News

United Airlines pilots Tuesday released a 105-page report that blames lapses in flight safety on new procedures and poor training, according to The Associated Press. The report came from the pilots’ union, the Air Line Pilots Association. The union is currently working through contract negotiations with United. In September, the union sought a judge’s ruling […]

An FAA official expressed concern at a recent industry meeting that light sport aircraft manufacturers need to do a better job of documenting their compliance with ASTM standards, EAA said last week. Earl Lawrence, the manager of the FAA Small Airplane Directorate, said it’s important to get these basic tasks done right if the category […]

American Eagle has been fined $900,000 for holding passengers on the ramp for more than three hours, the Department of Transportation said on Monday. This is the first time a fine has been assessed since the “tarmac-delay rule” went into effect in April 2010. American Eagle, a regional carrier affiliated with American Airlines, kept 608 […]

Depressing financial results from India’s second largest airline Tuesday intensified debate about the future of the industry and the level of government involvement. Kingfisher Airlines, owned by liquor mogul Vijay Mallya, who flirted briefly with financing Epic Aircraft in 2007, is drowning in high-interest debt and losing money and Mallya says the answer is to […]

Eclipse Aerospace took commitments for five Total Eclipse light jets at the Dubai Air Show as the UAE certified the finished version of the Eclipse 500. Eclipse announced it would start taking orders for the updated version of the Eclipse 500 at NBAA in October and said resumption of production (subassemblies in Poland, final assembly […]

The FAA wants to expand an airworthiness directive that affects the Cessna 172 fleet to include another 768 airplanes. A proposed AD published on Monday directs operators to inspect the fuel return line assembly for chafing and clearance, and if necessary to replace and adjust the line. The AD aims to prevent leaks that could […]

The CEO of Diamond Aircraft’s Canadian operations in London, Ontario, says the takeover of the company is good news for the workers and will ensure the D-JET gets to market. It was announced Monday that a majority interest in Diamond was acquired by Medrar Financial Group, of Dubai, for an undisclosed sum. In an interview […]

The 12th biennial Dubai Airshow is open this week, and it’s the biggest ever for the venue, with about 1,000 exhibitors, 12 percent more than in 2009. Among the new designs that are getting attention are the United 40, a prototype UAV from Adcom with a sleek S-shaped fuselage and a tandem wing. “We like […]

Diamond Aircraft, based in Ontario, Canada, has sold a majority interest to Medrar Financial Group, a Dubai-based investment firm, the company announced Monday at the Dubai Airshow. Medrar will provide financing not only for the company’s line of piston aircraft, but also for continued development of the single-engine D-Jet, according to Diamond’s news release. Medrar […]

The days of inexpensive navigation and chart apps for your mobile devices appear to be numbered with the FAA’s announcement that it will begin charging for downloads that were previously free starting April 5, 2012. A story in the December issue of our sister publication Aviation Consumer says the Aeronautical Navigational Products Directorate (Aeronav), which […]