Jonathan Welsh

Montclair

Travel Editor at Flying Magazine

Travel Editor at Flying Magazine Former freelance writer and 21-year staff reporter at The Wall Street Journal

Articles

uAvionix enables new AV-30-C features with software update

2 days ago | aopa.org | Jonathan Welsh

Pilots using the popular AV-30-C multifunction display from uAvionix received the flight-instrument equivalent of a shot in the arm—make that a shot in the panel—with the FAA approval of a software upgrade that enhances the instrument’s capabilities. The Bigfork, Montana, company announced the certification of its software update on June 3.
First passengers board new electric aircraft

2 days ago | aopa.org | Jonathan Welsh

The occasion also marked Beta’s first demonstration flight with passengers. Four people, including Matt Koscal, president of Republic Airways, and Rob Wiesenthal, CEO of Blade Air Mobility, accompanied the single pilot, Beta said. “At Republic, we’re always exploring innovative technologies that can help us better connect people and communities—and BETA’s eCTOL represents a meaningful step forward in that effort,” Koscal said.
Memorial scholarship deadline near

3 days ago | aopa.org | Jonathan Welsh

Franceus, who lived in Temperance, Michigan, used her certificate not only to fly, but as a way of convincing other women to take on the challenge and reap the unique rewards of general aviation. She, like many pilots, realized there are few endeavors as challenging, thrilling, and satisfying as operating an aircraft as pilot in command, and was determined to spread that message at every opportunity.
Garmin eases procedures with decluttered SmartCharts

1 week ago | aopa.org | Jonathan Welsh

For years pilots have clamored for ways to simplify approaches, departures, and other procedures that can be overwhelmingly complicated. Because traditional charts and other graphic instructions have grown in complexity over time, adding many layers of information, pilots have found them increasingly difficult to follow.
GA aircraft shipments rise, bucking trend

1 week ago | aopa.org | Jonathan Welsh

While durable goods orders overall hit a rough patch in April, falling 6.3 percent according to the Commerce Department, general aviation aircraft makers bucked the trend, according to the latest data release from the General Aviation Manufacturers Association. Airplane shipments for the first quarter totaled 627, an 18-percent increase over the 531 reported during the same period in 2024, GAMA reported.
Safety reset

1 week ago | aopa.org | Jonathan Welsh

A series of runway excursion accidents involving HondaJets has stirred criticism of the aircraft’s design. What is different following incidents in Oregon and Florida in April—the latest of more than two dozen similar events—is the response from owners and pilots, who say the accidents are the result of improper landing technique. They are also working on a potential cure.
App serves pilots who plan around food

2 weeks ago | aopa.org | Jonathan Welsh

A new app called Fly-n-Eat seeks to ease the integration of food stops into pilots’ travel plans. The app can identify airport restaurants within a certain radius distance of your home field, which is ideal when seeking new destinations for the old $100 hamburger. For cross-country travel, Fly-n-Eat shows restaurants along your route, plus menus; hours; contact information; and other critical details including airport locations, identifiers, websites, and time zones.
Kentucky tornado wreaked havoc at vintage aircraft fly-in

2 weeks ago | aopa.org | Jonathan Welsh

While many pilots have fretted over dangerous weather in the air and on the ground, few have experienced the type of destruction that befell members of the T-34 Association, who had gathered a baker's dozen of vintage Beechcraft T–34 Mentors at the airport for the group’s annual Spring Thing fly-in. Members had been practicing formation flying earlier in the day and had headed to their hotel rooms for the evening before the winds arrived.
Business aviation would benefit from return of depreciation rule

3 weeks ago | aopa.org | Jonathan Welsh

Aircraft manufacturers and aviation industry groups including the General Aviation Manufacturers Association and the National Business Aviation Association historically have supported bonus depreciation as a stimulus for aircraft sales and production. The benefit has come and gone a number of times over the years as administrations have sought to boost industry and create jobs.
Pilot seeks to expand car booking platform

1 month ago | aopa.org | Jonathan Welsh

Welcome to the riddle of the “last mile,” a challenge that has vexed private pilots since the early days of GA. While the rise of ride-sharing services has made getting into town from the airport a lot easier over the past decade or so, there are many fields whose off-the-beaten-track nature attracts pilots but repels drivers for hire. Such airports are among the target markets for GoCrewCar, a platform under development in the Pacific Northwest.