Flight Safety

AVweb’s Flight Safety section offers in-depth coverage of aviation safety topics, including accident analyses, risk management strategies, regulatory updates, and pilot training insights. Designed for pilots, instructors, and aviation professionals, this section provides timely information to enhance situational awareness and promote best practices in flight operations.

FAA Issues Apology for Delay on Medical Petition

AOPA has announced that it received a letter from FAA Administrator Michael Huerta apologizing for the FAAs nearly two-year delay in responding to the joint AOPA-EAA petition that would expand the use of the drivers license medical standard. In his Dec. 26 letter, Huerta said it was important to ensure that such an unprecedented change […]

Read More »

Two Military Helicopters Lost: At Least Six Dead

The U.S. military lost two helicopters in two days and the death toll of six may rise. On Wednesday, a Navy CH-53E Sea Dragon, the Navy variant of the Super Stallion, crashed off Norfolk, Va. There were five crew members on board. Four were rescued but two died. There is one still missing. The crash […]

Read More »

SAFE Urges FAA to Rescind Flight Simulator Policy Change

The Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE) has criticized the FAAs Jan. 2 Notice Of Policy Change that restricts the use of flight simulators as an action that will adversely affect flight safety. As of Jan. 1, 2015, a maximum of 10 hours of simulator time will be allowed toward an instrument rating. Currently, […]

Read More »

GAMA, Build A Plane Launch Second Design Challenge

The General Aviation Manufacturers Association and Build A Plane teamed up last year to bring four high school students to the Glasair factory to build a Sportsman, and this year they are doing it again. “Having worked side-by-side with the students for two weeks last summer and seen how the competition not only improved their […]

Read More »

NTSB: 787 Battery Fire Investigation Continues

The investigation into the battery fire aboard a Boeing 787 in Boston a year ago should be done by the end of March, the NTSB said on Wednesday. The board will then need more time for analysis and writing, and a final report will be released to the public in the fall. The board is […]

Read More »

Guest Blog: NTSB Responds on Sleep Apnea

In an AVweb Insider blog a month ago, we observed how the FAA got rapid and intense pushback on its proposal to require sleep apnea diagnosis for pilots with BMIs of 40 or higher. In this guest blog, the NTSB’s Mark Rosekind explains that the agency has given this topic more than a passing glance. […]

Read More »

Short Final

One day when I was working the south arrival sector at Denver TRACON, traffic was getting backed up, and I had to start issuing speed reductions to the arrivals on initial contact. One United pilot took exception to being slowed so far from the airport and asked:“Approach, just how far out do you show us, […]

Read More »

Video: Cub Theatre — The-Not-That-Impossible Turn

In this week’s Cub Theatre installment, AVweb’s Paul Bertorelli provides a video examination of the runway turnback or the so-called “impossible turn.” Well, it’s not impossible at all, although it’s not necessarily easy. If you want to try it, you’ll need to practice it first. And think about making the turnback decision before you take […]

Read More »

Winds May Be Factor In Aspen Crash (Corrected)

The pilot of a Challenger 600 that crashed in Aspen, Colo., on early Sunday afternoon aborted his first landing attempt due to a severe tailwind according to air traffic control exchanges obtained from LiveATC.net. The pilot managed to go missed but the aircraft crashed on the runway on the second attempt, killing at least one […]

Read More »

Airplanes Hit The Road In New York, West Virginia

A Piper Cherokee and Cirrus SR-22 both ended their flights on public roads on Saturday and both had a happy result. By far the most high-profile off-airport landing was that of Michael Schwartz’s Piper Cherokee, which encountered some kind of problem over the Bronx after a sightseeing flight around the Statue of Liberty and was […]

Read More »
Sign-up for newsletters & special offers!

Get the latest stories & special offers delivered directly to your inbox

SUBSCRIBE