The crash of a Cessna Citation S550 into a residential neighborhood near Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport (KMYF) in San Diego early on May 22 killed all six occupants aboard, including music agent and Sound Talent Group co-founder Dave Shapiro, according to federal and media sources.

Registered to Daviator LLC and operated privately, the business jet—N666DS—struck power lines at approximately 3:47 a.m. before crashing into the Murphy Canyon military housing neighborhood. “It struck one home and then quite a fair number of automobiles,” said NTSB senior accident investigator Eliott Simpson during a May 22 briefing. “There are fragments of the airplane underneath the power lines.” He confirmed that the wreckage was scattered across a large area.

According to the FAA and NTSB, the aircraft departed Teterboro Airport (KTEB), New Jersey, on Wednesday evening and stopped for fuel in Wichita before continuing toward San Diego.

The NTSB has dispatched a team of eight investigators and representatives from the aircraft manufacturer, Textron Aviation, and engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney Canada to document the site and oversee wreckage recovery. “We plan on spending today, tonight, and all of tomorrow on scene,” Simpson said Thursday afternoon. “There should be a preliminary report on our website in about two weeks.”

Two Boeing 737 Max crashes less than five months apart led to a worldwide grounding of the aircraft type for nearly two years. Tragically, 346 people died in the two crashes. Investigators concluded that a poorly designed flight control system and a single faulty sensor contributed to each crash. Today, the story of the 737 Max has reignited a debate on the depth and adequacy of pilot training.

A recent AirlineRatings article by Geoffrey Thomas reviewed the Netflix documentary Downfall: the case against Boeing with Captain John Leahy. Thomas, an award-winning aviation journalist, and Leahy, an airline safety and training expert with more than 30,000 flight hours, highlighted potential lessons from the Boeing 737 Max accidents.

Surprisingly, Leahy identified the decline in pilot training as a root cause. Beyond the emotional scenes of grieving family members, he pointed out the documentary’s goal: seeking truth without emotion.

The decline in training, according to Leahy, began sometime around 2005. Earlier generations of pilots trained on “classic” jetliners, such as the Boeing 707 and 737, were rigorously trained on flight control failures, such as jammed stabilizers or a runaway trim. Today, training in full-flight simulators barely touches on these scenarios.

On Tuesday, Washington state Governor Bob Ferguson (D) signed Bill 5801 that includes a 10% “luxury” tax on the sale of so-called “noncommercial” aircraft that exceed $500,000 in purchase price. A similar tax also applies “for the privilege of using within the state as a consumer any noncommercial aircraft if its value exceeds $500,000.” The taxes are slated to go into effect with newly completed transactions starting April 1, 2026.

However, although the term “noncommercial aircraft” is meant to apply to those flown in general and business aviation operations, according to the ;state’s own definition of “commercial,” there are no such aircraft as “noncommercial.” The state defines the word “commercial” as an “airplane certified by the FAA for transporting persons or property.” Therefore, under this definition, the bill doesn’t cover any aircraft or operators.

Aaron Wasserman, spokesman for the state lawmakers responsible for the bill, told AIN, “Our transportation policy person tells me there will be a bill next year to fix any unintended consequences, which is why there’s a delayed effective date. The legislators know there needs to be some work clarifying ‘noncommercial’ and making sure the taxes reflect their intent. The bill next year will clear up that ambiguity.”

Robinson Helicopter has unveiled a military training variant of the R-66 single-engine turbine helicopter that it intends to offer for the U.S. Army’s Initial Entry Rotary-Wing program. The California-based manufacturer formally introduced the R66 army trainer at the Army Aviation Mission Solutions Summit in Nashville, Tennessee, on May 14.

Last December, the U.S. Army published a request for information (RFI) on “solutions and methodologies that inform the Army’s analysis and development of options to transform Army Initial Entry Rotary-Wing flight training.” The RFI notes that the Army intends to replace the Airbus Helicopters UH-72 Lakota (EC145) twin-engine rotorcraft that have been the Army’s primary trainers since 2016.

Robinson submitted a response to that RFI and contributed to responses from other industry players, company CEO David Smith told AIN. He said the Army is expected to release a draft request for proposals (RFP) in the third quarter, with a final RFP to come by the end of the year.

According to Robinson, the R66 has the lowest acquisition and operating costs and the most advanced safety features in its class. The five-seat helicopter comes equipped with Garmin’s G500H TXi touchscreen flight display, GTN750 navigator, and a standard 4K cockpit camera. More than 85% of R66 components are produced at Robinson’s manufacturing facility in Torrance, California.

A sleek and up-to-date aircraft interior starts with a vision. But where do you go from there? This quick guide from C&L Aviation Group breaks down the process of redesigning a private jet, explores the possibilities, and helps you focus on what matters most—style, function, budget, and timeline.

A Hungarian defense contractor has accepted the country’s first delivery of a Diamond DA62 Multi-Purpose Platform (MPP), a sensor-packed variant of the DA62 diesel-engine twin designed for aerial reconnaissance. Diamond Aircraft Industries, the aircraft’s Austria-based, Chinese-owned manufacturer, successfully delivered the aircraft to HM Zrínyi, a Hungarian state-owned company operating under the nation’s defense ministry.

Flight tracking data shows that the DA62 MPP, registered HA-HML, departed from Diamond’s production facility at Wiener Neustadt East Airport (LOAN) in Austria on March 12 and arrived at Hungary’s Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport (LHBP), where senior representatives of the Hungarian Defense Forces held a formal handover ceremony on March 17.

“With the DA62 MPP, we are entering a new era of aerial reconnaissance,” said János Czermann, the Hungarian Defense Forces’ deputy state secretary for human resources.

Equipped with Vexcel and Riegl high-resolution digital cameras, airborne laser scanners, and lidar sensors, the DA62 MPP’s aerial mapping system allows operators to create detailed orthophotos, digital terrain models, and 3D urban maps.

“This is a transformative capability,” added Gábor Kulcsár, CEO of HM Zrínyi. “For the first time since 1977, Hungarian military cartography is being equipped with a new aerial platform. The DA62 MPP will simplify the production of high-resolution digital terrain and surface models, enabling our teams to work more efficiently and effectively.”

Duncan Aviation has completed an avionics and interior upgrade on a Falcon 900EX EASy at its Battle Creek, Michigan, facility. It delivered the aircraft with a modernized cabin, fresh paint, and an upgrade to Cabin Management Solutions’ (CMS) Empire 4K monitors.

“Partnering with Duncan Aviation on this Falcon 900EX upgrade is an exciting milestone,” said Troy Michaels, president and managing partner of CMS. “This aircraft holds special significance for us, as it was the first to feature our Explore controls in 2021. Upgrading it with our Empire system elevates the in-flight experience to match advanced home-theatre setups.”

The new owners prioritized audio performance and seamless video integration. According to Duncan senior avionics sales representative Mike Morgan, the goal was to deliver “more volume, more bass, and a sleeker look.” The team installed CMS’ modular Evolve system, including the Elevate HD sound system, Empire 4K UHD monitors, and an input panel supporting HDMI, USB-C, and Bluetooth.

Flush-mounted monitors were added to both cabins, capable of displaying either synchronized or independent content. Two new amplifiers significantly enhanced audio output. The Evolve moving map includes 3D topography and a custom rendering of the aircraft’s exterior livery.

Duncan Aviation also installed Gogo’s Plane Simple Ku-band satcom for broadband connectivity. The aircraft’s director of maintenance confirmed a smooth return flight and praised the team’s work, adding that the owners “love it."

TAG Aviation has promoted Angel Wun to Gulfstream G650 junior first officer, marking a key milestone in the company’s long-running Trained Pilot Program (TTP). Wun recently completed her line check and has joined the G650 flight line after advancing through TAG's structured pilot development pathway.

The promotion is part of TAG Aviation’s focus on internal talent development to address industry-wide pilot shortages. Wun’s progression from safety officer in 2018 to G650 first officer in 2025 follows her acceptance into the TAG pilot training scheme in 2019. Her achievements during training included receiving the Sir Donald Anderson Award for top CASA ATPL exam results, along with completing instrument and multi-engine ratings.

“I shall always be grateful and honored for the opportunity TAG has given me to reach this point in my career,” Wun said. “I am so proud to be part of this amazing program.”

The TTP, launched nearly a decade ago, includes fully sponsored training at Flight Training Adelaide, where selected candidates undergo intensive flight instruction and instructor rating coursework before returning to TAG Aviation in operational roles.

“We are proud of Angel and her accomplishment,” said Juan Mas, director of flight operations. “Her success demonstrates the effectiveness of our investment in young talent and reinforces that our people are our greatest asset.”

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