News

The FBI says it’s perfectly normal for agents to call air traffic control towers and ask that aircraft be diverted for safety reasons. Whether or not they’re towing banners over a major golf tournament mocking its marquee player is irrelevant, the Bureau claims. It was confirmed on Friday that the FBI agent made the call […]

Space scientists say that solar storms are on the rise and do cause problems for satellite-dependent systems like GPS and ADS-B. So, if you’re wondering if there’s anything to worry about, the short answer is, “yes,” but there are caveats. Scientists at NASA’s heliophysics division and NOAA’s space weather prediction center told AVweb the storms […]

The Commemorative Air Force’s (CAF) B-29, dubbed FIFI, is scheduled to take flight later this month, retaking its crown as “the world’s only flyable B-29” after four years on the ground, CAF announced Friday. The flight is planned for 8 a.m., Tuesday, June 29, 2010, out of the CAF Airpower Museum, at Midland International Airport, […]

A Transportation Department Inspector General (IG) report dated June 18 found “serious security lapses” in systems that the FAA uses to store pilots’ personal information, including medical data. Information collected from roughly 465,000 current medical certifications is just the tip of the iceberg. The IG says the FAA’s Internet-accessible Medical Support System (MSS) holds records […]

Sportair USA has announced itself as the U.S. importer and distributor of a new LSA, the iCub, which it touts as a “classic taildragger” that starts under $100,000 and includes a “panel mounted iPad aviation information center.” The iPad comes loaded with software that includes the WingXpro7 GPS-enabled terrain-aware moving map, ForeFlight Mobile HD and […]

The FAA Wednesday approved use of an unmanned Predator B aircraft out of Corpus Christi to patrol the U.S. border with Mexico along the 1,200 miles between El Paso and Brownsville, Texas. Flights could begin as early as Sept. 1. The flights add to Texas’ aerial drone coverage approved in May that began June 1, […]

In 2009, CLEAR, a service that once allowed members fast access through security checkpoints at certain airports, closed without notice (but with its clients’ payments); now, new owners are mounting a comeback. The company once provided security screening that expedited transit for its roughly 200,000 patrons by providing them with special kiosks at about 20 […]

EAA AirVenture 2010 is just over a month away, so if you’re going, now is a good time to be making plans, especially since early-bird discounts on advance tickets expire June 30. This year’s big event has plenty of new features, a salute to veterans with lots of rare warbirds, plus of course the usual […]

The Federal Communications Commission took the general aviation world by surprise when it said in a recent report it will prohibit the sale or use of 121.5 MHz emergency locator transmitters and require the use of 406 MHz units, a rule that could take effect as soon as August. Most of the 220,000 or so […]

Terrafugia Inc. has been granted an exemption from the FAA (PDF) that allows the company a maximum takeoff weight of 1,430 pounds for its Transition roadable aircraft, 110 pounds above the usual limit for LSAs. The extra weight will make it easier for the designers to comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards, which require […]