Pia Bergqvist

A Belgian company called Sonaca Aircraft is making progress on a two-seat, single-engine airplane named Sonaca 200. The airplane is designed for the training market, and recent modifications to the design include structural reinforcements to allow the airplane to withstand the rigors of regular flight training. With the beefed-up landing gear, the airplane also will […]

Developers of electric aircraft are rejoicing now that the Part 23 rewrite is complete. Unlike before, the new rule will allow for certified airplanes to be developed with electric propulsion. “The new Part 23 rewrite allows for the full benefit of electric propulsion in the larger, heavier general aviation size of aircraft,” says George Bye, […]

San Diego-based Coast Flight Training has responded to the increasing demand for professional pilots by expanding its airline flight training program, opening up a new facility in San Marcos, Texas. The training program is focused on transition training for military helicopter pilots who have a desire to enter into an airline career. “We are very […]

Torrance, California-based Robinson Helicopter recently reached a significant milestone, rolling out its 12,000th helicopter. With international sales being a major percentage of Robinson’s business, it should come as no surprise that the commemorative helicopter, an R66, will be delivered overseas to Hover Dynamics, a Robinson dealer in South Africa. The R66 will eventually enter into […]

Japanese travelers will soon have another Star Wars-themed airliner to fly on as Japan’s largest airline, All Nippon Airlines (ANA), is about to launch a Boeing 777-200 painted to represent C-3PO – the humanoid robot character that made its debut in the very first Star Wars movie released in the late 1970s. The C-3PO airplane […]

Icon Aircraft recently launched two out of three planned flight training centers, one at the company’s headquarters in Vacaville, California and another in Tampa, Florida. The centers offer flight training for all levels of experience. Follow executive editor Pia Bergqvist as she practices flying the Icon A5 at the beautiful Lake Berryessa and Nut Tree […]

There has been a lot of controversy over the progress of Icon’s A5 production. There is no question that getting a high-rate production facility going, with all its bits and pieces, is a big challenge. In this video we take a closer look at the progress at Icon Aircraft’s final assembly site in Vacaville, California. […]

It is of particular importance for airplane mechanics to know where their tools are, not only because they are expensive, but also because a lost tool or other component can become a major flight hazard. Grypmat is a sticky mat that holds tools, screws, nuts and bolts in place so that you always know where […]

AOPA’s Air Safety Institute has launched a new resource center for aviation safety education. The initiative, called the Safety Alliance, brings videos, publications, articles, courses and quizzes on a wide variety of topics that relate to increasing the safety of general aviation flight. The content is categorized by topic, making it easy for visitors to […]

If you, like many pilots, have one of Garmin’s latest glass avionics products installed in your panel or are considering an upgrade, you may want to consider a training course to learn the ins and outs of operating the systems. Garmin recently announced dates for in-classroom training programs for its latest panel-mounted equipment at its […]