Recent Updates

Helicopters participating in the disaster response efforts surrounding severe flooding in Oklahoma are having trouble with illegal unmanned aircraft system (UAS/drone) operations interfering with their flights. According to Tulsa Fire Department spokesperson Andrew Little, emergency response personnel encountered approximately 30 drones flying illegally on Wednesday alone. Little emphasized that emergency response helicopters can’t operate when […]

Airbus launched a global campaign to celebrate the company’s 50th anniversary on Wednesday. The date marked five decades since French Minister of Transport, Jean Chamant, and German Minister of Economic Affairs, Karl Schiller, signed an agreement for the joint development of the A300 at the 1969 Paris Air Show. The celebration campaign will run from […]

Alsim announced on Wednesday that the FAA has approved its AL172 simulator as an Advanced Aviation Training Device (AATD). According to the company, several of the simulators are already in use in the U.S. at Liberty University flight training affiliates Cirrus Aviation and Paragon Flight Training with two more scheduled to be installed at Kent […]

The Red Bull Air Race World Championship will not be continuing beyond the 2019 season, Red Bull announced on Wednesday. According to the company’s statement, “The Red Bull Air Race provided sports entertainment of highest quality but did not attract the level of outside interest as many other Red Bull events across the world.” The […]

It’s been nine years since the University of North Dakota Flying Team won the SAFECON competition, but don’t let that under-represent the team’s stellar track record. It has placed first or second in 30 of the last 36 competitions, hosted by the National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA). Made up of challenges ranging from “aircraft recognition […]

AOPA sent an alert to its members today reminding them of the hazards of contaminated jet fuel. Earlier this month, two Cessna Citation 550s landed safely after being fueled at the Punta Gorda, Florida, airport with jet fuel contaminated by DEF, which is an additive used in diesel fuel to reduce emissions in cars and […]

Looking ahead to the day that the stalwart postman or Fedex driver is replaced by a package-carrying drone, NASA has been testing a “national traffic management system” for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The latest simulations took place in Reno, Nevada, where NASA tested the avoidance capabilities and other features of its UTM (short for Unmanned […]

The EAA and the FAA carried out a two-day Recreational Aviation Summit at the association’s Oshkosh, Wisconsin, headquarters last week focusing on legislative matters important to recreational pilots. No doubt the 20 FAA officials attending were happy not to be talking about Boeing 737s. “This summit is a unique, fruitful way to engage FAA policymakers […]

Following the lead of American Airlines and Southwest Airlines, United has announced cancellations of flights intended to use the 737 MAX through Aug. 3. This is an extension of its previously announced plan to cancel flights through early July. Some 2400 flights will have to be canceled in June and July alone for United, which […]