News

The search is still underway in Indonesia for a missing DHC-6 Twin Otter operated by Aviastar, a domestic airline. There were unverified reports Sunday that wreckage had been spotted. There were three crew members and 10 passengers on board, according to the Jakarta Post. The aircraft departed from the Andi Djemma Airport in Masamba at […]

Doc’s Friends launched this week a 30-day Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign to raise money for completing the restoration of the B-29 Superfortress “Doc.” The aircraft, which is nearing certification and began its engine testing earlier this month, is awaiting an FAA airworthiness certificate. Doc’s Friends hope to have the B-29 take a first flight by the […]

As many as a million new toy drones could be given as Christmas gifts this year, an FAA official said at an Airlines for America event in Washington, D.C., on Monday. Rich Swayze, an assistant administrator for policy, said he heard the one-million figure from “several sources” that are studying the impact of drones. Swayze […]

The U.S. Senate passed a bill late on Tuesday, one day before funding was due to run out, that will extend current levels of funding for the FAA through the end of next March. The House already passed a similar measure on Monday. The bill now goes to President Obama, who is expected to sign […]

Aerocet has received a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for carbon composite amphibious floats for the Quest Kodiak 100 bush plane. The 6650 floats are leak-proof and all but impervious to salt and contaminated water. “We are very proud of the product our team worked hard to build and excited to watch the floats, combined to […]

The FAA has signed new agreements with EASA and Transport Canada that will make it easier for TSO-approved changes to aircraft to be accepted by the FAA. “The agreements will eliminate duplicate processes, get safety-enhancing equipment installed on aircraft more quickly, and save time and money for both industry and the regulatory authorities involved,” the […]

XTI Aircraft, a startup company that aims to develop a new certified six-seat aircraft capable of vertical takeoff and landing, said this week it has attracted $10 million in “reserve shares” through its “test the waters” crowdfunding campaign. The “nonbinding indications of interest” were collected via startengine.com, which enables startups “to gauge interest in a […]

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a funding bill on Monday that aims to extend current levels of funding for the FAA through the end of next March. Currently, the FAA’s funding is set to expire on Wednesday night. The bill now goes to the Senate, where it’s expected to be voted on before the […]

LightHawk, a nonprofit group that promotes the use of airplanes for conservation, has named Terri Watson as its new executive director. Watson had been a volunteer pilot for the group, starting in 1997, and previously served on the board. She also was executive director from 2000 to 2003. Watson was working for a nonprofit parks […]

The first flight of the KC-46 next-generation tanker took place on Friday and, as expected for a mature design like the Boeing 767, it did fine on its four-hour shakedown. Now that Boeing has shown the airplane can fly, it’s getting ready for the so-called “Milestone C” testing that will show whether the plane can […]