By Des Waerden Amendment 36: What the Last 18 Months Have Taught Us Almost a year ago, I wrote an open letter to the General Aviation community about the withdrawal of AIC 18.19 and what I believed the issue was beginning to expose within our industry. At the time, Amendment 36 was still somewhere ahead of us, the outcome was far from certain, and much of that letter was a call for the GA community to get involved rather than simply accept the situation as the new status quo.

By Garth Calitz Amendment 36 offers a possible route back to flight for Part 91 aircraft grounded solely because their engines reached the infamous 12-year limit. In the past, owners of Part 91 aircraft reaching the engine’s 12-year calendar limit could mean only one thing: ground the aircraft, open the cheque book very wide and get in line for an overhaul — even when the engine had relatively few hours, good maintenance records and no obvious signs of distress. That situatio

By Garth Calitz South Africa’s long-running general aviation battle over the so-called 12-year engine rule appears to be approaching a significant turning point. After years of consultation, debate, technical arguments, regulatory reviews, and enough paperwork to probably qualify as an aircraft component in its own right, the 36th Amendment to the Civil Aviation Regulations has finally been signed off by Transport Minister Barbara Creecy. The Minister signed the amendment on

A lightweight bush aircraft is not necessarily the first machine that comes to mind when considering a transatlantic ferry flight. Yet that is precisely what a new Carbon Cub UL has accomplished, completing an extraordinary 6,900-nautical-mile journey from Lewiston, Idaho, to Poland and demonstrating just how far modern light aircraft technology has progressed. The flight, completed in July 2026, marks the first transatlantic crossing by a Carbon Cub UL and represents a signi

The first factory-produced aircraft delivered under the United States Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) new Modernisation of Special Airworthiness Certification (MOSAIC) regulations signifies a major advancement for recreational aviation. The handover of a Van's Aircraft RV-12 at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026 illustrates the transition of this long-anticipated regulatory change from policy to practical implementation. The aircraft was officially delivered during EAA AirVe

Zenith Aircraft has unveiled its latest all-metal kit aircraft at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026, introducing the CH 750 Super Cruzer, a versatile high-wing aircraft designed to bridge the gap between traditional STOL utility aircraft and comfortable cross-country cruisers. The new design takes advantage of the expanded opportunities created by the United States' Modernisation of Special Airworthiness Certification (MOSAIC) regulations, offering recreational pilots an aircraft w

Epic Aircraft has reached another important milestone in its international expansion with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) granting type certification to the E1000 AX, clearing the way for sales and operations across Europe. The certification, announced during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026, allows the Oregon-based manufacturer to begin introducing its flagship high-performance single-engine turboprop to European customers, with deliveries expected to commence in

French aircraft manufacturer Elixir Aircraft and turbine engine developer Turbotech have taken a significant step toward the future of general aviation training by launching the Elixir Turbine Industrial Program. The announcement, made at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, follows a successful year of flight testing and formalises the partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will guide the aircraft toward certification and commercial service by 2030. The agreement ma

Bell has reached another significant production milestone, announcing the delivery of the 700th Bell 505 helicopter during the 2026 Farnborough International Airshow. The landmark aircraft has been delivered to a private VIP operator, underscoring the Bell 505's growing popularity in the executive and corporate aviation market. The achievement comes less than a decade after the Bell 505 entered service in 2017, highlighting the strong global demand for the light single-engine

Eve Air Mobility has reached two significant milestones in the certification journey of its Eve 100 electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, further strengthening the company's ambitions to bring the aircraft to global markets. Announced during the 2026 Farnborough International Airshow, the developments include the opening of a public consultation by Brazil's National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) on updated airworthiness criteria for the Eve 100, as well as E