50 SKY SHADES - World aviation news

United States aviation news

Diamond clinches US certification for DA62

Diamond Aircraft has secured US Federal Aviation Administration certification for its DA62 piston twin, paving the way for the airframer to begin deliveries of its flagship aircraft into the world’s largest business and general aviation market. The approval comes 10 months after the diesel-fuelled aircraft received European approval following a three-and-a-half-year development effort....

JetSuite to revamp fleet with new light and large-cabin jets

US air taxi company JetSuite is planning a major revamp of its business jet fleet to exploit the growing appetite in the USA for its branded, low-cost charter service. The operator’s will add with 10 Embraer Phenom 300s over the coming year and will also add up to 10 large-cabin jets over the same period, “to accommodate those customers looking to fly further and/or with more p...

Gulfstream launches system testing with first G600 Iron birth flight

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. announced that the Gulfstream G600 iron bird recently completed its “first flight,” demonstrating the company’s continued commitment to research and development and the growing maturity of the G600 aircraft program. A spatially correct, dimensionally accurate structure that includes a flight deck, the iron bird allows engineers to test the fligh...

Boeing Launches Next-Generation 737 Boeing Converted Freighter

Boeing today launched the Next-Generation 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighter (BCF) with orders and commitments for up to 55 conversions from seven customers. "The Next-Generation 737 provides exceptional value to express freight carriers through its superior payload, range, reliability and efficiency," said Stan Deal, senior vice president, Commercial Aviation Services,...

FAA Reveals UAS Detection Program

The FAA says it’s receiving more than 100 reports a month from pilots and others who spot unmanned aircraft flying close to airports or airplanes. The agency has partnered with CACI International to explore how the company’s prototype detection technology could help detect UAS in the vicinity of airports. CACI’s proof-of-concept system uses radio frequency sensors at strategic...

FlightSimCon 2016 prepares for takeoff

FlightSimCon, an annual flight simulation and aviation conference for pilots and aviation enthusiasts, will take off June 11-12 at the New England Air Museum, which is on the grounds of Bradley International Airport near Hartford, Conn. In 2015, the conference welcomed more than 320 people, with organizers saying they expect many more this year. Registration for the 2016 event is now availab...

Terrafugia’s flying car will be a reality by 2018

When will we finally pilot our own flying cars? It’s a question that’s haunted anyone who grew up watching sci-fi classics, and one American company claims they’re coming sooner than you’d think. Terrafugia is building the first-ever unmanned prototype of its TF-X flying car. They claim the vehicle will be ready for testing in 2018 and available for purchase by 2025. The...

Optimism for Further Easing of Cuba Limits

The recent decision by the U.S. government to re-establish scheduled air service between the U.S. and Cuba is fueling optimism that the remaining travel restrictions will be eased in upcoming months. U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx last week signed an agreement with senior Cuban transportation officials that paves the way for renewal of scheduled air servic...

New York Says Hallo! to Swiss’ Boeing 777-300ER

The newest Flagship of SWISS Airlines has arrived to New York, the first revenue transatlantic flight of the airliner. The aircraft touched down at New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport at 16:01 local time (21:01 GMT), operating flight LX14 from Zurich. Interestingly, the first triple seven of the airline wears a special “Faces of Swiss” scheme, in which are depicted the faces of...

Bell 505 poised to answer hovering questions

Bell Helicopter arrived at Heli-Expo in 1966 with the prototype 206 JetRanger and a business formula that would launch an entire industry: the packaging of a single turbine engine into a light airframe with a price point accessible to an individual entrepreneur. Fifty years later, Bell returns to Heli-Expo with another prototype of a short light single (SLS) helicopter – the 505 JetRanger...

Lawsuit withdrawn but Gogo, American still at odds

The legal action between American and its domestic inflight connectivity provider Gogo, pending in Texas for the past 10 days, has been withdrawn by the airline. American filed a Declaratory Judgment Action on February 12, 2016 as a means to force Gogo to acknowledge the carrier’s right to invoke provisions in the parties’ agreement to serve notice that a rival connectivity provider...

Why Boeing's 787-10 Is Critical for Dreamliner Profitability

Shares of Boeing have slumped more than 20% since late December. The primary culprits have been investor concerns around aircraft demand and -- more recently -- reports of a possible SEC investigation into Boeing's accounting for the 747 and 787 widebody jet programs. At an investor conference last week, Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenberg offered a spirited defense of the company's profit and...