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United States aviation news

U.S. expects F-35 to be part of Canada's next jet competition

The Pentagon expects the new Canadian government to allow Lockheed Martin Corp's F-35 fighter aircraft to compete to replace Canada's aging CF-18 jets, despite the Liberal Party's stated opposition to the planes, U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work said on Saturday. But Work cautioned after talks in Canada that how the fledgling government sets its requirements for the compe...

United and Pilots Union Agree in Principle to Extend Contract

United Continental Holdings Inc and its airline pilots union reached an agreement in principle on Friday to extend the labor contract that covers United's more than 12,000 pilots by two years, the airline said. United's contract with the Air Line Pilots Association International (ALPA) had been due to run through early 2017. The union and United, the second-largest U.S. airline by...

The Air Elite Network continues global growth

World Fuel Services has announced that six new locations have signed with the Air Elite Network since EBACE 2015. The Air Elite Network has now 49 Diamond Service FBOs. The Air Elite Network is working towards opening up 150 worldwide locations. The new members since EBACE 2015 in Geneva are Sky Services in Milan and Venice, Italy; Dassault Falcon Services in Paris Le Bourget, France; Kaiser...

Bomb Threat Forces U-Turn for Spirit Airlines Flight

A Spirit Airlines flight from Fort Lauderdale, Florida to Minneapolis returned to the gate Thursday evening after 15 minutes in the air due to a verbal bomb threat made by a passenger, the Broward County Sheriff's Office said. The Federal Aviation Administration told CBS News the plane was brought to an isolated part of Fort Lauderdale International Airport. CBS West Palm Beach affi...

NBAA's 2015 Convention Demonstrates Vitality of Show and Industry

The National Business Aviation Association’s (NBAA’s) 2015 Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA2015) closed today in Las Vegas, NV, and the event organizers report that the show was once again a resounding success for attendees and exhibitors alike. “This year’s show was enormously successful,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “In addition...

2,000 Contract Airport Workers went on Strike at Seven U.S. Hubs

Entering one of the busiest holiday travel weeks of the year, about 2,000 baggage handlers and other airport workers at seven of America's biggest hubs went on strike Wednesday night over pay and union rights. The work action began at John F. Kennedy and LaGuardia in New York, Boston Logan, Chicago O'Hare, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood in Florida, Newark Liberty in New Jersey and Philadelph...

Off-Duty Pilot's Free Flight to New York Sparks Confusion, Search at LAX

An off-duty JetBlue pilot looking for a free ride back to New York sparked confusion and a brief search at Los Angeles International Airport on Thursday morning when he switched flights without airport officials' knowledge, authorities said. The pilot was spotted in the hallway leading to a JetBlue aircraft from Terminal 3's Gate 31B about 6:00 a.m., said LAX police Officer Rob Ped...

EASA certifies the Eclipse 550

EASA has issued a type certificate for the Eclipse 550 business jet. The announcement was made during the NBAA conference in Las Vegas. “This is a significant event for ONE Aviation and the global future of the Eclipse.” Alan Klapmeier, CEO of ONE Aviation said: “This is a significant event for ONE Aviation and the global future of the Eclipse. The Eclipse perfectly fits th...

American Airlines Introduces AAdvantage Loyalty Program

American Airlines is taking the first step in the evolution of its award-winning AAdvantage® loyalty program. In the second half of 2016, the program will shift how customers earn award miles from distance flown to dollars spent. Award redemption rates will be adjusted with some award levels increasing, while others will be decreasing. Additionally, American will offer the best elite-qual...

How Far Off Is the Supersonic Business Airplane?

Aerion announced its first firm order for its AS2 at NBAA”s Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA2015) on Nov. 17, bringing the supersonic business jet closer to reality. Now, some experts think the supersonic age is set to take off. “This time, what we have is real. I believe we will see a supersonic business jet by 2023,” said Oscar Garcia, chairman of Inte...

Police say no 'connection to terrorism' in Boston-bound flight incident

An apparently intoxicated 32-year-old Polish woman attempted to open an exit door on a British Airways flight from London to Boston on Tuesday, prompting people on the plane to restrain her, the Massachusetts State Police said. "The investigation into this incident indicates this was a case of unruly behavior, with no known connection to terrorism at this point," state police spokesma...

Is the Valkyrie set to ride again?

A San Francisco-based start-up has relaunched a decade-old concept for a five-passenger, piston-powered aircraft called the CO50 Valkyrie and Valkyrie-X. The formal launch on 12 November re-energises Cobalt founder David Loury’s pursuit of the sleek aircraft design featuring distinctive V-style vertical stabilisers and an aft-mounted pusher propeller. “Ten years ago, I had a...