Aviation News

In a recently published advisory circular (AC) updating its airport design guidance, the FAA officially acknowledged turf operations on unpaved runway safety areas (RSAs). According to the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), it first suggested the policy change a few years ago during the annual EAA/FAA Winter Recreational Summit. The update covers key risk factors to […]

The FAA has awarded $4.4 million in grants for unmanned aerial system (UAS/drone) research, education and training to seven universities. According to the agency, the grant research will focus on electromagnetic compatibility, detect and avoid classifications and cybersecurity oversight. The universities receiving the grants include the University of North Dakota, University of Kansas, Drexel University, […]

Days before Chinese authorities have said they will release their preliminary investigation into the crash of China Eastern Flight MU5843 last month, the airline has returned its large fleet of Boeing 737-800s to service. China Eastern has 223 of the type and all were grounded when one dove from altitude, recovered briefly and then crashed […]

The first large-scale use of drones for beyond visual line of site (BVLOS) pickup and delivery may be at sea. The Navy is deploying drones capable of carrying up to 50 pounds to test them as ship-to-ship couriers within carrier groups and beyond. The drones will be based on the carrier and dispatch as needed […]

Ukraine has adopted a novel approach to military procurement with a crowdfunding campaign aimed at the world’s kazillionaires urging them to go airplane shopping. “We need your help. We need a fighter jet,” says part of the text at buymeafighterjet.com. Whoever you are – a businessman, an IT specialist, an actor or a singer, whichever […]

The Southwest Airlines Pilots Association (SWAPA) says the airline has to address a growing fatigue problem in its membership, but the airline says it follows crew rest regulations to the letter. “Fatigue, both acute and cumulative, has become Southwest Airlines’ number-one safety threat,” SWAPA told airline executives in an open letter this week. The union […]

Bombardier’s Challenger 3500 business jet has been recognized as “Red Dot: Best of the Best” in the Trains and Planes category at the Red Dot Award: Product Design 2022 competition. Best of the Best is the highest distinction awarded in the international competition, which is held annually “to find the year’s best products.” Introduced in […]

Airbus announced on Tuesday that it has wrapped up wind-tunnel testing of its eXtra Performance Wing demonstrator. Alongside fello’fly’s widebody formation flights and AlbatrossONE’s flapping wings, the eXtra Performance Wing is one of the company’s “biomimicry” projects that engage in “the study and imitation of nature … to help solve human challenges.” Launched last September, […]

Lockheed Martin announced this week that a modified Stalker VXE unmanned aerial system (UAS/drone) completed a record-setting endurance flight on Feb. 18, 2022. According to the company, the aircraft logged a total flight time of 39 hours, 17 minutes and 7 seconds, which, once certified by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), would establish a new […]

Tecnam officially introduced its new P-Mentor two-seat, low-wing single-engine piston aircraft on Wednesday. The IFR-capable P-Mentor, which is designed for the training market, received its EASA type certificate last week. According to the company, the aircraft is suited for private and instrument training along with upset prevention and recovery training (UPRT). Tecnam noted that the […]