FAA and Regs

Nine aviation associations are objecting to a proposed FAA study that would perform toxicology tests on anonymous urine samples gathered during pilot medical exams, according to a letter sent to the FAA on April 3. The letter (PDF) states that the study proposal was presented to Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) team members during […]

The FAA issued an emergency airworthiness directive (AD) for the Cirrus SF50 Vision Jet on Wednesday in response to three reports of the stall warning and protection system (SWPS) or Electronic Stability & Protection (ESP) System “engaging when not appropriate.” According to the AD, “Cirrus and Aerosonic (manufacturer of the technical standard order AOA [Angle […]

Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg has announced that Boeing completed the final test flight prior to certification testing for software designed to address issues with the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS) on the Boeing 737 MAX on Wednesday. MCAS activation in response to faulty angle of attack sensors has been highlighted as a likely factor in […]

The FAA has posted a draft report from the Boeing 737 MAX Flight Standardization Board (FSB) covering updated pilot training requirements for the aircraft. The draft adds the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS) to the list of areas which must receive special emphasis during ground training, but does not require flight simulator training for the […]

The Wall Street Journal is reporting(subscription) that the safety certification of the Boeing 737 MAX will be reviewed by an international committee, a large group of representatives from most of the major aviation regulators in the world. The panel, which is led by former NTSB Chairman Christopher Hart and includes delegates from Canada, China, Indonesia, […]

Multiple investigations into two accidents of Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft will inevitably focus on a much misunderstood FAA program called ODA for organization designation authorization. And Pete Bunce, president of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, says that may ultimately be a good thing for both the aerospace industry and general aviation manufacturing specifically. We […]

Boeing 737 MAX Accidents Another facet of this preliminary report that the media is missing – and I don’t fault most them as they are often not aviation experts nor qualified B737 pilots – is that from the moment the aircraft lifted off it had an unreliable airspeed emergency. Disparity between the Captain and FO […]

The Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE) is challenging CFIs young and old to sharpen their own hand flying skills to pass that knowledge along to students. In an announcement at Sun ‘n Fun 2019 the national association of instructors said it’s launching the SAFE CFI-PRO workshop to reduce the number of inflight loss […]

CubCrafters has taken the unusual step of certifying its X-Cub in the primary category, even though it’s already certified under Part 23. The primary category is a more restrictive regime that requires most of the Part 23 testing and engineering but limits engine type, weight and performance. CubCrafters officials attending Sun ‘n Fun declined to […]

The pilot who died in the crash of a Piper Navajo in Madeira, Ohio, had previously snagged a persistent fuel leak in the aircraft but flew it again a week later before the leak had been diagnosed and repaired. It’s not clear from the report whether pilot David Sapp was aware the aircraft had not […]