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United States aviation news

Havana Air Launches First Automated Direct Airline Booking Service to Cuba for U.S. Travelers

United States based airline, Havana Air, has announced that it will be the first carrier to launch a fully automated air reservation system for direct flight bookings to Cuba. The game-changing rollout, which will go live on January 1, 2016, allows users to effortlessly book their flights via the airline’s website. Through the website’s user-friendly platform, travelers will be able...

American Securities Announces Sale of Robertson Fuel Systems to HEICO for $255 Million

American Securities LLC, a leading U.S. private equity firm, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell Robertson Fuel Systems, LLC ("Robertson" or the "Company") to HEICO Corporation (NYSE: HEI.A and HEI) ("HEICO") for $255 million.  HEICO is engaged primarily in the design, production, servicing, and distribution of certain nic...

Jet Aviation adds Airbus ACJ318 for charter in U.S.

Jet Aviation Flight Services has added the first Airbus corporate jet certificated for U.S. Part 135 to its air carrier certificate. The Airbus ACJ318 has an ultra-wide cabin and can accommodate up to 18 passengers, providing freedom of movement and comfort for long-distance trips. With a range of up to 4,200 nautical miles (7,800 km), the ACJ318 is outfitted with a tasteful corporate VIP...

Amazon to set up own air freight unit

Online retail giant Amazon is in talks with Boeing (BOE, Chicago O'Hare) over the proposed acquisition of "at least" twenty freighter aircraft, Cargo Facts has reported. Following weeks of speculation in the cargo community, informed sources told the industry publication that Amazon is indeed pushing ahead with plans to set up its own air freight operation specializing in overnigh...

5 bodies found in plane wreckage in California orchard

Five people have been found dead in the widely spread wreckage of a small plane that crashed into an almond orchard in California near Bakersfield, authorities said. The plane became the subject of a search after disappearing from radar, Kern County sheriff's Sgt. Mark King said, and federal authorities are investigating the cause. He expected the names of the victims to be released Monday....

RAAF KC-30 completes F-16 refuelling trials

A RAAF KC-30A tanker transport has completed inflight refuelling trials with a US Air Force F-16. The seven flights from Edwards Air Force Base, between December 3 and 15, saw the KC-30A conduct 444 ‘contacts’ with the F-16, offloading over 25 tonnes of fuel, and are a key element in achieving conditional clearance for the tanker transport to refuel the F-16. &ldqu...

Uber Model for Flight-Sharing Struck Down by Federal Court

Private pilots can’t offer flight-sharing services to the public using an Internet model similar to those developed by Uber and Lyft, a federal appeals court ruled Friday. The ruling upholds a decision earlier this year by the Federal Aviation Administration that said the service offered by Boston-based  Flytenow violates flight regulations. The company’s website c...

The Company Behind the New Crop of Branded Private Jet Vacations

For time-strapped luxury travelers, a private jet vacation can ensure less time traveling and more time enjoying far-flung destinations. At an astronomical price, of course. “You can get many bucket list destinations in one seamless journey,” said Afrodite Pastroumas, director of product development at TCS World Travel. “You can hit Machu Picchu, Easter Island, Angkor Wat...

New to USA the Merlin PSA: Personal Sport Aircraft

The Merlin PSA, an affordable high-performance single-seat Personal Sport Aircraft. Imagine an all-aluminum aircraft with a cantilevered wing, 120 mph cruise speed, plenty of cabin and luggage space, all for under $35,000! And this includes the builders' assistance program in sunny Florida. The Merlin PSA is available now as a quick-build E-AB (Experimental Amateur-Built, &qu...

American returns to Australia

American Airlines’ return to Australia has received a traditional welcome after touching down in Sydney over the weekend. Flight AA73, operated by Boeing 777-300ER N720AN, landed on Runway 34L a little after 0700 local time on Saturday after a 14-hour journey from Los Angeles. It was American’s first flight to Australia since the early 1990s, when it briefly operated a four times...

Growing Yuma: How aviation played a role in city's growth

Yuma’s rich aviation history began when aviation pioneer Robert Fowler landed in Yuma on Oct. 25, 1911, near South 4th Avenue in pursuit of a $50,000 prize to be the first aviator to fly across the U.S. from coast to coast in 30 days or less. Four days after he landed in Yuma, Fowler made aviation history by being the first person to fly west to east across the U.S. Robert Fowler’s...

Lockheed to reveal 'ultimate offering' for T-X next year

Lockheed Martin has yet to reveal its “ultimate offering” for the US Air Force's hotly contested advanced pilot training competition despite joining Korea Aerospace Industries in the unveiling of its possible T-50 Golden Eagle-based T-X proposal in South Korea this week. Earlier this year, the company disclosed that its Skunk Works advanced design and development division had al...