On July 7, 2017, Air Canada Flight 759 (AC 759) from Toronto to San Francisco got as low as 59 ft above ground level (AGL) before completing a successful go-around. The Air Canada pilots lined up the Airbus A320 to land on occupied Taxiway C at San Francisco International Airport instead of on parallel Runway […]
Gulfstream G600’s FAA Certification
By the end of June 2019, the Gulfstream G600 earned FAA certification. The aircraft received both its type and production certificates on the same day from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration. The certifications cleared the way for the first completed G600 deliveries to customers as scheduled in 2019. The FAA type certification allowed G600 […]
The Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS)
On June 23, 1981, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator J. Lynn Helms announced the FAA’s decision to adopt the threat alert and collision avoidance system, soon renamed the traffic alert and collision avoidance system (TCAS). If there is a potential collision developing, the TCAS alerts the pilots and provides climb/descend instructions to them. In 1981, […]
Washington National Airport (DCA)
On June 16, 1941, Washington National Airport opened for full-time operations. President Roosevelt attended a ceremony and observed the first official landing. The airlines drew straws to determine who could land at National Airport first, and American Airlines won the honor. The plane was piloted by Bennett H. Griffin, who later became the manager of […]
Runway Incursion at SFO
On May 26, 2007, a runway incursion occurred at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) when an Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia turboprop aircraft from SkyWest Airlines (flight SKW5741 operating as United Express), nearly collided with an Embraer 170 Regional Jet from Republic Airlines (flight 4912 operating as Frontier Airlines) at the intersection of runways 1L and […]
East Hampton Town Airport (KJPX)
On May 19, 2022, the formerly known East Hampton (New York) Airport (KHTO) re-opened as a private-use airport named the East Hampton Town Airport (KJPX). For years, residents of the summer vacation hotspot had complained about airport noise, particularly from helicopters and jets. After an airport airspace analysis, the FAA gave its approval, stating in […]
Gulfstream’s G650 First Trans-Atlantic Flight
On May 12, 2012, Gulfstream G650 aircraft (S/N 6020) completed its first trans-Atlantic flight to make its European debut at the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition in Geneva (EBACE). The green, unpainted aircraft was flying under an experimental certificate, and arrived at Geneva International Airport from Dulles International Airport (outside of Washington, D.C.) in […]
Dassault Falcon 7X
On May 5, 2005, the first flight of the Dassault Falcon 7X took place. The large cabin and long-range business jet was manufactured by Dassault Aviation and would become the first business jet to use a Digital Flight Control System with an elegant and quiet executive cabin. The aircraft entered service on June 15, 2007 […]
Three vs Two Crew Fun Fact
During the piston and turbojet eras the government had mandated a three-pilot crew operation when the gross weight of an aircraft exceeded 80,000 pounds. However, in April 1965 the FAA announced that it was abolishing the weight limit criteria and aircraft would be certified for two-crew operation on an individual basis. The amendment to § […]
Gulfstream G280 Fun Fact
In April 2017, Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. announced that its super mid-size G280 had recently completed two missions en route to and from the 2017 Avalon Airshow, each achieving a city-pair world speed record. The G280 flew from Singapore to Melbourne, Australia (a distance of 3,332 nautical miles/6,170 kilometers) in 7 hours and 21 minutes at […]
