Recent Updates

SpaceX is four for four on the loss of prototypes of its silo-like Starship interplanetary vehicle after Serial Number 4 (SN4) blew up on the test bed in Boca Chica, Texas, on Friday. The spectacular explosion came on the eve of SpaceX’s first manned launch of its Crew Dragon capsule at Cape Canaveral on Saturday. […]

China-based urban air mobility company EHang has received commercial pilot operation approval from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) for its EHang 216 autonomous aerial vehicle (AAV). The approval, which covers air logistics operations, was granted based on the CAAC’s Pilot Operation Rules (Interim) for Specific Unmanned Aircraft. According to EHang, it is the […]

Boeing announced on Wednesday that it will lay off approximately 6,770 employees in the U.S. due to the economic impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. According to Boeing, its international locations are also in the process of workforce reductions, which “will be communicated locally on their own timelines in accordance with local laws and benefit […]

Aircraft deliveries declined across all segments during the first quarter (Q1) of 2020, according to the quarterly aircraft shipments and billings report released by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) on Wednesday. Compared to the first quarter of 2019, the total number of airplane deliveries in Q1 2020 dropped approximately 20.9 percent from 511 to […]

According to the Experimental Aircraft Association, the FAA has “released a policy that will make it easier for some owners of experimental aircraft to obtain special flight permits (SFPs) for their airplanes in order to reposition them for condition inspections.” The change comes in the form of allowing certain designated airworthiness representatives (DARs) to “remotely […]

Boeing has announced a new initiative aimed at developing solutions to help minimize air travel health risks during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The Confident Travel Initiative team will also focus on raising awareness of existing health safeguards. According to Boeing, work on the initiative will be conducted in partnership with airlines, global regulators, industry stakeholders, […]

United Airlines has announced that Brett J. Hart will take over as president of United Airlines Holdings effective May 20, 2020. Hart is currently serving as the company’s executive vice president and chief administrative officer. As previously reported by AVweb, current president Scott Kirby will step into the position of CEO and current CEO Oscar […]

The fifth-annual FAA UAS Symposium, originally scheduled for the middle of June in Baltimore, will shift to a virtual format. The exact dates have not been set, but the symposium will be broken into two segments, according to the organizers. The dates have been set as July 8-9 for segment one and August 18-19 for […]

With the opportunity for would-be builders of the Zenith kit aircraft scuttled by COVID-19, the company has taken the initiative to “virtualize” several of its programs, including the rudder workshop course and now its demo flights. Company pilot Roger Dubbert provides a running narrative of a demo flight in Zenith’s CH 750 “Sky Jeep,” the […]

NASA has announced that it will provide nearly $2.4 million in funding to six universities as part of the agency’s Artemis Student Challenges program. According to NASA, the program is designed to “connect … students to the science, technology and missions of Artemis through authentic, mission-driven experiences and learning opportunities.” Artemis Student Challenges is led […]