Should Flight Service Stations and Air Traffic Control towers be open to pilots? Yes, say FAA officials. But it took some doing to get that admission, as doors slammed shut after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Under the current Code Yellow threat alert, FSS are still open for walk-in briefings — unless there is a […]
Four new FAA rules take effect soon
Compliance with at least four important FAA mandates falls due during the first four months of 2005. One of them is particularly important to pilots flying over water or wilderness. After Jan. 1, all airplanes on long over-water flights or flying over designated – mostly wilderness – land areas will have to be equipped with […]
Building a home for The Lost Squadron Museum
The folks at The Lost Squadron Museum in Middlesboro, Ky., are stepping up their annual raffle by offering three prizes this year. The museum is home to “Glacier Girl,” one of the last airworthy P-38s. Located at Middlesboro-Bell County Airport (1A6), the museum is raising money to build a new facility. This year the winner […]
FAA tests solar-powered lights at NJ airport
Solar-powered taxiway lights are coming to Cross Keys Airport (17N) in Gloucester County, N.J. The airport is being used as a testbed by the FAA’s Airport Safety Technology Section. These are the same taxiway lights that are being used in the Middle East to guide U.S. fighter jets and cargo aircraft. The installation began Dec. […]
10 most wanted
There are many aviation records still to be broken. In fact, the National Aeronautic Association has a “10 Most Wanted” list of records, several of which go back to the 1930s. The oldest, from May 1937, is for distance flown over a closed circuit — without landing, of course — by a piston powered seaplane. […]
To Conquer the Air (Book Review)
“To Conquer the Air: The Wright Brothers and The Great Race for Flight” by James Tobin. Tobin, who holds a Ph.D. in history, is a writer whose work has twice been nominated for the Pulitzer Prize in journalism. He traces the work of the Wrights and interweaves it with the efforts of others who were […]
Pneumatic luggage door approved for Pipers
Knots 2U, Ltd. has a new STC’d product for all Piper PA-28 models. Lift the luggage door a few inches and a strut will automatically open the door the rest of the way. Installation can be accomplished in less than an hour and the kit comes with all of the parts and hardware necessary. Introductory […]
Aircraft Spruce lists new wheel jack
Aircraft Spruce & Specialty has added a new wheel jack to its list of items in stock. Designed to be portable and stored in GA aircraft, the jack weighs just 4.5 pounds and makes it easy to raise an aircraft gear for tire replacement. Price: $94.50. For more information: 877-4-SPRUCE or AircraftSpruce.com.
New laser scanner improves portability and accuracy
NVision introduces the ModelMaker Z series laser scanner, which offers better portability and accuracy for inspection and reverse engineering. A new camera provides higher accuracy by resolving details half the size of those that could be captured by the previous model. The scanner can be powered by a battery for up to two hours of […]