Southwest Airlines signaled the end of an era today with the announcement that it will begin charging passengers to check bags. The signature policy of fee-less checked bags has been in place for decades, setting the low-fare airline apart from rivals. Southwest CEO Bob Jordan said, “We have tremendous opportunity to meet current and future […]
The annual Verticon industry show (formerly HeliExpo) revealed another new product announcement today as Airbus Helicopters introduced its H140 light-twin turbine rotorcraft model. The announcement follows yesterday’s announcement at the Dallas show of the new Robinson R88 10-place turbine single, that company’s second turbine offering and its largest helicopter, ever. The H140, now in flight-test […]
At a Washington, D.C., press briefing this afternoon, National Transportation Safety Board chair Jennifer Homendy announced an urgent recommendation to the FAA to prohibit helicopter operations on the designated helicopter Route 4 near Washington’s Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) when Runway 15/33 is in operation. The announcement included release of the NTSB Preliminary Report on […]
Electric aviation motor developer magniX has unveiled a helicopter motor that mimics the operation of a turbine engine. The HeliStorm motor, introduced at Verticon in Dallas, spins at 6,000 to 7,000 rpm and makes 330 kW of power, equivalent to about 450 horsepower, and weighs about 180 pounds. The motor is powered by magniX’s Samson […]
Sikorsky has flown a prototype of an interesting flying wing drone that incorporates twin rotors for vertical takeoffs and landings. The concept was unveiled at Verticon in Dallas on Monday. The “rotor blown wing” is a tilt-rotor of sorts, but because the whole aircraft is the wing it doesn’t need complicated technology to make the […]
Tecnam made a big inroad into the U.S. flight training market with the sale of 38 aircraft to US Aviation Academy. The school also has an option to buy another 52 planes from the Italian planemaker. The order constitutes a significant expansion of US Aviation Academy’s fleet, which now sits at about 175 spread among […]
President Donald Trump says certificate revocation should be considered for the pilot of a Flexjet Challenger 350 involved in an apparent runway incursion at Midway Airport 10 days ago. During a media scrum aboard Air Force One late Sunday, Trump also praised the crew of a Southwest flight who aborted their landing to hop over […]
All five people on a turbine conversion Bonanza survived when the plane crashed on takeoff into the parking lot of a retirement community in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on Sunday. The aircraft cabin was consumed in a post-crash fire. The pilot of the plane, registered to a Mannheim, Pennsylvania LLC, told controllers at Lancaster Airport that he […]
Robinson Helicopters has launched its first new design in 15 years and the R88 is the biggest Robinson ever. The new $3.3 million aircraft was unveiled Sunday ahead of Verticon, formerly Heli-Expo, which is being held in Dallas this week. The R88 will carry up to 10 people (eight in the back, two in the […]
A Maine startup has hit 100 orders for a clean-sheet amphibious forward-looking design that borrows a name and heritage from aviation’s Golden Age. Mallard Enterprises has sold 30 of its ME-1A twin turboprops to South African startup regional airline JOLY. The capacious flying boat will carry 19 passengers 350 nautical miles at 250 knots in […]
Get the latest stories & special offers delivered directly to your inbox
SUBSCRIBE
