Way over in Paris, a new airplane has arrived — only this Paris is in Tennessee. SLSA #120 Spirit comes from a new company but one whose leader earned his SLSA pedigree gaining four model approvals. That would be Skykits and its STOL variations. All are designs from ICP of Italy (Savannah, plus ADV and […]
Archives for 2011
China’s first GA show next month
A five-day AOPA-China General Aviation Summit will be held in September in Beijing. The summit kicks off Sept. 20 and will include Chinese civil and military aviation officials, a two-day forum on the country’s low-altitude economy, and the first GA fly-in in the country, according to a report at AOPA.org
An aviation club in every high school
Aviation managers are worried about finding enough qualified people to fill the millions of job openings in the aviation industry that will be created by retirements and expansion over the next two decades. Especially vexing is the relatively small number of young people who are entering aviation-career-track education programs. The National Association of High School […]
Air Safety Institute to develop passenger briefing course
In response to a recommendation from the NTSB, the AOPA Foundation’s Air Safety Institute is developing a short training video to coach general aviation pilots on how to give an effective passenger briefing on emergency communications and survival equipment. The NTSB recommendation was a result of the board’s investigation into the August 2010 accident in […]
Rocky Mountain Airshow slated
The 32nd Annual Rocky Mountain Airshow takes off the weekend of Aug. 26-28. The show, at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (BJC) in Broomfield, Colo., will be comprised of aerobatics, afterburners and pyrotechnics, including an appearance by the B2 Stealth Bomber. The show also will feature a “Walk Through Time” in the air and on the […]
Stoned pilot crashes
This August 2009 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others. Aircraft: Piper Pawnee. Injuries: 1 Fatal. Location: Creswell, Ore. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: The airplane was being used to tow gliders. Shortly after […]
The girl in the tree
I must confess right off that my interview with pilot Keena Pope wasn’t so much an interview as it was a good, old-fashioned, girl’s day out, get-together and gossip fest. That it was done while she was on the clock and at her boss’s expense made the visit all the more special. Since I know […]
OSH sales report
This year I had easily 30 conversations at AirVenture revealing either outright positive successful results or varyingly robust mood indicators such as, “Looks like aviation has life in it again.” A number of aircraft purveyors said they took cash deposits and wrote firm contracts. I estimate about 30 aircraft sales by this method. Companies like […]
Aspen Avionics awards merit badges in AirVenture’s North 40
As four-time corporate sponsors of the North 40 Aircraft Parking and Camping area during EAA AirVenture, Aspen Avionics wanted to recognize the intrepid citizens of Oshkosh’s North 40 with Aspen’s first North 40 Camping Merit Badge. “For those of us who spend our AirVenture nights in air conditioned hotel rooms or view the torrents of […]