new partnership with Spirit Airlines, becoming the tenth institution to join the ultra-low-cost carrier’s Spirit Wings Pilot Pathway program. Aimed at growing Spirit’s professional pilot pipeline, the program accepts applications from faculty-recommended students pursuing an aviation degree. Applicants who pass Spirit’s interview process receive a conditional offer of employment […]
