Aviation News

A whole lot of us in general aviation feel like something’s missing this week—and that something would be the two major GA shows we normally attend on either side of the Atlantic Ocean. Sun ‘n Fun Aerospace Expo was to be held in Lakeland, Florida, from March 30 to April 4, with AERO Friedrichshafen originally […]

Albany, Georgia-based Thrush Aircraft, makers of a variety of turbine-powered agricultural and firefighting aircraft said in a news release that despite the wide-ranging effects of the Covid-19 virus on the US economy, the company enjoyed a very strong first quarter. “The company’s 2020 order book so far includes some 17 aircraft for both spray and […]

The FAA last week ruled the Collings Foundation could no longer accept money from people who wanted to ride on the organization’s World War II aircraft. The ruling included a critical look at the NTSB and the agency’s finding following the October 2, 2019, crash of the foundation’s B-17G, “Nine O Nine” at Bradley International […]

For the National Guard pilots assigned to keep Washington, D.C., safe from the air, an exercise called Falcon Virgo was conducted in mid-March near El Paso, Texas, to practice the kind of critically important flying needed to prepare for a certification process that occurs regularly for Guard members who will replace those currently on assignment […]

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 […]