Flight Training

Pipistrel has developed an online interactive training tool specific to Pipistrel owners or flight students flying Pipistrel aircraft as part of the “Pipistrel Academy Program” for Pipistrel certified flight schools, the company formally announced Wednesday. The training solutions, which were introduced during AERO 2013, seek to provide “a deep understanding of flight theory with a […]

Every crisis creates opportunities, the saying goes, and with aspiring pilots facing a 1,500-hour minimum flight-time requirement for entry-level jobs in the regional airlines, due to take effect in August, FlightSafety Academy is offering a new program to address that need. FlightSafety said it plans to hire college graduates who have at least a commercial […]

Cirrus says it has made pilot safety its new top priority with a program designed to ensure the pilots of its aircraft know how, and perhaps more importantly when, to use the built-in safety features, including the parachute. In announcing Cirrus Approach, CEO Dale Klapmeier said the Cirrus safety record is “on par” with other […]

It’s been clear for a long time that the pilot population is in decline, but the reasons why and the ways to change the trajectory seem to be somewhat less clear. Plenty of theories and proposals have been floated, and various advocacy groups have taken aim at the issue, but so far nothing seems to […]

People in the aviation industry have been talking about a looming U.S. pilot shortage for decades, but you may be hard pressed to find anyone in the U.S. who’s actually experienced one during the past 20 years. Actually, 20 years ago, I remember receiving materials from an outfit that explained just how strong the demand […]

Under a new program called “Giving Back,” the AOPA Foundation is providing a chance for nonprofit groups in general aviation and student pilots to apply for grants to support a variety of needs. The grants for nonprofit groups will be available in amounts up to $10,000, Stephanie Kenyon, a vice president of the foundation, told […]

St. Louis University’s Parks College has conferred the first-ever Ph.D. in Aviation in the U.S. to Damon Lercel. The school has been working on establishing the degree for 10 years and the new doctor says it’s an important milestone in aviation education. “The program offered not only an in-depth immersion in research, but also opportunities […]

A new law that will require first officers in regional jets to hold at least an ATP certificate is not yet official, but it’s already affecting aviation careers, Kent Lovelace, chair of the aviation department at the University of North Dakota, told AVweb this week. The law will take effect this August, whether or not […]

Pilots and operators who use SpiderTracks satellite monitoring devices in their aircraft can now register their device with the AFSS system to enable real-time tracking of their flights. In a news release Lockheed Martin, which operated the AFSS system, said by registering their SpiderTracks device, pilots can ensure that their flight progress is monitored from […]

Anyone who has been a flight student in the last two years is invited to take part in an online poll and share their experience and insight, AOPA said recently. The poll deadline is Aug. 9 and is open to all; you don’t need to be an AOPA member to participate. “This unique pilot poll […]