Cirrus Adds Flight Review Course For SR Series Pilots
Cirrus announced a 2026 Annual Flight Review for SR20, SR22 and SR22T pilots, offering a four‑hour, half‑day program that satisfies the FAA’s 24‑month review requirement. The course, delivered via the Cirrus Approach portal, includes three lessons, 14 videos, two quizzes and two assessments, followed by ground and flight checks with a Cirrus‑approved instructor. It targets all SR series owners, regardless of aircraft ownership, and will be refreshed each year to address emerging safety priorities. The format also aligns with Cirrus’s broader push for data‑driven pilot proficiency tracking.
WAI Opens 2027 Scholarship Applications
Women in Aviation International opened its 2027 scholarship program, offering over 50 awards totaling more than $200,000 for flight training, engineering, maintenance, dispatch, drones and career advancement. The cycle adds ten new scholarships and two Harvard Emerging Leaders professional‑development courses—one...
Spirit Sky Club To Open At St. Louis-Area Airport
Spirit Sky Club, a private aviation membership facility, will open on June 5 at the Spirit of St. Louis Airport in Chesterfield, Missouri. The $13 million first phase comprises 28 insulated, climate‑controlled hangars on eight acres, complete with private bathrooms, security and...
Aviation Career Expo to Award $185,000 in Scholarships
Rider Jet Center will host the 20th Aviation Education & Career Expo on Nov. 6 at Hagerstown Regional Airport, targeting students aged 16‑22. The event anticipates more than 65 aviation vendors and over 1,300 attendees, including students, educators, and parents....
RAF Announces National Airstrip Access Initiative
The Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF) launched the Expanding The Map initiative, targeting the opening or reopening of more than 15 airstrips across the United States beginning in 2026. The first project under the program is Walker Ridge, a Bureau of...
Air Tractor Delivers 5,000th Aircraft
Air Tractor announced the delivery of its 5,000th aircraft, an AT‑502B built in Olney, Texas. The plane, serial 502B‑3619, was sold to Brazilian aerial‑application entrepreneur Dorilino Prediger and will join three existing Air Tractor units in Sorriso, Mato Grosso. The milestone...
Textron Expands Wichita Flight Test Hangar For SkyCourier
Textron Aviation has completed a 57,000‑square‑foot expansion of its East Wichita flight‑test hangar, adding six new bays to support the Cessna SkyCourier and Beechcraft Denali programs. The larger facility will host flight‑test operations as the company moves its turboprop lineup...
SyberJet To Unveil SJ36 Mockup in October
SyberJet Aircraft will reveal a full‑scale mockup of its upcoming SJ36 light business jet on October 19 at the SyberJet World 2026 show in Henderson, Nevada, coinciding with NBAA‑BACE. The nine‑seat jet is designed for up to Mach .88, a...
Airport Authority, Councilman Clash Over Florida Airport Training Plan
Jacksonville City Councilman Nick Howland proposed a $30 million expansion of an aircraft‑mechanic training program at Cecil Airport, later scaling the request to $10 million. The plan includes new lab equipment, hangar upgrades, and additional personnel for Florida State College at Jacksonville’s...
Angelo State Gets FAA Air Traffic Training Designations
Angelo State University’s commercial aviation program earned FAA approval for both the Enhanced Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) and the Control Tower Operator Partnership Program (CTO‑P), making it the 12th U.S. school and the first in Texas to hold...
Citation M2 Autothrottle Earns EASA, ANAC Validation
Textron Aviation announced that its Cessna Citation M2 Gen2 equipped with Garmin autothrottles has received validation from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC), clearing the way for deliveries in Europe and Brazil....
GAMA Reports $6.85B In First-Quarter Aircraft Billings
The General Aviation Manufacturers Association reported 877 civil aircraft shipments in the first quarter of 2026, generating about $6.85 billion in billings. Airplane deliveries accounted for 667 units and $6.07 billion, while helicopters contributed 168 units and $788.5 million. Piston airplanes led the...
New York Bill Would Ban ADS-B-Based Landing Fees
New York lawmakers introduced Senate Bill S10490, which would prohibit any government agency, private company, or corporation from using ADS‑B data to calculate, generate, or collect landing fees from aircraft owners and operators. The bill targets Part 91 aircraft weighing 12,500...
Garmin Adds SmartCharts To Garmin Pilot Web
Garmin announced that its SmartCharts terminal‑procedure charting system is now integrated into Garmin Pilot Web, extending the feature beyond the mobile app. The tool automatically tailors approach, departure and STAR data based on inputs such as aircraft type, runway and...
Boulder Airport Study Session Faces Legal Scrutiny
Boulder City Council held an April 23 study session on the municipal airport that concluded with a 5-4 straw poll favoring continued operations and a path to FAA grant funding, though officials later labeled the poll nonbinding. A legal memo...
GAO Flags Electric Aircraft Hurdles
The Government Accountability Office released a report highlighting significant hurdles for electric aircraft adoption in the United States. It found that only 47 airports have electric charging stations on their layout plans, with 43 of them being small nonhub facilities,...
FAA Adds Mental Health Counseling Guidance To AME Guide
The Federal Aviation Administration updated its Guide for Aviation Medical Examiners to include new mental‑health counseling resources for pilots and air‑traffic control specialists. The addition, placed under Item 47 (Psychiatric Conditions), provides PDFs with therapy information, FAQs, and guidance for psychotherapists....
FAA Flags Loss-of-Control Risk From Flap Malfunctions In Bombardier Aircraft
The FAA has issued a proposed airworthiness directive for Bombardier CL‑600 series jets after an in‑flight incident showed uncommanded flap movement could lead to loss‑of‑control. The rule would require operators to update the aircraft flight manual with new emergency procedures...
FAA Warns Red Lake Nation Over Seized Aircraft Dispute
The FAA has formally warned the Red Lake Nation to return a 1946 Stinson aircraft seized after pilot Darrin Smedsmo made an emergency landing on tribal land in October 2025. The tribe held the plane under a 1978 resolution that...
NTSB Calls For FAA Update To Runway Condition Matrix
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has urged the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to revise its Runway Condition Assessment Matrix (RCAM) to better reflect braking performance during heavy rainfall. The recommendation follows an investigation of 11 runway overrun accidents and...
Guest Post: A Systems Safety Look at UPS Flight 2976
The NTSB held two days of hearings on UPS Flight 2976, where an MD‑11F lost its left No. 1 engine after the pylon aft‑mount spherical bearing failed. The bearing was classified as a Secondary Structural Item (SSI) rather than a Principal...
Study Finds SAF Could Fall Short Of 2030 Target
A Washington State University study published in Biomass and Bioenergy estimates the United States can produce roughly 2.1 billion gallons of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) per year by 2030, falling short of the federal 3 billion‑gallon target. The analysis examined publicly announced...
Cessna Strikes Paraglider Over Austrian Alps
On May 23, a Cessna 172 conducting a scenic flight in the Austrian Alps collided with a 44‑year‑old female paraglider, severing parts of the canopy and suspension lines. The paraglider was forced to deploy her reserve parachute and managed an...
Pentagon Looks To Expand Supersonic Aircraft Industrial Base
The Pentagon has issued a SAM.gov notice seeking innovative manufacturing solutions for next‑generation supersonic military aircraft. The solicitation targets additive manufacturing, advanced materials, robotics, automation, digital engineering, reverse‑engineering of legacy parts and advanced repair techniques. The aim is to lower...
NTSB Temporarily Pulls Public Docket System
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has temporarily shut down its public docket system after discovering that image‑recognition tools can recreate approximations of cockpit voice recorder audio from released sound‑spectrum images. The vulnerability was highlighted by material tied to the...
DOT, FAA Launch ATC Modernization Tracker
The U.S. Department of Transportation and the FAA have unveiled Modern Skies, a new website that tracks more than 10,000 air‑traffic‑control modernization projects nationwide. Updated monthly, the portal features a national map, progress tracker and searchable tools by city, airport...
Whistleblower Prompts FAA Medical Review Changes
A whistleblower disclosed that the FAA’s Office of Aerospace Medicine was severely understaffed, causing extensive delays in post‑issuance medical certificate reviews. In 2023 the agency issued 445,613 pilot certificates but its medical officers reviewed fewer than 600, leaving 479 certificates...
Bedford Pushes Back On ADS-B Fee Collection
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford told a Senate subcommittee that ADS‑B was created solely as a safety and situational‑awareness tool, not for revenue collection. His remarks come as Congress drafts aviation safety legislation following the January 2025 mid‑air collision near Reagan...
Oklahoma Approves Five-Year Airport Construction Plan
Oklahoma aviation officials approved a $520 million, five‑year airport construction program that will fund 176 projects from June 2026 through May 2031. The plan includes 99 projects aimed at aviation‑related business development, new hangars at Tulsa International, Chickasha Municipal and the Infinity One...
NTSB Hearing Turns To MD-11 Pylon Design
The NTSB’s second‑day hearing on the UPS MD‑11F crash examined the aircraft’s pylon design, focusing on the aft bulkhead spherical bearing and its classification as a principal structural element. Testimony revealed that Boeing treated the aft bulkhead lugs as PSEs,...
Chesapeake Bay Seaplane Proposal Draws Pushback From Maryland Residents
Coastal Seaplanes, a Virginia‑based charter operator, seeks to launch commercial seaplane service on Maryland’s Miles River, designating a mile‑long “sealane” for amphibious aircraft. The proposal has sparked opposition from St. Michaels residents and local yacht clubs who cite safety, congestion,...
FAA Releases 2026 Oshkosh NOTAM With Arrival Updates
The FAA has published the 2026 AirVenture Oshkosh NOTAM, defining arrival, departure and airspace rules for pilots flying to Wittman Regional Airport during the Experimental Aircraft Association’s July 20‑26 fly‑in. Effective from noon CDT July 16 through July 27, the...
Miami-Dade To Test Air Taxi Management System
Miami‑Dade Aviation Department partnered with Bell‑Dancy Industries to launch the SafeLand pilot, testing the ALTA Autonomous Landing and Take‑Off Assistant at Miami Executive Airport. The program will begin with drone operations and scale to full‑size eVTOL aircraft under FAA oversight....
FAA To Test Moving Contract Towers Into Agency Operation
The FAA launched a pilot program to transfer high‑traffic federal contract towers to direct FAA operation, beginning with Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport in Montana and Mesa Gateway Airport in Arizona. The initiative fulfills Section 625 of the 2024 FAA Reauthorization...
FAA Opens $26 Million For Aviation Workforce Grants
The Federal Aviation Administration announced a $26 million Aviation Workforce Development Grant round, split evenly between pilot/drone operator training and aviation maintenance technician programs. The funding, mandated by the FAA Reauthorization Acts of 2018 and 2024, doubles the amount awarded in...
FAA Lowers Controller Staffing Target
The Federal Aviation Administration unveiled a revised air‑traffic‑controller workforce plan that sets a full‑staffing target of 12,563 certified controllers—about 2,000 fewer than the 2023 goal. The plan relies on forecast demand, Transportation Research Board analysis, and new efficiency tools such...
FAA Calls For More Safety Inspectors, Engineers
The Federal Aviation Administration unveiled a 10‑year Aviation Safety Oversight and Certification Workforce Plan that calls for hiring 351 safety inspectors and 90 safety engineers in fiscal year 2026. The agency’s safety‑critical staff fell in FY2025, losing 424 inspectors and...
Army Aviation Training Pressed At Budget Hearing
During a House defense budget hearing, lawmakers highlighted the impact of rising fuel costs and a projected $4‑$6 billion shortfall on Army aviation readiness. The standard fuel price for the services was reported to have jumped from $154 to $195 per...
DOT Announces $835.8 Million For ATC Facility Upgrades
The U.S. Department of Transportation is allocating $835.8 million to modernize air traffic control (ATC) infrastructure. More than $750 million will fund the replacement of eight aging ATC towers and TRACON facilities, while $85.8 million targets upgrades at 41 Federal Contract Towers. The...
USAF Apologizes After F-35 Triggers Sonic Boom Over England
The U.S. Air Force apologized after an F‑35A from RAF Lakenheath unintentionally broke the sound barrier, creating a sonic boom over eastern England during a routine training maneuver. Residents in Norfolk and Suffolk reported loud, explosive‑like bangs that rattled homes,...
FAA Evaluating Airspace Risks From Proposed “Triumphal Arch”
The FAA is conducting a preliminary safety review of a proposed 250‑foot “triumphal arch” that would sit less than two miles from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The monument, backed by former President Donald Trump, would rise into the tightly...
LOT-Boeing 737 MAX Trial Opens In Seattle
A jury trial opened in Seattle for LOT Polish Airlines' lawsuit against Boeing, alleging fraudulent and negligent misrepresentations tied to the 2019 worldwide grounding of the 737 MAX. LOT contends Boeing concealed safety flaws in the MCAS system that were linked...
Hyundai, KAI Move To Restart Supernal eVTOL Program
Hyundai Motor Group and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) signed a memorandum of understanding to restart Supernal’s electric vertical‑takeoff and landing (eVTOL) program. Under the deal, Supernal will lead aircraft design while KAI contributes development expertise, and both will collaborate on...
VIDEO: Darren Pleasance on the Future of GA
Former AOPA president and CEO Darren Pleasance, recently removed amid controversy, sat down with Plane + Pilot editor Cayla McLeod in Valdez, Alaska to discuss the future of general aviation. He highlighted AOPA’s critical function as the primary conduit between Congress and...
FAA Adds Certified Part 135 Operators To Safe Air Charter Website
The FAA has added a searchable list of certified Part 135 operators to its Safe Air Charter website, allowing travelers and brokers to verify legal charter status. The tool aims to curb “gray charter” flights that operate without proper certification. The...
EU Authorizes Use of US Jet Fuel to Mitigate Supply Chain Disruptions
The European Commission has issued guidance allowing U.S.-produced Jet A aviation fuel to be used in Europe as the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed, tightening global energy supplies. The move, cleared by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA),...
AOPA Launches Pilot Mental Health Awareness Campaign
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) has launched a month‑long mental‑health awareness campaign for pilots, timed with Mental Health Awareness Month. The initiative aggregates articles, videos, webinars and interviews to demystify resources and reduce stigma. It also highlights ongoing...
Video: Lightspeed Talks Safety, Headsets And What’s Next
Lightspeed CEO Eric Landry reaffirmed the company’s three‑decade dedication to aviation safety during a SUN ’n FUN interview. He highlighted a suite of educational resources, upcoming webinars, and a new generation of headsets—Sierra, Zulu 3, Zulu 4, and Delta Zulu—designed to lower cockpit risk. The headsets...
40 Years of Quiet: Bose Aviation at Sun ‘N Fun 2026
Bose Aviation marked its 40th anniversary at Sun ‘n Fun 2026, highlighting a legacy that began with Dr. Amar Bose’s pioneering active‑noise‑cancellation research. The company showcased its latest A30 and ProFlight headsets, emphasizing lighter weight, reduced clamping force, and crystal‑clear...
ATP Alumni Step In to Support Displaced Spirit Pilots
ATP Flight School has activated its alumni network to help pilots displaced by Spirit Airlines' shutdown. The new support program provides interview coaching, resume assistance, and priority access to airline recruiting events. ATP aims to place these experienced pilots—many with...