News

The NTSB’s factual report of the Sept. 3, 2007, fatal crash of a Bellanca 8KCAB-180 (Super Decathlon) piloted by Steve Fossett does not include a “cause,” but does offer details. The NTSB attempted to reconstruct potential wind patterns for the day through numerical simulations and also took statements from pilots who flew in the area […]

Composite materials reinforced with carbon nanotube “stitching” are not only ten times stronger than those that go without, but they are also one million times more electrically conductive, according to a report soon to be published in the Journal of Composite Materials. Benefits to aircraft structures therefore include increased strength and lightning protection along with […]

Flight Design GmbH, which makes the popular CT line of light sport aircraft, has announced it will debut in early April, at the Aero show in Friedrichshafen, Germany, a hybrid engine concept for light aircraft. The concept engine is based on “a well-established certified aircraft engine” mated with an electric booster only used to boost […]

Both Boeing and the FAA have tested arrival procedures and both have found that continuous descents flown at a single busy airport can save the airlines millions of pounds of fuel and save the atmosphere millions of pounds of carbon dioxide. The FAA’s testing at LAX shows that continuous descent approaches could save airlines flying […]

&ntsbno It was a beautiful day in the equally beautiful mountainous area that straddles the Nevada/California border. A perfect day for what Steve Fossett’s wife called a “Sunday drive” in a sporty aerobatic Decathlon. The NTSB’s factual report of the aviation icon’s final flight suggests a combination of high altitude and unpredictable winds led to […]

Our sister publication, Aviation Consumer magazine, wants to hear about your experiences with engine warranties. We’d like to know about warranties of new or remanufactured engines from the factory, field overhauls and “boutique” engine shops. In your opinion, was the warranty sufficient? Did you encounter problems after installation, and were they resolved to your satisfaction? […]

Eclipse Aviation was required by federal law to give employees 60 days’ notice before laying them off, but failed to do so, according to a suit filed by two former employees on Tuesday in Delaware. Annette Varela, who worked in Albuquerque, and John J. Dimura, who worked at a service facility in New York, are […]

These may be tough times for the aviation industry, but at the 20th Annual International Women in Aviation Conference, which wrapped up last Saturday in Atlanta, the mood was upbeat. The economy and jobs were on everyone’s mind, and older WAI members assured the younger attendees that ups and downs are nothing new for the […]

For the last 50-plus years, two Pobereznys have been at the helm at EAA — first Paul, the founder, now 87, and then his son Tom — but that is about to change, at least partly. On Wednesday, EAA said Tom Poberezny will take over as chairman of the board, a position that Paul stepped […]

According to the folks at Cessna, you may not have to buy a new airplane to qualify for the tax benefits of bonus depreciation in 2009 — upgrades such as new avionics, which add value to the aircraft or increase its lifespan, may qualify. The company added a note that it can’t give tax advice, […]