Recent Updates

I was at Lycoming for three days last week, shooting a video on how the company has invested in new CNC equipment to improve its competitive edge on parts and engines. While I was waiting in the security office to have my visitor badge arranged, I did a quick scan of my e-mail. Coincidentally, there […]

AVweb’s search of aviation news around the world turned up new corporate appointments at Airbus Group, European certification for Embraer’s Legacy 500, an award to Norwegian Air from Rockford, Illinois, and the National Aviation Hall of Fame 2015 inductees. The Board of Directors of Airbus Group announced four appointments effective Jan. 1, 2015: Tom Williams, […]

NASA and contractor SpaceX announced Thursday this week’s launch of an unmanned supply capsule to the International Space Station will be postponed until January to conduct further testing. NASA said issues during a test of the Falcon rocket engines at Cape Canaveral this week will require investigation. A possible launch date on the morning of […]

Dassault Aviation on Wednesday unveiled the Falcon 8X, touting the new model as its “ultra long range” flagship business jet. The 8X, announced in May, builds on the popular 7X long-range trijet and will offer arange of 6,450 nm and a cabin 3.5 feet longer than the 7X. It also has a more efficient wing […]

Following House approval earlier this month, the Senate on Tuesday passed a tax package that includes the revival of bonus depreciation on capital investments, including aircraft. The measure allows businesses to write off up to 50 percent of the value of equipment purchased in and put into service in 2014. Industry groups applauded Congress’ approval […]

Fractional service AirShares Elite closed Dec. 1 and is now selling off its large fleet of Cirrus aircraft. AirShares pioneered the fractional model for high-performance GA aircraft and was in operation for almost 15 years before it quit the business with no explanation.The company had aircraft in more than 15 cities and was planning to […]

The Center for Environmental Health, which filed a lawsuit in 2011 seeking to prohibit the sale of leaded gasoline in California, has reached a settlement, NATA said on Tuesday. Under the agreement signed last week, FBOs at 23 airports will provide warnings of lead exposure to individuals residing within one kilometer of the airport, will […]

Letter of the Week:Orion a Step Backward I viewed the test flight of the Orion crew capsule with mixed emotions. I’m glad that we are finally getting our act together so that we are not relying on the Russians to get us into low Earth orbit and sad that we are now back to shooting […]

The world’s biggest airliner may have one of industry’s shortest production runs. Airbus has announced it could end production of the A380 in 2018 after going through the whole past year without a new airline order. The aircraft went into service in 2007. It did get a 20-plane order from a leasing company but there […]

Sweden says Russian spy planes are getting in the way of commercial flights and the Swedes would like it to stop. “This is serious. This is inappropriate. This is outright dangerous when you turn off the transponder,” Swedish Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist said on Swedish radio. According to ETurbo, Hultqvist said a passenger aircraft taking […]