Recent Updates

The heads of all seven unions representing FAA employees have jointly condemned Congress’s exploration of privatization of the air traffic operation, saying what’s needed is reliable funding for the agency. “On behalf of the thousands of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) employees represented by our organisations, we are writing to express our viewpoint regarding recent discussions […]

The Breitling Jet Team, a seven-ship formation team that uses L-39 Albatros trainers, is starting its first U.S. tour at Sun ‘n Fun this week. AVweb’s Russ Niles spoke with team lead Jacques Bothelin. Duration: 3:23 File Size: 3.1 MB download here

The X-47B unmanned aircraft successfully demonstrated the first-ever fully autonomous aerial re-fueling on Wednesday, Northrop Grumman has announced. The X-47B launched from the Naval Air Station at Patuxent River, Maryland, and flew to a test site offshore. The UAS flew in close formation flight with an Omega K-707 tanker, and upon clearance from the tanker […]

A first at Sun ‘n Fun, the Chinese aviation company Yuneec was demonstrating quadcopter drones in a net cage near the center of the vendor area. AVweb’s Paul Bertorelli interviewed Craig Clover about what the company is offering. view on YouTube

It was probably inevitable that drone demos would be a part of a major show and this year they’re appearing at Sun ‘n Fun in the exhibit area for the first time. In a booth sponsored by Yuneec and Drone23, you can see small quadcopters demonstrated inside a large net cage that’s big enough to […]

Cirrus Aircraft has started production of the Vision SF50 single-engine jet at its facility in Duluth, Minnesota. In an exclusive video interview with AVweb at the plant earlier this week, Matt Bergwall, project manager for the jet, said limited production will be done through 2015 in advance of certification by the end of the year. […]

The FAA is exploring the idea, and the small airplane groups are gathering the information. AVweb’s Russ Niles spoke with Dan Johnson of the Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association (LAMA) at Sun ‘n Fun 2015. Duration: 5:35 File Size: 5.1 MB download here

The FAA has told its field inspectors that a video on the Internet is not enough to prove that someone has violated its rules against commercial operation of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). In a notice (PDF)to its enforcement personnel, the agency says that while video that appears to have been shot from a UAS might […]

Have you ever had these thoughtsrun through your mind while getting ready to fly an airplane? “I hope this thing flies.” “I hope I will be able to handle this thing when I get it off the ground.” “I hope I’ll be able to land it.” Have you ever had these thoughts in flight? “I […]

SpaceX will try again to land its Falcon 9 rocket on a floating barge in June, when its next mission to the International Space Station is scheduled. Tuesday’s launch of the rocket to take the Dragon supply spacecraft to the station was a success, but the landing was not. The rocket made it to the […]