Aviation News

So far, at least, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is limited to the jet fuel set, which has kept most piston-powered aircraft out of the conversation. A notable exception is the fleet of Austro-Engine-powered Diamond Aircraft models, which burn jet fuel rather than aviation gasoline (avgas). Diamond has just announced a dedicated SAF development program for […]

CNN and multiple other news outlets are reporting that 1,820 Southwest Airlines flights were delayed this morning (April 18) when, the airline said, “data connection issues resulting from a firewall failure” led to a temporary ground stop. According to an 11:10 a.m. (EDT) FAA tweet: “This morning [Southwest Airlines] experienced a technical issue with one […]

Last Saturday (April 15), the Yankee Air Museum announced it was grounding its World War II-vintage Boeing B-17G  “Yankee Lady” in anticipation of an FAA Airworthiness Directive (AD), expected within a few weeks. Online sources, including a detailed article at Aerovintage.com, anticipate the AD will likely ground all currently flying B-17s due to “wing spar […]

The NTSB has denied an appeal filed by pilot and YouTuber Trent Palmer related to a suspension of his private pilot certificate. As previously reported by AVweb, the suspension arose from a flight on Nov. 24, 2019, when Palmer conducted a low inspection pass in preparation for a possible landing at a private airstrip used […]

The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) has officially opened applications for the 2023 edition of its annual AirVenture Cup Race. Now in its 25th year, the race covers a round-robin course of over 400 NM starting and ending at Wisconsin’s Wausau Downtown Airport (KAUW). The event is set to begin at 9 a.m. Central Time on […]

SpaceX has scrubbed the first launch attempt of its integrated Starship launch vehicle and Super Heavy rocket, citing issues with the pressurization system. The attempt was called off less than 10 minutes before launch, with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk noting via Twitter that a “pressurant valve appears to be frozen.” SpaceX says it is targeting […]

Nearly two years after beginning its mission, NASA’s Mars helicopter, Ingenuity, successfully completed its 50th flight with a 145.7-second hop on April 13. The rotorcraft flew for the first time on April 19, 2021, marking the first powered, controlled flight of an aircraft on another planet. Originally expected to survive for just five flights, Ingenuity […]

The FAA is taking steps to better fit rocket launches into the National Airspace system. The agency announced last week it has come up with guidelines “to optimize and equitably manage the airspace in the vicinity of launch sites.” Airlines and other operators have been grumbling about the diversions and airspace closures that inevitably result […]

An unknown number of Indonesian soldiers were killed and as many as 30 are missing after Papuan rebels attacked them during their search for a kidnapped New Zealand pilot. Phillip Mehrtens was taken by gunmen after he landed his Susi Air plane at a remote strip in the rebel-held area of the country in February. […]

The FAA has issued a launch permit for SpaceX’s test launch of its Starship spacecraft aboard its Super Heavy rocket booster with the earliest launch window opening at 8:00 a.m. April 17 with backup windows on each of the five following days. It’s the largest rocket combination ever built, towering almost 400 feet above the […]