Middle Georgia State University will be joining the Federal Aviation Administration’s fight against the air traffic controller shortage through its collegiate training initiative program, known as AT-CTI. It joins six other educational institutions from across the US. With the buzz of the 2025 competition settling down, the Air Race Classic (ARC) is ready to re-stir the pot by unveiling its 2026 route. The all-women’s cross-country will center around Illinois, taking pilots on a southern loop through 10 stops. The race is set to take place from June 23 to 26, 2026, kicking off in East Alton, Illinois, and winding through eight additional stops before finishing in Mount Vernon, Illinois. With an increasingly high rate of flying car customers proving to be non-pilots, manufacturer Samson Sky is introducing a new training program using its Switchblade ve
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The Senate confirmed Bryan Bedford to become the next Administrator of the FAA, in a near party-line 53-43 vote. Bedford takes over the agency during a critical time when safety issues have become prominent and Congress has approved initial funding for the complete overhaul of the air traffic control system that is slated to be completed in the next 3-4 years. In a post on Truth Social, President Trump said, "I am pleased to announce that I am directing our GREAT Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy, to be Interim Administrator of NASA. He will be a fantastic leader of the ever more important Space Agency, even if only for a short period of time." NASA’s old-school WB-57 got a workout this week with a novel mission for the classic aircraft: Emergency assessment of the devastated Texas Hill Country. The high-altitude WB-57 has been a trusty workhors
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Joby Aviation announced its electric air taxi successfully completed a series of VTOL wingborne trial flights in Dubai, signaling the start of its commercial market readiness activities in the region. These flights will contribute to the advancement of Joby’s readiness ahead of its anticipated first passenger flights in 2026. Electra announced it has been awarded a $1.9 million Small Business Innovation Research contract from the U.S. Army to leverage its development and testing expertise in advancing research and development of hybrid-electric powertrain, power, and propulsion systems, or HEPPS. Air taxi developer Archer announced the successful first flight of its Midnight aircraft at Al Bateen Executive Airport (AZI/OMAD) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, representing the first test of the aircraft’s performance in the hot, humid, and dusty desert envi
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Joby Aviation announced its electric air taxi successfully completed a series of VTOL wingborne trial flights in Dubai, signaling the start of its commercial market readiness activities in the region. These flights will contribute to the advancement of Joby’s readiness ahead of its anticipated first passenger flights in 2026. Electra announced it has been awarded a $1.9 million Small Business Innovation Research contract from the U.S. Army to leverage its development and testing expertise in advancing research and development of hybrid-electric powertrain, power, and propulsion systems, or HEPPS. Air taxi developer Archer announced the successful first flight of its Midnight aircraft at Al Bateen Executive Airport (AZI/OMAD) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, representing the first test of the aircraft’s performance in the hot, humid, and dusty dese
The Commemorative Air Force Airbase Arizona is taking its “Flying Legends of Victory Tour” to Boeing Field/King County International Airport (KBFI) in Seattle, Washington, where its prized B-17G Sentimental Journey will land on July 28, 2025 to coincide exactly with the 90th anniversary of the first flight of the B-17 prototype on July 28, 2035, from that very same airfield. Three board members of the Northeast Florida Regional Airport (UST) Authority, including board chair Reba Ludlow, are facing criminal charges ranging from a misdemeanor for violating public meeting laws to felony witness tampering. Chair Reba Ludlow and members Dennis Clarke and Len Tucker are facing criminal charges tied to long-running violations of Florida’s Sunshine Law, which mandates public access to governmental decision-making. The North American Aerospace Defense Command
From 2015 (YouTube Edition): E-Fest: The Greatest Indoor Airshow We've EVER Seen!
While at E-Fest 2015, it’s obvious that ANN CEO and Editor-In-Chief, Jim Campbell, had a great time, and he talked with E-Fest committee member Frank Noll to get some background on this great event. Noll explained that E-Fest is an annual indoor electric R/C Festival that brings together about 250 pilots every February to fly, and to advance their sport. The event takes place at the University of Illinois Track and Field Armory in Champaign, Illinois. The primary sponsor of E-Fest is Hobbico, a major source of the equipment that makes flying indoor electric RC aircraft so much fun.
The Flight Path Was Consistent With Low-Altitude Maneuvering
On June 18, 2025, about 0922 mountain standard time, a Cessna A150L airplane, N6436F, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Three Points, Arizona. The student pilot and flight instructor were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. A family member of the student pilot reported that the airplane departed from Ryan Field Airport (RYN), Tucson, Arizona, about 0900 mountain standard time on June 18, 2025. An alert notification (ALNOT) was issued the following day, June 19, 2025, at 1228, when the airplane was reported missing by a family member of the student pilot.
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Alexis Perez Suarez, a 43-year-old man from Baltimore, Maryland, pled guilty to violating national defense airspace knowingly and intentionally by flying a drone over the M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on January 11, 2025 during the NFL’s Wild Card Game. Magistrate Judge Charles D. Austin sentenced Suarez to one year of supervised probation, 100 hours of community service, and a $500 fine. Following the latest Paris Air Show, Boeing announced it is evaluating the possibility of restarting production of its giant C-17 Globemaster III strategic airlift platform ten years after the last one was delivered to the U.S. Air Force. Hartzell Propeller is moving to a new, larger exhibit space in Booth #289, just outside of Hangar B at the EAA AirVenture 2025 at Wittman Regional Airport (KOSH) in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. They will be joined by their companion c
Aero Linx: Minnesota Seaplane Pilots Association (MSPA)
We are the Minnesota Seaplane Pilots Association (MSPA), a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and empowering seaplane pilots across our great state. At MSPA, we pledge to work collectively to promote seaplane flying throughout Minnesota. Our goal is to serve as a central hub for seaplane pilots in Minnesota, offering knowledge, resources, and camaraderie.
Preferred IFR Routes
Routes established between busier airports to increase system efficiency and capacity. They normally extend through one or more ARTCC areas and are designed to achieve balanced traffic flows among high-density terminals. IFR clearances are issued on the basis of these routes except when severe weather avoidance procedures or other factors dictate otherwise. Preferred IFR Routes are listed in the Chart Supplement U.S., and are also available at https://www.fly.faa.gov/rmt/nfdc_preferred_routes_database.jsp. If a flight is planned to or from an area having such routes but the departure or arrival point is not listed in the Chart Supplement U.S., pilots may use that part of a Preferred IFR Route which is appropriate for the departure or arrival point that is listed. Preferred IFR Routes may be defined by DPs, SI
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