Program with Covalen Aims to Make Flying Affordable for Small-Time Operators

The Canadian Owners and Pilots Association will now offer their own insurance option for pilots up North, citing a difficult landscape that makes flight harder than ever for the little guy. “Pilots in Canada have faced numerous issues related to eligibility, aircraft type, age, and costs, all of which have impeded their ability to take to the skies. COPA aims to remove these obstacles with its new insurance program that will make flying more accessible for everyone. Launching this spring, the Aviators Canada Insurance Program (ACIP) is uniquely tailored to the needs of Canadian pilots and aircraft owners..."

Honoring Richard Abruzzo From U.S. And Sweden’s Hans Åkerstedt

The Anderson Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum announced that Richard Abruzzo of the U.S. and Hans Åkerstedt of Sweden are this year’s inductees into the FAI (World Air Sports Federation) Ballooning Commission Balloon and Airship Hall of Fame. The inductees were announced at the Ballooning Commission’s plenary meeting in New Delhi in March 2025.

French Fighter Fleet Grows, Settling Debate Over Future MiG Procurement

The long-running battle for India’s naval fighter dollars continued with a signed $7.5-billion deal for new Rafale Marines to outfit their carrier force, which nets them a full collection of simulators, weapons, logistics, and 26 aircraft. The first Indian-spec Rafale M should be ready for display in the next year or two, but some special modifications may add to the delay. Granted, the big headlining feature of Rafale Ms in Indian service should be fairly simple, but modifications to established designs always take some time. The Vikrant’s fairly small elevators mean the Rafale Ms need folding wingtips in order to fit the tight confines of their headlining ca

X-66A Flight Demonstrator Prototype Paused for Continued Thin Wing Testing

NASA and Boeing recently shared that they are putting the development of their X-66A Sustainable Flight Demonstrator on hold. In the meantime, testing and research of thin wing technology will continue from the ground. The aircraft project kicked off in 2023 with over a billion dollars of funding from both partners.

Would Provide $15B For Investments In Staffing, Tech, Infrastructure

The General Aviation Manufacturers Association expressed support for a bill introduced in the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee that would provide $15 billion for critical air traffic workforce, technology, and infrastructure investments.

Also: Cal Poly Aviation Club, $$un Country, Arkansas Aviation Academy, Teamsters Local 2118

In response to two recent general aviation accidents that made national headlines, more than 5,000 pilots have joined the “National Pause for General Aviation Safety.” This is a six-month campaign launched in April 2025 by the Air Safety Institute. The initiative, backed by the FAA and 22 other aviation organizations, urges GA pilots to slow down, refocus, and maybe—just maybe—stop flying into trouble. Epic Flight Academy and Seminole State College of Florida (SSC) have signed an agreement that enables pilots trained at Epic to transfer cer

From 2014 (YouTube Version): Innovative Aerodynamic Technologies Produce Game-Changing Results

At the NBAA 2013 convention, ANN CEO and Editor-In-Chief, Jim Campbell had a chance to talk with Tamarack Aerospace Group about their partnership with the Cessna to provide winglet modifications for certain Cessna jet models. Nick Guida, founder and president of Tamarack Aerospace Group explained to Jim the uniqueness of their product. Adding winglets to an airplane aerodynamically increases the aspect ratio of the wing creating less drag and more efficiency. However, they also create greater wing bending moments which leads to

One Witness Saw The Airplane Spin About One And A Half Revolutions Before It Descended Out Of Their Sight

On April 11, 2025, about 1906 central daylight time (CDT), an experimental amateur-built Azalea Aviation LLC Saberwing, N121DF, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Justin, Texas. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the airframe kit manufacturer, the pilot was returning to Propwash Airport (16X), Justin, Texas. He departed the Valdosta Regional Airport (VLD) Valdosta, Georgia about 1120 eastern daylight time, with a stop at the Ralph C. Weiser Field Airport (AGO) Magnolia, Arkansas. ADS-B data showed that the airplane arr

Aero Linx: The Vertical Flight Society (VFS) The Vertical Flight Society, formerly the American Helicopter Society, is the non-profit technical society for the advancement of vertical flight. It has 21 different technical committees and two dozen active chapters around the world. There are over 100 corporate members and 28 educational members.

Taxi The movement of an airplane under its own power on the surface of an airport (14 CFR section 135.100 [Note]). Also, it describes the surface movement of helicopters equipped with wheels. 

“This plan opens insurance options to a much wider variety of Canadian aviators across the country who have otherwise had more challenges with securing insurance coverage... We want to welcome everyone to the program. Aviation isn’t just for one age group. It’s for young people just getting started and older seasoned aviators. We want to make it easier for aviators across the country, regardless of what they’re flying or their ages, by making insurance more accessible, we aim to take it off the table as an impediment to flying.” Source: Ashlynne Dale, Eastern Vice-Chair, Southern Ontario Regional Representative on the COPA board of directors, and a member of the insurance task force.