NTSB: Poor Pilot Decisions Led To Fatal Balloon Crash »

By Mary Grady | October 17, 2017

A commercial balloon pilot�s �pattern of poor decision-making� led to his balloon striking power lines and then crashing to the ground in Texas last July, killing all 16 on board, the NTSB concluded in its final report, issued on Tuesday. It was the deadliest balloon crash in U.S. history. Contributing to the accident were the pilot�s medical conditions and medications that likely affected his decision-making, the board said. Alfred �Skip� Nichols, 49, the owner of Heart of Texas Balloons and the pilot on the day of the accident, had Valium, oxycodone and the antihistamine Benadryl in his system on the day of the crash, the board said.

By Geoff Rapoport | October 17, 2017

Airbus and Bombardier announced Monday that the European aerospace giant will assume a 50.01 percent interest in the Bombardier CSeries jet program. To keep it afloat, the CSeries program required a $1.25 billion investment last year by the province of Quebec, which will continue to own 19 percent, with Bombardier owning the remaining 31 percent.

By Geoff Rapoport | October 17, 2017

WACO Aircraft announced the debut of the amphibious version of their radial engine biplane yesterday�the YMF-5F. The company says the �F� designation is for both �float and fun,� not to suggest that the tailwheel gear version isn�t fun.

View more videos here

Video Reports From NBAA-BACE

How GE Plans to Laser Print Turboprop Engines

Tamarack's Active Winglets for Larger Aircraft

APS Shows Upset Trainer at NBAA

Bombardier's Impressive Global 7000 Cabin

More News

American Airlines Pilot Ejects Passenger »

By Geoff Rapoport | October 16, 2017

American Airlines is taking their turn in the hot seat over an incident last week where a pilot intervened to have a passenger removed. Prior to boarding her flight from Miami to New York, Tamika... More

Muroya Red Bull Champion »

By Russ Niles | October 16, 2017

Japan’s Yoshihide Muroya was crowned Red Bull Air Race World Champion after a wild series of races over the brickyard at stormy Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday. More

Drone Hits Charter Flight In Canada »

By Russ Niles | October 15, 2017

In the first documented incident of its kind in Canada, a Skyjet Aviation flight hit a drone while on approach to Jean Lesage Airport in Quebec City on Thursday. The aircraft suffered minor damage... More

Supersonic Flight 70 Years Old »

By Russ Niles | October 15, 2017

It’s been 70 years since Chuck Yeager squeezed into the sharply tapered cockpit of the Bell X-1 rocket plane and cracked a physical and psychological barrier that busted aircraft development... More

Alleged Serial Plane Shooter Charged »

By Russ Niles | October 15, 2017

A Minnesota man is facing attempted murder charges after a Cessna Skywagon that overflew his property took a gunshot in the fuselage. More

Complex Three-Engine Ferry For A380 »

By Russ Niles | October 14, 2017

Air France plans to ferry a damaged A380 back to France from Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador, on three engines but before it can do that it has to install a new engine that won't be running. More

Spirit Airlines Captain Addicted For 2-3 Years »

By Geoff Rapoport | October 13, 2017

Spirit Airlines Captain Brian Halye was addicted to speedballs (a mixture of cocaine and heroin) for several years before his death, according to a report by the Dayton Daily News. Hayle’s... More

Cal Fire Calls Out Supertanker »

By Geoff Rapoport | October 13, 2017

Cal Fire, California’s forest management and fire protection authority, is battling the worst wildfire outbreak in California’s history with the biggest air tanker in the world. When only... More

Features:

What's Under the Hood? Fuel Pumps »

October 15, 2017

The fuel pumps in your airplane should last to engine TBO if the fuel system is kept clean. If one does fail, overhaul is usually less expensive than buying new. More

Features:

Flying Other People’s Planes »

October 12, 2017

Yes, it’s fun—but beware of unexpected problems. More

Short Final:

Short Final »

October 16, 2017

It was Saturday afternoon some years ago at our mid-sized, midwestern airport.Things were hopping. Air Guard jets were shooting landings on the long runway, airliners were arriving and departing, two or three aircraft were in the pattern practicing, transients were coming and going, and then there was my friend and me in a 1945 65-HP J-3 Cub doing touch and goes. After four landings, blissfully unaware of the consternation our extremely slow speed was causing, we asked the tower on our... More

Features

Press Releases

WWII Airborne Demonstration Team Foundation's C-49 Flies Again

The WWII Airborne Demonstration Team Foundation's Douglas C-49 Skytrain returned to the skies on October 14, 2017.

Aviation companies donate hangar for L.A. Unified School District event

Aeroplex/Aerolease Group and Tony Marlow Castle & Cooke Aviation have donated a 10,000-square-foot hangar at Van Nuys Airport as the venue for a fund-raiser that will allow Los Angeles Unified School District students to compete in SkillsUSA events.