Aviation News

XTI Aircraft Company, developers of the tilt-rotor-like TriFan 600, this week announced Robert J. LaBelle as its chief executive officer. LaBelle joins XTI after three years as CEO of AgustaWestland Tiltrotor Company, which he joined as vice president in 2004. “I view this position with XTI as a unique opportunity to help bring to the […]

Palo Alto-based uAvionix has announced the creation of an ADS-B transceiver not much larger than a contact lens — and weighing in at just 1 gram — aimed at the drone market’s yet unresolved problem of identifying themselves to other aircraft and drones while operating in the national airspace system. uAvionix CEO Paul Beard said […]

The Senate today confirmed Elaine Chao to be the next Secretary of Transportation. President Donald Trump nominated Chao on Nov. 29. She appeared shortly thereafter before a hearing of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation to consider her nomination. In the weeks ahead, Chao will become immersed in the congressional focus on infrastructure […]

The FAA has thrown in the towel in the fight for Santa Monica Airport, striking a compromise deal with local officials that will permit the city to shorten the runway from about 5,000 feet to 3,500 feet within a year and close the airport forever at the end of 2028. The city is already laying […]

One of the aviation industry’s most popular podcasts, The Airplane Geeks, last week welcomed Flying magazine Editor-in-Chief Steve Pope to the show. Pope spent an hour engaging with the Geeks’ hosts, fueling passionate discussions about industry topics like United Airlines’ recent computer problems, tracking passengers moving through the airport, the search for MH370, ADS-B-capable satellites, […]

San Diego-based Coast Flight Training has responded to the increasing demand for professional pilots by expanding its airline flight training program, opening up a new facility in San Marcos, Texas. The training program is focused on transition training for military helicopter pilots who have a desire to enter into an airline career. “We are very […]

The U.S. Helicopter Safety Team, a collaborative effort of government and industry leaders focused on improving helicopter safety, this week announced 17 educational classes to run during the upcoming Heli-Expo in Dallas March 6-9. The USHST says the bumper list of educational seminars at Heli-Expo represents the largest number of individual workshops the group has […]

Maule Air has added newly certified aircraft to its M-9 series: the M-9-260 Fuel Injected and M-9-235 Carbureted taildraggers. A 260 hp Lycoming IO-540 powers the M-9-260; the M-9-235 runs on a 235 hp Lycoming O-540 that can burn mogas. Both airplanes can seat up to five people and carry 2,800 pounds of gross weight. […]

Textron Aviation, maker of Beechcraft and Cessna aircraft, announced this week it will invest in the future of aviation with a $100,000 donation to Kansas State University’s College of Engineering. The Wichita, Kansas-based manufacturer’s gift is aimed specifically at supporting women engineering students. “Textron Aviation is committed to developing the next generation of STEM professionals,” […]

The crowds at the U.S. Sport Aviation Expo in its third day at the Sebring Regional Airport in central Florida aren’t overwhelming, but there has been an enthusiastic influx of visitors each day. Highlights of the show have been the aerial demonstrations of LSA on display, especially with strong winds down the runway allowing for […]