Aviation News

Yesterday Pilatus launched an online configurator for the iPad that allows users to create their dream Pilatus PC-12 turboprop single. One of the hottest marketing tools for carmakers these last few years has been so-called “configurators,” digital utilities that let fans of the car (and potential customers) pick out colors, body mods, trim and interior […]

Eclipse Aerospace has submitted a proposal for a U.S. Air Force request to supply a “large fleet” of very light jets (VLJ) for use as basic trainers. The Air Force is seeking to replace its 20-year-old fleet of business jets to support its Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training (SUPT) Multi-Place Training Track. Cost will be a […]

A fire broke out aboard an empty Boeing 787 Dreamliner at Boston Logan Airport on Monday after the battery powering the Japan Airlines jet’s auxiliary power unit exploded as the jet sat at the gate. A firefighter suffered minor burns controlling the small fire, which caused heavy smoke in the cabin. The flight had arrived […]

As part of its strategy to provide a full range airline career flight training services, Pan Am International Flight Academy has purchased Airline Career Academy (ACA), an ab initio pilot training organization with bases throughout Florida. ACA will be integrated into Pan Am’s operations to offer zero-time pilots all the training they need to advance […]

With all the innovation and new products that landed on the general aviation scene in 2012, there were more than enough big stories to fill out the year. As AOPA’s list of most clicked-on eBrief stories shows, however, some of the most popular were those that returned to GA’s roots and celebrated the blending of […]

Tamarack Aerospace, which last fall introduced its “active winglet” technology, has received an order for three shipsets of the winglets from Premier Jet Aviation in Florida. Premier plans to incorporate the winglets in its “CJ Plus” retrofit of Cessna Citation CJ (Model 525) series jets. The Tamarack winglets are expected to be certified for the […]

Congress not only extended accelerated “bonus” depreciation rules for business-related aircraft purchases, but also upped the limits on what businesses can spend. There had been some concern that temporary tax rules designed to buttress the industry would fall victim to the last minute deal cut to avoid the so-called fiscal cliff. Instead, businesses can now […]

Jason Blair, who has been acting as the executive director for the National Association of Flight Instructors since 2008, has resigned from his position. In his official resignation statement Blair hinted at the reason for his departure being the inability of NAFI to financially support his position. “I fully support the mission of NAFI and […]

Aeromedical services provider Air Methods rang in the New Year with some big news, announcing it has completed its acquisition of Las Vegas tour operator Sundance Helicopters while also placing bulk orders for dozens of new medical helicopters from Bell and Eurocopter. Sundance focuses primarily on Grand Canyon and Las Vegas helicopter tours, but the […]

The National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI) has polled its members to get a sense of the compensation instructors are receiving for their services to determine the ability of the industry to train future pilots. NAFI is still evaluating the results and collecting more data, but the initial analysis does not bode well for the […]