News

Dick Rutan has piloted many challenging flights, including going around the world nonstop in his brother’s Voyager aircraft, but this Tuesday he had a close call while flying one of the simplest airplanes around — a Cessna 150. “It was sudden, catastrophic and inexplicable,” Rutan told The Associated Press. A cylinder blew, and “the engine […]

U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters announced on Wednesday that she will appoint an aviation “czar” to coordinate regional airspace issues and address the problems of congestion and delays in New York’s busy airspace. The czar will serve as director of the newly created New York Integration Office. Some new measures will be put in place […]

Despite the recent decision by organizers of the Texas Fly-In (aka the Southwest Regional Fly-In) to cancel next year’s event, no other regional fly-ins are expected to fold, EAA spokesman Dick Knapinski told AVweb on Tuesday. He said that in the past, the regional fly-ins — which are individually managed events with various kinds of […]

Despite a NOTAM, a remark in the ATIS and signs in the terminal building, a few pilots – including some locals – have attempted to land at the Easton/Newman Field Airport (ESN), in Maryland, without a clearance from the new control tower, which opened Nov. 15. Airport Manager Mike Henry told AVweb that controllers monitor […]

ATG, which hopes to one day see production of its tandem-seat twin-turbofan executive Javelin jet, announced yesterday that it will halt the jet’s development. “Due to circumstances beyond ATG’s control, it is unlikely that adequate funding can be secured in a timely manner,” the company said through an e-mail Tuesday. It seems a 12-month search […]

Aviation pioneer Burt Rutan has been known to speculate that it won’t be long before flying is practically obsolete, since computers will be able to deliver a virtual-reality experience that would satisfy many of the needs that now require travel. We can all get a taste of that today, since those of us who were […]

While general aviation is a great tool for personal transportation and business, it can also open up a world of adventure. For Peter Claeys, regional director for Cirrus in China and Southeast Asia, flying a Cirrus SR22 into airports where no Cirrus has gone before is just part of his job. “My role for Cirrus […]

The National Aviation Hall of Fame has named its Class of 2008, honoring four individuals for their aviation achievements. The 2008 class of inductees includes Col. Clarence “Bud” Anderson, USAF (Ret.), veteran WWII triple ace and experimental test pilot; Herbert Kelleher, co-founder, former CEO, and Executive Chairman of Southwest Airlines; the late William A. Moffett, […]

Next week in New Zealand, the first Air Sports Live event will feature 10 different competitions, including paragliding, skydiving, helicopters and hot air ballooning, all set against a spectacular alpine backdrop. Event organizers promise “high-adrenalin viewing,” with skydivers competing in a race around pylons, helicopter pilots performing “phenomenal stunts” and dramatic high-G aerobatics. If you […]

Associated Air Center (AAC) has delivered its tenth Airbus Corporate Jet (ACJ) VIP interior — and the first U.S.-based ACJ — to a customer in Florida. The aircraft’s interior colors are “similar to the customer’s personal DC-9” and boast a spacious master bedroom and lavatory with shower. Other sleeping positions are provided by sofas in […]