News

Previously developed quality assurance requirements covering the manufacture, documentation, and records retention programs for light sport aircraft have been merged into a new standard approved by ASTM International, the organization said Friday. The standard, released as ASTM F2972, is meant to ensure that LSA aircraft are manufactured “consistent with the design that was originally tested […]

The FAA may close more than 100 air traffic control towers and eliminate the graveyard shift in another 60 if sequestration goes ahead on March 1. It is also considering cutting maintenance and upkeep of air traffic control equipment, cutting staff in certification and inspection roles and furloughing most employees for one or two days […]

LISA Airplanes, which showed off its $350,000 amphibious Akoya LSA in July at AirVenture Oshkosh 2012, then faced financial difficulties by August, has now said it will accept a $20 million takeover bid from Chinese investors. The Bureau of Commerce in Leshan City, China, says investors from the Heima Mining Company offered $20 million for […]

NTSB member Robert Sumwalt Thursday said that a Hawker Beechcraft 390/Premier I aborted its landing at Thomson-McDuffie Regional Airport, Ga., Wednesday night, before crashing nearby, killing five of seven aboard. The flight originated at John Tune Airport, Tenn., and was carrying staff from a specialized medical clinic, the NTSB said. At about 8:30 p.m. local […]

A company called Uniloc is suing X-Plane flight simulation software creator Austin Meyer for patent infringement and Meyer claims the results of the suit — regardless of who wins — may curb his creation of new products. The suit centers around a mobile flight simulation app that Meyer created. Meyer says the threat of similar […]

A Hawker Beechcraft 390/Premier I out of Nashville crashed at Thomson-McDuffie County Airport, Ga., at about 8:30 p.m. local time, Wednesday, and first reports state that five of seven aboard were killed. One pilot and one passenger reportedly survived the crash with injuries. The airport operates one paved lighted runway that is 5,503 feet long […]

The total number of Cirrus employees has grown to about 570, with roughly 50 jobs added over the past six months and, according to the company, it is seeking more workers to reach its goals for a 2015 launch of its SF-50 Vision Jet. “We’re hiring, without question,” Cirrus spokesman Todd Simmons told sctimes.com, and […]

FAA officials and Boeing executives will meet in Washington, D.C., Friday to discuss a proposal that includes short- and long-term solutions to the Boeing 787 Dreamliner’s apparent lithium ion battery problem, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday. The Journal’s unnamed sources say proposed fixes for the grounded 787 fleet include things like enhanced checklists, the […]

A new hybrid air vehicle built by Northrop Grumman and Hybrid Air Vehicles Ltd. for the U.S. Army flew for the first time last August, but the project now has been cancelled, according to a recent report in Wired. The remotely operated airship, which is about 300 feet long, is capable of carrying up to […]

For the fourth year, Women of Aviation Week Worldwide will be held during the week of March 8, which is International Women’s Day. From March 4 to 10, aviators around the world will celebrate women who fly and invite women to learn more about aviation and go for a flight. Many airports and aviation museums […]