Aviation News

Boeing’s Aurora Flight Sciences revealed a new solar-powered, autonomous high-altitude pseudo-satellite (HAPS) concept on Wednesday. As seen in the video below, the Odysseus is designed to be an ultra-long-endurance platform capable of performing research, communication, connectivity and intelligence missions. The company says the aircraft will have a payload capacity of 55 pounds and be capable […]

The Lone Star Unmanned Aircraft Systems Center of Excellence and Innovation (LSUASC) at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (TAMU-CC) announced that it has signed an agreement with Texas’ Nueces County to provide drone support in the event of natural disasters. During disaster situations, LSUASC says its unmanned aircraft systems (UAS/drones) will be used for tasks such […]

Boeing kept airlines and pilots in the dark about an automated background trim system on the 737 MAX that may be implicated in the first crash of the new model in Indonesia last month. The trim system, which is meant to improve pitch characteristics and stall protection, wasn’t even described in any of the documentation […]

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Office of Inspector General has announced that it will be conducting an audit of the FAA’s role in authorizing Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS/drone) flights within the National Airspace System. The audit will focus on the impact of the Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) system, which provides near […]

Icon Aircraft founder Kirk Hawkins is “stepping back” as CEO of the company and while it appears he’s staying on his new role hasn’t been clearly defined. It’s also not clear who will replace him as CEO although it appears President and COO Thomas Wieners is in charge for now. The company released a statement […]

Bombardier announced on Thursday that it intends to cut approximately 5,000 positions across the organization as part of a plan to “further streamline, lean out and simplify the company.” The staff reductions will take place over the next 12 to 18 months and Bombardier says it expects the move will save the company around $250 […]

Bombardier has achieved FAA approval of its Global 7500 jet, the company announced on Wednesday. The long-range business jet, the biggest in Bombardier’s business-jet fleet, can fly up to 7,700 nautical miles, enabling nonstop flights from New York to Hong Kong, or Singapore to San Francisco. The flight deck is equipped with fly-by-wire technology, flight […]

“We find ourselves on the cusp of the third great era of aviation,” acting FAA administrator Daniel Elwell said on Monday—”the age of autonomous and unmanned aircraft.” In a talk at the Aero Club of Washington, Elwell said, “I’m not sure we appreciate how much of a seismic change it’s going to be—for all of […]

easyJet, a leading regional airline operating in Europe, has partnered with U.S. based startup Wright Electric to develop a small electric-powered aircraft that could efficiently serve on short-haul airline routes. Last week, the airline confirmed the project is progressing—Wright Electric has applied for a patent on “a novel motor design” for “an easyJet-sized aircraft” that […]

The Wall Street Journal says (subscription required) retired Delta Air Lines VP and former line pilot Steve Dickson is the new favorite to become the next FAA administrator. The Journal says Dan Elwell, who has been the acting administrator since January, “quietly pulled out of the running” because it didn’t seem likely he would be […]