News

The Department of Transportations Office of Inspector General says the FAA needs to significantly step up oversight of contracted repair facilities used by airlines for everything from minor adjustments to major repairs. The OIG report to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committees aviation subcommittee, delivered by DOT Inspector General Calvin Scovell, says the FAA doesnt […]

Lux Aviation Engineering‘s announcement at the Aircraft Electronics Association show of its research into lithium polymer for use in aircraft batteries (yes, they’re aware that lithium can burn) could one day vastly improve cranking power and add the benefit of significant weight savings. The company says it’s working with the Navy and has shared thoughts […]

To make an even bigger splash at the Aircraft Electronics Association convention, Garmin adapted a James Bond movie to announce its new products. Garmin touted the GMX-200 multifunction display’s 6.5-inch screen and faster processor, offering increased resolution and compatibility with the GDL 69 XM receiver to feed XM satellite weather to the MFD’s moving map. […]

At the Aircraft Electronics Association show, Avidyne introduced software release 3.0, a $345 upgrade for EX500 multifunction displays that expands the range of XM WX Satellite Weather data displayed and simplifies database updates with USB memory stick support. “EX500 MFDs now can display XM WX Storm Tracks, Hail Alerts, TAFs, Winds Aloft and Freezing Levels,” […]

FAA Administrator Marion Blakey’s comments at the Aircraft Electronics Association show was full court press for a user-fee-based and fuel-tax-enriched FAA funding system. Her words seemed particularly stark following AEA past president Monte Mitchell’s closing reminder to “take time to compliment a coworker, or give thanks to your friends — these are the things you […]

The Aircraft Electronics Association can put on an impressive show. It held its 50th annual convention in Reno late last week, and the trend in new products at this year’s show revolved around satellite phone service, increased data and voice transfer capabilities, onboard broadband, WAAS supportive/compatible products and retrofits of new black boxes and/or glass […]

On Saturday, Eclipse Aviation delivered three Eclipse 500s to DayJet– the planned per-seat, on-demand air-taxi operator — at themanufacturer’s headquarters in Albuquerque, N.M. According to Eclipsespokesman Andrew Broom, these three very light jets do not yet havethe required backup air data/attitude and heading reference system(ADAHRS) display needed for Part 135 operations, but the airplaneswill allow […]

Embraer, which is currently developing two new light jets, the Phenom100 and 300, is also reportedly working on two more new models,which would each seat 8 to 11 passengers. If the two projects get thegreen light, expect to hear details this September at the annualconvention of the National Business Aviation Association, set forAtlanta, Ga., in […]

The U.S. House Transportation Committee held a hearing on Wednesdayon the status of the Airport Improvement Program. The long-standingprogram delivers a minimum of $150,000 per year to every generalaviation airport. The FAA wants to eliminate that guarantee. Busierairports would get $400,000 every year, airports with 10 to 49aircraft based there would get $100,000, and airports […]