Stephen Pope

The NTSB blamed pilot error for the crash of NASCAR team owner Jack Roush’s Beech Premier I at EAA AirVenture two years ago, finding that Roush failed to apply full power while attempting to abort a landing on Runway 18R. As a result, Roush’s jet stalled at low altitude, crashed onto the runway and split […]

JetBlue Flight 194 was forced to return for Las Vegas McCarran International Airport after the Airbus A320 suffered a loss of two of its hydraulic systems on Sunday. The pilots determined they needed to turn back and declared an emergency, but first they had to burn off a large amount of fuel. That maneuvering took […]

A question I’ve been hearing lately is whether China will scoop up the assets of Hawker Beechcraft, which has filed for bankruptcy and is known to be for sale. Already, several potential bidders have come forward with hopes of buying the entire company or select pieces. I would bet China has at least joined the […]

The FAA and NASA have worked out an agreement covering who will be in charge of licensing and public safety for private-sector spacecraft lifting off and landing inside the borders of the United States. The agreement puts the FAA in charge of any crew-carrying spacecraft that launches and lands in the U.S., but also requires […]

The Senate Commerce Committee will hold a hearing on Thursday to meet with Michael Huerta, the Obama administration’s nominee to head the FAA. Huerta is now Acting FAA Administrator. He has served in that role since last December, when former FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt resigned after he was charged with drunken driving. Babbitt was found […]

Icon Aircraft, the maker of the hotly anticipated Icon A5 amphib, said it has begun a close collaboration with carmaker Lotus to help design the light sport airplane’s automotive-inspired interior. Icon said Lotus Engineering USA has been brought onboard because of its experience designing and mass-producing lightweight vehicle components. The work is focusing on the […]

As soon as you started practicing the flight maneuvers for the private pilot practical test, you learned about clearing turns. Usually, a clearing turn involves a 90-degree turn to the left followed by a 90-degree turn to the right so that you roll out on the same heading on which you started — at least […]

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has certified the first three airplanes in a newly created certification category for light sport aircraft. Airplanes approved under the new framework are the Czech Sport Aircraft PS-28 Cruiser, Flight Design CTLS-ELA and Evektor SportStar RTC. Airplanes in the European LSA category are limited to two seats and a […]

NetJets on Monday announced orders with Cessna and Bombardier for up to 425 new business jets worth $9.6 billion that will form the cornerstone of the private aviation giant’s new NetJets Signature Series fractional ownership program. NetJets called the purchases the largest deal for private aircraft in aviation history. The Ohio-based fractional ownership firm said […]

The Aviation Fuel Club is urging anyone who can fly to Oshkosh next month using unleaded autogas to do as part of an event it’s calling “Unleaded to Oshkosh” to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the FAA’s approval of the first autogas STC. Dubbed U2OSH by event organizers, the effort is being led in part […]