WASHINGTON, DC — Last year, airplane shipments increased just .6%, while billings were down .9%, according to figures released by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA). While mixed, the 2012 year-end numbers don’t reflect “the amount of development work in progress in general aviation,” said Brad Mottier, GAMA chairman. “The general aviation segment is poised […]
Wagstaff joins Excalibur 421 team
PASO ROBLES, Calif. — Aerobatic champion Patty Wagstaff has joined the Excalibur 421 team. She will be the demonstration pilot and also will be responsible for overseeing the transition training program. The Excalibur 421 features a remanufactured Cessna 421 airframe upgraded with Pratt & Whitney PT6A-135A turboprop engines. It also includes a custom Garmin avionics […]
Eastern Aviation Fuels sponsors scholarship
The Florida Aviation Trade Association (FATA) and Eastern Aviation Fuels, the exclusive distributor of Shell branded aviation fuels in the United States, have established the Gary Steele Scholarship Fund as part of the FATA Scholarship Program. The fund is set up to honor the memory of Gary Steele and support the FATA/Embry Riddle Aeronautical University […]
Aviator’s Practical Organizer debuts
Making its debut is the Aviator’s Practical Organizer, a new system that helps student pilots organize and understand the knowledge needed for the oral and flight exams. Created by Teresa Guillemot, the Aviator’s Practical Organizer (APO) is an organizational tool for private, instrument and commercial student pilots that help them compile and organize all the […]
Tickets now available for Thunder in the Valley Airshow
COLUMBUS, Ga. — Advanced tickets to the March 16 and 17 Thunder in the Valley Air Show are now available for sale. “In 2012, we partnered with AttendStar to offer the 24/7 accessibility of online ticket sales and received positive feedback from out-of-town attendees and Facebook fans,” said Phaedra Childers, Event Coordinator. “We’re happy to […]
Revenues, deliveries up at Piper
VERO BEACH, Florida — Piper Aircraft ended 2012 with a 13% jump in revenue, fueled by a 16% rise in deliveries of new aircraft. According to Piper officials, revenue from new aircraft sales in 2012 reached $148,968,967, up from $131,263,539 in 2011. The company delivered 158 aircraft in 2012, up from 136 the previous year. […]
IMC Club introduces the ‘Brown Jacket’ Instrument Mastery Award
A brown (leather) flight jacket will be awarded annually by the IMC Club to one outstanding general aviation instrument pilot for his or her safety, proficiency and contributions in helping other pilots in their quest to “Master the Art of Instrument Navigation.” This recognition will be an award similar to the “green jacket” award in […]
Remembering Bob Odegaard
Just posted to YouTube is a memorial video for Bob Odegaard, who died Sept. 7 in a crash of his Super Corsair as he was practicing for an airshow. The video, put together by Alan Ripa, features a song written by Bob’s good friend, Ed Newberg, titled “I Miss You Bob.” The video debuted last […]
Texas pilots asked to rally for GTU
The Texas Aviation Association is asking all Texas pilots — and their aviation friends — to pack the Georgetown City Council Chambers on Feb. 12 to fight against a proposal by the general manager of the Georgetown Utility Services (also known as GUS) to abolish the Georgetown Municipal Airport Advisory Board. In a recent vote, […]