Aviation News

Surf Air Mobility, which has an exclusive relationship with Textron Aviation for development of an alternative-energy version of the Cessna Grand Caravan EX, has confirmed an order and placed deposits on the first 20 of up to 150 of the utility turboprop singles. Deliveries are expected to begin in the first half of next year. […]

Laser attacks on low-flying aircraft are not limited to the U.S. Following recent reports of aircraft targeted near Boston, local news reports in Yorkshire, U.K., have passed along an “urgent appeal” from the local air ambulance operator after what U.K. Yahoo News characterized as an “alarming spike” in laser-related incidents. Last Friday night (Sept. 22), […]

Garmin has announced it is now offering its G5000 integrated avionics suite as a retrofit upgrade for Textron Aviation Cessna Citation XLS+ and XLS Gen2 business jets. The upgrade (price not released) replaces the legacy Collins Pro Line 21 panel, which has four 10-inch display screens. Carl Wolf, Garmin VP of Aviation Sales and Marketing, […]

The White House announced today (Sept. 26) that more than $201 million will go to new or reconstructed runway and taxiway lighting systems as part of the administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. During an event marking the new program at Denver International Airport, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said, “We’re acting to improve lighting systems at […]

The U.S. Air Force (USAF) announced it has received its first electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft from Joby Aviation. The eVTOL was unveiled in a ceremony at Edwards Air Force Base in California Monday (Sept. 25)—some six months ahead of schedule. The delivery comes after the Air Force Research Laboratory announced a contract extension […]

Law enforcement and aviation officials in the Boston area are trying to figure out who is using lasers to target aircraft. Last week there were three incidents of laser strikes from the ground. The first two occurred in the predawn hours Thursday and involved two JetBlue aircraft. Both were reportedly struck by green lasers while […]

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 […]

All the usual authorities are investigating a “hard landing” that may have written off a Flexjet Embraer Praetor 500 in Georgia last week. The bizjet was flying six passengers from Westchester County Airport in New York when it apparently slammed into Runway 04 at McKinnon St. Simons Island Airport and ended up sitting on its […]

China is updating its military pilot recruitment by extending eligibility to science and engineering graduate students. Reuters is reporting those selected (male only) will train to fly fighters from carriers as the country rapidly expands its naval aviation capability. In contrast with other major powers, which mostly require a university degree for pilot candidates, China […]