Aviation News

The National Aeronautic Association (NAA) has announced the recipients of the 2020 Mackay Trophy. USAF Lieutenant Colonel Joel Bier and Lieutenant Colonel Leif Nordhagen, the aircrew of Hawg 53 flight, will share the honor for a combat mission flown on Jan. 5, 2020. Hawg 53 was deployed from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, as a […]

Garmin has upgraded its GI 275 electronic instrument with a supplemental type certificate (STC) adding a number of enhancements and new capabilities via a software update. With a compatible transponder such as the GTX 345, GTX 345R and GTX 45R, pilots can now control transponder squawk code settings, function, Ident and flight ID with the touchscreen GI 275. This can be particularly helpful if the transponder […]

During the Korean War, USAF F-86 Sabre pilots learned a trick while enroute to MiG Alley where they would tangle with North Korean MiG 15s. The Soviet-built fighters had a superior climb rate and service ceiling, so the Sabre pilots wanted to get as high as they could before engaging. But high-altitude contrails would give […]

A new-build high school in Virginia will be doing its part to feed the talent pipeline into the aviation industry. Set to open in 2025 in Hartford, Virginia, Stafford County’s newest campus, with a cost pegged at $155 million, will include programs for aircraft mechanics, systems technicians, aviation quality control technicians and drone pilots. Michael […]

GE Aviation and Safran this week jointly launched a development program for what they call an “open fan” airliner engine design. Under the auspices of the two companies’ cooperative CFM International business unit, the RISE (Revolutionary Innovation for Sustainable Engines) initiative focuses on lowering fuel consumption and carbon emissions, and the team projects greater than […]

Switzerland-based aircraft manufacturer Pilatus has elected Hansueli Loosli as its new chairman of the board of directors. He is replacing Oscar Schwenk, who decided not to stand for reelection to the office after serving in the position for more than 15 years. Schwenk will remain with Pilatus as honorary chairman and president. “I am delighted […]

Elon Musk’s Starlink internet system may be the next big thing for in-flight connectivity and it may have eliminated the weak link that bogs down current systems. Starlink has put more than 1,000 small satellites in low Earth orbit as part of its plan to offer fast broadband to all corners of the planet. For […]

Canadian politicians say its regulators should be “skeptical” of FAA aircraft certifications and do their own validation of new designs. The House of Commons transport committee wants Transport Canada to do its own recertification design changes rather than just accept the FAA’s recommendation. “The committee heard numerous concerns regarding the involvement of manufacturers in the […]

The death of a new Air Force F-16 pilot in a 2020 landing accident at Shaw Air Force Base has prompted major changes in operational flight training. Lt. David Schmitz died when his ejection seat malfunctioned as his Viper slid along the runway on partially collapsed landing gear after he hit the localizer antenna while […]

A flurry of consolidations and new alliances is giving form to the future eVTOL industry as aviation big guns jump in the mix. On Friday, American Airlines and Virgin Atlantic both announced plans to buy billions of dollars’ worth of urban mobility aircraft from U.K.-based Vertical Aerospace. American said it will buy as many as […]