50 SKY SHADES - World aviation news

United States aviation news

Jet Pack test flight crashes; Pilot critically injured

A jet pack test flight crashed Friday morning injuring the pilot. Troy Widgery, the CEO of Jetpack International, told Denver7 that 27-year-old Nick Macomber had made some modifications to the jet pack and was doing a test flight in a lot off 8th Avenue and Canosa Court. When Macomber got about 10 feet off the ground, he lost control and propelled himself into the ground, acco...

Boeing Gets Order For 747-8 Freighters

Boeing has booked four orders for its 747-8 freighter, the first sales of the year for the plane. Boeing did not identify the customer for the order, which came after the plane maker booked two net orders in 2015 and none the year before. Boeing is due to cut annual 747 production to six from 12 this year, reflecting declining demand for the jumbo jet, which first flew in 1969. Boeing...

Non-Certified Avionics Coming to Certified Airplanes

In what could be the start of a major shakeup in the avionics world, EAA and the FAA are collaborating to bring Dynon’s low-cost EFIS-D10A to certain Cessna and Piper models. Many aircraft owners will soon be able to install non-certified avionics in their Part 23 certified airplanes in a development that should be a boon to pilots looking to upgrade their panels on the cheap. It’s...

Boeing wins $922 million Pentagon deal for 117 Apache helicopters

The U.S. Defense Department on Thursday said it awarded Boeing Co a $922.63 million modification to a contract for 117 AH-64E remanufactured Apache helicopters for the U.S. Army. The work will be done in Mesa, Arizona, and the completion date is estimated at May 31, 2018, the department said in a statement.

Boeing CEO says sales at risk due to U.S. Ex-Im paralysis

A delay in appointing U.S. Export-Import Bank board members threatens to cost Boeing Co  sales, the company's chief executive said on Thursday, flagging an issue that also affects General Electric and other U.S. companies that depend on the agency's export financing. Boeing is on the verge of losing orders because only two of five seats on the agency's board are filled, not eno...

Hawaiian Airlines To Purchase Second Airbus Simulator For On-Site Pilot Training

Hawaiian Airlines announced that it has entered into an agreement with Lockheed Martin Commercial Flight Training to purchase a second Full Flight Simulator (FFS) for its pilot training facilities at its corporate headquarters in Honolulu. The new A320 series simulator will allow Hawaiian to continue its Advanced Qualification Program for pilots using the most advanced and sophisticated techn...

Slimmed-down aircraft wing expected to reduce fuel and emissions by 50%

Every bit of weight on an aircraft increases the fuel, emissions and money required to put it in the air. NASA and Boeing have been working together to design a longer, thinner and lighter wing – so different from typical commercial transport aircraft wings that it requires a brace, or truss, to provide the wing extra support. Researchers expect the lighter weight, lower drag truss-braced...

Airbus concludes coast-to-coast H215 US demo tour

Airbus Helicopters has concluded its H215 demonstrator tour across the US. The aircraft was then put on static display at the Aerial Firefighting International event in Sacramento, California. The three week long tour included flights for more than 100 people, including 40 pilots. The helicopter flew 63 flight hours and covered nearly 6,000 miles (9,500 km). The H215 – previously marke...

Boeing Could Be a Big Winner in the Alaska Air-Virgin America Merger

On Monday, Seattle-based airline Alaska Air announced that it will buy rival Virgin America for $2.6 billion. This was a somewhat surprising turn of events, particularly because Alaska Air operates a single fleet type of Boeing 737s for its mainline flights, whereas Virgin America uses the competing Airbus A320 family. Virgin America currently operates an all-Airbus fleet.  For the next...

How to Fly on a Private Jet for $109

Public charter operator JetSuiteX wants to deliver a private jet–style experience for the cost of a commercial flight. Affordable private jet travel? It's the way of the future, if California-based JetSuite has anything to say about it. The private jet company has carved out a niche as a “value” operator, and today takes its business plan one step further by launching an u...

ONE Aviation and Scheme Designers signs consultation agreement

Scheme Designers and ONE Aviation have entered into an agreement to provide concierge-level design consultation for each customer buying a new  Eclipse 550 aircraft. Alan Klapmeier, chief executive of ONE Aviation, said: “Scheme Designers has earned a reputation for being able to bring a customer’s vision and personality to life in their aircraft livery, making them an exc...

Alaska Air buys Virgin America for $2.6 billion

There's going to be a little less competition among airlines following a big takeover announced Monday. Alaska Air Group has agreed to buy Virgin America for $2.6 billion, the airlines said. Alaska Air(ALK) said it will pay $57 per share, sending Virgin America (VA) stock soaring 40%. Including debt and aircraft leases, the transaction is worth about $4 billion. The combined airline will...