The first of several text messages — I and thousands of others will likely receive — from the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) during AirVenture 2017 offered a stark reminder…and I wasn’t even onsite yet. “Welcome to #OSH17!” the message starts. Immediately followed by a wet blanket over the excitement that is OSH: “Take a stand […]
Cirrus Embarks on a new training journey
If you buy a pre-owned Cirrus, Cirrus wants to embark on a journey with you — a training journey. Whether you buy that aircraft through Cirrus’ pre-owned sales network or from an independent seller, Cirrus Embark is something you’ll be able — and should — take advantage of. New owners who register online will get up to […]
Tell Congress, then tell a friend
A little more than 44% of all airline flight delays between May 2016 and April 2017 were categorized as Air Carrier Delay. The Bureau of Transportation Statistics defines Air Carrier Delay as “within the airline’s control (e.g. maintenance or crew problems, aircraft cleaning, baggage loaded, fueling, etc.).” So it feels a tad misleading when Southwest […]
Saturday’s scene at the Arlington Fly-In
The 49th Arlington Fly-In ran July 7-9. Those of you near a calendar will notice the fly-in ran Friday to Sunday instead of the past Thursday to Saturday. With Chamber of Commerce weather, the fly-in parking area hosted a healthy number — and wide variety — of aircraft. One of the great things about smaller events is the ability to see a wide range of […]
Control is an illusion, except when it’s not
I find it fascinating to watch people attempt to control what is often beyond control. If only a non-profit, non-government entity was in control of air traffic, the ills of airline travel would magically disappear. Or so Congress — and the airlines – would like us to believe. As if… According to the Bureau of Transportation […]
A pair of Patrols
For 23 years now, Donna Svoboda and Dennis Reynolds have traveled the country together, in different airplanes. She in her Citabria, him in his Pacer. No longer. Sort of. After nearly four years of building, Donna and Dennis now fly the skies in their matching — but different — Bearhawk Patrols. Delivery of their kits was in February 2013 […]
“The solution is simple”
“If we truly want to fix the real problems facing the FAA today, the solution is simple,” claims Oregon Representative Peter DeFazio. Really? “Congress can and should pass targeted reforms.” Cool. That is simple. Umm. So… why haven’t you passed “targeted reforms” Rep. DeFazio? After all, you’ve served as a member of the House Transportation […]
New version of Hangar Swap released
Hangar Swap has unveiled its newest version of its online parts marketplace. The overhauled site is mobile friendly, which allows users to buy, sell and manage inventory from a smartphone or tablet. Sellers who organize their inventory in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet will enjoy the new system’s upload ability. Newly uploaded inventory is tagged pending, but […]
Horrific story of survival leads to ELT
As the saying goes, “aviation regulation is written in blood.” In the case of the emergency locator transmitter (ELT) regulation, I suppose it would be more accurate to say “written in horrific survival.” I just finished Ross Nixon’s detailed and informative book, “Finding Carla,” which tells the nightmarish story of 15-year-old Carla Corbus, her mother […]