Aviation News

It’s been a long time coming, but over the weekend the FAA released a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) for the operation and certification of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) weighing less than 55 pounds. The NPRM suggests that people flying drones would be referred to as “operators” and not pilots. These operators would have to […]

A Japanese conglomerate has inked an agreement to purchase Quest Aircraft, maker of the Kodiak single-engine turboprop, with a goal of greatly increased production. Setouchi Holdings plans to retain Quest’s management team and continue building airplanes in Sandpoint, Idaho, as it supplies the cash to allow the manufacturer to hire workers and increase manufacturing capacity. […]

The Seeker, a light utility airplane born in Australia in the early 1990s, has gained U.S. type certification allowing it to finally go on sale here in America. If you’ve never heard of the Seeker you’re probably not alone. A two-seat, high-wing taildragger with the engine mounted high behind the cabin, it’s an odd bird. […]

The 2015 edition of the Red Bull Air Race launched in Abu Dhabi this weekend and, in addition to the usual thrills provided by the intense aerobatic pylon races, the competition included some extra excitement that fortunately ended with no serious injuries. While circling to enter the racecourse, Kirby Chambliss’ Edge 540 airplane lost its […]

L-3 Aviation Products has unveiled a family of ADS-B products to fit a variety of budgets, including the world’s first Mode S transponder with a touchscreen moving map allowing display of ADS-B traffic and weather data without the need to interface with an MFD. The NGT-9000 is a Mode S transponder with 1090ES ADS-B In/Out […]

A 17-year, 26,000-hour A320 captain, who was a check airman for his airline as well as a certified airframe and power plant mechanic, called a friend to say he would fly over his house later that day to show him the Aerostar 601P he had bought. At a quarter to five the friend, a retired […]

Facing difficult challenges related to its CSeries regional airliner, Bombardier is turning to an outsider to head the company after CEO Pierre Beaudoin stepped down. Bombardier announced that it has hired Alain Bellemare, a former top executive at United Technologies, to head the Canadian company. Beaudoin’s title has been changed to Executive Chairman. His father, […]

ADS-B compliance is about to become a little less pricey for thousands of aircraft owners after the public-private NextGen GA Fund announced it is buying 10,000 low-cost Lynx NGT-1000 ADS-B units from L-3 Aviation Products as part of the “Jumpstart GA 2020” program. But as you might guess, there’s a small catch. In order to […]

Here’s some news that’s sure to inflame the ADS-B detractors out there. NavWorx has just announced a fully compliant ADS-B In/Out solution that carries a list price of just $699. And that’s not for some portable unit. It’s the same box as the certified gear, but without the certified price. Alas, if you’re like most […]

The General Aviation Manufacturers Association yesterday released worldwide 2014 year-end aircraft sales and delivery numbers, and not only are the figures encouraging for the future health of the industry, they very nearly shattered records. GAMA President and CEO Pete Bunce reported that, for the year, total worldwide general aviation airplane shipments rose 4.3 percent, from […]