Could The FAA Get ANY Stranger? Worse Yet... Will They?

Despite a clear mandate in opposition to user fees and similar funding mechanisms oft discussed by the FAA, the FAA has decided to start enacting some user fees of its own. And... they've made a pretty aggressive demand for EAA to pay them to staff the event. The EAA, via published statements, has noted that, "General aviation is wearing the target as the FAA looks for revenue, with the agency appearing to be readying a plan to add burdens on recreational aviators with increased costs for a variety of activities. This is occurring even after the Congress enacted legislation that enabled the FAA to fully fund air traffic services. The agency is moving more aggressively toward assessing costs on duties that have always been covered under the FAA budget, including some essential air traffic operations and functions."

Phoenix To Dallas Route Is A World Record Attempt For Absolute Distance In A Solar-Powered Airplane

Solar Impulse, the solar-powered airplane of Swiss pioneers Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg, has departed from Phoenix’s Sky Harbor Airport en route to  Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport to complete the second leg of its historic, cross-country journey.

Rotax Is NOT The Only Player In Sport Aviation Propulsion

Ya gotta hand to Viking... in an industry so VERY well dominated by Rotax, it takes some serious talent and extraordinary fortitude to take them on... But Viking Aircraft Engines has done so... and is making serious headway. While there is a lot to recommend the concept, it is not lost on most sport aviation customers that a Viking Engine can cost as little as half of the price of a comparable Rotax LSA engine. Hence, the little engine that could is quickly becoming popular in the OEM market for many of the most popular aircraft, gyro and powered parachute companies.

New Airplane Unveiled At EBACE In Geneva

Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. has unveiled its newest airplane ... the PC-24 ... which it says is the "world's first 'Super Versatile Jet'." This innovative, entirely new development by the Swiss aircraft manufacturer marks what Pilatus says is the creation of a new segment in the business aviation market: the PC-24 is the first business jet worldwide with the ability to use very short runways, paved or unpaved, and a cargo door as standard.

FAA Has Approved More Than 84 Percent Of The Engine's Documentation

GE Honda Aero Engines announced today it is nearing completion of FAA certification testing on its HF120 engine. In the last six months, the HF120 engine successfully completed crosswind testing and the 150-hour block endurance test. The final remaining test, the medium bird ingestion, is scheduled for completion in July. More than 95 percent of the certification documents to the FAA have been submitted with more than 84 percent already approved.

Company Gives Program Update At EBACE

Cessna is making progress on two key lineup additions for their family of Citation business jets, the company said during a program update at EBACE in Geneva, Switzerland. The Citation Latitude and Citation Longitude programs are both meeting performance and technical objectives, with both programs bringing new performance and innovation to two different categories of business aviation.

Reports Several Significant HondaJet Milestones Achieved

Honda Aircraft Company has announced a number of achievements and significant milestones in the development of the HondaJet at the 2013 European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva, Switzerland.

Posthumously Awarded The Presidential Medal Of Freedom

NASA and President Obama honored the life and legacy of Sally Ride on the day a national tribute was held for the first American woman in space. The President announced Monday afternoon Ride will be posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom during a ceremony at the White House later this year.

Aspen’s All Digital Backup Display Will Give Flight-Training Students The Total Glass Panel Experience

Aspen Avionics announced Tuesday that Piper Aircraft has selected the Evolution Backup Display system for its Piper Archer and Seminole line of aircraft. The Evolution Backup Display is a fully digital, independent flight display system designed to replace mechanical backup instruments used in Part 23 glass panel installations.

Airplane's Health Trend Monitoring System A First In Business Aviation

The FAA recently granted approval to Gulfstream for its G650 Flight Operations Risk Management Service (FORMS) program. The G650 FORMS program is the only in-service program with an FAA-approved Implementation and Operations plan and it meets the EASA Flight Data Monitoring (FDM) requirement for commercial operations.