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And there could be a new in-flight malady to challenge deep vein thrombosis as a reason not to fly. A former Australian airline pilot claims she was made chronically ill (and not fit for the cockpit) by aerotoxic syndrome. Former British Aerospace 146 first officer Susan Michaels told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that she would […]

But while science looks at making our synapses snappier, Australia’s Civil Air Safety Authority (CASA) is examining the more basic imperative of trying to prevent pilots from dropping dead or becoming otherwise incapacitated at the controls. CASA has determined that the pilot of a Piper Aztec probably had a heart attack before the plane crashed […]

Pills, Pilots And Public Perception Against a backdrop of moral, ethical and even job-security considerations, scientists continue to probe ways to make our brains work better. And, according to one researcher, the day is not long off when a pilot popping a pill before flight will be “as ordinary as a cup of coffee” added […]

The FAA last week issued the first certification of an ultralight trainer (a Maxair Drifter) as an experimental light-sport aircraft (E-LSA), and also awarded the first weight-shift (trike) ratings, EAA has reported. The events took place in Sebring, Fla., where the staff of the FAA’s Light-Sport Aviation Branch had arrived from Oklahoma City to prepare […]

Test Prep And Study Aids The FAA’s Sport Pilot knowledge-test question bank has been posted for about two months, and now test-prep guides are reaching the market to help prospective pilots ace the exam. ASA is ready with its Sport Pilot Test Prep, in software format or book form, with all the FAA questions, answers […]

In the world of big airplanes — and we mean realllly big — tomorrow in France, Airbus will roll out with great fanfare (5,000 guests are expected) its brand-new A380, the world’s biggest airliner, with capacity for 550 to 1,000 passengers. The superjumbo so far has cost $12 billion to develop. Airbus has orders for […]

“But what the general aviation needs most is this: It must be cheaper!” So says the English version of the German Web site of High Performance Aircraft (HPA), which is working on a shaft-driven twin-prop five-seat business aircraft. The TT62 Alekto ran its first taxi test last month — you can watch it online. The […]

Prototype Still In The Works Aviation Technology Group (ATG) –owner of the hottest looking mock-up in town — says it expects to roll out and fly its two-seat, twin-engine Javelin Jet prototype in the first quarter of this year. “Not long after, we will host an event where the Javelin will break records in the […]

Once the airplanes reached Meulaboh, a helicopter there scouted out the area and found portions of roadway where the airplanes could land. “There’s a road along the coast, but probably 90 percent of the bridges are out. So, since the roads aren’t usable, that means we can use the road for runways,” Fulton said. There […]

It took some time to get the aircraft into position. “Indonesia is a big country. We flew the Caravan from its base, where there was no tsunami damage, to Medan, in Sumatra, which was about 3,000 miles. So it’s like flying from New York to L.A,” Fulton said. The 206 also had to fly about […]