Aviation articles

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Electric air taxis will enter US skies this summer under FAA pilot

eVTOLs prepare for real-world trials across eight states
Forward-looking: The next major revolution in aviation may not happen at 35,000 feet, but a few hundred feet above city streets. This June, a new class of aircraft – electric and hybrid models capable of taking off vertically like helicopters but flying like airplanes – will begin limited operations under a federal pilot program in selected parts of US airspace.
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Air traffic control systems in the US rely on aging tech, $8 billion needed for upgrades

Some systems won't get a tech upgrade for another 10 to 13 years
Why it matters: It is scary to contemplate that all that keeps a plane from crashing can come down to an air traffic controller's sharp-eyed vigilance. It is even scarier to think that this person does not have the necessary tech to do their job properly. But that is the current state of affairs in the US, according to a GAO report. The Federal Aviation Administration is aware of the problem and says it needs $8 billion to fix it.