Aviation News

The recent animated film Up featured the story of a man who lifted his entire house aloft with a cluster of toy balloons. Total fantasy. But believe it or not, there is an FAA category for flying with clusters of individual balloons, and that category landed one pilot on the cover of the June issue […]

Without any hesitation, the aviation apps have started coming for the Apple iPad. Sporty’s Pilot Shop recently announced an E6B computer application compatible with the Apple iPhone, iPod Touch and the large-screen iPad. The app costs $4.95 and is available at sportys.com.

The May/June edition of FAA Safety Briefing includes an introduction to the Next Generation Air Transportation System — aka NextGen. While most reports focus on how the upgraded ATC system will benefit airlines’ bottom line, the FAA publication zooms in on NextGen’s benefits for general aviation pilots. The issue includes articles on Automatic Dependent Surveillance […]

Fractional operator Flight Options, based in Cleveland, has accepted the first of 100 Embraer Phenom 300s ordered in 2007. The Brazilian light jet is destined to be the mainstay of the Flight Options fleet. See the June issue of Flying for a full report on the Phenom 300 by senior editor Robert Goyer.

A look at the NTSB’s report on the February 2009 crash in Buffalo, New York.

Two Riverside, California high-school students won their local science fair when they concocted a running jet engine from an assortment of auto parts and an old leaf blower. Propane provides the power and a gas stove igniter provides the starting flame. Congratulations to Anthony Mosallam and Jonathon Deming — and condolences to their neighbors.

Teledyne Continental Motors (TCM) has unveiled a two-engine project that will bring jet fuel to the light-aircraft industry. The first, a 230-hp four-cylinder engine is expected to be certified next year. A follow-on six-cylinder, 350-hp version could follow as soon as two years later. TCM said the engine program stems from acquired technology — but […]

Beginning next month, more unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) will patrol portions of the U.S.-Mexican border from Arizona to the El Paso area of Texas. Three of the remotely piloted aircraft are already flying and the FAA approved a certificate of authorization (COA) for the expanded flights. A second COA is pending approval, championed in part […]

Canada’s Transport Minister John Baird is said to be preparing to sign a new regulation requiring most aircraft to have a 406-MHz emergency locator transmitter (ELT) in order to operate in Canadian airspace. The rule had been postponed, partly because critics claimed it would stifle private air traffic from the U.S. (where the new ELTs […]

May 25 marks the first meeting of a new committee formed by the Department of Transportation. DOT Secretary Ray LaHood formed the Future of Aviation Advisory Committee in March, and it consists of representatives from airlines, general aviation, airports, manufacturers, the financial community, academics and environmentalists. Cessna President Jack Pelton will serve on the committee, […]