Aviation News

Mitsubishi is set to close two of its U.S. facilities supporting the SpaceJet regional-jet program. Its American headquarters in Renton, Washington, and a design office in Quebec will close, though the flight-test facility at Moses Lake, Washington, is to remain open for now. Nevertheless, it’s expected that U.S. flight tests will cease and continued flight […]

A Las Vegas air maintenance student has pleaded guilty to trying to bribe his way through the final exam. Frank A. Jalion Amaro, 21, offered an FAA designated mechanic examiner Duluth, Georgia, $2500 for a passing grade on the test. The examiner immediately reported the bribery attempt and it was turned into a sting operation. […]

The FAA is proposing an AD on some Cessna taildraggers requiring an inspection of the tail cones and horizontal stabilizers. Almost 7,000 180s, 1802s and 185s are affected and comments are open until June 29. Textron issued a mandatory service letter in 2017 and the AD basically follows its directives but instead of applying to […]

The Air Force is scrapping minimum and maximum height requirements for pilots in a bid primarily to attract more female candidates. Until earlier this week the standard Air Force pilot was between 5 feet 4 inches and 6 feet 5 inches tall with a sitting height of 34 to 40 inches. About 44 percent of […]

Pakistan media is reporting Pakistan International Airlines Flight PK8303 landed gear up and the crew muscled it back into the air before it crashed on a second landing attempt, killing 97 of 99 people aboard on Friday. According to reports gathered by the Aviation Herald, the A320 slid on its nacelles at the airport in […]

There’s probably a reason the term “third time’s the charm” isn’t used much in aviation circles and the NTSB is now probing whether its application played a role in a fatal crash in Florida earlier this month. A preliminary report into the crash of a Bonanza near Land O Lakes on May 12 cites witness […]

AVweb’s weekly news roundup uncovered reports of the opening of an engineering facility, a new carbon monoxide detector, PMA approval for a Cessna 172 airbox support bracket and a partnership for an online course provider. Reports were also found on an expansion for an aircraft leasing business, the selection of a CAA Preferred FBO and […]

A Pakistan International Airlines A320 crashed near the Karachi airport after attempting multiple landings and suffering a mechanical issue, according to reports. The Associated Press report says the Airbus had an “apparent engine failure during landing,” a presumption bolstered by video on social media supposedly showing the A320 flying low with flames coming out of […]

According to the Experimental Aircraft Association, the FAA has “released a policy that will make it easier for some owners of experimental aircraft to obtain special flight permits (SFPs) for their airplanes in order to reposition them for condition inspections.” The change comes in the form of allowing certain designated airworthiness representatives (DARs) to “remotely […]

Christian Virgil Estoque’s joyride in a stolen Skyhawk ended in the catch fence this week when he landed long in a stolen Cessna at the Fullerton, California, airport. Estoque, 32, had neither permission to use the Chino-based Cessna nor, apparently, a pilot’s certificate. He was not injured in the incident. According to local news, Fullerton […]