News

The preliminary report of the NTSB into the crash of a Beech Premier bizjet into three houses in South Bend, Ind., last month raises at least as many questions as it answers. According to the report (PDF), witnesses told investigators they saw the airplane “bounce several times on the runway before it ultimately entered a […]

MyGoFlight, which sells cases, mounts, bags and other accessories for iPads, is offering a “Mastering the iPad” seminar at Sun ‘n Fun 2013. The company says the seminars will help pilots choose the best apps for their needs and identify strategies for optimizing use of the tablets in both preflight and in-flight scenarios. Specific topics […]

Citing safety and logistical concerns, the FAA Friday announced it will delay until June 15 closure of 149 federal contract air traffic control towers. The FAA previously decided to begin tower closures on April 7, and to carry them out over a four-week period. According to transportation secretary Ray LaHood, “We will use this additional […]

Garmin has added new features to its Garmin Pilot app, enabling track-up,faster rendering, SafeTaxi, cloud-based information storage and chart annotations, the company announced Thursday. Garmin says the new feature set includes customization, with adjustable label sizes, visibility range, and map color, and pilots can now also annotate charts. Subscribers to Garmin’s SafeTaxi will see airport […]

The existence of a Pilatus jet project has been discussed in the European press since at least 2011 and Pilatus has confirmed its plans to show a mockup of its twinjet design, the PC-24, at EBACE, Geneva, this May. Earlier reports had forecast that deliveries of the new jet would reach customers by 2015 for […]

Tecnam produces aircraft ranging from light sport to certified twins, is responsible for more than 3,500 aircraft in the world, today, and has now added a single-seat aerobatic low-wing LSA, the Snap, to its offerings. Snap was previously available from Dallair, which has experience building sub-assemblies for Tecnam. And the Snap’s designer, Fabio Russo, is […]

A report on approach and landing loss-of-control accidents has emerged from a work group co-chaired by the FAA and AOPA, recommending that GA “embrace to the fullest extent” angle-of-attack (AOA) systems and work to improve pilot decision making. Theworkgroup advises the General Aviation Joint Steering Committee. Its focus was derived from an FAA overview that […]

On Tuesday, the FAA issued a safety notice noting that since 149 contract towers will close starting this Sunday, April 7, it is important for pilots “to increase our awareness of proper operating practices and procedures at airports without an operating control tower.”The FAA suggested that pilots should always check Notams prior to flight, communicate, […]

Embraer has delivered the first Phenom 300 assembled in the U.S. to an undisclosed customer. The aircraft was put together at Embraer’s plant in Melbourne, Fla., and will be used in the U.S. “This is a major milestone for Embraer Executive Jets and proves the maturity of our assembly facilities,”‘ said Phil Krull, who runs […]

There were more business jet accidents in 2012 than the previous year and American operators were particularly hard hit. Business Jet Investor quotes an annual study by Robert E. Breiling Associates as putting the world-wide total of business jet accidents in 2012 at 28, including seven fatal accidents. That’s up from 25 total accidents with […]