Stephen Pope

A new concept in aircraft ownership is taking flight with the launch of DiamondShare, a shared-use program that seeks to make flying more affordable by spreading the costs around. As you might have guessed, the idea is based exclusively on Diamond Aircraft products, specifically the four-place, single-engine Diamond DA40 XLS. The program matches aircraft owners […]

Start Pac, the maker of portable aircraft starting units and ground power carts, has introduced its latest product, the Start Pac Model 53300, a 300-amp power supply that the company says is perfect for toting into the field. Designed for use during maintenance and to power up various aircraft systems such as inverters, avionics and […]

Aviation enthusiast Bernardo Malfitano has put together an interesting and compelling montage of dozens of photographs showing Chinese aircraft juxtaposed with the Western and Soviet designs on which they are based. The collection spans 50 years of Chinese aviation development, with most of the early photos representing Chinese airplanes and helicopters built under license with […]

Strong surface winds can throw pilots an unexpected curve ball if they’ve planned a flight to a favorite destination and find the conditions at the arrival airport exceed the capabilities of their airplane, themselves or both. An experienced flight instructor I was talking with recently related a story in which he damaged the wing of […]

The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) said it has changed the name of its 66-year-old Annual Meeting & Convention to the Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (BACE). The association said the name change brings NBAA’s largest convention into alignment with the other annual shows it hosts — the European EBACE in Geneva and the Asian […]

A U.S. bankruptcy judge has approved Hawker Beechcraft’s Chapter 11 reorganization plan, clearing the way for the company to restart operations under the name Beechcraft within the next few weeks. “Today’s ruling marks the final significant step in the restructuring process,” said Robert S. Miller, Hawker Beechcraft CEO. “Throughout this process, we have been guided […]

Dynon Avionics has added data logging to its SkyView integrated glass panel avionics, an upgrade that allows users to record and store up to 150 hours of flight and engine data. Best of all, data logging is included in SkyView firmware Version 5.1, a free upgrade for SkyView owners. Data logging will be especially useful […]

Ecuador’s Mariscal Sucre International Airport, considered one of the most dangerous in Latin America because of its high altitude and boxed-in location in the center of crowded Quito, is closing next month to make way for a new international airport about 12 miles northeast of the city. Landing at Ecuador’s capital has long been considered […]

If all goes according to plan, the famed Hawker name will all but cease to exist after bankrupt Hawker Beechcraft emerges from near financial death in the coming days under the Beechcraft name alone. Just how long the storied Hawker brand remains dormant is anybody’s guess, but it’s hard to imagine it going away forever […]

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said he plans to leave the Obama Administration as soon as a successor can be confirmed, a process that should take about two months. In an interview with the Associated Press, LaHood said he told President Obama a week after the November election it was time to move on but added […]