Bombardier’s CRJ1000 Prototype Flies Successfully

Bombardier Aerospace recently announced that their CRJ1000 prototype enjoyed a successful inaugural flight. The CRJ1000 NextGen Jetliner took off from the Bombardier facility located in Mirabel, Quebec, for its first three hour, twenty-five minutes flight.

FAA has Decided to Review Eclipse Light Jets

Responding to complaints that the certification of several Eclipse 500 very light jets may not have been properly tested, the Federal Aviation Administration has decided to conduct a somewhat unusual 30-day review of the aircraft. The aircraft in question were certified in 2006 despite objections raised by engineers who were still testing the high-tech jets.

NASA Spends $25M to Explore Earth

The name NASA is usually associated with space exploration, but it seems the association is aiming a little lower with its most recent project – the purchase of two unmanned aircraft for use in long-duration, high-altitude Earth science missions. The association will also be paying Northrop Grumman plenty of money to keep the program up and running over the next five years.

Boeing’s ATM Concept Effectively Reduces Fuel and Emissions

Boeing recently cooperated with industry partners and government to set in motion a trial version of the innovative Air Traffic Management (ATM) concept at San Francisco International Airport with a high level of success. The tryout achieved a significant reduction in both carbon dioxide emissions and fuel consumption.

Fuel Inerting Rule Issued by US FAA

The new fuel inerting rule that is about to be instated by the US FAA may have a number of airlines grumbling about cost, but it can also potentially save thousands of lives. The rule will require US airlines to retrofit as many Boeing and Airbus passenger aircraft as possible, at a cost of about $150,000 to $400,000 per aircraft over a period of seven years.

FAA’s New En Route Automation Modernization (ERAM) Program

The implementation date for the FAA’s new En Route Automation Modernization (ERAM) program has been set for 29 June 2008. ERAM will replace the En Route Host computer processing systems currently in use at twenty Air Route Traffic Control Centers, making this the largest National Airspace System (NAS) equipment replacement program in the history of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

New Garmin® Synthetic Vision System Receives Certification

Garmin International Inc. has proudly announced that it has received FAA supplemental type certification for the new Garmin Synthetic Vision Technology (SVTâ„¢). The new technology is designed to work in conjunction with the G1000 avionics suite, which has already been installed in numerous aircraft and which has also won much acclaim.

EU Allows Cell-Phones in Flight

The inability to use one’s cellular phone during flights in most parts of the world has gotten more than one person’s hackles up. As air hostesses and cell-phone holders battle it out almost daily on flights in some countries, the EU (European Union) gets set to legalize the use of cellular phones in flight in Europe.

FAA Inspections to Improve

The Acting Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in Washington DC recently announced the results of a safety audit as well as internal plans to improve the general standards of the FAA Inspections. The safety audit showed that a striking 99 percent of airlines were complying with the Airworthiness Directives (ADs). While this is exceptionally high, steps are being taken to ensure that this success continues.

Litchford: Aviation Inventor and Pioneer

Over the years, aviation has seen many pioneers and inventors influence the industry greatly. Paving the way forward with nothing more than a vision or a dream, these seemingly ordinary people set aviation on a path of improvement, develop new technology and create a safer industry. Just recently, aviation said good-bye to one of its more recent aviation legends, George B. Litchford Sr., who patented an invention in 1988 that would go on to save countless lives.

« Previous Page — Next Page »