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United States aviation news

Boeing raises protest of ‘irreparably flawed’ bomber selection

Boeing protests ‘irreparably flawed’ bomber selection Boeing and Lockheed Martin have reaffirmed their objection to the US Air Force’s October award of the next-generation bomber development contract to Northrop Grumman, dismissing the lengthy source-selection process as “irreparably flawed”. The losing industry team on 17 December submitted a “133-page br...

Biofuel-Only Flights In Store For Seattle-Tacoma International

Major US Airport Looks Ahead To Cleaner, Greener Future A major biofuels trial will take place at Seattle-Tacoma International next year, potentially paving the way towards an all-biofuels-based future for the airport. One of the United States’ most active airports may in future become a biofuels-only facility, with feasibility trials set to soon start there. A three-way MOU (Memora...

Porter Takes a Break From Winter and Lands First Flight in Orlando-Melbourne

Porter Airlines has arrived in the Sunshine State of Florida, marking the first day of seasonal weekly service that continues until April 30, 2016. Passengers on the sold out flight enjoyed non-stop service from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport to Orlando-Melbourne International Airport. “Orlando-Melbourne is now our most southern destination. This route provides a convenient connection...

Appeals court: Airline pilots can’t ride share like Uber

Service offered by Boston-based Flytenow violates flight regulations, court rules 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 F...

Flashback Friday: 80th Anniversary of the Douglas DC-3

This week marked the 80th anniversary of the first flight of the Douglas DC-3, considered to be the first airliner capable of turning a profit by transporting passengers alone. The Design work of the DC-3 began in 1934, upon request of C.R. Smith, president of American Airlines, who wanted a longer DC-2 that would carry more passengers, and another with railroad-type sleeping berths, to car...

Op-Ed: Amazon Prime Air – Attack of the Drones?

This is an Amazon Prime Air delivery vehicle, it has a range of fifteen miles: (Photo Credits: Amazon) But, because it has Jeremy Clarkson as its spokesman, I don’t care. I use Amazon all the time. After all, I lead an esoteric life of hermitage, I hate brick and mortar stores, I order incredibly hard-to-find books on Russian aviation and local traffic terrifies me. ...

Congress Passes Key Funding Bill That Aids Aviation

Aviation trade groups are applauding Congress for passing a $2 trillion package of tax policy changes and funding for 2016 that will aid the aviation industry. The legislation includes key funding for general-aviation manufacturers in safety, certification and alternative fuels for piston-engine aircraft and other measures. The bill also makes an R&D tax credit permanent, and it extends...

Boeing Delivers SF Airlines' First 767-300 Boeing Converted Freighter

Boeing and SF Airlines yesterday celebrated the delivery of the airline’s first 767-300 Boeing Converted Freighter (BCF), which is also the first owned by an airline in China. The delivery took place at Boeing supplier ST Aerospace Services Co. in Singapore, where the conversion work was performed. It is the first of five 767BCFs the airline will receive during the next year. &ldq...

Silver Airways Plans a Return to Cuba and Announces Review of Strategic Alternatives

Silver Airways, Florida’s largest intrastate airline, today announced its intention to resume nonstop service to Cuba in 2016. The company has a long history of providing charter flights to Cuba, and given the announcement of a new bilateral agreement between Cuba and the U.S., Silver plans to bring much needed commercial service to many Cuban destinations in the near future. The airline wil...

Turbomeca Marks a Million Flight Hours with U.S. Coast Guard

Turbomeca (Safran) yesterday celebrated a major achievement: 1 million hours flown by U.S. Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphins fitted with the Arriel 2C2-CG engine. Operating a fleet of over 200 Arriels, the U.S.C.G. is one of Turbomeca’s major US customers. The occasion was celebrated in presence of U.S.C.G. Lieutenant Commander Edward S Apontes, and several Turbomeca represen...

Delta Promises It Will Limit Seat Capacity Next Year

Delta Air Lines Inc. expects to cap its seating-capacity increase at 2 percent next year, reaffirming a commitment to limit growth as U.S. carriers struggle to raise fares because of weak foreign currencies and competitors’ rapid expansion. Seating capacity in 2016 will be flat to up 2 percent, with any additions focused on growth markets including the U.S., the U.K., Mexico and the Carib...

Omnibus Bill Includes Tax Break Extensions, FAA Funding

The U.S. House and Senate are set to begin consideration of a sweeping government-wide funding and tax package that would provide nearly $16.3 billion for the FAA in fiscal 2016 and renew key tax breaks such as the research and development credit and bonus depreciation. Lawmakers unveiled the package late on December 15, shortly before the deadline of the most rece...