Aircraft Upgrades

The FAA has approved higher takeoff weights for the Boeing 787-9 and 787-10, giving operators more flexibility to carry additional payload or extend range on long-haul routes.

Having survived a crash, it’s easy to recommend shoulder harness upgrades in aircraft that still sport old-school lap belts. Without a shoulder belt, I’m convinced my flailing noggin would have smacked a panel full of new Garmin avionics—and it wouldn’t have been pretty. But taking that safety net one step further are airbag seatbelts, which […]

Engines, exhaust systems, propellers, cabin vents and aging door and window seals are just a handful of sources that can make the typical aircraft cabin a miserable place to spend hours on end. It’s also a path to irreversible hearing damage. How do you know if your cabin is too noisy? Fly in a comparably […]

Eager to get pilots and aircraft owners to try the new Parmetheus G3 landing light, WAT (who you may know better as Whelen) has introduced a trade-in and trade-up program that offers a rebate of as much as $70 toward the new G3. The program includes both PAR-36 and PAR-46 lights in 14-volt or 28-volt versions from […]

Idaho-based aerospace lighting company AeroLEDs announced on Monday that it has added a new landing light series to its lineup. A 75-watt version of the company’s SunSpot line, the SunSpot 36-4000 lights were designed as drop-in replacements for legacy 4509 and 4591 bulbs. According to the company, the SunSpot 36-4509 and 36-4591 offer more than […]

Most existing round-gauge airplanes have instrument panels that simply weren’t designed for big-screen displays. That means your shop will likely be tasked with cutting a new metal panel to make it all fit. And even if your proposed upgrade doesn’t require lots of cutting, an avionics project is the opportunity to upgrade the panel’s aesthetics […]

uAvionix announced on Monday that it has launched a program for aircraft owners looking to upgrade current uAvionix equipment to one of its new tailBeaconX space-based Mode S 1090 MHz extended squitter ADS-B transponders. The program offers a trade-in credit of up to $1,200 toward a tailBeaconX in exchange for uAvionix skyBeacon, tailBeacon or echoUAT […]

Blackhawk Aerospace announced at the 2021 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) that it is working on an engine upgrade program for some Pilatus PC-12s. Once the supplemental type certificate (STC) has been approved, the XP67P Engine+ Upgrade program will replace the stock Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67B engine found on legacy PC-12s with […]

When I bought my Debonair from its previous owners, it had the original factory lap belts installed. As someone who had been flying airplanes equipped with three-point harnesses, it felt very exposed to be zooming around in something almost three times as fast as the car I drove to the airport but without even a […]

ICON Aircraft has announced that it is now offering the Garmin G3X Touch flight display as an option for its A5 amphibious light sport aircraft (LSA). The new avionics package, which will include an optional two-axis autopilot, is expected to be available beginning early next year for limited edition model year 2021 A5s. The G3X […]