Picture credits: Piper
Florida: Piper Aircraft reported a strong finish to 2024, delivering 291 aircraft—a nearly 20% increase from 2023, with 46 more aircraft delivered year-over-year—marking its highest delivery count since 2001.
A key contributor was the M700 FURY, Piper’s new 300-knot flagship aircraft launched in March 2024, with 46 units delivered in its first year. Demand for the diesel-powered Archer DX also fueled growth. US domestic deliveries totaled 217 aircraft, up 7% from 2023, while international deliveries surged 76% to 74 aircraft, highlighting Piper’s expanding global presence.
“Our continued growth, both domestically and internationally, is a testament to the strength of our product lineup and the trust our customers place in Piper,” said John Calcagno, President and CEO of Piper Aircraft, Inc. “With the successful introduction of the M700 FURY and tremendous growth in Archer DX trainer sales, 2024 was a milestone year with the highest delivery count in well over two decades.”
Meanwhile, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a final airworthiness directiv(AD), effective March 20, 2025, requiring the replacement of rudders on approximately 31,000 vintage Piper aircraft due to fatigue and corrosion in 1025 carbon steel rudder posts. Operators must replace them with 4130N low-alloy steel rudders. The directive affects models from J-series Cubs to PA-22 Tri-Pacers and follows two non-fatal accidents in Anchorage, Alaska, in 2020 and 2022.
The FAA said “Many of the 31,000 airplanes are not currently in service. There are an estimated 13,000 active airplanes in the U.S. fleet, and the FAA estimates that approximately half of those airplanes already have rudder assemblies with 4130N low-alloy steel installed. This reduces the number of rudders needed to approximately 6,500”
Despite opposition from aviation groups like AOPA, the FAA upheld the directive. The Short Wing Piper Club expressed disappointment but is pursuing an Alternative Method of Compliance (AMOC) to make the AD more affordable for owners.
The FAA has outlined compliance times for replacing rudder posts based on aircraft categories. Category I airplanes, with both a rudder post mounted beacon light and a 150+ hp engine, must comply within 2 years. Category II airplanes, with either of the two features, have 3 years. Category III planes, with an engine between 100-150 hp, must comply within 5 years, while Category IV planes, with engines below 100 hp, must do so within 10 years.
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![Washington, United States: A United Airlines flight bound for Guatemala City made an emergency diversion to Washington Dulles International Airport after a passenger allegedly attempted to open a cabin door at cruising altitude and assaulted another traveler, according to air traffic control communications and federal authorities. The incident involved United Airlines Flight 1551, operated by a Boeing 737 MAX 8, which departed from Newark Liberty International Airport on Thursday evening carrying 145 passengers and six crew members. The aircraft had been en route to Guatemala City when the crew declared an emergency and diverted to Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia. According to audio between the flight crew and air traffic controllers, the pilot informed controllers that the disruptive passenger attempted to open Door 2L while the aircraft was cruising at approximately 36,000 feet. The pilot also reported that the passenger later assaulted another individual onboard. During the exchange, the tower asked the crew which door the passenger had attempted to access. The pilot responded: “Door 2L at 36,000 feet and then [the passenger] assaulted a fellow passenger.” When controllers asked whether there were any injuries onboard, the pilot replied: “Not to our knowledge.” The aircraft landed safely at Washington Dulles at approximately 8:38 p.m. local time. Law enforcement and emergency personnel met the aircraft upon arrival. The FBI later confirmed that agents responded to the incident at the airport, although the agency did not immediately release additional details regarding the passenger’s identity, possible charges, or whether the individual was taken into federal custody. Flight tracking data showed the aircraft remained airborne for a period before diverting toward the Washington region instead of continuing south toward Guatemala. The diversion temporarily disrupted the scheduled international service but no injuries among passengers or crew were officially reported. United Airlines had not issued a detailed public statement at the time of publication regarding the circumstances surrounding the diversion or the status of the passenger involved. Federal authorities are expected to review crew reports, passenger statements, and onboard evidence as part of the investigation.](https://aviationtoday.in/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/AVIATION-TODAY-UNITEDV-AIRLINES-RUDE-PASSENGER-768x432.jpg)
