Business & Military

The Vertical Flight Society (VFS), a nonprofit group whose stated goal is to advance vertical flight, has experienced strong growth in all of its membership categories, according to an announcement made by the organization on Friday. VFS points to global investment in new military and civil vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft as a key […]

The leadership of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association has distanced itself from any notion that a staff shortage that caused delays at some East Coast airports on Friday was orchestrated to pressure the government to end the shutdown. The union issued a statement shortly after an uptick in sick calls at Washington Center reduced […]

If you’re traveling by air today—your own airplane or via airlines—you’re having a much better experience than would have been likely if the government hadn’t been reopened on Friday. With the paychecks again flowing, a massive flu outbreak among air traffic controllers has been miraculously avoided. In the annals of disease prevention, it may stand […]

A Hawaiian Airlines flight from Honolulu to New York diverted to San Francisco after a flight attendant fell ill and died over the Pacific on Thursday. The 50-year-old flight attendant suffered an apparent heart attack on the flight. There were reportedly several doctors on board who administered aid but could not revive the crew member. […]

A tornado ripped through the airport at Antalya Turkey on Saturday, injuring 12 people and causing millions of dollars in damage as it marched down a line of airliners parked on the ramp. None of the injuries are considered life threatening. The wind knocked over buses and service vehicles on the ramp and pushed equipment […]

Conservation flight organization LightHawk teamed up with fellow nonprofit The Surfrider Foundation to capture high-level views of rising tides on the U.S. Atlantic and Pacific coasts on Tuesday. LightHawk coordinated more than 20 volunteer flights along the coasts during the “king tides” that occurred on Jan. 22. King tides, more scientifically called perigean spring tides, […]

Drones Cause Newark Ground Stop For what it’s worth, I am a retired air traffic controller, non-current (as of three years ago) private pilot, and very active drone operator. I find it ironic that when a human being is accused of being a mass murderer, the press gives them the benefit of the doubt by […]

Eastbound through Chicago O’Hare’s Class Bravo, we were on frequency with a controller rattling off instructions to several airplanes in rapid fire. We heard him say in mid‑stream, “But wait, that can’t be right! No it is … Sometimes I amaze myself.” He then continued with his rapid fire instructions. Carmen Fria Santa Fe, NM

AVweb‘s weekly news roundup found reports on a survey for IFR helicopter pilots, the Cirrus Training Center of the Year, a new training management system for Pacific Sky Aviation, flight animation software for Kalitta Air and a partnership between Carlisle Air Group and Worldwide Jet Charter. The National EMS Pilots Association (NEMSPA) and the U.S. […]

Air traffic controller staffing shortages at Washington Center in Leesburg, Virginia, led to ground stops for flights to Newark and LaGuardia Friday morning and there are also reports of staffing issues at Jacksonville Center. It’s believed facility managers have ordered increased separation between aircraft to maintain safety because of unscheduled controller absences. Delays of up […]