News

Pilots who haven’t turned 40 yet now have five years between medicals and the new term is retroactive in many ways. As of July 24, a third class medical for someone who hasn’t reached his or her 40th birthday lasts five years, instead of three years, and a first class medical is valid for a […]

There may be a few new grey hairs on some passengers but the apparent explosive decompression of a Qantas Boeing 747 over the Pacific on Friday resulted in no injuries and , other than the six-foot hole in the baggage compartment of the aircraft, near the right wing root, no serious damage. Flight QF-30 from […]

Work-study visas that allow foreign flight students to train and work in the U.S. will no longer be granted, effective June 2010, according to a new policy issued by the U.S. State Department. The current J-1 visa program allows foreign students to train in the U.S. and work as flight instructors to build flying time. […]

The General Aviation Technology Challenge, hosted by the CAFE Foundation and funded by NASA, has announced the five teams that will take part in this year’s event, coming up Aug. 5 to 9 in Santa Rosa, Calif. The competition aims to promote the development of “green” and efficient GA aircraft. CAFE will award $300,000 in […]

“It was a great adventure,” said Thierry Pouille, president of Air Journey, this week, after his small group of GA pilots completed the company’s first-ever 10-week-long, 25,000-mile trip around the world. “We’re all back — and we’re doing it again!” Pouille said the company will definitely offer the tour a second time in 2009. The […]

Thieves were apparently in search of scrap metal when they made off with two irreplaceable vintage aircraft wings from a storage yard used by the Wingspan Aviation Heritage Foundation in Mesa, Ariz. When the theft was discovered, about a week ago, foundation director Robert Kropp went to the media in hopes of uncovering information about […]

When the first Lancair Evolution showed up at Sun ‘n Fun earlier this year, still in its plain white undercoat, the design attracted plenty of attention. Pressurized and turbo-powered, the four-seat kit aircraft promised high performance, with 385-mph speed. Now prospective buyers will be able to find out for themselves how it performs. The company […]

Vandals spray painted, slashed tires and smashed instruments on and otherwise tampered with at least 11 aircraft, including a Citation 550, in a spree that caused hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of damage at Monmouth Executive Airport, near Belmar, N.J. last week. It’s speculated that the vandals used a vehicle to tear the tail […]

It’s been a long time since Cessna built any gas-burning twins but there are plenty still in service and now they can have panels that rival the latest offerings. Avidyne and Southern Star Avionics, of Mobile, Ala., have added Cessna 320, 335 and 340 piston twins to their approved model list for the Envision Integrated […]

So far, most of the emphasis on biofuels and synthetic jet fuels has been on the heavy hitters, airlines and military. Pratt and Whitney Canada, whose engines power a big percentage of the small jets and turboprops in service, is evaluating the use of “second generation” biofuels that don’t compete with food production. The most […]