General Aviation News

NTSB alerts and videos focus on dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Transportation Safety Board has issued two safety alerts to increase awareness among aircraft mechanics and pilots of the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Safety Alerts SA-070 and SA-069 warn mechanics and pilots that the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning is generally overlooked and underestimated — a dangerous prospect given that many internal combustion engine airplanes are heated by air warmed by exhaust systems using a heater shroud.

A defect or leak in the exhaust pipes or muffler can introduce the colorless, odorless and tasteless gas into the cockpit, with sometimes fatal results. [Read more…]

Four steps to avoid a pilot deviation

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The FAA Safety Team has released a new Fact Sheet, with an accompanying video (below), on avoiding pilot deviations.

Pilot deviations can occur in several different ways, the fact sheet begins. Airborne deviations can result when pilots stray from an assigned heading, altitude, or instrument procedure, or if they enter controlled or restricted airspace without ATC clearance.

Ground deviations can happen while taxiing, taking off , or landing without clearance, deviating from an assigned taxi route, or failing to hold short of an assigned clearance limit.

To avoid pilot deviations, follow these steps: [Read more…]

A classic airplane for a noble mission

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By JOEL MEANOR

The word came across the wire on Tuesday afternoon to fly a pup on what was forecasted to be a perfect Sunday morning.

Jack called, asking me to fly with him on a dog mission to a place due west of us, Aspermont, Texas. After analyzing what would be my Sunday afternoon schedule and the chance to fly in his Bellanca, I said, “heck yes, I’ll go.” [Read more…]

ADS-B proves vital in aftermath of hurricanes

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ADS-B is helping air traffic controllers and emergency planners during disaster relief flights in the wake of the recent hurricanes, according to a new story by Dave Hughes, of the FAA’s NextGen Outreach and Reporting.

In a recent post, Hughes shows how ADS-B helped air traffic controllers handle traffic in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey:

Houston TRACON handled more than 3,700 airplanes and helicopters on Sept. 1, more than a normal day with virtually no airline or other traffic in the area.

The FAA also set up three Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR) where operations could only be conducted by aircraft and military drones with the proper authorization. The idea was to keep airspace over heavily hit areas such as Beaumont free of other traffic so rescue and relief operations could be conducted safely.”

First solo for Flying Musicians scholarship winner

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LOCK HAVEN, Penna. — The overlap in skills between music and aviation was evident Sept. 16, 2017, at the Piper Memorial Airport, when violinist William Knauth completed his first solo flight at AvSport of Lock Haven.

William, 18, a recipient of the Flying Musicians Association Solo Scholarship, completed this landmark achievement after two months of training, with an accumulated 10.2 hours of flight experience. [Read more…]

New FBO facility opens at KBED

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BEDFORD, Mass. – Jet Aviation celebrated the opening of its new FBO facility at Hanscom Field (KBED) with a ribbon-cutting performed by the first customer to enter the building.

The two-story, 12,000-square-foot facility opened for business officially after the red ribbon was cut by Bob Braceland, director, Executive Aircraft Operations at Raytheon, who served as the ceremonial first customer. [Read more…]

Invite them and they will come

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Image this scene: Your child just finished reading Disney’s Planes book…again. She has watched the Planes video so many times even you can repeat Dusty Crophopper’s lines. Now she is begging you to take her to the local airport so she can “live the magic” right in her own hometown.

So you and the neighborhood gang pile into the minivan. As you arrive at the community airport, you are greeted with a high chain-linked fence with a big sign that warns, “NO TRESPASSING. VIOLATORS WILL BE PROSECUTED.” The barbed wire at the top of the fence is especially unwelcoming.

No wonder you never took the time to visit “your” community airport before.

Now what? Well, let’s bring neighborhood and community back into our airports. Let’s have family-friendly events where we print invitations in the newspapers saying “Join us for Airport Adventure Day.” Put up flyers on the grocery store bulletin board announcing your free community event.

That is what Granby/Grand County Airport (KGNB) in Colorado recently did. [Read more…]

More than 40,000 aircraft now equipped with ADS-B

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As of Sept, 1, 2017, rule-compliant Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) equipment is now on board more than 40,000 aircraft flying in the United States.

The FAA estimates that 100,000 to 160,000 general aviation aircraft will need to be equipped with ADS-B Out before the Jan. 1, 2020, mandate. The FAA is also offering a $500 rebate to offset an owner’s cost on an eligible aircraft until midnight Sept. 18, 2017. [Read more…]