Breaking News

06.08.2010 2:00

B-29 FIFI Has Flown Again [With Video]

The Commemorative Air Force's Boeing B-29 Superfortress flew Thursday morning at Midland International Airport, taking to the air for the first time since 2004 and reclaiming its title as the only flyable aircraft of its type. "She ran like a top," Paul Stojkov, one of the aircraft's pilots said of the aircraft's 39-minute flight. The hop was made possible by volunteer work, the support of the CAF team and financial contributors like Jim Cavanaugh. That combination saw FIFI fitted with new custom built engines that combine the R-3350-95W and R-3350-26WD engines. FIFI's next flight is expected on Saturday, August 7, and visitors are invited. [Read more]

05.08.2010 2:00

Conyers to Baldwin Aviation

Bob ConyersBob Conyers is the new Director of Safety Management at Baldwin Aviation in Hilton Head Island, SC. Conyers was formerly at Global Aerospace for 23 years, most recently as Manager of General Aviation Safety. [Read more]

05.08.2010 2:00

FAA To Cessna Drivers: Check For Water In Fuel

The FAA says pilots of Cessna 100-, 200-, and 300-series airplanes should intensify their efforts to check for water in the fuel before every flight. "All pilots, owners, operators, maintenance, and service personnel of these type airplanes should assume some water exists in the fuel tank system," the FAA said in a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin posted last week. Water may enter the fuel system via any penetration in the tank, or it may come out of solution in the fuel and settle or adhere to the inside of the tank walls. The bulletin recommends that owners should ensure the airplanes have plenty of drains at a variety of locations, and check them prior to every flight, taking at least one cup of fuel from each location. [Read more]

05.08.2010 2:00

GA Aircraft Sales Down 10 Percent From Last Year

In the first half of this year, sales of general aviation aircraft are down 10 percent compared to the first half of last year, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) reported on Wednesday. Last year, 1,039 aircraft were sold in the first six months, compared to to 937 this year. Billings, however, were up 0.2 percent, totaling $9.40 billion in the second quarter of 2010. This is thesecond consecutive quarterthat industry billings haverisen, GAMA said."As general aviation manufacturers continue looking towards recovery from the economic downturn, it remains critical that pro-growth, pro-manufacturing policies like bonus depreciation that promote aircraft purchases and stimulate job creation be put in place," said GAMA CEO Pete Bunce. "As the global economic recovery picks up steam, markets outside of North America continue to hold promise for renewed growth in our industry." [Read more]

05.08.2010 2:00

School Launches Aging Aircraft Maintenance Site

A new website has been developed that aims to provide one stop shopping for general aviation maintenance information and, specifically, for help maintaining aging aircraft. Wichita State University's National Institute for Aviation Research has developed the Aging General Aviation Education & Training website to provide information to the general aviation community through an extensive searchable database of maintenance documents and training materials. The site hopes to help users identify potential type-specific problems, offers links to outside resources and includes recommended training and education materials for pilots, mechanics, avionics technicians. It also offers a growing collection of "WAR stories." [Read more]

05.08.2010 2:00

Former NetJets Boss, Santulli, Is Back

Richard Santulli left his position as CEO of NetJets Inc. one year ago and announced Wednesday that he will head a new aviation company. Santulli's Milestone Aviation Group is setting its legs behind a $500 million investment, a few key former NetJets employees, and a plan to buy new and used jets and helicopters, which it then plans to lease. Santulli's position is Chairman, while the company's president, Daniel Rosenthal, is a former NetJets vice president; its CEO, William Kelly, was the head of NetJets Europe, and a host of other former NetJets employees make up Milestone's leadership. The new company is based in Dublin, Ireland but has an office in Columbus, Ohio, which is also home of NetJets. That said, Milestone is not designed to compete with NetJets. [Read more]

04.08.2010 2:00

A Bright Finish For "Sploshkosh" 2010

The challenging wet weather in Oshkosh leading up to opening weekend was surely a factor in keeping this year's attendance figures about 7 percent lower than last year, but EAA President Tom Poberezny says the drop was expected after last year's "blockbuster" event. But he added that the second half of the week was "outstanding." The weather turned clear and comfortable, and the Saturday night airshow was a hit -- it will be back next year, Poberezny said. Also, commercial exhibits were up to 777 this year, compared to 750 in 2009. If you missed any part of this year's show, check AVweb's media round-up for all the news, video and podcasts from EAA AirVenture. And if you're thinking about getting there for next year, EAA has some spectacular plans already in the works. [Read more]

04.08.2010 2:00

Paris In Miami? Maybe In 2012

With a growing aerospace industry and a location that provides access to the Latin American market, an economic development group in Florida hopes to bring a major commercial air show similar to the one in Paris to Miami every other year. Airbus has moved its Latin America and Caribbean sales team from France to Miami, and trains about 2,000 crew members at a center there each year. The Miami show could attract small and medium-size companies that can't get to Paris, and would also be attractive to the U.S. military, said Frank Nero, CEO of The Beacon Council, an economic development group working for Dade County. The show could launch as soon as 2012, though "there are still many hurdles," Nero told the Miami Herald. [Read more]