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News

Welcome to our News Room. Here you will find out what's going on in Virginia aviation.

  1. Porter Airlines delays restart to August 31

    Canada's Porter Airlines will restart its operations a month later than previously planned due to ongoing coronavirus-prompted travel restrictions that continue to make business difficult. The…

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  2. Aviation for Girls App Coming in September

    Women in Aviation International is launching an Aviation for Girls app on Sept. 26, 2020. The free app will help WAI deliver a virtual "Girls in Aviation Day" that it says will be bigger and more…

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  3. 2020 Reno Air Races Cancelled

    Due to ongoing concerns regarding COVID-19, the 2020 STIHL National Championship Air Races, scheduled for September 16-20 in Reno, Nevada, have been cancelled. The Reno Air Races Association felt…

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  4. Virginia Airport Manager Elected Secretary Treasurer of AAAE

    AAAE Leaders for 2020-2021 recently took office. The American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) is the world's largest professional organization representing individuals who work at…

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  5. Transport Canada Proposes New Drone Rule

    Two manned aviation groups are opposing a proposal by Transport Canada that would allow drones weighing up to 1,430 pounds (similar to a Cessna 152) to operate beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS)…

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  6. Mountain Empire Airport Grateful for Corporate and Military Activity

    Parallel to Interstate 81 in Smyth County, Virginia, you can find this gem of an airport and the increase of military activity can be seen and heard from the ground. Mountain Empire Airport (KMKJ)…

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  7. Richmond International Airport Begins New Cleaning Methods

    The pandemic has made everyone rethink about our health and safety practices and our airports are doing everything they can to keep you safe if you need to travel right now. New cleaning procedures…

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  8. Dinwiddie Airport Highlights

    Are you looking for a fun, educational, and unique aviation activity? Are you interested in aviation or how an airport works? Well, consider a tour of the Dinwiddie County Airport. Learn about the…

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  9. The Future of Airport Design After COVID-19

    An interesting article featured in Forbes Magazine contained an interview with an airport architect who was asked what changes might be expected in airport design in response to the COVID-19…

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  10. NASA Names Building After First African American Female Engineer

    NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine announced the agency's headquarters building in Washington, D.C., will be named after Mary W. Jackson, the first African American female engineer at NASA. Jackson…

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  11. FAA Amending Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR)

    Due to the ongoing impacts of COVID-19, the Federal Aviation Administration is amending the previous Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) issued on April 30, 2020. The amendment recognizes that…

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  12. FlightAware Reports that Business Aviation Traffic is Up

    Daniel Baker, CEO of FlightAware, reported on June 22 that "On Saturday, June 20, business aviation traffic surpassed 2019 numbers for the first ime since the initial decline with 2.5% more flights…

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  13. DOAV Launches YouTube Channel

    The agency started a channel on YouTube to function as another outlet to help with aviation education and safety outreach and awareness. The channel is called Virginia Department of Aviation and has…

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  14. HAI Members Pledge "COVID Clean"

    The Helicopter Association International (HAI) is urging its members to "take the pledge to be Covid Clean." Launched on Friday, participating members in HAI's "Covid Clean" program agree to abide by…

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  15. Girls in Aviation Day is Going Virtual

    Save the date for the sixth annual international Girls in Aviation Day on September 26, 2020. Thousands of girls, ages 8-17 around the world, will be able to experience the 6th Annual Girls in…

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  16. Tips to Ensure You're Ready to Safely Fly Again

    It's Summer time and as some shelter in place restrictions lift, it's time to get back in the skies and take flight. Before getting back in the cockpit after an aviation hiatus — no matter how…

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  17. 2021 FAI Young Artists Theme Announced

    Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI) has revealed the theme for the 2021 edition of the FAI young artists contest . Youngsters between the ages of six and 17 are invited to get their brushes…

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  18. Participate in the Virginia Aviation Board Meeting on June 18

    The June 18 meeting of the Virginia Aviation Board will be held electronically, beginning at 10:00 am. Both Webex and audio conference options are available to participate in the meeting. To…

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  19. Sporty’s Offers New Course - Get Started Learning to Fly

    Sporty's Pilot Shop is offering a new course for those who may be interested in learning to fly but have questions about how to get started. The free course, called Get Started with Learning to Fly…

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  20. First Fully Electric Aircraft Earns Type Certification

    The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has issued type certification for the first-ever fully electric aircraft. Pipistrel's Velis Electro earned the honor using its E-811 engine, which…

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  21. Aircraft Gets Converted to Assist in Able Flight Program

    Staff from the Purdue Polytechnic Institute's School of Aviation and Transportation Technology (SATT) recently collaborated with aircraft manufacturer Pipistrel and the FAA to convert a glider into a…

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  22. DOAV Donates Peanuts to Feed More

    The Virginia Department of Aviation orders supplies for annual events, but this year things have been very different to say the least. With most events being cancelled so far in 2020, there are a…

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  23. Private airport owners encouraged to update data with FAA

    The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association is encouraging nearly 3,000 private airport owners to respond to a data verification request they may have received in the mail from the FAA, asking owners…

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  24. Delivering Books by Drone

    First it was supplies from a pharmacy; now Google's Wing Aviation will begin delivering library books to young people in the Christiansburg area using its delivery drones. The idea came about from…

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  25. Blue Skies Grille Re-Opened

    The Hampton Roads Executive Airport restaurant, Blue Skies Grille re-opened on June 8, resuming regular hours of 11:00am - 2:30pm, Tuesday through Saturday. The Airport & FBO remain open and they…

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