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.

GA Needs a Break (Please)

When we report the news, especially the news about the FAA, we do so as if observing a dense, featureless black cube at street level. Occasionally, a statement of some sort emerges from the cube which we quote and this passes for news. In other words, we dont have even a muddled picture of what […]

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Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Will Conduct Drone Research Flights

Just 18 days after being designated by the FAA as one of six federally approved test sites for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), Texas A&M-Corpus Christi will conduct several test flightsover South Texas ranchland to continue research and training on the RS-16 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The RS-16 has a wingspan of 12 feet 11 inches, […]

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Piper Names Dealer for China

Piper Aircraft announced that it has selected Hebei Yuanao Aircraft Manufacturing Co. Ltd., of Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China, as Pipers authorized dealer in China for sales of the Mirage, Archer TX and Seminole. Established in 2012, Hebei Yuanao Aircraft was the first private general aviation manufacturing company in Hebei Province. Its factory is located in […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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, […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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. […]

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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, […]

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