50 SKY SHADES - World aviation news

United States aviation news

Thrive Aviation continues expansion with Florida base and additional Longitude delivery

Thrive Aviation continues to grow its operation with a newly opened operational base at Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport (KOPF) and the acquisition of its fourth Citation Longitude. The 24,000 sq. ft. hangar and service facility will support Thrive's continued fleet growth and charter demand as the operator expands its presence in the east coast and global markets. In addition to the...

Alaska Airlines and ZeroAvia developing world largest zero-emission aircraft

Alaska Airlines presented a Dash 8 Q400 regional turboprop to ZeroAvia that will be retrofitted with a hydrogen-electric propulsion system in an effort to expand the reach and applicability of zero emissions flight technology. At an event, held at ZeroAvia’s Paine Field research and development site, the companies were joined by high school students from Raisbeck Aviation High Scho...

Boeing expands ecoDemonstrator flight testing with 'Explorer' airplanes

Boeing is expanding its ecoDemonstrator flight-test program to further accelerate innovation for sustainability and safety. The company announced 2023 plan to assess 19 technologies on the Boeing 777 ecoDemonstrator, while also adding "Explorer" airplanes that will focus tests on specific technologies. The first ecoDemonstrator Explorer, a 787-10 Dreamliner, will conduct flight tests in...

Flexjet earns 24th FAA Diamond Award for excellence in aircraft maintenance

Flexjet received its 24th FAA Diamond Award of Excellence for Aviation Maintenance Technician Training, underscoring its commitment to serving as a leader in aviation maintenance and safety. The honor follows the acquisition of Coonstant Aviation. Established in 1991, the FAA Diamond Award recognizes aviation companies for highly effective training maintenance specialist programs de...

Rotor X Aircraft unveils first video of DRAGON during flight testing

After a year of testing, Rotor X Aircraft has finally released video of the new ultralight eVTOL, Dragon Personal Air Vehicle from a flight test in the Arizona desert. This electric ultralight aircraft comes as a quick-build kit, doesn't require a pilot's license in the U.S. to operate, and is priced at just under $90k. The video, taken in early 2023 during flight testi...

First-of-its-kind flight tests to advance aviation safety - Reliable Robotics and NASA

Reliable Robotics and NASA announced the completion of flight tests to substantiate the use of existing Federal Aviation Administration primary surveillance radar (PSR) data to improve the safety of the National Airspace System. Reliable Robotics has been working with NASA Advanced Air Mobility National Campaign since 2021 to advance the safe, secure and efficient integration of remotely...

Hawthorne breaks ground on hangar at Chicago Executive Airport

Chicago Executive Airport announced groundbreaking of Hawthorne Global Aviation Services’ 36,900-square facility to include Class A hangar and office space. Construction of the Hangar 22 project is expected to be completed by the end of the year. The new facility is in compliance with the airport’s Master Plan which has been approved by the Village of Wheeling and the City of Pros...

Spirit Fit Fleet flies forward with 200th delivery from Airbus

Spirit Airlines welcomed its 200th new aircraft delivery from Airbus, a landmark delivery for the airline' growing Fit Fleet. The Airbus A320neo (N973NK) was assembled at Airbus U.S.manufacturing facility in Mobile, Alabama, and prepared for service at Spirit's aircraft maintenance facility in Detroit. This delivery is part of continued growth at Spirit....

United announces largest South Pacific expansion in aviation history

United Airlines announces the largest South Pacific network expansion ever to and from the continental U.S., including the first non-stop flight between San Francisco and Christchurch set to commence on December 1. United will be the only carrier to directly connect the U.S. and the South Island of New Zealand. With 66 flights between the US and Australia/New Zea...

New private jet carbon offset calculator shows private flyers their carbon footprint

In recognition of Earth Day 2023, on April 22, Paramount Business Jets has updated its open-source Private Jet Carbon Offset Calculator. The calculator allows users to quickly determine carbon emissions for their flights by simply inputting the departure and destination points and the type of aircraft; the calculator instantly tabulates the flight time and emissions in pounds and metric tonne...

Gulfstream G400 cabin tour launched, getting ready for the first flight

Customers across United States will get an exclusive look at the all-new Gulfstream G400 interior at the G400 Experience Tour, showcasing the comfort and flexibility of the aircraft’s class-leading cabin. The G400, introduced in October 2021, brings an unrivaled combination of range, speed and innovation to the large-cabin business aviation class. The aircraft features class-leading fie...

Merlin awarded FAA contract to deploy first air cargo network flown by non-human pilot

FAA has awarded Merlin a $1 million contract to demonstrate a highly automated flight control system in conjunction with a safety pilot. In partnership with the FAA designated University of Alaska Fairbanks UAS Test Site and Everts Air Cargo, the Merlin Pilot will be the first autonomy system integrated into the NAS. Flight trials will run along three test routes serving five destin...