Thom Patterson

Thom is a former senior editor for FLYING. Previously, his freelance reporting appeared in aviation industry magazines. Thom also spent three decades as a TV and digital journalist at CNN’s bureaus in Washington and Atlanta, eventually specializing in aviation. He has reported from air shows in Oshkosh, Farnborough and Paris. Follow Thom on Twitter @thompatterson.
Thom Patterson Wednesday, October 27, 2021

Companies to Pair to Develop ‘World’s Largest Zero-Emissions Commercial Aircraft’

Alaska Air Group, parent of Alaska Airlines, is partnering with hydrogen-electric aircraft developer ZeroAvia to develop a zero-emissions passenger airplane capable of carrying 76 people on regional flights, the companies announced Tuesday. The U.S. carrier eventually aims to “create the world’s largest zero-emissions commercial aircraft,” said Pasha Saleh, Alaska Airlines head of corporate development, during […]

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Thom Patterson Thursday, October 21, 2021

Chinese Drone Maker DJI Faces More U.S. Restrictions

A top federal regulator wants to slap new restrictions on the best-selling drone manufacturer in the U.S., saying the Chinese company poses a national security risk. The Federal Communications Commission’s commissioner Brendan Carr called on regulators Tuesday to begin the process of adding Shenzhen-based DJI to a list of companies that the U.S. Universal Service […]

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Thom Patterson Wednesday, October 20, 2021

Police: Ex-Employee Hacked Flight School Computer

A Melbourne, Florida, flight school may have unknowingly flown seven unairworthy flights after a former employee allegedly hacked into the facility’s computer system, according to police documents. Lauren Lide, 26, was arrested and booked by the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office on October 9, according to the sheriff’s website. She had worked at Melbourne Flight Training […]

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Thom Patterson Tuesday, October 19, 2021

$230M Venture Capital Fund Targets Electric Air Mobility

Transportation industry leaders have launched a $230 million venture capital fund aimed at investing in cleaner, faster, safer, and lower-cost alternative air transportation solutions to move people as well as goods. The group, UP.Partners, announced the move Monday, saying it has gathered funds from investors including Cathie Wood, Woven Capital, and Alaska Air Group, which […]

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Thom Patterson Friday, October 15, 2021

Ex-Boeing 737 Max Chief Pilot Indicted for Fraud

Former Boeing 737 Max Chief Technical Pilot Mark Forkner faces federal charges accusing him of scheming to defraud Boeing customers and deceiving the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The indictment, returned Thursday by the grand jury in the Northern District of Texas, alleges that Forkner, 49, committed fraud in an attempt to obtain tens of millions […]

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Thom Patterson Friday, October 15, 2021

Aviation Industry Faces Financial Gap for Producing Cleaner Fuel

Financial challenges are threatening to block aviation and other industries from accessing enough cleaner burning fuels to reach critical international environmental goals, according to the World Economic Forum. A report released Thursday by the influential non-governmental organization said investments in decarbonization technologies, including battery-electric fuel, hydrogen fuel, and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), must increase at […]

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