Aviation News

Last week, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association met with ASTM International, the independent organization that sets consensus standards for fuels approved for FAA type certified aircraft. The discussions included the role ASTM will play in the future of leaded, unleaded and diesel fuel specifications for GA aircraft. Among the issues raised by the pilots’ […]

Last Week, the House passed its appropriations bill for the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) 2010 budget. As part of the bill, the DHS would require the resubmission of a new notice of proposed rulemaking by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to replace the so-called Large Aircraft Security Program or LASP. Another provision of the […]

According to a recent report from UBS Investment Research, the number of used business jets on the market has stabilized. That’s the good news. Temper it with the acknowledgement that 18 percent of the in-service fleet is on the block; a record level. A bit more good news comes from the fact that, for aircraft […]

With green in mind, the SkySpark project flew its Pioner Alpi 300 two-place airplane for the first time last week, and two days later flew again-this time reaching 155 mph (approximately 132 knots). The airplane is powered with a 75 kw motor driven by lithium polymer batteries installed in the right passenger seat. More information […]

His FJ44 and FJ33 series engines spawned an entire class of light jets, and his ambition was to promote a generation of even smaller turbofans for four- to six-place aircraft. Dr. Sam Williams died Monday at the age of 88. His son Gregg, the current president, will now assume the added role of Chairman at […]

Pending legal action, private flying could get a lot less private. Through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), news agency ProPublica petitioned the FAA to release the list of operators who had blocked their tail numbers from Internet sites displaying air traffic control data. The FAA initially approved ProPublica’s request and was ready to release […]

If you’re a pilot or maintenance technician who’s lost your job due to the economic downturn, FlightSafety is here to help. This week, the training organization announced the new, trademarked Proficiency Protection Program, in which pilots and maintenance technicians can receive continuing training at no cost while they look for work. The program provides business-aircraft […]

Operators of most Cessna single-engine models may now install Forward Vision’s infrared thermal imaging camera systems under a Supplemental Type Certificate issued by the FAA. Only Model 208 Caravans and P210s are not included, and Forward Vision is working on acquiring an STC for the latter. At a cost of about $15,000 (uninstalled), the Forward […]

The terrorist threat of light GA aircraft has been compared to “marshmallows thrown against a windowpane.” Apparently, the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General office agrees. In a report issued last month the DHS office wrote: “We determined that general aviation presents only limited and mostly hypothetical threats to security.” We in the […]

When five members of the British activist group Plane Stupid chained themselves to a business jet at London City Airport, the British Business and General Aviation Association (BBGA) stepped up. Chief Executive Guy Lachlan called the group’s efforts “politically driven” and “misguided,” and he backed up his assertion with some interesting numbers. All of aviation […]