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:

  • 2018 presented significant challenges for general aviation, including a successful fight against ATC privatization, ongoing issues with ADS-B compliance, and battles over FBO fees and airport closures.
  • The year also saw notable triumphs, such as Cirrus Aircraft's Vision Jet winning the Collier Trophy, general aviation achieving its safest year on record, and a strong pilot hiring market.
  • Emerging technologies like drones created regulatory complexities and safety concerns, while advancements in low-cost digital avionics and the development of autonomous "flying taxis" pointed towards future innovations.
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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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