Aviation News

One reason pilots have for years sought jobs at some of the fractional business jet operators is because, like the airlines, cockpit crewmembers can live pretty much anywhere they choose. Companies like Flexjet cover the cost of an airline ticket to ensure pilots appear wherever their next trip begins. These kinds of crew repositioning costs […]

Following the trend of many upcoming aviation events, the National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) has cancelled SAFECON 2020, the national flight competition that was scheduled to take place in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, from May 18 to 23. The competition would have marked the 100th anniversary of NIFA’s annual collegiate flight competitions, and for the first time […]

The Coronavirus may be taking its time to mark a significant number of confirmed cases in the midwestern US, but the aviation manufacturing industry in Wichita, Kansas, is already suffering the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on its workforce. Manufacturers, including Textron Aviation, Bombardier, and Spirit AeroSystems, have seen the effects—and express hope that the […]

LightHawk, the aviation philanthropic organization bringing together pilots and environmentally focused conservation groups, has named a new chief executive officer, Michele Rutledge, whose prior executive experience includes aviation charity Wings of Hope. LightHawk’s prior CEO, Terri Watson, will continue on as a volunteer pilot and member of the advisory board. “Michele comes to LightHawk with […]

With very rare exceptions right now, aviation businesses large and small are feeling the immediate financial impacts of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic currently upon us. For large multi-national corporations with deep reserves, to sole proprietorships and mid-size companies, the blistering damage to bottom lines is excruciating, affecting employees, the public, and most importantly to these […]

In FAA lingo, the phrase “ATC Zero” means an air traffic control facility is unable to offer ATC services. Chicago Center went ATC Zero in November 2014 when an FAA contract employee cut communications lines that normally kept controllers and pilots in radio contact with each other before he set fire to the center’s equipment […]

A 5.7-magnitude earthquake knocked out power in Utah and required the temporary closure of Salt Lake City International Airport (KSLC). The seismic event on March 18 prompted runway and control-tower checks, halting air traffic arriving and departing the airport. The earthquake, centered about 10 miles west of the city near Magna, Utah, began at 7:09 […]

A handful of aviation industry experts believe the social and economic fallout in the US from the COVID-19 virus is the worst seen since the market crash of 2008, others since 9/11, while still others say the airline service cutbacks and employee layoffs are simply unprecedented. Calling the current situation dynamic would be an understatement. […]

The FAA has taken emergency action against Paradigm Air Operators, of Dallas, Texas, revoking the company’s operating certificate. The agency alleges that Paradigm conducted illegal charter flights using pilots who were not qualified for Part 135 operations, and lacking appropriate management and safety personnel. Paradigm’s current operating certificate had allowed it to operate flights that […]

The general aviation industry has always harnessed a sense of optimism towards the future—the completed first solo flight, the new aircraft brought to production, the historic milestone crossed. So, it was with a collective heavy heart that organizations across its breadth elected to cancel the first round of spring shows for 2020, with the most […]