Aviation News

Despite what the FAA describes as a “vigilant campaign to heighten awareness of the serious safety risks,” laser strikes on aircraft increased markedly last year after a slight decline for the previous year. According to an FAA press release today (Jan. 30), there were 13,304 reported laser strikes last year, up from 9,457 in 2022. […]

The first public uncrewed flight of Rotor’s R220Y helicopter took place yesterday (Jan. 30) at Nashua (New Hampshire) Airport (KASH). Rotor’s prototype aircraft fly with Cloudpilot, which the manufacturer describes as technology for autonomous flight using satellite and wireless connectivity. The new Rotor Research & Development Center is located adjacent to the airport on the […]

Garmin announced today (Jan. 31) it has introduced a pair of “affordable” slim line comm and nav/comm radios. The GTR 205 comm-only (list price $2,695) and the GNC 215 nav/comm ($5,295) take up 1.3 inches of bezel height form factor and include full-color LCD displays. The GNC 215 includes VOR/ILS capability with localizer and glideslope […]

Multiple aircraft told air traffic controllers they were seeing unexplained lights in the skies north of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada on Jan. 19. Pilots of several aircraft separately described the lights as numbering three to six, flying at high speed, in formation, and maneuvering. In a YouTube audio-only post, one pilot estimates the altitude of the […]

Avionics manufacturer Dynon has posted an open letter on its website to RV builders expressing more than just moral support in the face of Vans Aircraft’s financial difficulties. Dynon is offering a special discount to RV builders with deposits on aircraft who have been directly affected by the price changes Vans has imposed on its […]

A total of 12% of new pilot licenses issued in Canada in 2023 went to women, according to statistics released Tuesday by the Institute for Women of Aviation Worldwide (IWOAW). The Montreal-based organization said 13% of new recreational-oriented licenses, 12.3% of commercial tickets and 8.1% of airline transport permits went to women. Women have historically […]

The acting executive director of the European Aviation Safety Agency says aviation regulators need to be involved in the design of satellite navigation systems to counter the growing problem of GPS spoofing. But Luc Tytgat told a forum on the issue in Europe last week that for now civilian victims will have to be vigilant. […]

The Canadian ultralight community is protesting regulatory changes they say will prohibit pilots from flying aircraft some of them have owned and flown for decades. Transport Canada has issued a Notice of Proposed Amendment that Ultralight Pilots Association of Canada (UPAC) President Kathy Lubitz says contains a clause that will unnecessarily restrict the definition of […]

AOPA President Mark Baker told staff today that he will be leaving his post when a suitable replacement has been found. Baker, who joined the organization more than 10 years ago, said in an internal email to staff obtained by AVweb that he will be staying on until that process plays out. “I have promised […]

The FAA says it will look into a landing mishap in blustery conditions that landed six occupants of an American Airlines A321neo in hospital briefly on Saturday in Hawaii. “American Airlines Flight 271, an Airbus A320 (FlightAware lists an A321neo), made a hard landing on Runway 20 at Kahului Airport in Hawaii at approximately 2 […]