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Honda said it does not have a site yet for the new company in the U.S. but plans to be up and running by the end of this year. Where the new company will go is sure to be a subject of intense speculation. Last Friday, the rumor mill was already churning, as The Montreal […]

In addition, Honda said Thursday that it has established the Wako Nishi R&D Center in Japan, dedicated to the research and development of aviation engines. Honda said it will accelerate research and development efforts at the new center, in anticipation of mass production of the HF118 engine. The new center will also take over the […]

Meet Honda Aero… Honda Motor Co. announced on Thursday that it has established a new U.S. subsidiary, Honda Aero Inc., to focus on the aviation engine business. Early this year, a Japanese newspaper reported that Honda and Teledyne Continental Motors were close to a deal to produce piston engines for light aircraft, and all eyes […]

On Friday, the federal Office of Management and Budget signed off on the Sport Pilot/Light Sport Aircraft proposed rule, sending it off to the FAA for its final prep before publication in the Federal Register, expected later this week. The OMB approval was the final hurdle for the rule, more than 10 years in the […]

Although this rule was posted as a Final Rule this week and there was no public-comment period, it was disseminated to various industry groups who were given a chance to respond to the FAA before it was published. And, according to AOPA, that process made all the difference for airplane owners. “The FAA originally proposed […]

Loose Screw Could Cause Loss Of Control… The FAA this week issued a straight-to-final-rule Airworthiness Directive (AD) that requires the control-wheel columns in many late-model New Piper aircraft to be inspected, and in many cases, modified with a retainer clip and thread-locking compound to prevent the control wheel from … wait for it … detaching. […]

Owners would have to install a spar repair kit. But that brings with it a whole other set of problems, AOPA said. Installation of the kit is a delicate matter; done improperly, it may weaken the structure rather than reinforcing it. And there is a question whether Raytheon can produce enough kits to quickly repair […]

Two experienced aerospace structures engineers have been contracted to determine what causes the cracks in the carry-through structure, bulkhead flanges, and fuselage skins, AOPA said yesterday. And data are being collected to determine what are the real safety issues and if the “cure” is worse than the problem.The issue directly concerns all owners of Bonanzas, […]

Issue Could Affect All Aging Aircraft, AOPA Says… At the FAA’s instigation, Raytheon Aircraft Corporation recently issued mandatory service bulletins requiring inspection for and repair of any crack in the spar assemblies of Beechcraft Bonanzas and Barons. And while Part 91 operators don’t have to comply with the service bulletins right now, if the FAA […]

SAI is actively working to start production of the two-place Symphony 160, dealing with vendors and suppliers, and hiring manufacturing staff, the company said in a news release Tuesday. Development work has begun again on the Symphony 135D, a two-place 135-hp diesel, and the four-place Symphony 250. According to Costanzo, the 135D should be certified […]