General Aviation
News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.
Aircraft
Covid Crisis Hits GippsAero
The Australian aircraft manufacturer has seen sales and deliveries of its GA8 Airvan dry up during the pandemic.
Rotorcraft
NASA Chief: Uncrewed Aircraft 'Safer'
The agency's administrator touts advanced UAM technologies.
Avionics
Garmin Restores Database and Flight-planning Functions
A cyberattack on Garmin resulted in widespread problems for aviation and sports product users.
Finance, Taxes, Insurance
HeliValue$: 'The Worst Helicopter Market in 40 Years'
Used helicopter values sink under the pressures of pandemic, cheap oil, and scarce credit.
Avionics
Daher Certifies HomeSafe Autoland in TBM 940
Daher has received both FAA and EASA approval of its HomeSafe emergency autoland system on its TBM 940.
Maintenance and Modifications
Ruag Opens New Paint Shop in Oberpfaffenhofen
RUAG Oberpfaffenhofen’s new paint and drying shop is now operational.
Airports
SkyBridge Plans Bizjet MRO Complex at Miami Opa-Locka
The proposed 500,000 square-foot facility at Opa Locka will include hangars, offices, a hotel, and support buildings.
Maintenance and Modifications
Wysong Enterprises Keeps First Responders Airborne
The helicopter MRO has worked on more than 20 aircraft during the Covid-19 pandemic in the last 12 weeks.
Other Voices: Playing the Pandemic Roulette
A young flight instructor ponders the pandemic's effect on his career as a pilot while remaining hopeful about the future.
Avionics
EASA Certifies Garmin G3X Touch
Europe-based owners of certified single-engine aircraft can now install this equipment in their aircraft.
Regulations and Government
EASA Grafts Cybersecurity Onto Certification Standards
New EASA cybersecurity standards include helicopters.
Avionics
Leonardo AW139 Gets Honeywell Primus Epic Upgrade
The new Honeywell Primus Epic Phase 8 software will be available in the Leonardo AW139 intermediate twin.
Rotorcraft
NHV's Airbus H175 Fleet Tops 40,000 Hours
NHV’s fleet accounts for more than 60 percent of the Airbus Helicopters H175’s 66,000 flight hours to date.
ATC
FAA's New Urban Air Mobility ConOps Raises Questions
Morphing existing helicopter VFR corridors into dedicated urban air mobility routes is among the challenges identified by critics of ConOps 1.0.
Avionics
Garmin Adds TXi Compatibility for Meridian, SR22
Owners of airplanes with older instrumentation can gain new funcationality by installing Garmin TXi displays.
Maintenance and Modifications
Bell Buys Chinese MRO Zhenjiang Aerochine Aviation
Bell is acquiring Zhenjiang Aerochine Aviation Limited to increase its MRO capacity in China.
Aircraft
Electric Aircraft Maker Bye Raises $10M for eFlyers
Bye Aerospace aims to have its two-seat eFlyer all-electric aircraft ready to enter service in 2021, followed by the four-seat eFlyer 4.
Rotorcraft
Airbus Helicopters Marks 60 Years in Japan
Airbus Helicopters marks 60 years in Japan with new maintenance facility, orders.
Aircraft
Electric Aircraft Symposium Set To Go Ahead Online
From July 28 to 30, the Electric Aircraft Symposium will focus on both eVTOL models and electric fixed-wing aircraft.
Aircraft
Other Voices: Playing the Pandemic Roulette
The coronavirus pandemic has completely upended the plans of pilots all over the world.
Training and Workforce
FlightAware Live Traffic Feeds Microsoft’s New Sim
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 will include real-time live traffic from all over the world, provided by FlightAware.
Rotorcraft
Helicopter Laserer Gets Federal Prison
A California man who lasered a sheriff’s helicopter in 2017 has been sentenced to 27 months in federal prison.
Accidents
NTSB: Los Angeles Newscopter Hit Drone
A-Star sustained minor damage after "an inflight collision with a hard object of polycarbonate construction."
Aircraft
Leonardo Lands First Commercial IFR AW119Kx Order
Leonardo announced the first commercial and EMS order for its IFR-certified AW119Kx single-engine helicopter.
Regulations and Government
Counterfeit Kamov Helicopter Ring Busted
Moldovan police raided a factory in Cruileni allegedly making unauthorized copies of Russian Kamov-26 coaxial rotor utility helicopters.
Avionics
Garmin GI 275 Displays Approved for Helicopters
Helicopter operators can now install Garmin's GI 275 electronic flight instruments.
Rotorcraft
Congressmen Continue Push for Safer Helo Fuel Tanks
Two Colorado congressman are continuing push for mandatory crash resistant fuel systems (CRFS) in all helicopter air ambulances.
Aircraft
Stratos 716X Personal Jet Makes First Flight
The Stratos 716X single-engine, 4-6 seat personal jet made its first flight July 2 from the company’s plant in Redmond, Oregon .
Rotorcraft
Airbus H160 Gets EASA Nod
Airbus Helicopters’ medium twin H160 received EASA type certification approval on July 1.
Rotorcraft
Horizon Academy's Bell 505 Fleet Tops 1,000 Hours
UAE's Horizon International Flight Academy achieved the milestone with the 12 Bell 505 light singles it's received since January.
