Breaking News

13.07.2010 2:00

China Making Progress Toward GA-Friendly Skies

Changes are expected soon that would make China much more open to general aviation, according to China Daily. "There will be progress in opening up the low-altitude airspace in the later half of this year, and many local governments have expressed interest in investment," said Wang Xia, vice president of the General Aviation School at Civil Aviation University of China. The skies have gradually become more open to private, low-altitude aircraft, but only if operators comply with a complex and time-consuming approval process that involves several different government agencies. To become a private pilot, applicants must pass a series of tests and physical exams, and spend about $20,000. There are only about 1,000 private pilots in China, according to China Daily. Meanwhile, officials are investigating corruption in China's aviation industry, the Canadian Press reports. [Read more]

13.07.2010 2:00

Faulty Heaters, Bad Air Cited In Jet Cockpits

Pilots train for years to earn themselves a seat in a jet cockpit, but concerns about air quality and faulty cockpit window heaters suggest it may not be the healthiest work environment. The FAA plans to issue an airworthiness directive this week that will require operators to either inspect or replace some windows in the cockpits of Boeing 757, 767 and 777 aircraft, in an effort to prevent smoke, fire or cracking of the windows caused by faulty electrical connections. In the last 20 years, 11 fires have been reported, the most recent in May. Also this week, a former Qantas pilot said he suffered symptoms including difficulty concentrating, regular bouts of bronchitis and gastric illnesses, and even an episode of partial paralysis due to toxic gasses in the cabin airflow. A report on cabin air quality by the U.K. government is three months overdue, fueling speculation that information is being suppressed, according to The Sunday Telegraph. [Read more]

12.07.2010 2:00

Harris-Moore Arrested

A Washington teenager accused, among other things, of stealing several airplanes is behind bars in the Bahamas. Colton Harris-Moore, whose cult status earned him the nickname the Barefoot Bandit, was arrested by the Royal Bahamas Police Force in an ending fitting for the movie that will inevitably be made about the youth's crime spree. A source speaking on condition of anonymity told Associated Press officers shot out the engine of a boat Harris-Moore had stolen and was using to flee from police. The dramatic end to Harris-Moore's two years on the lam came on an idyllic island where it is alleged he ditched a $600,000 Cessna Corvalis, stolen in Indiana, in the surf. [Read more]

10.07.2010 2:00

Circumnavigation "First" For Australian Aviation

Thursday, Ken Evers and Tim Pryse returned to Australia, becoming the first Australians to circumnavigate the earth in an Australian-designed and built airplane, the Airvan GA8-TC, but they also had a greater cause. The trip was intended to raise awareness of malaria and raise money for malaria prevention programs while also marking the centenary of Australian aviation. John Duigan is credited with taking the first Australian-made powered airplane aloft on July 16, 1910. That trip was about seven meters long. Evers and Pryse flew their Australian-made plane for 55 days, including 234 flight hours. They covered 52,000 km and touched down in 16 countries. The trip's timing meant the men saw, first-hand, the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and violent uprisings in Jamaica. The two men say the trip has served to invigorate their campaign against malaria and the men now have plans to produce both a book and documentary about their flight. [Read more]

10.07.2010 2:00

Snowbirds Crash Report Cites Lack Of Training

The pilot who crashed a CT-114 Tutor during a photo flight with the Canadian Snowbirds in 2008 was not trained for the role that ultimately killed him and his onboard photographer, according to the flight safety report. Lead investigator Major Kevin Roberts told CTVNews that experienced pilot Captain Bryan Mitchell was maneuvering with the formation and was probably looking back over his shoulder at the formation when he flew the aircraft and his passenger, photographer Sgt. Charles Senecal, into the ground. The accident took place near the team's home of Moose Jaw, Sask. "Fluid maneuvering around a formation at low altitude is potentially a high-risk activity and typically involves specialized training," according to the report. Mitchell had not received such training. According to the report, that fact was "not fully considered" while planning the flight and was likely "overshadowed by his [Mitchell's] overall high experience level and reputation." Click through for details of the maneuver that killed Captain Mitchell and Sgt. Senecal. [Read more]

09.07.2010 2:00

Aerobatic Performers Support Wounded Veterans

Click for more photosAirshow season is in full swing, and one new act on the circuit aims not just to entertain but also to raise awareness about injured veterans who are transitioning back into civilian life. Team Vandy-1, based in Maryland, operates a black L-39 aerobatic jet that now is branded with the Wounded Warrior logo on its tail. The Wounded Warrior Project, based in Jacksonville, Fla., began as a group of veterans and friends who would visit wounded soldiers recovering in the hospital. The nonprofit organization now provides support and advocacy for transitioning vets, from providing counseling and mentoring to organizing bicycle tours and rock-climbing treks. The Vandy-1 team will promote the project at airshows around the country, raise money and awareness, and also take veterans up for a flight. [Read more]

09.07.2010 2:00

AVweb Insider Blog: Pushing the Envelope

It's a complicated, scary world, full of challenges that compound one on top of another faster than we can keep up — but then again, we may be better at keeping up than we give ourselves credit. When a technological problem is at its worst, the pressure to innovate often gives rise to surprising solutions — and that thought gives AVweb editor Mary Grady a little hope when it comes to the giant hurdles facing aviation. Click here to read Mary's post on the AVweb Insider blog and leave your comments. [Read more]

09.07.2010 2:00

Question of the Week: Light Sport and the FAA

The era of self-policing for light sport aircraft manufacturers may be coming to a close as the FAA is hinting it wants a say in how the industry is run. Should there be more government oversight in the LSA sector?Plus: Last week, we asked AVweb readers ; click through to read what AVweb readers had to say on the subject. [Read more]