News

A helicopter dropped a rope into Trikala prison’s courtyard, near Athens, Sunday, in an apparent attempt to free convicted murderer Panagiotis Vlastos, but the event ended with no escape, a helicopter riddled with bullets, and Vlastos being shot in the legs. Some 500 shots were reportedly fired during the escape attempt as guards exchanged gunfire […]

Embraer’s A-29 Super Tucano turboprop single has been selected by the U.S. Air Force for its Light Air Support program, Embraer announced Wednesday, reinforcing the selection that had been made once already, prior to objections from Hawker Beechcraft, the predecessor of the new Beechcraft Corporation. Hawker Beech had proposed its AT-6B single-engine turboprop for the […]

Barrington Irving, who in 2007 became the youngest person and the first black pilot to fly solo around the world, now has a new project — planning another round-the-world trip, this time to all seven continents, flying a Hawker 400XP. The flying classroom project aims to inspire kids to study science, technology, engineering, math, geography, […]

The second annual Icarus Cup will be held in Northampton, Great Britain, July 19-28, and for the first time, the competition will be officially sanctioned by the Federation Aeronautique International. Teams will compete in a variety of trials, including a 200-meter sprint, a slalom course, landing accuracy, duration of flight, and takeoff performance. Organizers hope […]

After six months of study, a group of representatives from 16 general aviation organizations has submitted a list of proposed revisions to guidelines for GA airports that were published in 2004 by the TSA. The aim of the review, said Doug Carr of the National Business Aviation Association, was “to ensure that the interests and […]

A story in last week’s AVwebBiz incorrectly stated the impact of the FAA’s proposed rule on contract maintenance. According to Richard Mills of the Regional Air Cargo Carriers Association, the effect on his members is greater than stated in the story. “The article states: ‘The new rule only applies to air carriers who operate aircraft […]

A Tulsa pilot’s ham-handed attempt to cover his tracks has cost him his helicopter and earned him a two-year ban on flying or even owning an aircraft. William Stokely agreed to a plea deal with federal authorities last week to surrender his Robinson R44 and accept the flight ban after admitting he tried to outwit […]

HAI Heli-Expo starts next week in Las Vegas and since the fling wing market is weathering the downturn better than most other sectors there should be some major announcements at the show. Among the new products that will be on display is the Eurocopter EC175 that is on its first North American tour. There will […]

Engineers at General Electric have achieved the highest combination of temperatures ever recorded inside the core of a jet engine, the company said on Tuesday. The higher temperatures, up to 2400 degrees Fahrenheit, could lead to the development of jet engines that exceed today’s fuel efficiency by 25 percent. The company said it plans to […]

Nineteen tourists flying above the temples and tombs near Egypt’s Nile River in a hot-air balloon were killed on Tuesday when the aircraft caught fire, according to the Associated Press. The passengers were from Europe, Hong Kong, and Japan. The pilot and several others survived and are being treated for burns. Tourist flights are popular […]