General Aviation

News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Avionics

Aspen, Trio Offer Low-cost Display, Autopilot Package

Upgrade provides cockpit upgrade for light aircraft owners
Trio Avionics autopilot for light aircraft
Training and Workforce

TRU Sells King Air Sims to Canadian Firm

Deal includes full-flight sim and a training device
TRU, EIC and Keewatin Air principals celebrate a King Air sim sale
Aircraft

Octans Cygnus Prototype Flies To LABACE

Octans has applied for ANAC certification of the Cygnus
Octans Aircraft Cygnus airplane
Aircraft

Icon Updates A5 with Four-blade Propeller

New propeller improves takeoff performance
Icon A5 Astra Red livery
Aircraft

AOPA Planning National Mall Flyover in May 2024

Event will celebrate history of general aviation
Mark Baker Beechcraft Staggerwing (Photo: Chris Rose for AOPA)
Maintenance and Modifications

Garmin Introduces GHA 15 Altitude Reader

Garmin’s new radar-based altitude callout system is designed to help pilots know how far their aircraft is from the ground during landing.
Garmin's GHA 15 height advisor
Aircraft

Tecnam Bringing P-Mentor Trainer to U.S. Market

Tecnam says its Rotax-powered two-seat trainer will significantly reduce costs.
Tecnam P-Mentor training aircraft
Aircraft

Diamond's Electric eDA40 Trainer Makes First Flight

The two-seat Diamond eDA40 should complete type certification by early 2024.
Diamond Aircraft's eDA40 electric light aircraft makes its first flight.
Avionics

Cessna Caravans Get Garmin Avionics Software Upgrade

New 2024 models of the Cessna Caravan and Cessna Grand Caravan EX will feature additional enhancements to their Garmin G1000 NXi integrated flight decks.
A digital rendering of a Cessna Caravan and Cessna Grand Caravan EX in flight
Rotorcraft

Airbus H160 challenges Leonardo AW139

FAA certification in hand, Airbus H160 takes on the competition.
Airbus Helicopters H160
Aircraft

Electric Flyers Might Soon Fly Velis Electro

The Velis Electro is the world' first certified electric aircraft to make it into commercial production, and most buyers are using it for flight training.
Pipistrel Velis Electro
Maintenance and Modifications

Hartzell Engine Tech Holding AirVenture Seminars

Free AirVenture educational seminars will help aircraft owners, operators, and mechanics learn about the technology behind Hartzell Engine Tech products.
Hartzell Engine Tech seminar
Maintenance and Modifications

Depod Devices Provide Integrated Electric Propulsion

Additional airflow over the control surface will improve STOL capability for small aircraft.
A computer-generated image of the inside of an airplane wing.
Avionics

Adventure Pilot App Adds Checklists, Helicopter Mode

The iFly EFB app from Adventure Pilot has been updated with new features including checklists and helicopter mode for rotary-wing pilots.
iFly EFB displayed on Apple and Android devices
Aircraft

Boeing Extends Platinum Sponsorship of EAA AirVenture

A new three-year agreement extends Boeing's Platinum-level sponsorship of EAA AirVenture and will help continue funding of important programs.
Boeing ecoDemonstrator at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2022
Maintenance and Modifications

MyGoFlight Buys Camera Mount-maker Flight Flix

MyGoFlight's acquisition of Flight Flix adds a new product line of camera mounts designed for aircraft use.
MyGoFlight Flight Flix mount
Maintenance and Modifications

Sensenich Now Shipping Super Cub Carbon Propellers

Sensenich begins shipping pre-order purchases of its improved propellers.
An image of a propeller attached to the front of a small plane.
Aircraft

China Approves Amphibious Aircraft for Firefighting

AVIC's new AG600 Kunlong amphibious aircraft will also be used for emergency missions, including maritime search and rescue flights.
AVIC's AG600 Kunlong amphibious aircraft conducts water drop during firefighting trials.
Aircraft

FAA Proposes Modernizing Special Airworthiness Certs

FAA's Mosaic rule making is expected to bring performance-based standards to light sport aircraft certification as well as electric power.
Pipistrel Velis Electro electric-powered airplane
Regulations and Government

FAA Bill Heads to House Floor

The House will consider a comprehensive five-year FAA reauthorization bill.
Aerial view of U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.
Aircraft

Second Jet Joins Gulfstream G800 Flight-test Fleet

The second flight-test G800 will focus on evaluating environmental control systems, avionics, and flight controls.
Gulfstream G800 flight-test vehicle 2
Training and Workforce

AV8 Unveils Online Flight Training Platform

Flight training provider AV8 has launched an online training program that was more than two years in the making.
screenshot of AV8 Prep
Safety

FAA Updates Non-towered Airport Ops Guidelines

An updated FAA advisory circular gives pilots guidelines for operations near and at non-towered airports.
Airplane at non-towered airport
Aircraft

NASA Wraps Up X-57 Program without a Flight

NASA's experimental electric airplane, the X-57 Maxwell, will not achieve a first flight before the agency cuts the program in September.
NASA's all-electric X-57 "Mod II" prototype in hangar
Aircraft

Safran Turbogenerator To Power Electra's HeSTOL

Safran Helicopter Engines is developing the 600-kilowatt turbogenerator propulsion system for Electra Aero’s hybrid-electric STOL prototype aircraft.
Safran turbogenerator
Aircraft

UrbanV and Lilium To Develop Vertiports in Italy and France

The UrbanV-Lilium partnership could lead to a network of vertiports at multiple sites in Italy and also in the south of France.
UrbanV develops vertiports for eVTOL aircraft.
Engines

Wright Logs 1-MW Output With Electric Motor Generator

Wright Electric aims to produce a 2-MW powertrain that could power single-aisle airliners and will soon start new tests with NASA.
Wright Electric's motor generator
Aircraft

Washington State Invests in Hydrogen Propulsion

Washington state just made its second $350,000 investment in ZeroAvia's hydrogen propulsion R&D facilities at Paine Field.
At the Paris Airshow on June 19, 2023, Governor Jay Inslee (left) and ZeroAvia founder and CEO Val Miftakhov (right) announced a new investment by Washington state into ZeroAvia's facilities in Moses Lake, Washington. (Photo: Hanneke Weitering)
Aircraft

Supernal Adds eVTOL Manufacturing Partners

Supernal will work with GKN and Qarbon to boost manufacturing rates for its SA-1 eVTOL air taxi.
Supernal GKN
Aircraft

Leasing Group Plans To Add Alice Electric Aircraft to Portfolio

Aeroleasing signed a letter of intent covering the planned purchase of up to 50 Eviation Alice electric aircraft.
Eviation's Alice all-electric aircraft.