Aviation News

In an economic climate where “flat is the new up” for general aviation manufacturers, there was plenty of good news to report at GAMA’s annual state of the industry media briefing in Washington, D.C., this morning. You guessed it, 2012 was another flat year for makers of GA airplanes. Total billings last year were nearly […]

As the hunt for fugitive ex-cop Christopher Dorner continues in California, the Transportation Security Administration has released an advisory cautioning that the accused killer might try to use general aviation aircraft to evade capture. “It is believed that Dorner received flight training during his time in the U.S. Navy, but the extent of his potential […]

Three men were killed early Sunday morning while flying in a Bell 206 being used to shoot a reality TV show for the Discovery Channel. The crash occurred at the Polsa Rosa Ranch in northern Los Angeles County — a frequent location for film production — under unknown circumstances, according to FAA officials. Pilot David […]

A report released by the Department of Defense Inspector General on Monday calls into question the Air Force’s analysis of the fatal 2010 F-22 crash — which the military attributed to pilot error — that caused the death of Captain Jeff Haney. In the new report, the Inspector General blasts the service’s findings, saying they […]

Yesterday, the FAA signed a declaration of cooperation with the Spanish Aviation and Security Agency (AESA) to help develop sustainable alternative aviation fuels in the two countries. U.S. Deputy Secretary of Transportation John Porcari attended the signing and said, “Spain…has an ambitious and innovative alternative jet fuels R&D program, the involvement of all the key […]

Yves Rossy, known as “Jetman” for his jet-powered backpack-wing flights, has introduced an unpowered version of his wing apparatus. In a video released on his website last week, Rossy not only flies a heart-stopping routine among the mountains of his native Switzerland, but also discusses the new glider version. He points out that all the […]

Sometimes it’s the small things that matter and, if the claims of Premier Aviation out of Concord, California, are true, a simple wheel cover has achieved impressive performance improvements for the Cessna 400 twin-series of airplanes. The company recently received the sign off from the FAA for an STC to install its dome wheel cover […]

Jessica Cox, the first person without arms to earn a pilot’s certificate, is joining Handicap International on a journey to Ethiopia to inspire children with disabilities to reach beyond their dreams despite their physical challenges. Handicap International targeted Ethiopia because low-income countries in particular tend to deny handicapped people opportunities offered to the general public. […]

The velocity is a kit-built composite four-seater. Similar in configuration to Burt Rutan’s VariEze and Long-EZ, it has a swept wing with tall upturned tips, a pusher propeller and a rectangular foreplane of high aspect ratio. The landing gear may be fixed or retractable. Triangular leading-edge extensions, or “strakes,” along the sides of the fuselage […]

A new concept in aircraft ownership is taking flight with the launch of DiamondShare, a shared-use program that seeks to make flying more affordable by spreading the costs around. As you might have guessed, the idea is based exclusively on Diamond Aircraft products, specifically the four-place, single-engine Diamond DA40 XLS. The program matches aircraft owners […]