McFarlane Launches Alaska Brand for Bushwheel, Airframes Lines
McFarlane Aviation announced the launch of McFarlane Alaska, a unified brand that merges the Alaskan Bushwheels and Airframes Alaska product lines. The new operation, based in Palmer, Alaska, will manufacture and support parts ranging from wheels and brake kits to PA‑18 fuselages and PSTOL flaps. By consolidating under one name, the company aims to preserve the legacy of the two historic brands while extending their reach to more bush pilots. The brand will also serve customers of other Victor Sierra aviation companies from the same facility.
Ag Aircraft Drone Encounters Increased In 2025 Season
Unsafe interactions between drones and manned agricultural aircraft surged during the 2025 growing season, with 20% of aerial applicators reporting at least one incident—up from 16% in 2024 and 11% in 2023. The low‑altitude nature of crop‑dusting puts pilots within...
Smartflyer Receives Certifiable Battery Modules for SFX1
Smartflyer, the Swiss hybrid‑electric trainer aircraft developer, has taken delivery of its first certifiable Adagio battery modules from H55 for the SFX1 program. The certified batteries enable the project to shift from component validation to full system integration and testing....
Garmin Expands G3X Touch Flight Log Sharing
Garmin has rolled out automatic flight‑log sharing for aircraft equipped with its G3X Touch displays. The new feature uses Connext to wirelessly transmit flight and engine data to the Garmin Pilot app, which then uploads the logs to flyGarmin.com. Users...
FAA Accepts First Light-Sport Maintenance Course for Powered Parachutes
The Federal Aviation Administration has approved a new light‑sport repairman course specifically for powered parachutes, developed by veteran instructor Roy Beisswenger and offered through Illinois‑based Easy Flight. Announced at SUN ’n FUN, it is the first powered‑parachute‑specific maintenance program accepted since...
AEA, Fastport Gain Federal Avionics Apprenticeship Sponsor Status
The Aircraft Electronics Association (AEA) and workforce‑development firm Fastport have been certified by the U.S. Department of Labor as a Registered Apprenticeship Sponsor. The designation enables them to launch federally recognized apprenticeship programs that combine paid on‑the‑job training, technical instruction,...
Pilatus Breaks Ground on New Colorado Facility
Pilatus broke ground on a $50 million facility at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport in Broomfield, Colorado. The new site will serve as a customer delivery center for PC‑12 and PC‑24 aircraft and expand engineering and passenger‑seat processing capabilities. It will create...
DigiFlight Introduces Phoenix Mixed-Reality Trainer For Apache Crews
DigiFlight Inc. unveiled the Phoenix Mixed‑Reality Flight Training Device for AH‑64 Apache crews at the Army Aviation Warfighting Summit in Nashville. The system combines a full‑scale cockpit replica, mixed‑reality visuals, and a high‑fidelity aerodynamic model to simulate pilot and gunner...
Pilot Challenges Palm Beach Airport Renaming In Florida Lawsuit
Florida pilot George W. Poncy Jr. filed a lawsuit to block the renaming of Palm Beach International Airport to "Donald J. Trump International Airport," arguing the change could create safety‑critical confusion in charts, databases and dispatch systems. The suit targets...
Pilatus Secures Certification For PC-12 PRO Simulator
Pilatus announced that its new PC-12 PRO flight simulator has received certification from both the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The approval designates the device as an FAA Level 6 flight training device,...
ScaleWings Brings SW-51 Mustang Back to SUN ’N FUN
ScaleWings showcased its SW-51 Mustang at SUN ’n FUN 2026, highlighting progress since its 2022 debut. The German‑owned firm has sold 62 aircraft and delivered 40, including four in the first quarter of 2026, and aims to produce 16 units...
Sunset at SUN ‘N FUN
AVweb published a photo gallery on April 17, 2026 showcasing a vivid sunset over the SUN 'n FUN airshow in Central Florida. The images, captured by staff photographer Matt Ryan, highlight aircraft silhouettes against an orange‑yellow sky. The gallery is...
FAA Sees Early Surge In Air Traffic Controller Applications
The FAA announced it received 6,000 applications for air‑traffic‑controller positions within the first 12 hours of a new hiring window, part of a federal effort to rebuild a dwindling controller pipeline. The agency currently operates with roughly 11,000 certified controllers...
NATA, Embry-Riddle, Tuvoli Launch AI Symposium For Business Aviation
The National Air Transportation Association, Tuvoli, and Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University have announced the inaugural AI Symposium for Business Aviation (AISBA), set for September 14‑16, 2026 at Embry‑Riddle’s Daytona Beach campus. The three‑day event will convene aviation executives, operators, technology specialists,...
Picture of the Day: April 16, 2026
AVweb’s Picture of the Day features a restored Fokker F.VII Trimotor on display at the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre in Sault‑Saint‑Marie. The iconic three‑engine aircraft, photographed by Mike Brown, exemplifies early commercial aviation design. The centre’s exhibit showcases the aircraft...