New Era In Recreational Aviation Begins October 22, 2025

The general aviation community is eagerly anticipating the date that marks the beginning of a new era for many pilots: October 22, 2025. That is when the long-awaited Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification – MOSAIC – final rule takes effect, and it will have a profound influence on many aspects of general aviation but perhaps most especially sport pilots.

Man Flew His Drone into a Super Scooper During the Palisades Fire

A 57-year-old man has been sentenced to two weeks in prison and one month on home detention following a January 2025 incident that left a gaping hole in the wing of a Super Scooper firefighting aircraft. He also agreed to pay restitution to the government of Quebec to cover the costs of the repairs that followed.

Kit Darby Publishes Pilot Demand Forecast in the ‘Big Four’ Airlines

Aviation consultant and so-called pilot hiring expert Kit Darby recently published his pilot demand forecast for the ‘big four’ airlines in the US, and the hundreds of pilots patiently awaiting class dates may be happy with the results. The “conservative” analysis expects American, Delta, Southwest, and United to take in 27,485 new pilots in the next five years.

Aviator Disappeared Over 80 Years Ago… And Evidence May Now Be Coming to Light

US President Donald Trump recently vowed to declassify all files related to legendary aviator Amelia Earhart, who disappeared in 1937 during her attempt to circumnavigate the globe. This development was requested by Kimberlyn King-Hinds, Representative for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, in July.

Sierra Space Transitions To Free-Flying Multi-Use Demo

Sierra Space announced it has made a strategic adjustment for its Dream Chaser spaceplane, saying its first flight will be a free-flyer, demo mission to validate technology and deliver crucial data to NASA. The approach gives the company flexibility to address national security challenges while also advancing the vehicle’s capabilities for NASA and commercial customers.

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After more than a year being grounded for modifications, the Scaled Composites Model 437 “Vanguard” has returned to flight testing. The aircraft first flew in 2024, quickly taking a break from the skies as it prepared to serve as the airframe for Northrop Grumman’s Beacon autonomy test program. Sergei Sikorsky, whose father, Igor, founded Sikorsky Aircraft decades ago, passed on September 18 at 100 years old. He spent 41 years building his father’s legacy in the industry, taking Sikorsky’s groundbreaking developments and shaping them into some of the most renowned military helicopters in history. Yosemite National Park has been off limits to BASE jumpers for nearly 50 years. Now, a nonprofit called BASE Access is suing in federal court, arguing the ban is unconstitutional and that Yosemite should reopen to legal jum

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The US Army recently confirmed its plans to thin out its active duty aviation ranks, cutting 6,500 positions as it phases in unmanned systems. The changes are slated to begin in the coming months and continue through fiscal year 2027. Currently, about 30,000 soldiers serve in aviation roles ranging from pilots to support crews. By the time the cuts are finished, roughly one in five of those positions will be gone. Secretary of Transportation Sean P. Duffy announced that the FAA met and exceeded its goal for hiring air traffic controllers for Fiscal Year 2025 by bringing on 2,026 new controllers. The goal was 2,000 controllers, and the number of new hires is 20 percent more than the previous administration hired from January to September 2024. The US Air Force is well on its way to flying its next-generation fighter, with the first of many F-4

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Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works revealed its new autonomous drone it calls “Vectis,” which it says is the right size and is adaptable enough to partner with both Air Force and Navy crewed combat aircraft. While the aircraft is not necessarily aimed at Increment 2 of the Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, it will be flying within two years and it could fit into the Increment 1 criteria as well. Drone parachute manufacturer Aerial Vehicle Safety Solutions (AVSS) has voluntarily allowed the FAA to revoke its certification for operation-over-people with the Skydio X10 system. The permission was granted in August 2024, but after spending months on the market without a single sale, it appears the parachute-equipped drone has been abandoned altogether. uAvionix is calling on Pilots to support Portable EC under the FAA&r

MOSAIC-Centric Event Set For November 6-8, 2025... DON'T Miss It!

After a master strategy meeting this last week on the grounds of the Sun n Fun Aerospace Expo campus, details have been completed for the first MOSAIC-dedicated, MOSAIC-centric Affordable Flying Expo (AFE25). With the rule officially announced, AFE25 stands to be the best opportunity for MOSAIC-interested folks to get their questions answered and for the industry to show the aviation community that they are ready to serve this expanding niche. 

Supersonic Carry Testing Advances Hypersonic Propulsion Program

GE Aerospace announced the successful supersonic carry flight tests of its Atmospheric Test of Launched Airbreathing System (ATLAS) flight test vehicle, signifying a major advancement of its solid fuel ramjet propulsion technology.