Recent Updates

One of my secret ambitions has been to own an airplane company and I think I’m about to realize it. Not to reveal too much about my personal finances, but I’m about to come into a lot of money. I mean a really, huge, stupid amount of money. I’ve been getting a lot of e-mails […]

Unless you’re reading AVweb late Monday, by the time you read this Tuesday morning space launch history either will or won’t have been made. We ought to know for sure by about 7:30 a.m. Tuesday. In case you haven’t been paying attention-and it hasn’t gotten much coverage-SpaceX is launching another of its robotic re-supply missions […]

In previous installments of this short series (in Kitplanes magazine), we have discussed the importance of planning your first flight thoroughly, and then preparing yourself for the flight-test environment with specific training. Let’s assume then that you have a good plan and have also “warmed up” your flying skills to be ready for the unexpected. […]

Rockwell Collins has been tapped to lead a NASA-sponsored study into “single pilot” operations of commercial airliners. In a news release last month, the company said the study will determine the feasibility of SPO in airliners while acknowledging the considerable barriers in the way. “The aviation industry has been looking at the potential for single-pilot […]

The FAA is now saying it doesn’t know when proposed rules governing the commercial use of small unmanned aerial systems will be ready for publication. Congress has set a deadline for the agency to map out the integration of UAS lighter than 55 pounds by next September and it was widely speculated that something would […]

AVweb’s search of aviation news worldwide turned up a new iPhone app, a new locator beacon and acquisitions by Zodiac Aerospace and Machine Inc. Airport Courtesy Cars is a recently released application that lists airports with crew cars and courtesy transportation nationwide. Currently it lists almost 1100 locations, with new locations added daily. Listings are […]

Chinese aircraft maker Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China Ltd. announced this week it was awarded a type certificate for the country’s first regional jet from the Civil Aviation Administration of China. The ARJ21-700 is nearing final certification and the first two will go to a domestic carrier, Chengdu Airlines, The Associated Press reported. While the […]

Icon has been test-flying its ESN-1 engineering prototype extensively, the company said last week, and also has completed structural assembly of ESN-2, which will be the second aircraft in the test fleet. The staff is simultaneously assembling ASN-1, which will be the first aircraft for customer delivery. ESN-1 completed several days of on-the-water tests at […]

Terrafugia has requested an exemption from the FAA to allow its Transition roadable aircraft to weigh up to 1,800 pounds and have a stall speed of 54 knots and still be classified as an LSA. The LSA rules set the maximum weight at 1,320 pounds and a maximum stall speed of 45 knots. “I think […]

Back in the dark ages when j-school looked like it might lead to a sort of career, I was asked on a fall registration form to “state minor course of study, if any.” With all the thoughtful consideration a 21-year-old could muster, I checked the box next to Asian history. Somehow, sociology seemed boring and […]