News

The fifth annual XLTA event, held recently in Amherst, Mass., attracted the pilots of 27 lighter-than-aircraft, most of them experimental homebuilts, for a weekend of flying and fellowship. “This is not a public event, not a spectator event, but entirely participatory,” organizer Dan Nachbar told AVweb this week. “There is no pressure on the pilots […]

A total of 454 airports will be subject to the TSA’s latest Security Directive (SD-8G) restricting the movements of transient pilots, EAA said this week. The list includes airports in Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and Guam as well as in the U.S. Click here for the full list (PDF). The directive took […]

FAA inspectors have been told to immediately focus their efforts on training programs at regional airlines to ensure that they are in compliance with federal regulations, the agency said on Tuesday. “It’s clear to us in looking at the February Colgan Air crash in Buffalo that there are things we should be doing now,” said […]

James Bass, who has been CEO of Piper Aircraft since 2005, will step down on June 26, the company announced on Wednesday. “All things come to an end,” Bass said in remarks to Piper employees. “I have successfully completed my mission at Piper and am leaving the company in very capable hands. What I was […]

The FAA said this week it is working with the U.S. Air Force to find ways to allow civilian flights to regularly use airspace that is normally reserved for the military. The effort would help to relieve delays on commercial and general aviation flights when thunderstorms, traffic, or other constraints limit the number of planes […]

Using new tests that have been developed by researchers in London, 35 percent of pilot applicants who now fail color-blindness exams would pass, the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority said recently. “The CAA intends to promote this research internationally with a view to gaining acceptance of the [new] test and its incorporation in worldwide medical standards […]

A spokeswoman for the Washington headquarters of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) says the drawing of weapons in the ramp inspection of an aircraft in Long Beach, Calif., last month was justified but not “normal.” Kelly Ivahnenko also told AVweb that general aviation pilots can expect more ramp checks by CBP agents thanks to […]

The FAA and American Airlines have wrapped themselves in the eco banner in selling the benefits of the NextGen airspace system. The agency and airline are promoting the environmental benefits of the system with the announcement that the latest technology and techniques will be used for a “green” flight from Paris to Miami on Thursday. […]

Air France has accelerated its effort to replace pitot tubes on its Airbus aircraft after members of one pilots union threatened to refuse to fly the unmodified airplanes, the New York Times reported on Tuesday. The airline had said over the weekend it would replace the sensors on all Airbus A330 and A340 airplanes over […]

The NTSB this week is holding a three-day hearing on the January ditching of US Airways Flight 1549 in New York’s Hudson River. On Tuesday, the board heard Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger recall his decision-making process on that day. After considering all the possible choices, “The only option remaining in the metropolitan area that was […]