News

The Terrafugia Transition, the “roadable aircraft” that’s attracted considerable attention at aviation shows in the last year, flew for the first time on March 5, and its makers say they’ve changed aviation as a result. “This breakthrough changes the world of personal mobility. Travel now becomes a hassle-free integrated land-air experience. It’s what aviation enthusiasts […]

Older air traffic controllers can head off midair collisions at least as well as younger controllers, using experience to compensate for age-related declines in mental sharpness, according to a report published this month by the American Psychological Association. Controllers in the U.S. face a mandatory retirement age of 56, which the report suggests should be […]

“We think we’re probably close to the bottom” may not seem like the most optimistic words about the global economy, but the upside is that the sooner we get to the bottom, the sooner we start back up. That was the take from Roger Whyte, Cessna’s senior vice president for sales and marketing, on Monday […]

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has certified the Diamond DA42 NG, which is powered by Diamond’s own 170-horsepower Austor diesel. The certification came less than a year after Thielert, whose engines powered first generation Twin Stars, became insolvent, resulting in serious maintenance issues for DA42 owners. The EASA certification means Diamond can start delivering […]

A man convinced a pilot Thursday to take himself and his 5-year-old daughter on an aerial sightseeing tour, but forced the pilot out at gunpoint on the runway, prior to takeoff in Brazil. At that point, Kleber Barosa da Silva took control of the aircraft. Da Silva, who was being sought for his alleged rape […]

Ken Hill is an airplane repo man who in January recovered 12 aircraft from eight states and expects to recover 27 more over the course of about 40 days. With the economy as it is, homes aren’t the only subjects of foreclosure and, like homes, aircraft cost owners money whether they’re used or not and […]

David Keith Martz, 52, has appealed the revocation of his certificate, which he lost after a video surfaced that allegedly shows him having sex with a Swedish adult film actress while flying a helicopter over San Diego. The revocation marks the fifth time Martz’ license has either been revoked or suspended, according to the Associated […]

Rolls-Royce Trent 800-series engines can suffer from ice-induced fuel constriction in flight, and in the opinion of the NTSB, current precautions are “insufficient” to prevent the possibility of a fatal crash — and they’ll be flying like that for at least six more months. So why not just add an anti-icing additive to the fuel? […]

Cessna has announced it will delay development of its Citation Columbus — the jet CEO Jack Pelton in October said “will create a billion dollars of revenue annually” — and that more furloughs are coming. The company is investing $780 million in development of the 488-kt. luxury business jet, that can carry eight people 4,000 […]

The Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, which has jurisdiction over the TSA, thinks the TSA’s Large Aircraft Security Program (LASP) should not go forward without industry input. The Chairman, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (Mississippi), submitted a letter to the TSA stating his opinion that LASP, as proposed appears “unfeasible, or overly burdensome […]