News

The FAA will provide four projects with grants as part of the NASA reauthorization bill and a federal effort to ensure the U.S. “remains the world leader in space development and exploration,” according to FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt. The projects will direct funding to the New Mexico Spaceport Authority for automated weather observation; the Alaska […]

A U.S. District Judge found that plaintiffs failed to show that United Airlines’ merger with Continental would create a monopoly and ruled Tuesday that the merger shouldn’t be blocked on antitrust grounds. Attorney Joseph Alioto, who filed the suit on behalf of consumers said he will appeal the ruling. United and Continental expect their merger […]

An instructor and student flying a Spartan School of Aeronautics 1980 Cessna 172RG survived an onboard fire and off-airport emergency landing in Oklahoma, Tuesday, if somewhat worse for the wear. Instructor Jade Schiewe, 28, and student Zachary Pfaff, 26, were confronted with smoke and flames coming up from the floorboard area while on a training […]

A pilot who admits that he changed weight and balance calculations and knew that a captain was not fit to fly and said nothing has pleaded guilty to federal charges in New Jersey. Francis Viera, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., worked for Platinum Jet Management, based in Florida, and said he flew charters for the company […]

Eurocopter announced this week that it has begun test flights of the X3, a technology demonstrator for its project to develop a high-speed, long-range hybrid helicopter that will combine vertical takeoff and landing capabilities with cruise speeds of more than 220 knots. The X3 is equipped with two turboshaft engines that power the five-blade main […]

American gas-balloon pilots Richard Abruzzo and Carol Rymer Davis went missing over the Adriatic Sea, between Italy and Croatia, on Wednesday morning, and as night fell rescuers had turned up no sign of them. The two pilots are competing in the annual Gordon Bennett International Gas Balloon Race, which launched from southern England on Saturday […]

The analysts are poring over the announcement Monday that Southwest Airlines is buying its smaller budget competitor AirTran and the consensus is that it’s part of the voracious growth model that sustains Southwest Airlines. However, stability in Southwest’s bottom line might be reflected by a reduction of rock-bottom fare wars that have also been a […]

The battle over the future of flight schools in California took a predictable twist last week and groups fighting new fees and regulations are regrouping for another round. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed Bill 1889, which includes provisions that would have put a moratorium on implementation of the fees and rules. The governor didn’t veto the […]

Lockheed Martin’s contract to run the automated flight service station system has been extended for three years at a price of $356 million. The company announced the agreement Tuesday. The three-year extension begins Oct. 1. Lockheed Martin took over the AFSS function in 2005 and substantially trimmed the number of flight service stations and staff. […]

Canada’s first-ever EAA fly-in drew about 15,000 visitors for the inaugural event just over a week ago, but turnout was disappointing at a light sport aircraft expo in southern Illinois last week, according to the organizers of both events. Nearly 15,000 visitors turned up for the Wings Over Gatineau/Canadian EAA Convention/Fly-in in Ontario, EAA said. […]