In late August 2020, Otto Aviation introduced its Celera 500L as “the most fuel-efficient commercially viable passenger aircraft in the world.”
Aren’t press releases great?
[Read more…]A rule for the exceptions
Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) exist for a reason. Being temporary, their impact is mostly minimal — time wise —but painful all the same.
But what happens when a specific TFR become repetitive? Like when a sitting president visits a particular destination repeatedly?
[Read more…]New podcast tells of aviation’s darker side
Drug smugglers have often used mechanized tools to move drugs from places of manufacture to distribution. Aircraft, like other modes of transportation, merely serve a purpose.
A new podcast, Fly by Night, shares the “stories of pilots who used their skills to smuggle drugs in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s, and the people who chased them.”
[Read more…]Learner settles into the flight deck’s seat
I’ll admit I missed this May 2020 memo from the FAA.
“With the assistance of aviation community members of the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC) Airman Certification Standards (ACS) Working Group (WG), the FAA is reviewing and revising a number of its reference handbooks.”
Among the books being revised, the Aviation Instructor Handbook (FAA-H-8083-9B), effective with the May 2020 release will, among other things, replace “Student” with “Learner” and replace “Cockpit” with “Flight deck” throughout the handbook.
What? Why? Who?
[Read more…]YouTube star Cory Robin screwed up
Cory Robin flies a Carbon Cub he calls “Ghost” (which is on the Aug. 6, 2020, cover of General Aviation News). He also has a YouTube channel with nearly 47,000 subscribers.
And sadly, he recently crashed his plane in a river in Ohio.
[Read more…]Colorado weather cameras now operational
52 new aviation weather cameras installed on the Colorado Division of Aeronautics’ network of 13 Mountain Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS) site are now operational.
[Read more…]Checkride reexaminations may be required for some pilots
If you took a checkride with Michael A. Puehler of Cincinnati, Ohio, between October 2008 and December 2019, the FAA may require you to retake your checkride.
[Read more…]Drones: Here for good, and for good
I rather like the FAA’s clever — perhaps unintended — double meaning in the graphic to support its virtual UAS Symposium.
“Drones. Here For Good.” When defined as a noun, good may mean “something useful or beneficial.”
[Read more…]Every storm cloud has a silver lining
Even the COVID-19 storm cloud.
Kevin Laufer is a friend of mine. We met years ago at SUN ‘n FUN. Since that first meeting, we’ve managed to meet up each year at SUN ‘n FUN and EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. Our time together, for me at least, represents one of the true joys of this subculture of aviation.
Like anyone who makes the most of their life, Kevin is busy. He’s married with four children and he’s the director of aviation for a global insurance company. He manages a team of 24 that flies three large cabin Gulfstreams from Northeast Philadelphia Airport (KPNE). His days start early and end late, even when he’s not on the road.
[Read more…]New aviation museum and cafe opens in Oregon
If you happen to be driving north on Oregon’s Hells Canyon Scenic Highway 82 in northeastern Oregon, just as you enter Wallowa, Oregon, on your left hand side, at 402 Wallowa Lake Hwy, you will find a pair of red roofed buildings. The first holds Melincko’s Museum. The smaller neighbor is Melincko’s Aero Cafe.
[Read more…]