Flight Safety

As a promotional effort for its emerging flight training technology, Redbird Flight Simulations plans to train three zero-time would-be pilots to solo status during the week of Sun ‘n Fun. The candidates will use a combination of Redbird’s motion-based simulators and its diesel-powered Redhawk Cessna 172 conversions flying out of Plant City, just west of […]

Glasair Aviation’s new Merlin LSA had its first flight this week, launching the in-air test phase for the composite light-sport airplane. The flight departed from Arlington, Washington, on Tuesday and lasted for 57 minutes. Following ground tests including engine run-up, high-speed taxi, and ground roll liftoff, test pilot Grant Smith conducted the flight to evaluate […]

Flight control checks of the Gulfstream IV that crashed during takeoff last year, killing all aboard, were rarely done, according to flight data from the jet’s most recent trips. The details were part of the accident docket the NTSB released Wednesday as it continues its investigation into the May 31, 2014, crash at Hanscom Field […]

The NTSB issued four safety alerts on Tuesday, highlighting safety issues relevant to general aviation pilots and mechanics. The alerts warn pilots to master mountain flying skills and emergency survival procedures before venturing into the mountains, seek transition training before flying an unfamiliar aircraft, and perform thorough preflight checks on airplanes after maintenance. The mechanics’ […]

All seven people on board were killed when a Cessna 414 light twin crashed into a soybean field near Bloomington, Illinois, at about 12:15 a.m. Tuesday. Conditions were reportedly foggy and rainy at the time. The flight had departed Indianapolis just after the NCAA basketball championship game, and was heading for Central Illinois Regional Airport, […]

Ahead of the 2015 Aircraft Electronics Association trade show, we reached out to AEA president Paula Derks for her show forecast. She answered a few questions about the ADS-B mandate and what FAA nextgen specialist Mike Whitaker may have to say at the show, as well as hinting at some of the product announcements in […]

AVweb’s Paul Bertorelli spoke with Tim Taylor of FreeFlight Systems about the company’s EquipIt 2020 initiative, which aims to provide low-cost equipage options to meet the FAA’s coming ADS-B mandate. With the Aircraft Electronics Association show going on now in Dallas, Taylor explained the logistics of FreeFlight’s RANGR Lite system, encouraged owner-pilots to equip sooner […]

As number two in the pattern today, I announced:“Comanche, right downwind, runway 21.” Number three in the pattern said:“182 on 45, looking for traffic.” I responded:“I’m over the hill, turning base now.” Number three said:“If you’re flying today, there’s no way you’re over the hill.” Al Briguglio

A glider pilot suffered only minor injuries after high winds reportedly tore the wings off his aircraft and he parachuted to safety on the roof of a parkade in Reno, Nevada, on Sunday. The unidentified pilot launched from soaring mecca Minden, about 40 miles south of Reno, on Sunday afternoon and was on his way […]

While lightning strikes on airliners aren’t that rare, videos of them don’t come up that often. University of Washington student Owen Craft was therefore understandably excited when he got footage of two airliners being hit while on approach to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport last week. “I was stunned for a second because I couldn’t believe what […]