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.
Charter & Fractional
Jet Luxe To Add Pair of Global 7500s
Jet Luxe allows customers to "sponsor" aircraft in exchange for lower rates.
Charter & Fractional
Wheels Up Stock Nose Down
Wheels Up stock is now unmistakably nose-down, trading at $1.06 per share on October 11.
Environment
Unleaded Avgas: FAA Approves Fleet, EPA Preps Regs
The FAA authorized all piston aircraft to use unleaded avgas, while the EPA is taking steps to phase out lead in fuels for aircraft with piston engines.
Accidents
Police Helicopter Crash Stumps NTSB
The fatal May 2, 2020 crash of a Houston police helicopter occurred after an uncommanded right yaw, resulting in a loss of control.
Rotorcraft
Airbus Helicopters Strengthens Korea Ties
Airbus Helicopters and Korea Aerospace Industries have delivered the first jointly-produced light civil helicopter.
Regulations and Government
FAA OKs Night-vision Goggles for Robinson R66
Florida's Polk County Sheriff's Office will receive the first Robinson R66 helicopter fitted with night vision goggles.
Rotorcraft
FAA Certification Chief Promotes FBW in Light Rotorcraft
FAA's Lirio Liu hails the potential of fly-by-wire in light rotorcraft as 'a major advancement.'
Rotorcraft
HAI Slams National Parks Air Tour Plan
HAI president James Viola believes a proposed parks overflight plan could put air tour operators out of business.
Rotorcraft
Sheriff Calls Helicopters 'Flying Dinosaurs'
Hamilton County Ohio plans to replace outdated MD-series 500 sheriff helicopters with drones.
Maintenance and Modifications
Hartzell Engine Tech Unit Doubles Oklahoma Footprint
Hartzell Engine Tech's Quality Aircraft Accessories has completed a more than year-long expansion to its Tulsa facilities.
Rotorcraft
Baldwin Becomes Accepted Vendor For R-ASIAS
Rotorcraft Aviation Safety Information Analysis and Sharing (R-ASIAS) mirrors safety reporting programs developed for fixed-wing aircraft.
Accidents
AW139 Makes Emergency Landing in Louisiana
All survive after a Bristow medevac flight experiences cockpit smoke and loss of flight controls, resulting in an emergency landing in southern Louisiana.
Rotorcraft
Accident Board Takes Fresh Issue with S-92 Main Gearbox
Issues with Vespel spline adapters continue to overhang S-92 main gearboxes.
Regulations and Government
AINsight: Spin Cycle
The FAA's decades-old thinking on spin training needs a new approach.
Rotorcraft
Helo Market Expected To Grow to $41 Billion by 2027
Growth will be driven by the demand for light helicopters, greater aftermarket demand, and the commercialization of UAM and eVTOL aircraft.
Aircraft
Cirrus Plans ‘Innovation Center’ at Duluth HQ
Cirrus Aircraft has secured a 60-year ground lease for its recently acquired building and land in Duluth, Minnesota.
FBOs
NATA Introduces Unleaded Avgas Guidance
The National Air Transportation Association has released a white paper: Unleaded Avgas Conversion Considerations for Aviation Fuel Providers.
Regulations and Government
Hansen Helicopters, CEO Walker Guilty on All Counts
Prosecutor: Case 'about greed.'
Rotorcraft
Bristow Wins Equinor SAR Contract
Bristow will provide a trio of SAR-configured Sikorsky S-92s to Norway's state-owned energy company.
Avionics
Garmin Adds More Twins to Smart Rudder Bias Approvals
Beechcraft Baron B55s with the required autopilot and display can now be equipped with Garmin's Smart Rudder Bias.
Accidents
Fatal Bell 212 Crash Tied To Defective Pin
Canada’s Transportation Safety Board has linked the fatal crash of a 1979 Bell 212 to the failure of a main rotor blade hub strap retaining pin.
Avionics
Lightspeed Unveils ‘Safety Wearables’ Headset Series
Lightspeed's new Delta Zulu changes the parameters of aviation headset design with new safety and audio features.
Maintenance and Modifications
Airbus Launches HCare Classics Support for Legacy Helos
HeliDax has enrolled its entire fleet of 36 Airbus H120s in Airbus's new product support program.
Rotorcraft
MD Helicopters Emerges from Bankruptcy
MD Helicopters's assets have been acquired by a new operating company and it has appointed a new board, CEO, and senior executives.
Maintenance and Modifications
Canada's G2 Performs VIP AStar Conversion
Quebec-based G2 Aviation has converted a utility AStar to VIP configuration for use by Helicraft for VIP transport and aerial city tours.
Avionics
Safran Bidding for Thales' Power Business
Safran is negotiating with Thales to acquire its aeronautical electrical systems business.
Environment
GAMI Secures Piston Fleet Approval for Unleaded Avgas
The FAA, which gave fleet approvals for use of GAMI's G100UL in piston aircraft, plans to use the same review process for other unleaded candidates.
Airports
AAM Infrastructure Still the Known Unknown
Panelists at the VFS Electric Aircraft Symposium stressed the need for advanced air mobility infrastructure for commercial success.
Avionics
SkyLink 7100 Qualified for Crewed Aircraft
Blue Sky Network has qualified its SkyLink 7100 Iridium satcom to DO-160G, and the antenna has received FAA TSO C159d approval.
Rotorcraft
PHI Opens Regional Headquarters in Perth
PHI's new regional headquarters in Perth will oversee operations in the Asia Pacific.
