Top 10 General Aviation Stories Of The Year

Here are the blockbuster aviation stories of a remarkable 2018 for GA.

Control tower
Plane flies by control tower.
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Aviation in 2018 saw both triumphs, such as the Cirrus Vision Jet winning the Collier Trophy and general aviation experiencing its safest years on record, along with the introduction of more affordable digital avionics.
  • The industry faced significant challenges, including a successful fight against ATC privatization, persistent issues with excessive FBO fees, and the looming ADS-B equipage deadline with many aircraft still unprepared.
  • New technologies like drones emerged as a major disruptive force, prompting ongoing regulatory and safety debates, while concepts for autonomous "Ubers of the Skies" gained attention for future air mobility.
  • The airline industry experienced a major pilot hiring frenzy driven by demographic trends and increased demand, leading to significantly improved wages and benefits for pilots.
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10. Ubers Of The Skies

Airbus
Airbus

The mobility world—yes, that is a thing—is all abuzz with mobility solutions talk, and for many city dwellers, that means learning how to dodge out-of-control e-scooters. But the big plan for many companies, including Boeing, Airbus, Google, Uber, and others, is to make automated air transportation—meaning, no pilots needed—the standard way of getting around. Many of the so-called solutions involve the development of autonomous flying machines, many of which are electrically powered multi-copters that feature computer-controlled operation, including navigation and collision avoidance. Listening to these developers talk about their inventions, you’d come to believe that it’ll all be here in a year or two. We remain highly skeptical, but it inarguably will be interesting to watch this movement play out. We’ll keep you apprised.

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