Aviation News

For the 15th time, Congress has voted for a 90-day extension on FAA funding. The last long-term funding plan expired in 2007. Bills to establish a new long-term program to fund the agency have been proposed, but always fall short of the needed support for a variety of reasons having little or nothing to do […]

Last week, the FAA announced it was merging two safety programs for efficiency and to “help guide safety decisions” in the future. Pilots and Air Traffic Controllers have long been able to confess their gaffes in a “non-punitive environment” through the FAA’s Safety Action Programs — ASAP (Aviation Safety Action Program) for pilots and ATSAP […]

In a move aimed at helping bring aviation jobs back, the Senate has approved continuing the bonus tax incentive through the end of this year for new aircraft purchases. The rule allows companies or individuals buying new aircraft to record the purchase’s depreciation in the first year, rather than stretching the tax benefits over five […]

J. Mac McClellan, former editor-in-chief of Flying, has joined the Experimental Aircraft Association’s publications staff. Beginning next month, he will share his expertise with EAA members through his ‘Left Seat’ column and other features in EAA’s flagship publication, Sport Aviation, as well as online through EAA’s e-publications. With more than 10,000 hours of flying experience, […]

Cessna told workers on Tuesday it is forced to further pare its workforce with 700 more layoffs across the board. This announcement came on the heels of a vote by Cessna’s 2,500 union employees on Saturday not to strike. The no-strike vote meant the union accepted by default a new contract they had voted by […]

Mike Houghton, president and CEO of the Reno Air Racing Association made the call to cancel flying on Sunday’s race day. “It was a safety issue,” he said. “Our number one priority is the safety of our pilots.” Though he was declared winner based on the best qualifying time, Steve Hinton, 23, said he was […]

Dr. Peggy Chabrian, President and founder of Women in Aviation International (WAI) has been selected by the National Aeronautic Association as winner of this year’s Frank G. Brewer Trophy. The annual award goes to the individual, group of individuals or organization “for contributions of enduring value to aerospace education in the United States.” Dr. Chabrian, […]

Two recent news events have lifted pilots’ hopes for restoration of Meigs Field as an airport. President Obama has pledged to include repaving runways to his plans to boost infrastructure spending; and the man who unpaved it in the first place announced he will not seek re-election as Mayor. Richard Daley, as Mayor of Chicago, […]

Restrictions on foreign students receiving recurrent training could be easing up. This week, the Transportation Security Administration is expected to reduce the bureaucratic hurdles currently in place. Since the terrorist attacks of 9/11, foreign pilots with type ratings in aircraft more than 12,500 pounds MTOW (maximum takeoff weight) needed to complete a vetting process every […]

Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kans.) has announced plans to ask the U.S. International Trade Commission to look into the issue of unfair competition in business aircraft production. His state is home to Cessna, Hawker Beechcraft and Learjet, and Brownback has suggested that foreign competitors — specifically Embraer of Brazil — have enjoyed government subsidies in developing […]