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A First Look at the JavelinClick for Larger Images In Olympia, Wash., on Tuesday, Aviation Technology Group (ATG) for the first time opened the hangar doors to show the press the prototype-in-progress of its two-seat Javelin Jet. “The wings are on, and the engines are in,” ATG spokeswoman Sara Newton told AVweb yesterday. “The landing […]

According to a story posted by the University Presbyterian Church of Seattle, Wash., the Kodiak was originally designed as a missionary aircraft, and more than $7 million has been raised to help produce it. Stone said that the aircraft is “of interest to the mission field,” but has also attracted interest from many backcountry operators […]

Turboprop And STOL… Quest Aircraft, of Sandpoint, Idaho, is unveiling its new single-engine, turboprop, 10-place utility aircraft this week. The new airplane, called the Kodiak, will feature Pratt & Whitney’s PT6 turbine engine, landing gear designed for unimproved airstrips, 19-inch propeller ground clearance, 29-inch main tires, and short-take-off-and-landing (STOL) performance that beats any aircraft currently […]

FAA spokesman Tony Molinaro said additional supervisors are needed to help rejigger shift schedules and staff deployment at the TRACON. He said the investigators found instances where there were relatively few controllers on position during very busy times and more on position during relatively slow periods (recall the recent letter sent to AVweb regarding the […]

Report Says Facility Safe, Adequately Staffed… The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) says the FAA is “stretching the margins of safety” at Chicago-area airports by implementing a controversial report on operations at the Chicago Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON). Last January, the agency sent in an investigative team in response to a major spike […]

That’s not to say the success of space tourism is assured. From the start, the FAA has emphasized that its primary responsibility when it comes to regulating private spaceflight is to protect “the uninvolved public” on the ground and in the air. Although Rutan’s system seems simple and stable enough to assure safety, the scary […]

The Race For Space Continues… With the X Prize in the bag, the question is, what happens next? Still to come is the official handing-over of that $10 million check, scheduled for Nov. 6 at the St. Louis Science Center. Burt Rutan told the media that he plans to use some of that cash to […]

While all that gear should theoretically be able to keep most pilots out of the weeds, terrain isn’t the only thing that can ruin your day. The FAA has just wrapped up tests on a portable radar unit that can track flocks of birds around airports. The radar has a three-mile range and is designed […]

Multi-Layered System Evaluated… NASA has announced it has run some tests on a synthetic vision system that appears to add a few wrinkles to the certified system already available from Chelton and the numerous experimental systems on the market. Using a Gulfstream GV as a test platform (a rigorous test environment if ever there was […]

Friends of Meigs spokesman Steve Whitney said the proposed FAA sanctions support the notion that the terrorism excuse was a sham. “This proves we’ve been correct from the start,” said Whitney. “The city closed Meigs illegally and under false pretenses. They should apologize and make amends.” Whitney gave credit to AOPA for bringing about the […]