A panel of safety experts established to address a series of serious runway incursions at U.S. airports has called for “urgent action” to improve safety in the National Airspace System.

Political gridlock, government shutdowns, inconsistent funding, air traffic controller shortages, and outdated technology are among the issues “rendering the current level of safety unsustainable,” the FAA’s NAS Safety Review Team said in its final report. The confluence of these issues is eroding safety margins, according to the report.

Quick-witted passengers on a recent Chicago-bound American Airlines Flight 1219 weren’t munching pretzels; they were asking for duct tape. It came in handy when a man decided he'd just had enough of the flight—and tried to open an airplane door and jump out. The airplane, which had taken off from Albuquerque International Sunport Airport, hung a quick U-turn to head back to the runway.

Barstool Sports’ “Wonton Don” was on the flight and saw the whole thing—and then he moved into action: “Me and 5 other dudes had to wrestle him into the aisle, duct tape his legs, and throw flexi-cuffs on him. Just safely landed back in ABQ but HOLY S—T,” he tweeted. 

AgustaWestland decided to buy full ownership of the BA609 civil tiltrotor program from Bell Helicopter. AW’s new CEO, Bruno Spagnolini, and Bell CEO John Garrison announced the deal at the 2011 Paris Air Show. Under the agreement, Bell would continue to provide engineering, program management services, and key component manufacture on the 609. Garrison stressed that it did not include any technology transfer from the military Bell/Boeing V-22 Osprey tiltrotor. 

Announced in 1996, the 609 was originally a partnership between Boeing and Bell. At that time the six- to nine-seat executive version was priced at $8 million; however, the current unit cost is believed to be approaching $30 million. After Boeing withdrew from the program, Bell and Agusta formed the Bell/Agusta Aircraft Company in 1998 to develop the 609 as a joint venture.

Software developer Daedalean is making inroads on development of artificial intelligence (AI) tools that power pilot assistance and eventually autonomous flight operations. These tools will be incorporated into upcoming avionics products and aircraft.

Daedalean uses the term “situational intelligence” to describe how its AI tools will help pilots. What Daedalean is not doing is creating “this massive AI brain, and out comes this magical situational intelligence,” said Luuk van Dijk, founder and CEO of the Switzerland-based company. “We have to work within the bounds of certifiability. We’ll use it for functions that are hard to capture in traditional software.”

Germany's LBA civil aviation authority this week extended Volocopter’s production organization approval (POA), clearing the way for the company to start serial manufacturing of its two-seat VoloCity eVTOL aircraft. The approval announced on Thursday covers two new Volocopter production and hangar facilities at Bruchsal in Germany that the company built in 2023.

The company is busy working towards its objective of achieving EASA type certification for the aircraft this summer, which would make the VoloCity the first eVTOL model to achieve this approval in Europe. Volocopter and partners aim to be ready to operate some commercial passenger-carrying flights in Paris when the French capital hosts the 2024 Olympic Games, which begin on July 29.

You’ll find plenty to see and do in Newfoundland, which was once an independent country but united with Labrador in 1949 to become Canada’s easternmost province. Fondly known as “The Rock,” it is the world’s 16^th-largest island, with a population of just over 500,000. Here, you can roam among green-forested landscapes, rocky coastlines, and small towns often separated by large expanses.

St. Johns, the vibrant capital, is in the province’s southeastern region. Intimate in scale, it is by far the largest city and home to 40 percent of Newfoundlanders, many of whom are of Irish or British heritage. Must-see sights here include the colorful Jelly Bean Row houses downtown and a small harbor busily servicing oil rigs. Above the town lies the 17^th-century Signal Hill citadel, the site of Marconi’s first transatlantic wireless communication. During late May through June, it’s an excellent spot for iceberg viewing.

China’s business jet market may have shrunk, but ExecuJet Haite’s general manager, Paul Desgrosseilliers, foresees a gradual rebound, buoyed by an uptick in overseas visitors at the company’s Tianjin facility.

Now, with a second maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) center at Beijing’s mega-hub, Daxing International, Desgrosseilliers is optimistic about the increased potential for growth and opportunities.

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