Aircraft Maintenance: FAA puts disruptive determination on hold Moss interpretation stayed pending new guidance By Jeff Simon In my previous column, I discussed the serious impact that the FAA’s recent Moss interpretation would have on general aviation maintenance, and the evolving battle to overturn it. On October 15, the FAA issued a temporary legal stay of that interpretation, but the battle...Read More

Piper wing spars facing new airworthiness inspections The long-running saga of Piper aircraft wing spars is back with two new Airworthiness Directives proposed by the US regulator, the FAA. Up to 21,000 aircraft could be affected. The new directives are: AD 2024-00008-A, published on 19 September, followed by AD 2024-00033-A, published on 23 September. The FAA is accepting comments on...Read More

NTSB Blames Boeing 747 Engine Fire on Shoddy Maintenance Work Agency has published its final report on a January engine fire incident. By Ryan Ewing The National Transportation Safety Board said an improperly installed borescope plug led to a January engine fire on an Atlas Air Boeing 747. Maintenance on the aircraft had been performed just four days before the...Read More

Toyota to invest $500M in Joby Aviation Toyota Motor Corporation and Joby Aviation, Inc., a company developing electric air taxis for commercial passenger service, today announced that Toyota will invest an additional $500 million to support the certification and commercial production of Joby’s electric air taxi, with the aim of realizing the two companies’ shared vision of air mobility. Toyota...Read More

NTSB Issues Urgent Safety Recommendations on Boeing 737 Rudder System Rudder control system could jam or become restricted on some 737NG and 737MAX airplanes WASHINGTON (Sept. 26, 2024) — The National Transportation Safety Board Thursday issued urgent safety recommendations to The Boeing Company and the Federal Aviation Administration in response to the potential for a jammed or restricted rudder control...Read More

FAA soon to release final SFAR for powered-lift aircraft By Jen Nevans, Vertical The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is preparing to release a crucial regulation that will help pave the way for the commercialization of eVTOL aircraft in the U.S., according to Christopher Coes, acting under secretary of transportation for policy at the U.S. Department of Transportation. Speaking at...Read More

Aircraft Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) – Global Strategic Business Report The global market for Aircraft Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) is estimated at US$49.1 Billion in 2023 and is projected to reach US$66.2 Billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 4.4% from 2023 to 2030. This comprehensive report provides an in-depth analysis of market trends, drivers, and forecasts,...Read More

FAA Advisory Circular Addresses Unwanted Reverse Thrust The FAA’s recent amendments to Part 25 airworthiness regulations require system safety assessments for key systems. By Gordon Gilbert Recently published FAA Advisory Circular AC 25.933-1 provides guidelines for large aircraft manufacturers to comply with updated safety regulations aimed at preventing dangerous thrust reversals during flight. The document stems from recent amendments to FAA Part...Read More

CAVU Café: Royboy’s Prose & Cons By Roy Resto It’s time once again to dive into the murky world of undefined terms with my professor’s hat properly donned. By undefined I mean the that the term is not clearly ensconced in regulations or standards. AS REMOVED: With the rise in popularity of aircraft and engines being disassembled to harvest parts...Read More

As commercial aviation evolves, it is essential to ensure aviation safety as transformative technologies and new industry entrants emerge. Read for free online here: FrontMatter | Emerging Hazards in Commercial Aviation—Report 2: Ensuring Safety During Transformative Changes | The National Academies Press As commercial aviation evolves, it is essential to ensure aviation safety as transformative technologies and new industry entrants...Read More