Aviation News

New Zealand planemaker Alpha Aviation has hired former Mooney CEO Gretchen Jahn as general manager to take resurrection of the French-designed Robin series to the next level. The Alpha 160, a low-wing trainer, is made in Hamilton, N.Z. and recently gained FAA certification… Dayton, Ohio, is the heart of a new aviation tourism marketing program. […]

Columbia Aircraft’s Web site now offers “white papers” about aircraft systems, explaining some of the complexities for those new to aviation… “Doc,” the B-29 Superfortress being restored in Wichita, was moved out of its hangar this week. It will sit outside until funds can be raised to build a new hangar. (Listen to AVweb‘s recent […]

Theres no common frequency to comments being received on the future of Loran. While airline groups and manufacturers say nobody uses it anymore, sea captains and communications firms want it maintained for its jam-resistance and reliability… A stowaway squirrel forced a Tokyo-Dallas American Airlines flight to divert to Honolulu last week. The animal was heard […]

A Beech Bonanza broke up in flight above Savannah, Ga., on Friday. No distress call was made. All three on board were killed… Aero Technical Institute is offering new classes in Rotax engines for aircraft owners, to be held in Florida before and after Sun ‘n Fun… CubCrafters, of Yakima, Wash., received an FAA production […]

The FAA turned on seven approach lights at New Bedford Airport last week a week after a fatal crash. There’s still more work to do to get all the lights working, but about 1,400 feet is now illuminated… All that fancy navigation gear on a Gulfstream 550 was put to the test last week as […]

The National Aeronautic Association yesterday said Lockheed Martin and the F-22 Raptor Team have won the 2006 Robert J. Collier Trophy. On June 8, the Raptor team will be presented the trophy for designing, testing, and operating the newly-operational F-22 Raptor… Comp Air hopes to have its new Comp Air 12 turboprop prototype ready to […]

Avidyne and S-Tec say that their Alliant Integrated Flight Deck – a digital autopilot, large primary flight displays, dual-redundant PFDs, dual ADAHRS — have arrived as a retrofit package installed in a 1979 King Air. The 369-pound increase in useful load (due to replacement of the old avionics) isn’t hurting, either. The companies point out […]

A study has shown that about $590 million in economic benefits have been created through film production at Los Angeles-area airports. The study credits the film-friendly approach of the local airport authority in keeping productions in the area… The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission says its up to the military and FAA to prevent airborne attacks […]

Cirrus Design on Wednesday announced that its SR22 Turbo received STC approval from Transport Canada. The company unveiled the turbo-normalized SR22 at AirVenture 2006, and obtained an FAA STC for the airplane in November… The FAA recommends owners of some older Cessna models watch for cracking of plastic control wheels. The Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin […]

Martin County, Fla., commissioners are vowing to fight the FAA for control of Witham Field. Commissioners voted to stop accepting federal grants from the agency and launch a lawsuit over the continued use of 460 feet of runway they want to shut down. The FAA has reminded the county that a golf course and YMCA […]