Aviation News

Aviation groups are asking the FAA to overhaul a proposed rule requiring safety management systems for charters and tour operators. NBAA and the National Air Transportation Association have filed comments on the proposed rule, saying the one-size-fits-all approach by the agency unfairly burdens smaller, less complex operations. “For any SMS to be truly effective, it […]

The FAA says water from leaky bathroom faucets in Boeing 787s has been found in the avionics bays below and has ordered repetitive inspections until a permanent fix is found. The agency says one unidentified airline found “multiple” leaky faucets in its 787 fleet and in one case a wet carpet on the flight deck. […]

Once one of the most prized and carefully guarded assets in the Air Force fleet, the first of 13 E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) is now in a parking spot in the desert and will soon be followed by 12 more. The 45-year-old aircraft literally flew west from its base at Tinker AFB […]

The FAA has created its own version of an internal affairs office with the Office of Investigations and Professional Responsibility. The new department is charged with ensuring all FAA employees straighten up and fly right. “We protect the national airspace system (NAS) and the flying public by initiating and conducting administrative investigations and special inquiries […]

The Aviation Industry Corporation of China (Avic) announced last week it had completed the first test flight of its indigenous multirole AC332 helicopter. The flight occurred at Tainjin in North China. The twin-engine, four-blade, fenestron-equipped rotorcraft is said to be capable of carrying 10 passengers and has a maximum takeoff weight of 8,500 pounds and […]

Late last month, the FAA released an Information for Operators (InFO) notice warning against the dangers of pilots inhibiting terrain avoidance and warning systems (TAWS) aural alerts. According to the notice, “Alerts from TAWS can become a nuisance or a distraction to pilots when flying at altitudes below the alerting threshold of the system. This […]

According to a story published today by Aviation International News, the Colorado Department of Transportation wants to keep the remote-control tower at Loveland’s Northern Colorado Regional Airport (KFNL) open. The agency is hoping the FAA can find a way to coordinate with the system’s equipment designer, Ottawa, Ontario-based Searidge Technologies, to get the tower certified. […]

Boeing has announced that as of April 10, eleven Chinese airlines resumed operating Boeing 737 Max airliners. That increases the number of Max aircraft returning to commercial service with Chinese airlines to 43, roughly 45 percent of the available fleet in the country. Boeing did not name the airlines involved, according to a report by […]

Last week, EAA announced the unveiling of the FAA’s Vintage Aircraft Replacement and Modification Article (Varma) program. EAA has advocated many years for the initiative, which enables certain type-certificated aircraft to use a number of non-flight-critical, off-the-shelf parts without need for new regulations, orders or advisory circulars. Eligible aircraft include those weighing less than 12,500 […]

Textron announced on Monday that it has named Lisa Atherton as the new president and CEO of company subsidiary Bell. Atherton will take over from Mitch Snyder, who will be retiring after more than seven years in the position. The change of leadership will go into effect on April 28, 2023. “Lisa has done an […]