Ownership

FreeFlight Systems is expanding its line of radar altimeters for rotorcraft, announcing on Wednesday the FRA-5500 system for transport-category helicopters. The system is similar to its RA-4000 series of radar altimeters, certified for Part 29 rotorcraft to comply with equipment mandates related to a 2014 FAA rule that targets helicopter air ambulance operations. FreeFlight says […]

Diamond Aircraft has certified the Continental Diesel CD-155 engine for retrofit in its DA42 fleet, the company said on Monday. The new option is now available in Europe and Canada, with FAA approval still pending. “Including the CD-155 to the type certificate adds a nice upgrade option for current DA42 TDI owners and operators,” said […]

Garmin will soon have helicopter versions of its ADS-B boxes available for installation, unveiling on Thursday the GDL 84H and GDL 88H. The equipment meets the 2020 ADS-B Out mandate while receiving ADS-B In traffic and weather on a mobile device. Garmin expects to receive STC approvals for several helicopter models in the second quarter […]

It seems there’s always a Piper Arrow on the ramp as well as a good selection of them on the used market. Flight schools have long sworn by them as relatively economical complex trainers, and owners report happy relationships with their combination of useful load and range. Through longevity and numbers, it may have replaced […]

Piper’s venerable J-3 Cub and the Aeronca Champion are classic ragwing taildraggers that are becoming popular as LSA choices. In this nose-to-nose comparison, AVweb’s Elaine Kauh and Paul Bertorelli take a close look at both aircraft. view on YouTube

We began our occasional series on aircraft refurbs last month with an article discussing the benefits and costs. There were twin bottom lines: If refurbishing your airplane makes sense for you, the next question becomes selecting a shop to do the work-how do you make the choice? We’re certainly aware of aviation maintenance horror stories, […]

As the industry falls further behind in equipping the general aviation fleet for the 2020 ADS-B mandate, Grand Rapids, Michigan-based L-3 Aviation Products officially launched its Lynx MultiLink Surveillance (MSS) line of ADS-B systems. The Lynx product line consists of several models, ranging from a basic Lynx NGT-1000 978 UAT ADS-B Out unit, to the […]

Turbocharging systems get somewhat of bad, but to a degree, deserved rap for requiring more than their fair share of maintenance and pilot workload. They certainly have to deal with more than their fair share of very hot air and have to spin at dazzling rpms to do their jobs. Moreover, they can be less […]

The FAA on Monday posted a correction to its rule on ADS-B requirements for the general aviation fleet, which should offer more choices to owners of experimental and LSA aircraft. The notice reads that the final rule, posted in May 2010, required that ADS-B equipment must meet the requirements of certain TSOs; however, the FAA […]

I’ve been covering and writing about businesses of various kinds for a long time and I’m trying to recall if executives always coveted buzz phrases they way they do now. Probably they have, but I just found it less obnoxious when I was younger. (Now, everything is obnoxious. Didn’t I warn you about being on […]