WASHINGTON, D.C. — As the official record keeper for United States aviation, the National Aeronautic Association tracks dozens of world and national record attempts each year. New U.S. records are certified and those qualifying as world records are then ratified with the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI). At the end of each year, under the direction of the NAA […]
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Pipistrel delivers 600th aircraft in Sinus/Virus family
Pipistrel reports that the 600th aircraft from the Sinus/Virus family has just been completed and will be delivered to its new owner in Australia. The occasion was an opportunity for Pipistrel’s 80 employees to take a photo next to the aircraft (below). They were accompanied by the Australian distributor, Michael Coates (second row, third from […]
Cat Shot and Sprint competition returns to SUN ’n FUN
LAKELAND, Florida — In celebration of the 40th year of SUN ‘n FUN, the Cat Shot and Sprint competition is returning to the annual fly-in. A 40-mile course featuring both a timed takeoff and timed circuit around the course from a flying start will be open to piston aircraft. Sharp piloting skills and precision navigation […]
Court dismisses SMO lawsuit
In a landmark decision, a U.S. District Court judge sided with the FAA in a motion to dismiss a federal lawsuit brought by the City of Santa Monica over the future of Santa Monica Municipal Airport (SMO). In a case filed last October, the Santa Monica City Council asked the court to allow the city […]
FAA grounds Valentine’s flower delivery drone
COMMERCE TOWNSHIP, Mich. — FlowerDeliveryExpress.com recently conducted the first flower delivery by drone. The company was immediately notified by the FAA that commercial use of drones is only authorized on a case-by-case basis, which led CEO Wesley Berry to halt future testing with drones. FlowerDeliveryExpress.com had intended to deliver as many free rose bouquets as […]
Career forum to be featured at Northwest Aviation Conference
An Aviation Business and Career Forum will be held one day before the Northwest Aviation Conference and Trade Show in Puyallup, Wash., next weekend. Every year aviation enthusiasts flock to Puyallup for the show, which is hosted by the Washington Aviation Association. The 2014 conference and trade show is scheduled for Feb. 22-23. This year […]
NextGen over budget and behind schedule
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Pilots and aircraft owners at all levels of aviation are reluctant to invest in the necessary new equipment for the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen). One reason is that the FAA has not clearly defined what benefits will be achieved and when. A recent report from Calvin Scovel III, Inspector General […]
Cirrus and partners unite to grow general aviation
DULUTH, Minn. – Cirrus Aircraft’s JumpStart Program will place 12 brand new and fully equipped SR20s at Cirrus training center partners in select markets across the country, to give more new pilots a comprehensive introduction to general aviation by learning to fly in a Cirrus.
How a ghost doomed the Skycatcher
In a new blog post, Flying magazine’s Robert Goyer says that the Cessna Skycatcher failed because it was overly sensitive to wind, had a “Made in China” label that infuriated the American marketplace, plus a high price tag. Once the price was raised to $150,000, “the price was too high for what you got, and what […]