Aviation News

Zeva’s Zero electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft has successfully completed its first untethered test flight, according to an announcement from the Tacoma-based startup on Thursday. The vehicle made a total of four uncrewed flights during the test session and conducted maneuvers including a controlled hover, simulated taxi at slow speeds and limited vertical […]

The FAA has issued an exemption allowing helicopter air ambulance (HAA) operators to conduct rescue flights if their radar altimeters are affected or could be affected by interference from 5G cellphone signals. Helicopter Association International announced the welcome news Friday. “This exemption will allow HAA operators to continue to do what they do best—save lives,” […]

The FAA has published more than 1,400 Notices to Air Missions (NOTAMs) regarding potential radar altimeter disruptions related to the upcoming launch of Verizon and AT&T’s 5G C-Band wireless broadband networks. In general, the NOTAMs prohibit operations such as the use of head-up display (HUD) and enhanced flight vision systems (EFVS) to touchdown, autoland and […]

The U.S. Air Force has awarded a contract to Boom Supersonic aimed at accelerating research and development for the company’s Overture supersonic airliner model. Granted through the AFVentures arm of the Air Force’s AFWERX program, the Strategic Funding Increase (STRATFI) contract covers three years and is valued at up to $60 million. The Air Force […]

The first Tupolev Tu-160M ​​supersonic strategic bomber to be manufactured in more than 25 years successfully completed its initial flight on Wednesday. The flight, which launched from the airfield at Tupolev’s Kazan Aviation Plant in Kazan, Russia, lasted about 30 minutes. According to the company, maneuvers were preformed to check the stability and controllability of […]

In a long-anticipated move, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today (Jan. 12) that it “will take the necessary steps to regulate lead pollution from aircrafts (sic).” Those steps start with proposing an “endangerment finding” on leaded aviation gasoline, expected by the end of this year. Finalizing that finding is expected in 2023. The EPA […]

Garmin announced on Wednesday that its Smart Glide technology is now available for the G3X Touch and G5 electronic flight instrument in certified aircraft equipped with a GTN Xi-series navigator. Introduced last July, Smart Glide is designed to assist pilots dealing with a loss of engine power by “automating tasks to reduce pilot workload.” Once […]

A medevac Airbus EC-135 helicopter crash-landed early this afternoon (Jan. 11) in a churchyard outside Philadelphia. Operated by the LifeNet program, an Air Methods affiliate based in Maryland, the flight’s harrowing ending resulted in no serious injuries to the four onboard, including a two-month-old infant patient, two pilots and a flight nurse. The helicopter reportedly […]

Cirrus has announced the latest iteration of its high-performance piston-single line, the 2022 G6 SR Series. The newest Cirrus models feature refined aerodynamics that cut drag and improve efficiency and range, convenience features for passenger safety and comfort, and practical and aesthetic enhancements to paint and interior appointments. The speed refinements include redesigned wheel pants […]

There remains much confusion over a brief FAA ground stop issued Monday at 2:30 p.m. Pacific Standard Time (5:30 p.m. EST) affecting aircraft in several western states. It remains unclear what the nature of the ground stop was and its full extent, but there is concern that it could have been in response to a […]