For several years now, the development of aviation biofuels has been all the rage and there is plenty of hype out there as to how biofuels are going to revolutionize the skies. But how viable is the hype and when will this groundbreaking technology really start to pay off?

On Tuesday, Feb. 6th at 3:45 PM ET, Falcon Heavy successfully lifted off from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Falcon Heavy is the most powerful operational rocket in the world by a factor of two, with the ability to lift into orbit nearly 64 metric tons (141,000 lb)--a mass greater than a 737 jetliner loaded with passengers, crew, luggage and fuel.

Panasonic Avionics Corporation has introduced a major evolution of its satellite connectivity service with the introduction of its third generation communications network.

Investments in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning are burgeoning throughout the aerospace and defence sector and could be the next big wave in regard to the industry’s digitization.

More than 90% of airlines are set to ramp up investment in advancing wireless services for cabin crew and pilots over the three years to 2020 – an 18% increase since SITA’s 2016 Airline IT Trends survey. This is according to award-winning connected aircraft services expert SITAONAIR, as it presents SITA’s 2017 Air Transport IT Trends Insights into the connected aircraft.

Emirates and Thales have signed an agreement to equip their newest Boeing 777X fleet with the latest generation broadband inflight connectivity using Inmarsat GX Global Network.

Panasonic Avionics Corporation and Emirates have unveiled a range of industry firsts that will be introduced on the airline’s newest Boeing 777-300ER on display at the Dubai Airshow this month.

The latest 20-year air passenger forecast predicts more than half the world’s growth will be in Asia Pacific with 2.1 billion additional passengers in 2036, more than double the current traffic in the region[1]. At FTE Asia EXPO, SITA, the IT provider to the air transport industry, will showcase technology for airlines and airports to efficiently manage this major growth.

An evolving multi-link ACARS landscape, embracing cutting-edge cockpit connectivity and solid VHF foundations, will remain the backbone of the aviation industry for the foreseeable future. So says SITAONAIR in its latest white paper, ACARS: Timeless tech for the connected aircraft age.

GE Aviation's Digital Solutions and Tableau Software today announced an agreement to empower commercial and military airline customers across the aviation industry with agile visual analytics that can help improve fuel efficiencies, aircraft safety and consumers' overall flying experience.

Need to catch a fast ride from Cleveland to Pittsburgh? Get ready to hail your first “air taxi” – and maybe sooner than you think.

This fall, the Tork brand, made by Essity (formerly SCA) landed in the Aviation industry with its wide range of tasked-based wipers. Designed specifically to meet the demands of maintenance, repair and overhaul (MROs) technicians, Tork wipers help minimize aircraft maintenance downtimes, making the use of rags obsolete.

No mission is impossible – P3 proved it again by developing the world’s smallest and lightest halon-free cabin fire extinguisher. On September 21, the consulting and engineering company was acknowledged by Airbus with the Innovation Award for creating an innovative solution the aircraft manufacturer needed, but nobody else could provide.

Following FAA Technical Standard Order (TSO) authorization for InSight, Universal Avionics has announced FAA Supplemental Type Certification (STC) for the new display system installed on the Cessna Citation VII aircraft. FAA STC No. ST02654LA covers the installation of the InSight Display System, Engine Interface Unit (EIU), TAWS Class A, and UNS-1Fw SBAS-Flight Management System with ADS-B Out.

CTT Systems AB (CTT), the market leader in aircraft humidity control systems, has announced a Zonal Drying order for additional 14 Boeing Next-Generation 737-800s from Pobeda Airlines (a low-cost airline in the Aeroflot Group) to be line fitted from February 2018.

Cutting-edge technology plus an expanded network of authorized installation centres are giving owners, operators and customers like Textron Aviation more reasons to continue to collaborate with UTC Aerospace Systems on their de-icing needs.

BendixKing, a wholly owned subsidiary Honeywell, is allowing pilots to turn any smartphone into a satellite messaging and tracking device with its new AeroWave Text & Track.

Delta Air Lines is outfitting its new long-haul aircraft from Airbus with the winner of the 2016 German Design Award, the CL3710 from Recaro Aircraft Seating. The German seating manufacturer’s standout product for economy class cabins will fly on 25 new Airbus A350-900 aircraft. The airline has ordered a total of 5,600 Recaro seats.

Walter Surface Technologies the global industry leader in surface treatment technologies, has announced the launch of its new Surfox 205 and Surfox Mini TIG and spot weld cleaning system.

UTC Aerospace Systems, a unit of United Technologies Corp. has developed a non-chromate landing gear corrosion protection primer incorporating its patented EcoSky pigment.

Astronics Corporation, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Astronics Max-Viz, has certified its 2300 Enhanced Vision System (EVS) to the DO-160G standard. Blending infrared and visible light sensors, the Max-Viz 2300 EVS displays real-time heat sources along with LED airport lighting to make it safer for pilots to land in dark, challenging conditions.

STELIA Aerospace’s CELESTE Business Class seat is now fully offerable on A320 family aircraft. Airbus has granted full offerability for the CELESTE mechanical seat, ahead of first aircraft deliveries to two customers in the third quarter 2017.

Lightspeed Aviation has announced the launch of the Zulu 3 ANR headset. Zulu 3 builds on the performance and features that made the original Zulu and Zulu.2 popular choices for private and professional pilots worldwide, but adds a number of enhancements that result in increased comfort and durability:

Fatigue management is of the utmost importance to all ATAC members. This is why ATAC has been fully involved in the regulatory change process over the past seven years. We are keen to see this issue thoroughly evaluated and that the resulting proposals be truly effective and yet at the same time sustainable and pragmatic.

JetBlue today began accepting applications for the second cycle of its innovative new pilot recruiting pathway – Gateway Select – the airline's competency-based training program for aspiring pilots.

On July 1, 2017, draft amendments to the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs) regarding pilot hours of work and rest periods were published. And according to Transport Canada (TC), the rationale for the new regulations is to ensure that they are based on the latest science regarding fatigue, to comply with ICAO standards, which require that regulations be based on scientific principles, and to bring Canada in line with the United States and Europe.

Boeing, through its subsidiary Jeppesen, has announced a three-year service agreement with the University of North Dakota Department of Aviation to provide the school with its industry-leading navigation and electronic flight bag (EFB) services.

Canada boasts one of the safest regulatory operating environments in the world but there is plenty of room for improvement – and changes are necessary to ensure it remains safe and secure in the months and years ahead.

Having concluded my first full calendar year as a lawyer within the aviation industry, one point stands vividly clear: the technical competency regulator of Canada’s aviation industry lacks the efficiency and responsiveness warranted by our country’s advanced state of civil aviation.

In the March/April issue of Wings, Transportation Safety Board chair Kathy Fox painted a compelling argument for the importance of recorders of all forms – voice, video and data – in accident investigation.

With more reports of reckless drone use around airports and aircraft, the Air Canada Pilots Association (ACPA) today commended minister of transport Marc Garneau on the immediate introduction of new interim drone rules.

Minister Garneau announced today an Interim Order which provides safety rules for recreational drone use.

Universal Weather and Aviation, Inc. has selected AviationManuals as its preferred Safety Management System (SMS) provider for its clients.

In November, Jean Lesage International Airport in Quebec City (YQB) opened a new international terminal that will double the size of the infrastructure in the hopes of attracting more flights. But that could be a challenge, since the airport still doesn’t offer public transport to the city and a lot of local residents prefer to fly out of Montreal.

The approval of Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) flying and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are major milestones in becoming an international go-to facility for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) research and development and operator training in Alma, about 230 kilometres north of Quebec City.

In my short time working here on Wings, I've quickly become amazed at the complexity and sophistication of the aviation business. It's certainly not something an outsider like me can just jump into and offer anything substantive. The acronyms...my goodness, the acronyms...

Bombardier Commercial Aircraft has announced that Air Philippines Corporation, operator of Philippine Airlines affiliate airline PAL Express, has signed an eight-year Smart Parts agreement to provide component management for the airline’s 12 new, dual-class Q400 aircraft.

FlightSafety International has announced a new Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A Series Pilot Familiarization Course designed specifically for Agricultural Aircraft operators. Training is planned to begin in Brazil early next year. Additional locations will be added according to customer needs.

Bombardier Commercial Aircraft has announced that CemAir (PTY) Ltd of South Africa has concluded a firm purchase agreement for two new Q400 turboprops, and has also signed the lease of a used Q400 aircraft that was delivered this month, paving the way for the new aircraft to be delivered afterwards. The letter of Intent (LOI) from CemAir, which was signed on June 21 at the 2017 Paris Air Show, has now been converted into a firm order.

Textron Aviation has announced its new twin-engine, high-wing, large-utility turboprop – the Cessna SkyCourier 408. FedEx Express, the world’s largest express transportation company and longtime Textron Aviation customer, has signed on as the launch customer for up to 100 aircraft, with an initial fleet order of 50 cargo aircraft and options for 50 more. Entry into service for the clean-sheet design Cessna SkyCourier is planned for 2020.

The second annual All Canada Aeromedical Transport conference (ACAT) is set to go in Mississauga, Ont. Nov. 21-23 and this year’s event promises to build on the strong safety foundation set by last year’s inaugural gathering.

Bombardier Commercial Aircraft has announced that it concluded a firm purchase agreement for two new Q400 turboprops with Nordic Aviation Capital (NAC) in September 2017.

Textron Aviation has announced at Dubai Airshow that it is has begun delivery to Tuareg Aviation Ltd for 10 Cessna Grand Caravan EX turboprops. The aircraft will be operated by Mack Air (Pty) Ltd to provide charter, cargo and logistic services between a network of independently owned bush safari lodges in the popular Okavango Delta and Kalahari Plains regions of Botswana. The aircraft will partially replace Mack Air’s current fleet, which currently also includes Grand Caravan turboprops.

Appareo Systems, LLC has been contracted by FedEx Corporation to provide a Flight Operations Quality Assurance (FOQA) solution for the company’s feeder fleet of Cessna 208B Super Cargomaster aircraft.

For the first time at the MRO Americas Conference and Exhibition, Boeing [NYSE: BA] is announcing five new products and services across its services portfolios, all geared towards continuing enhanced digital transformation and MRO value improvement.

IMP Electronic Systems has announced that it has recently been awarded a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) by the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) incorporating a Rockwell Collins Pro-Line 21 integrated avionics system adapted for the Hawker Beechcraft 1900D 19-passenger twin turboprop commuter category aircraft.

Raisbeck Engineering has received a Supplemental Type Certificate from the FAA for Hartzell Propeller's newest structural composite swept blade props designed specifically for Beechcraft King Air 350 turboprops.

Quiet Technology Aerospace has delivered its first set of their upgraded inlet for the Gulfstream G200 in August and the second set in September. The light weight Carbon Graphite Composite Engine Barrels terminate the recurring issue of expensive and time-consuming corrosion on the G200’s PW305 engine inlets.

AAR has secured its first Airbus NEO fleet customer by signing a long-term component support agreement with Hawaii’s largest airline, Hawaiian Airlines.

AAR has secured an extension of its contract supporting Air Austral’s fleet of B737NG aircraft, which began in 2009.

Approximately one-third of unionized employees at the Abbotsford-based aircraft maintenance company Cascade Aerospace could be laid off in the coming months.

AAR has signed a long-term, multimillion-dollar agreement with Polish charter carrier Enter Air to provide full power-by-the-hour (PBH) component inventory management and repair services on 19 Boeing 737-series aircraft, including the 737CL and NG.

When it comes to replacement parts, the large OEMs would prefer to have a monopoly on the aftermarket business. But as with any industry, the presence of alternative aftermarket products of comparable, or even better, quality drives down prices. For the aviation industry, this competition comes from smaller independent MROs as well as PMA parts manufacturers.

Associated Air Center (AAC) has received the industry’s first approval for a Boeing 787 Series aircraft Limited Airframe rating from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), authorizing the company to perform composite bolted major repairs and alterations on 787 Series composite aircraft.

AAR has signed a long-term, multimillion-dollar contract to provide power-by-the-hour (PBH) component inventory management and repair services to Dubai-based flydubai. The agreement represents a significant expansion of AAR’s commercial footprint in the Middle East.

Vector Aerospace has announced that it has entered into exclusive Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) PT6A engine service agreements with four leading agricultural aviation and aerial firefighting operators in Australia.

PAL Airlines is currently seeking Captains on the 1900 to join our team in Halifax, NS.

Seeking a Senior Technical Writer to develop, write and edit technical publications for Diamond Aircraft. Technical publications are created from drawings and data using FrameMaker and technical document publishing software.

Trans Maldivian Airways (Pvt) Ltd. (TMA) is a private airline headquartered on the grounds of Velana International Airport in Malé, Maldives. Operating out of Velana International Airport, TMA currently holds the world's largest seaplane fleet & provides seaplane transfer services to more than 60 resorts in Maldives. Being the world’s largest seaplane service provider Trans Maldivian Airways (Put) Ltd is a diversified company employing around 1000 employees from 21 nationalities worldwide. If you are an enthusiastic and energetic individual, who wants a challenging & dynamic career in aviation Trans Maldivian Airways (Pvt) Ltd. Is the best place for you!

Develop your career with the largest regional airline in Northwestern Ontario Canada!

Okanagan Mountain Helicopters is seeking a pilot with a minimum of 1000 hours for charter and contract work in western Canada. This position is a multi-year posting. 

Highpoint Helicopters operates a fleet of AS350-B2 aircraft primarily from bases in Grande Prairie and Peace River, Alberta. We are currently seeking applications from experienced pilots interested in seasonal employment as Pilot / Base Manager from April through September 2017. The proposed shift schedule is 22/8 (Days) throughout the core season with the relief blocks provided on a pre-scheduled basis. Preference will be given to qualified candidates residing in the Peace Region. Qualified candidates may forward Resume to Daryl Anderson electronically or by standard mail to Highpoint Helicopters Ltd. Box 505, 4811 Telqua Drive, 108 Mile Ranch, B.C. V0K 2Z0. Telephone inquiries from interested candidates also accepted at (250)-706-7731