Recent Updates

All drones weighing more than 250 grams — about a half pound — should be registered, according to the recommendations from an FAA task force, released today (PDF). The task force, comprising 25 industry representatives from ALPA and AOPA to Google and Wal-Mart, reached “unanimous consensus,” said Earl Lawrence, director of the FAA’s UAS integration […]

As winter unveils its hand across the nation, it seems appropriate to take a look at one of the last of aviation’s “firsts,” the aerial circumnavigation of our globe via the Poles. The first flight around the world was made in 1924 by a U.S. Army team. The North Pole was overflown in 1926 by […]

Just in time for the busy holiday travel season, Transportation Security Administration agents say they’re having a hard time getting into the spirit thanks to their contract negotiations with the agency. The front line workers are members of the American Federation of Government Employees and their contract with the TSA is up on Dec. 9. […]

Drones weighing as little as 8 ounces will have to be registered with the FAA if the agency accepts recommendations of a 26-member panel struck last month to design a registration scheme. The panel, which included representatives from Amazon, Google, drone manufacturers and aviation groups, delivered their recommendations to FAA Administrator Michael Huerta on Saturday. […]

Quebec’s pension plan has paid $1.5 billion for a 30 percent stake in Bombardier’s train manufacturing business but the company will use some of the money to fund full certification of its CSeries airliner. The purchase follows a $1 billion bailout by the Quebec government that targets the CSeries program. The company has also asked […]

AVweb’s search of what’s new in aviation found STEM projects announced by colleges and universities, winners of the National Rocket Competition, and a new quick-build program from Plane-Crafters. NASA’s Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP) has selected four minority-serving institutions for cooperative agreement awards totaling approximately $2 million to help strengthen science, technology, engineering […]

Daher has found a comfortable niche for its speedy TBM 900 as personal transportation for owner pilots, but now it would like to expand sales in both North America and Europe in the fly-for-hire segment. Charter work has traditionally been dominated by twin-engine aircraft and especially turboprops and jet aircraft, mainly because of safety perceptions. […]

Business aircraft operators are always concerned about flight proficiency and currency, and the usual way of achieving it is through simulation. At NBAA, Precision Flight Controls showed off its DCX Max, a reasonably priced sim that can be configured to simulate many kinds of aircraft, from single-engine pistons to jets. view on YouTube

At NBAA in Las Vegas, Diamond unveiled its largest and most sophisticated airplane yet, the DA62. With seating for up to seven people, good payload, and cruise speeds in the high 170-knot range on 15 GPH or less, Diamond sees a potential business role for the DA62. view on YouTube

As the latest version of the Pilot’s Bill of Rights works its way through Congress, 17 aviation-advocacy groups have filed a letter in support of an amendment they say would make the bill more responsive to the needs of general aviation pilots. The advocates say the amendment, offered by Senator Joe Manchin, D-W.V., would “ensure […]