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.

NTSB Prelim On South Bend Premier Crash

The preliminary report of the NTSB into the crash of a Beech Premier bizjet into three houses in South Bend, Ind., last month raises at least as many questions as it answers. According to the report (PDF), witnesses told investigators they saw the airplane “bounce several times on the runway before it ultimately entered a […]

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FAA Delays Tower Closures

Citing safety and logistical concerns, the FAA Friday announced it will delay until June 15 closure of 149 federal contract air traffic control towers. The FAA previously decided to begin tower closures on April 7, and to carry them out over a four-week period. According to transportation secretary Ray LaHood, “We will use this additional […]

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Aerobatic “Snap” LSA, Now From Tecnam

Tecnam produces aircraft ranging from light sport to certified twins, is responsible for more than 3,500 aircraft in the world, today, and has now added a single-seat aerobatic low-wing LSA, the Snap, to its offerings. Snap was previously available from Dallair, which has experience building sub-assemblies for Tecnam. And the Snap’s designer, Fabio Russo, is […]

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FAA/AOPA Committee Pushes AOA

A report on approach and landing loss-of-control accidents has emerged from a work group co-chaired by the FAA and AOPA, recommending that GA “embrace to the fullest extent” angle-of-attack (AOA) systems and work to improve pilot decision making. Theworkgroup advises the General Aviation Joint Steering Committee. Its focus was derived from an FAA overview that […]

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FAA Offers Advice For Switch To Tower-Free Ops

On Tuesday, the FAA issued a safety notice noting that since 149 contract towers will close starting this Sunday, April 7, it is important for pilots “to increase our awareness of proper operating practices and procedures at airports without an operating control tower.”The FAA suggested that pilots should always check Notams prior to flight, communicate, […]

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NTSB Schedules 787 Hearing

The NTSB said on Tuesday it will hold a two-day investigative hearing on April 23-24 in Washington, D.C., to focus on the Jan. 7 battery fire aboard a Boeing 787 at Boston’s Logan Airport. The hearing will focus on issues relating to the design, testing and certification of the battery system, the board said. Meanwhile, […]

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More Lawsuits Over Tower Closures

Last week, the city of Spokane, Wash., went to court to try to prevent the FAA’s shutdown of an airport tower, and this week other cities are trying the same tactic. Lawsuits now have been filed by city officials in Bloomington, Ill., and the operators of three airports in Florida — Naples, Ormond Beach, and […]

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Alaska Integrates GPS In Search And Rescue

A test program in Alaska to integrate the consumer tracking devices Spot and Spidertracks with FAA search-and-rescue has been successful, officials said last week. The Enhanced Special Reporting Service was tested for two years and now has been made an official option for all pilots flying VFR in Alaska. The technology could be a lifesaver […]

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FBO of the Week: Air Care Aviation (W03, Wilson, NC)

Nominate an FBO |Rules |Tips |Questions |Winning FBOs AVweb‘s “FBO of the Week” ribbon goes to Air Care Aviation at Wilson Industrial Air Center (W03) in Wilson, North Carolina. AVweb reader Ron Horton had a great experience there, as did several attending a recent event: Flew into W03 (Wilson, NC) along with two other planes […]

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Pilot Falls Out Of Airplane

Authorities have found the body of a pilot who fell out of a Zenith 601 aircraft at about 2,500 feet over East Brainerd, Tenn., just east of Chattanooga on Friday. The man was not identified but the latest reports suggest he was an experienced pilot who had recently purchased the aircraft and was being trained […]

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