Aviation

Elevating Excellence: AAM Institute’s Contribution to FAA’s Powered Lift Certification

The Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Institute recently submitted a response to the Department of Transportation’s request for information (RFI) on “Integration of Powered Lift: Pilot Certification and Operations; Miscellaneous Amendments Related to Rotorcraft and Airplanes.”

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According to the key author Jennifer Meszaros, “As the FAA continues to refine pilot training requirements and operational rules for powered-lift aircraft, there exists a significant opportunity to deepen engagement with key stakeholders in the powered-lift arena, including the U.S. Department of Defense and industry partners like GAMA and Leonardo. Amid intensifying geo-political competition, the need to prioritize cooperation, coordination, and consensus-building becomes ever more critical for driving development and enhancing competitiveness.”

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“The DoD is the leader in the powered-lift space, supported by a robust contingent of industry manufacturers and suppliers. While the FAA may not have sufficient operational experience in key areas, such as IFR rules regarding lower weather minima prescribed, VFR/IFR operating limitations and weather requirements, SOE with only one set of controls, and training pipelines – that knowledge does exist. Leveraging local expertise and accelerating cooperation among industry players should be top priorities.”

Dan Sloat, Founder and President of the AAM Institute, expressed his gratitude to the contributors; “It is a real pleasure working with professionals like Jennifer Meszaros and Keith Sarich, who consistently and selflessly dedicate their time to further the mission of the Institute.”

Aviation

COMAC Unveils Plans for the C929 to Rival Airbus and Boeing

After the success of China’s first C919 aircraft, the country is setting its sights on developing a larger plane. COMAC (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China) has officially confirmed plans to build a widebody aircraft, marking a significant step in its aircraft lineup.

Traditionally, Airbus and Boeing dominate the widebody aircraft market, with decades of expertise in developing planes and engines capable of carrying heavy payloads. China, which currently relies on imported engines, is now aiming to challenge these giants with its own widebody jet, the C929, designed to compete with the Airbus A350 and Boeing 777.

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The C929 will be China’s first independently developed long-range widebody aircraft. It adheres to international airworthiness standards and boasts independent intellectual property rights. The baseline version is designed to seat 280 passengers and offers a range of 12,000 kilometers, catering to global demand for both regional and international air travel.

Russia, which also needs reliable narrowbody and widebody aircraft, could become a key customer for the C929. Additionally, China plans to target the broader Asian market as it continues to expand its aviation capabilities.

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China’s aviation progress includes the ARJ21 (now called C909), a regional jet with 100 seats for shorter routes, and the C919, a narrowbody jet with 180 seats designed to rival the Boeing 737 MAX and Airbus A320. Both models have found increasing demand in the domestic market.

At China’s largest air show in Zhuhai, COMAC announced that Air China will be the launch customer for the C929 widebody jet, though details about order size and delivery timelines were not disclosed.

Other major deals announced by COMAC include:

Hainan Airlines: Firm orders for 60 C919 and 40 C909 regional jets.
Colorful Guizhou Airlines: 30 C909 jets, with 20 firm orders and 10 provisional agreements.

The C929, renamed from the CR929 after Russia withdrew from the joint development project in 2023, is expected to carry 280–400 passengers with a range of 12,000 kilometers, competing directly with Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner.

According to COMAC’s deputy general manager, Tong Yu, the first fuselage section of the C929 is expected by September 2027, with prototype test flights anticipated soon after.