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Despite two years of planning, when balloon pilot Jonathan Trappe approached the rugged coast of Newfoundland 12 hours after launching his cluster-balloon system from Caribou, Maine, last Thursday, he said it was clear that he had no choice but to land — his weather forecast promised a landfall in Europe in less than 100 hours, […]

The FAA has committed $40 million to support research into alternative jet fuels and new aircraft technology at 14 universities around the country, from Boston to Honolulu, the agency announced on Friday. Research and development efforts will focus on NextGen environmental goals for noise, air quality and fuel savings. FAA Administrator Michael Huerta said the […]

Cessna unveiled a twin-engine military interceptor/utility jet that CEO Scott Ernest told his local Rotary Club will diversify the company’s product line and provide a relatively inexpensive alternative to traditional fighter aircraft in some roles. The Scorpion was built in secret over the last 18 months by Cessna engineers at a facility in Wichita. It […]

The FAA on Wednesday issued an Airworthiness Directive that requires airlines to inspect Honeywell ELTs by January 14, “to prevent an electrical short and possible ignition source.” The AD is “identical” to one issued last month by Transport Canada, the FAA said. Canada issued the order in response to the fire on board a Boeing […]

U.S. pilot David Riggs is missing and his Chinese translator is dead after the Lancair that Riggs was flying crashed into a lake in China about 1 p.m. on Tuesday, according to The Associated Press. Rescuers are still looking for Riggs. According to Riggs’ website, he has set a speed record in a Lancair IVP […]

On Friday, Swift Fuels hosted an unveiling in West Lafayette, Ind., for two new fuel facilities — a pilot plant and a fuel-blending site — to help produce a new aviation fuel as an alternative to 100LL. The company said it is investing $2.5 million in the two projects. “Swift Fuels’ 100SF was developed to […]

Bombardier launched its CSeries flight-test vehicle on its first flight Monday morning in Montreal. The all-new narrow-body jet is designed to carry up to 149 passengers. The airplane already has proved disruptive in the airline industry, according to analyst Michael Boyd. “That’s what caused Boeing and Airbus to redesign their airplanes,” Boyd told Reuters. “The […]

Bombardier says it’s hoping for perfect weather Monday to enable the first flight of its much-anticipated CSeries airliner. Although the company was targeting a morning flight, the weather forecast on Sunday was favoring an afternoon window. Showers and 10-knot winds were expected to end by noon when the skies were forecast to clear. The first […]

Flying around the world solo in a light single is a challenge in anyone’s books but Calle Hedberg says it’s also a great way to relax. The South African IT consultant has taken an eight-month break from work to make the westward trek that is planned to end in February back in his hometown of […]

A computer glitch at United Airlines Thursday led to a yet undisclosed number of passengers gaining access to tickets sold to them for as little as zero dollars, plus fees, and it appears the company has decided to honor those prices. At the root of the problem for United were airfares accidentally filed at $0. […]