Aviation News

When the Space X Dragon capsule re-enters the Earth’s atmosphere after its first (unmanned) flight next week, it will do so with the FAA’s blessing. Space Exploration Technologies Corp — known as SpaceX — is the first private entity to receive a license from the agency for its craft to re-enter the atmosphere. Next week’s […]

The FAA website’s top story reflects the agency’s commitment to speeding the transformation to NextGen. It explains that Performance Based Navigation Instrument Flight Procedures (IFPs) are the key to the benefits of switching from ground-based radar to satellite-based GPS. And based on recommendations from a task force assembled by RTCA, the FAA has launched what […]

The pilot, 69, had almost finished a six-month refurbishment of a Piper PA-12 Super Cruiser. He had been rebuilding airplanes for 40 years, and his habit was to have a certain A&P mechanic perform a “semifinal” inspection as each project neared completion. The mechanic would give him a list of things that needed to be […]

A new rule proposed by the FAA would require photo certificates for pilots. Currently, pilots carrying the “old new” tamper resistant plastic certificates must also carry a second government photo ID, such as a driver’s license. The new certificates would have to be updated every eight years with a new photo. If approved, the new […]

Flight training specialist ATP isn’t listening to the doom and gloom about the sad state of general aviation shipments and billings for the first three quarters of 2010. It just ordered six new Piper Seminole light twins, which, when delivered before year end, will increase the school’s fleet of Seminoles to 87 nationwide, complemented by […]

The catastrophic failure of one of its four Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines caused damage to several systems on board a Qantas Airbus A380. A chain of failures had the pilots using all their available skills to bring the megaliner back to Singapore for a safe landing earlier this month. No one on board was injured, […]

Connie Sue White, Flying Magazine managing editor, has passed her check ride and now holds an FAA Sport Pilot certificate. According to Editor-in-Chief Robert Goyer, her examiner said their soft-field landing was the best she had ever seen in a Remos light sport aircraft, and said she “couldn’t even tell they had landed.” Congratulations, Connie […]

A rash of seat track failures in the mid 1980s led to an FAA airworthiness directive (AD) on several Cessna models. Faulty latch mechanisms led to several accidents in which the seat slid back and the pilot lost control of the airplane. Now, the FAA has published a notice of proposed rulemaking that adds new […]

Fractional aircraft specialist NetJets announced pretax earnings of $158 million for the first nine months of this year, contrasting with losses of $531 million for the same time frame last year. The increased earnings are attributed to increases in flight hours and lower fuel costs, though income from monthly management fees is down due to […]

When Congressman Vern Ehlers (R-Mich.) retires at the end of this term, he will be replaced as chairman of the House of Representatives’ GA caucus by fellow Republican Sam Graves (R-Mo.). A longtime pilot, Graves is lauded by GA advocacy groups as a good choice to the lead the caucus, which Ehler helped to establish […]