The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, District Lodge 70, located in Wichita, Kansas is urging aircraft manufacturing companies in Wichita to shift their focus to production of medical equipment to help in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The FAA will award approximately $10 billion in funds to commercial and general aviation airports from the Trump Administration’s newly created Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) Airport Program.

The FAA has issued guidance to companies whose drug and alcohol testing programs are disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. DOT guidance can be viewed at <strong><a href="http://www.transportation.gov">www.transportation.gov</a></strong>.

A flight permit issued to an aircraft that does not meet airworthiness requirements but is capable of safe flight.

The prototype SN1003, a New Generation of the Dornier Seastar amphibious aircraft successfully performed its first flight last week at Oberpfaffenhofen EDMO airport, Germany. The flight was performed by Dornier Seawings test pilot crew and took 31 minutes. The Seastar SN1003 attained the required approvals from EASA and LBA on 19 March 2020, this was a major milestone and achievement for the program. Wolfram Cornelius, Chief Test Pilot, noted that, &ldquo;First flight was completed successfully and confirmed the nice han, strip, h2) ] from C:/inetpub/wwwroot/clients/aero-news.net/components/utils.cfc

Billionaire Michael Bloomberg has announced that he will start his own commercial space company in an effort to spend the money he has earmarked for his Presidential campaign. But rather than start from scratch, he is making a bid for NASA. Bloomberg joins a small but growing club of billionaires who have made their fortune in the tech industry and then started launching rockets into space. But rather than build something from the ground up, Bloomberg is exploring what it would take to buy NASA from the , strip, h2) ] from C:/inetpub/wwwroot/clients/aero-news.net/components/utils.cfc

The much-feared decision was made late yesterday... there will be no Sun &lsquo;n Fun for 2020.... Another casualty of the global pandemic. Sun 'n Fun president and CEO John Leenhouts posted remarks on their website late Wednesday. "This year, we will serve those same communities by assisting in the defeat of the COVID-19 pandemic. We stand with our local, state, and national leaders in supporting the social distancing and other health practices that will bring this outbreak to a hal, strip, h2) ] from C:/inetpub/wwwroot/clients/aero-news.net/components/utils.cfc

From the JDA Aviation blog "JDA Journal", a collection of selected articles dealing with COVID-19 and how it is affecting the aviation industry.

Spirit Airlines has suspended flights to five northeast airports in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

EASA has granted CS-23 certification to Elixir Aircraft for its 100 hp VFR aircraft. The certification was awarded March 20 under the new Amendment 5 rules, which reflects the highest level of safety currently possible.

L3Harris Technologies has launched Express Readout, an automated aircraft recorder validation service which provides the necessary reports about recorder functionality as mandated by aviation authorities.

With the World struggling to stop the spread of the deadly coronavirus, governments across the world are in dire need of masks, gloves, and other relief materials. National has been steadfast in supporting the world in these difficult times by ensuring the supply chain process is maintained, while also moving crucial passenger missions.

The U.S. Air Force says two first class cadets have been found dead within three days of each other at the U.S. Air Force Academy. Air Force Officials say the incidents are not related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The FAA has issued exemptions in response to the National Air Transportation Association&rsquo;s (NATA) requests for relief from certain crew training and checking requirements for Part 135 operators.

The prototype SN1003, a New Generation of the Dornier Seastar amphibious aircraft successfully performed its first flight today at Oberpfaffenhofen EDMO airport, Germany. The flight was performed by Dornier Seawings test pilot crew and took 31 minutes. The Seastar SN1003 attained the required approvals from EASA and LBA on March 19, 2020, this was a major milestone and achievement for the program.

Wilgrove Airport in North Carolina's Mecklenburg county will close for good sometime in April.

On behalf of U.S. airlines and our 750,000 employees, trade association Airlines for America (A4A) applauds President Trump for signing the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which includes provisions intended to assist the U.S. airline industry to continue making payroll and protect the jobs of pilots, flight attendants, gate agents, mechanics and others.

Today, the National Air Transportation Association (NATA) and National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, seeking additional guidance on the loan and grant provisions for air carriers, including certain general aviation operators, enacted as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).

Senators Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) today led a group of their colleagues in a letter sent to each of the major domestic airlines, urging every company to issue full cash refunds to all customers who cancel their flights during the COVID-19 crisis, and to American citizens who encounter flight cancellations while stranded in countries that implemented travel restrictions.

A helicopter carrying a Crew Dragon mockup for a parachute test last week had to drop the payload in order to prevent the helicopter from going down.

The COVID-19 pandemic has truly ushered in some aberrant and challenging times. In view of these developments, EASA has postponed the SAFE 360&deg; conference until the 4th Quarter (Q4) of 2020. The new date for the conference will be announced in the coming weeks, at a time when it has become easier to plan such an event.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) of Australia has announced a number of measures to alleviate pressure on Australian RPA operators while ensuring the ongoing safety of aviation.

Sun 'n Fun president and CEO John Leenhouts has posted the following message on the Sun 'n Fun website. "For over 45 Years, Sun 'n Fun has brought millions of aerospace professionals, businesses, supporters and enthusiasts together each spring to celebrate the incredible wonder and limitless opportunities of flight. In 2014, we proudly unveiled that the annual Sun 'n Fun event would become the primary fundraiser for the Aerospace Center for Excellence (ACE), our STEM-based learning campus created to Engage, Educate, and Accelerate the Next Generation of Aerospace Professionals. At Sun 'n Fun, serving our local Lakeland, Florida as well as the global aviation community has always been our ultimate mission."<, strip, h2) ] from C:/inetpub/wwwroot/clients/aero-news.net/components/utils.cfc

The FAA has published in the Federal Register a notice of proposed rulemaking to establish a new database that will provide potential employers with rapid access to information about a pilot&rsquo;s performance and employment records. This advancement will cut the amount of time for potential employers to review this information from 30 days to less than an hour.

<strong>&ldquo;As a commercial pilot and former airline executive, I know the importance of this data in making sure that air carriers hire only those pilots that meet the standards the American people expect.&rdquo;</strong> <strong>Source:</strong> FAA Administrator Stephen M. Dickson.