Stephen Pope

The FAA has begun a number of upgrades to the WAAS network that are intended to increase the system’s reliability during solar storms. One such upgrade, known as the “Iono Robustness,” will help reduce service interruptions to WAAS LPV approaches during the upcoming solar maximum (the 11-year peak in the solar cycle that will occur […]

Tempers are flaring after organizers of the Sun ‘n Fun show in Lakeland, Florida, recently sent invoices to 25 aircraft owners demanding they cover the costs associated with the clean up of airplanes damaged by a ** tornado that ripped through the fly-in grounds** last March 31. Sun ‘n Fun spokesman Jim Bernegger told Flying […]

None of the pilots I’ve talked to were surprised by Garmin’s decision to discontinue production of its ubiquitous GNS 530W and GNS 430W all-in-one GPS/navcoms (production of the 530 ends this month and the 430 sometime next year). Really, who could be? These hugely successful units have been in production for well over a decade. […]

The Ecuador Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Ecuatoriana or FAE) has selected the Diamond DA20-C1 as its new primary flight training aircraft with an order for 12 airplanes. The new fleet of DA20s, currently in production at Diamond Aircraft‘s London, Ontario, factory, will be operated by FAE’s Air Force Academy “Cosme Rennella” at Salinas Air Base […]

A Gulfstream G150 registered to Jimmy Johnson Racing and carrying Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick and three others crashed Monday evening after careering off a runway at Florida’s Key West International Airport. Hendrick, his wife Linda and two pilots were on board the business jet, according to a statement from Hendrick Motorsports. No one was […]

Hawker Beechcraft reported a loss of $42.2 million in the third quarter, but that was actually a big improvement over last year, when the Wichita aircraft maker lost $81.4 million in the same period. Overall sales were down, totaling $518.8 million in this year’s third quarter compared with $594.7 million during the same period last […]

Laser pointers are fun, aren’t they? We’ve all held or at least seen these pen-sized gadgets. They’re useful for highlighting particularly interesting parts of PowerPoint slides or mounting to rifles and pistols for improved long-distance targeting. I personally am guilty of making cats do burnouts across the kitchen floor with a red laser pen. When […]

Add China to the list of nations conducting biofuel demonstration flights, as Air China prepares to fly a Boeing 747-400 by the end of November using a blend of conventional and hydrotreated renewable jet fuel. The flight is part of a broader agreement with Air China, PetroChina, Boeing and Honeywell to use fuel derived from […]

In an effort to combat the growing problem of lasers being pointed at aircraft, where they can affect the pilots’ vision, the FAA has created a new website to make it easier for aviators and the public to report laser incidents. The website includes links for reporting laser incidents as well as a database of […]

Honda is preparing for the first flight tests of two HF120 turbofan engines with a newly redesigned titanium fan blisk that engine maker GE Honda is confident can pass required ice ingestion testing. The engine fan underwent a redesign following the failure of an on-ground ice ingestion test, Honda Aircraft revealed recently. The company expects […]