Boeing is vigorously defending an automation design that appears to be at the center of the accident investigation of an Asiana Airlines Boeing 777-200ER. On July 6, the aircraft crashed on approach to San Francisco International Airport.

FAA certification hurdles could limit Comac C919 impact

While the closing of their merger agreement caps off a tough regulatory battle, American Airlines and US Airways face an even more daunting challenge in integrating the two carriers and their workforces. Dec. 9 was a significant milestone for the new American Airlines. On that day the merger was officially consummated, American exited Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, and the new parent company's stock was listed. One more court sign-off is needed, but this is regarded as a formality.

The idea of recycling regional-jet winglets into bookshelves may raise a skeptical eyebrow, but manufacturers are talking seriously about how to manage the end-of-life for their aircraft and engines—however distant that may seem today.

This year Aviation Week's chief test pilot, Fred George, buckled up in the left seat of a number of business jets, including Gulfstream's G650, Dassault's Falcon 2000S and Bombardier's Learjet 75. 

Business aviation groups are encouraging the Department of Transportation to establish a registry for air charter brokers as part of a larger regulation to improve air charter consumer protections.

FAA is advising operators of various Hawker 750s, 800s, 900s and 1000s to check the aircraft aileron and aileron tab assemblies for potential problems that could cause oscillations at high altitudes. The agency issued a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) in late November encouraging the checks, saying it had received reports of wing/aileron oscillations from operators of Hawker 800XP and 850XP airplanes at altitudes above 33,000 ft. and at speeds of more than 0.73 Mach.

Shell has become the latest company, and the first of the major oil companies, to declare it has developed an unleaded replacement for aviation gasoline. The launch of the formula follows a 10-year research and development program that included testing of Lycoming engines and a recent test flight of a Piper Saratoga. Shell must still undergo a testing program to obtain regulatory approvals from FAA and the European Aviation Safety Agency, along with ASTM specification for the fuel.