Recent Updates

NASA has selected the hosts for the final phase of its four-year series of small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS/drones) technical demonstrations. According to NASA, the demonstrations are designed to confirm that NASA’s UAS Traffic Management (UTM) system can safely and effectively manage drone traffic in urban areas and “aim to help the commercial drone industry […]

From rotorcraft to business jets, aircraft shipments rose shallowly across the board in 2018, according to the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) year-end report released on Wednesday. Billings also increased in every segment except for rotorcraft. At 2,443 units, overall airplane shipments increased 4.7 percent and rotorcraft shipments rose 5.4 percent from 926 to 976 […]

EASA has published its opinion on proposed regulatory easements that will help EASA-rated private pilots gain their instrument rating faster, cheaper and more easily. By clearing the path for the “Basic Instrument Rating,” EASA is combining various regulatory frameworks, allowing private pilots to gain access to instrument flying directly upon passing their EASA private pilot […]

Earlier this week, Garmin sent out a press release reminding us that during this week 25 years ago, it rolled out the first approach-approved GPS navigator, the GPS 155 TSO. In commemoration of that seminal event, Garmin is giving away free ADS-B installations until the end of the month. That previous sentence is an utter […]

The best way to shorten an international airline flight isn’t necessarily to knock yourself out—in the case of one Virgin Atlantic flight from Los Angeles to London, the trick is to catch a whopping big tailwind. Around 10:30 p.m. on Monday night, as the Virgin 787 cruised along at 35,000 feet, it posted an 801-MPH […]

One Indian air force pilot was killed after two BAE Hawk aircraft collided midair. The Surya Kiran aerobatics team was preparing for an airshow at Aero India when the accident occurred. According to reports, Wing Commander VT Shelke and Squadron Leader TJ Singh both ejected, but Wing Commander Sahil Gandhi was killed. The two surviving […]

After 18 months of development, BRS Aerospace says it’s ready to accept orders for the Van’s RV-10 ballistic parachute. BRS already offers a kit for the Van’s RV-7 and RV-9 aircraft as well as other experimentals. Priced at $25,990, the system can be retrofitted to flying aircraft or built into airplanes currently under construction. To […]

Southwest Airlines canceled more than 100 flights over the Presidents Day weekend not from weather or crew issues but because more than twice the usual number of its Boeing 737s were out of service for maintenance. On a typical day, Southwest will have 20 of its 750-airplane fleet sidelined for maintenance. But since last week, […]

Two high-school students have been awarded $10,000 each under the EAA’s Ray Aviation Scholarships. Nicole Blount of Lake Placid, Florida, and Max Davidson of Jurupa Valley, California, will receive this important head start toward their flight training. “Through the generous gift of the Ray Foundation, aviation is a pathway to impart important life skills and […]

Bye Aerospace’s Sun Flyer 2 electric Part 23 airplane took flight for the first time with its intended production configuration on Feb. 8 and President George Bye said all went well. The two-seat aircraft, which Bye intends to be fully certified, flew with the Siemens-built SP70D motor with a maximum of 120 horsepower and maximum […]