Aviation News

In aviation, we are often steadfastly parochial in the way we try to understand the waning fortunes of the industry. We are stubbornly revanchist in viewing past glories as a template for tomorrow and we’re happy to blame FAA regulations and manufacturers who just don’t know to how to sell airplanes. While I’m sure those […]

As GAMA released another disappointing aircraft production report this week, the Teal Group’s Richard Aboulafia recently told the National Air Transportation Association that market data suggests next year won’t be much better. And although Teal says it’s “cautiously confident” that things won’t get worse, Aboulafia told us in this AVweb podcast that we’re far from […]

AVweb‘s search of news in aviation found announcements from Able Flight, Jeppesen and Diamond Aircraft, Ross Aviation and Independence Aviation.Able Flight has selected Captain Ferris Butler (U.S. Army, Ret.) as the first recipient of the new Lockheed Martin/Able Flight Scholarship. After successful completion of Able Flight’s six-week flight school held at Purdue University’s Department of […]

Somewhere between conception and execution of the light sport aircraft idea, the notion of simple and inexpensive got tossed overboard. Typical LSAs are lavishly equipped at prices in the $130,000 range. Yet at least a couple of companies persist with offerings below that price, including the Italian-built Groppo Trail, which surfaced again this year at […]

Winter is coming to the Northeast, and once again scores of sea turtles are stranding on the beaches from New Jersey to Cape Cod, and in need of transport to warmer climes. For several years, Leslie Weinstein, of Idaho, has been working to organize volunteer aviation efforts to help these creatures, and this year he […]

At last week’s NBAA show in Orlando, I was having a little argument with myself in one of the press conferences. A staple of these things is what we used to call in the newspaper business “grip and grins.” The assembled people of import grip the certificate/plaque/award/trophy, face the camera and beam. Click. Two cols […]

In advance of this week’s election, AOPA sent a questionnaire to the two major party candidates, Hillary Clinton and Donald J. Trump, seeking their positions on issues of interest to general aviation pilots. Trump’s campaign did not respond, AOPA says, despite six weeks of “multiple attempts via many communication channels.” Clinton’s campaign, however, sent detailed […]

A3, the Airbus advanced-projects group based in Silicon Valley, has contracted with two local companies who are tasked with developing a flying prototype of an autonomous electric taxi aircraft by the end of next year. Modern Technology Solutions Inc. (MTSI) will lead the flight-test effort, and Soar Oregon will provide test-range support and other services. […]

Anyone who wants to fly the Icon LSA now can take instruction in Tampa, Florida, the company announced last week. The new flight center is open at the Peter O. Knight Airport, a general aviation field. The training program is offered not just to A5 position holders but to anyone who wants to sign up. […]

GE has test run a developmental version of its Advanced Turboprop (ATP) engine that contains 35 percent 3D printed parts. The ATP will be used in Cessna’s new Denali single and is a big part of the sales pitch for the aircraft. GE says 3D printing saves weight and is more precise than traditional construction […]