News

Pilots, engineers, regulators and others with an interest in the technology and utilization of unmanned aircraft systems met in Washington this week to discuss the latest developments in the field, with regard to safety. The forum, hosted by the National Transportation Safety Board, looked at issues such as integration of the systems into the National […]

The Lindbergh Foundation announced this week that in connection with its 31st annual Lindbergh Award Celebration in May, several one-of-a-kind items will be available for on-line bidding. Kelley Welf, spokesperson for the Foundation, said the auction for 12 unique items opened on Wednesday and will close on May 15, at 4 p.m. CDT. Among the […]

When aviators around the U.S. were preparing to fly to Florida for Sun ‘n Fun a few weeks ago, concerns arose about a “use tax” that could be levied against out-of-state aircraft, as has been done to pilots who fly in Maine. This week, the Florida House of Representatives passed a new General Aviation Tax […]

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has approved the retrofit of any of Gulfstreams in-production large-cabin aircraft with its new Synthetic Vision-Primary Flight Display (SV-PFD). The approval applies to G550, G500, G450 and G350 aircraft operated from European Union countries. The system is a available as a factory option on new aircraft and will come […]

The Massachusetts House has voted to end a sales tax exemption for aircraft and parts but the State Senate is not similarly inclined. The House voted 87 to 67 against a budget amendment that would have preserved the exemption from the five percent tax that applies to almost everything else in Massachusetts. Cutting the exemption […]

The chairman of Aero Toy Store, one of the largest business aircraft dealers in the world, says the U.S. no longer calls the tune in the bizjet market. Five years ago our business was 100 percent in the U.S, Steve McMillan told the Financial Times Now it is 75 percent outside the U.S. We used […]

Embraer announced Tuesday that the prototype of its Phenom 300 light business jet flew for the first time from the companys Gaviao Peixoto plant. Three more test articles are under construction and will be used in the 1,400-hour certification test regime. The first production models are scheduled to enter service in the second quarter of […]

After a breakthrough on the major logjam that was stalling passage of the FAA reauthorization bill in the Senate last week, it seems like members on both sides of the aisle are now anxious to chip in their changes. While it doesnt seem likely that any type of user fee amendment is waiting in the […]

The days of flying in quiet, emissions-free aircraft are closer now, following EAA’s announcement that it has filed a request to the FAA for regulatory exemptions that would allow the use of electric motors in ultralight and light-sport aircraft. “This is only a first step,” said engineer and EAA member Craig Willan, who made the […]

Management at the Dallas-Fort Worth Tracon investigated operational errors and deviations, but routinely and intentionally misclassified them as pilot errors or non-events, the FAA said late last week. That conclusion was reached after an investigation by the Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General. The OIG report, prompted by whistleblower allegations, found that between November […]