News

Ballistic Recovery Systems (BRS) has completed a series of successful development tests of the Next Generation Parachute System, which could operate on aircraft weighing as much as 5,000 pounds, BRS spokesman John Gilmore told AVweb on Wednesday. The system would work on aircraft such as the Diamond D-Jet, which is expected to have a BRS […]

If your travels will take you anytime soon into the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, the NTSB wants you to keep an eye open for stray GE CF34 engine pieces. On Jan. 25, an America West Express Bombardier regional jet en route from Denver to Phoenix was climbing through 24,000 feet when it experienced an uncontained […]

Oceanside Municipal Airport in California must stay open indefinitely, the FAA has told the city. A recent economic study by the city proposed several alternate land uses in 15 to 20 years’ time. “The obligation to keep the airport open as an airport does not expire,” officials at the FAA’s Los Angeles District Office wrote. […]

A team of researchers in the United Kingdom and India won an award last week for their work on new alloys that can change shape or position at a particular temperature. The team hopes these materials could take the place of mechanical moving parts in aircraft, leading to reduced engine weight and increased energy efficiency. […]

Thielert Aircraft Engines of Germany on Wednesday announced that its new diesel engine, Centurion 2.0, is ready to hit the market. The engine evolved from the Centurion 1.7, which is sold in the U.S. in Diamond Aircraft’s twin-engine DA42 and in a version of the DA40 single. According to Thielert, the new engine will replace […]

AOPA President Phil Boyer makes no bones about it: “There is no bigger issue facing general aviation today — our future is hostage to the FAA funding decision. If we choose user fees or radical new taxes, America’s unique personal aircraft transportation system will die.” In case it’s not quite so clear just how this […]

The U.S. Navy published a request for proposals this week with the objective to develop a radar sensor compatible with small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) that would allow them to operate safely and reliably in civilian airspace. The Navy noted that UAV flights currently are “severely restricted” because of concerns they could collide with other […]

If it’s OK for pilots to work until age 65, then why must air traffic controllers retire at 56? “Because that’s the law of the land,” FAA Administrator Marion Blakey said during a Q&A session after a speech she gave on Tuesday announcing that the age limit for airline pilots would be upped from 60 […]

Gulfstream Aerospace last week said it is acquiring WECO Aerospace Systems Inc., a privately held aviation-component overhaul company specializing in electrical, electronic accessories and flight instrument services. The business will retain the WECO name and become part of Gulfstreams Product Support business operations. The purchase is expected to close by the end of the first […]

Bombardier earlier this month named Mather Aviation of Sacramento, Calif., as its newest authorized maintenance facility for Bombardier Learjet aircraft, expanding the company’s service and support network to 43 authorized facilities worldwide. In turn, Mather Aviation is the second facility appointed in California in the past 12 months, following Landmark Aviation in February 2006. It […]