All General aviation articles
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News
EASA grounds Blackshape trainers as inquiry probes BK 160’s apparent in-flight break-up
European safety regulators have ordered the grounding of Italian airframer Blackshape’s BS 115 single-engined light trainer, after concerns about the potential for structural failure of the wing. The suspension of all flight operations by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, which also covers the similar BK 160, follows two fatal ...
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News
Swiss skydiver aircraft crash likely caused by ‘unintentional’ parachute opening
Aviation accident investigators in Switzerland have said that the crash of a Pacific Aerospace P-750 utility aircraft last month was likely caused by the unintentional opening of a skydiver’s parachute while he was still in the aircraft.
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News
Safarilink Dash 8 collides mid-air with flight-school Cessna near Nairobi
Kenyan investigators are probing a mid-air collision involving a De Havilland Dash 8-300 operated by regional carrier Safarilink Aviation. Safarilink states that the crew of its domestic flight 053 – from Nairobi Wilson airport to the coastal destination of Diani on 5 March – experienced a “loud bang” shortly after ...
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News
Business and GA manufacturers delivered more than 4,000 aircraft in 2023
Deliveries of business and general aviation aircraft last year topped 4,000 for the first time in more than a decade, according to newly released figures from the trade association representing the sector’s manufacturers.
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News
Eleven skydivers escaped Swiss P-750 before fatal Grenchen crash
Eleven skydivers managed to exit a Pacific Aerospace P-750 utility aircraft before it crashed in Switzerland, with the loss of its pilot. The aircraft (HB-TCP) had been operating in the vicinity of Grenchen airport, about 25km north of Bern, on 18 February. It appears to have entered a rapid descent ...
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News
A320 wake turbulence triggered SR22’s fatal in-flight upset
US investigators believe wake turbulence from a landing Airbus A320 caused a trailing Cirrus SR22 to suffer a fatal in-flight upset on approach to Knoxville’s McGhee Tyson airport. The SR22, with two occupants, had taken off from runway 23L on 16 December 2021, initially flying a left-hand circuit and practice ...
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News
Indian seaplane operator Mehair to retrofit Caravans with ZeroAvia engines
Indian seaplane operator Mehair – Maritime Energy Heli Air Services – has provisionally ordered up to 20 engines from hydrogen-electric propulsion specialist ZeroAvia.
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News
FAA grants Icon Aircraft’s A5 primary category certification
The US Federal Aviation Administration has granted Icon Aircraft’s A5 amphibious airframe type certification in the primary category, clearing the way for the aircraft type to be sold and registered outside of the USA
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News
Inquiry seeks rigour on controller rostering after A320 cleared to land on occupied runway
French investigators have determined that a tower controller forgot that a light aircraft was awaiting take-off at Bordeaux before clearing an EasyJet Airbus A320 to land on the occupied runway. The light aircraft, a Robin DR400 with two people on board, had been instructed to line up and hold at ...
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News
Troubled US kit manufacturer Van's Aircraft aims to restructure under Chapter 11
US-based kit manufacturer Van’s Aircraft has resorted to Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection while it attempts to restructure, after encountering financial difficulties. The company, which was founded just over 50 years ago, produces a range of single-engined kit aircraft – including single-seat models such as the RV-3 and the four-seat RV-10 ...
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News
Cessna 210 deliberately flown into Isle of Man cliff by pilot on undeclared medication
UK investigators believe a single-engined Cessna 210M was deliberately and fatally flown into a cliff face on the Isle of Man, by a pilot who had been suffering anxiety and sleep difficulties for several weeks beforehand. The aircraft (G-TOTN) departed Ronaldsway airport on the island on 17 July, flying a ...
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News
Court orders liquidation of French light aircraft manufacturer Robin
French light aircraft manufacturer Robin Aircraft, which dates back to 1957, has been ordered into liquidation by a commercial court. Robin Aircraft says the decision was taken by the court in Dijon after rejecting three proposed takeover bids, citing “insufficiency or incompatibility”. The Darois-based company produced single-engined models including the ...
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Analysis
Dubai looks to take off for eVTOL ambitions
From pushing for driverless cars to unmanned delivery drones and hydrogen-powered buses, Dubai has long seen itself as a pioneer in disruptive transport. So too with urban air mobility.
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News
US aviation groups oppose changes to ‘public charter’ rules
Seven prominent aviation groups have expressed opposition to changes to US government rules governing “public charter” aviation companies like JSX – changes that may threaten their ability to operate.
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News
AOPA’s Richard McSpadden dies in aircraft accident
Richard McSpadden, executive director of the Air Safety Institue at US general aviation lobby group Aircraft Operators and Pilots’ Association, has died in an aviation accident.
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News
Allegiant A319 took evasive action on take-off to avoid low-altitude inbound Cessna
US investigators have found that an Airbus A319 had to take evasive action on take-off at St Petersburg in Florida, to avoid climbing into the path of an inbound light aircraft which was flying an abnormal pattern to another runway. The inquiry has determined that an air traffic controller failed ...
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In depth
Icon eyes international orders as FAA certification imminent
Icon Aircraft’s A5 is ready for international prime time, and with the FAA’s certification as a primary category aircraft seemingly imminent, it hopes to soon sell at least a quarter of its airframes outside the USA.
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News
Wisk demonstrates air taxi concept for first time at public event
Silicon valley air taxi manufacturer Wisk has flown its fifth-generation test aircraft for the first time at a public event.
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News
Fatal Queensland mountain-crash PA-28 pilot was unlicensed trainee
Australian investigators probing the fatal crash of a Piper PA-28 in mountainous terrain in Queensland have found the pilot did not hold any licence qualifying them to operate the aircraft. The pilot had undertaken training at a flying school and completed just over 30h of instruction – including 5h solo ...
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News
UK regulator seeks opinions on active carbon monoxide detectors for general aviation
UK safety regulators are seeking opinions from the general aviation community on the use of carbon monoxide detectors – specifically active devices – to help shape strategies on their potential use. While general aviation pilots tend to be aware of the risk posed by carbon monoxide, the UK Civil Aviation ...