National Business Aviation Association President and CEO Ed Bolen recently told the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) that the U.S. civil aviation industry remains one of the strongest positive contributors to the nation’s balance of trade, despite the daunting economic challenges that have confronted the industry in recent years. In testimony he provided at a […]
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Will NextGen be worth the cost for GA?
Everyone has heard the promises made about the benefits of the FAA’s NextGen air traffic control system, but many of the advantages seem far off and expensive, a story at Business Aviation Insider says. The FAA says business aircraft operators can realize some of the benefits now, such as GPS approaches made possible by localizer […]
State takes aim at proposed landing fee at HXD
State aviation officials are trying to discourage Beaufort County from charging private pilots to fly to Hilton Head Island Airport (HXD) by placing a caveat on state grants. The S.C. Aeronautic Commission set new criteria in a vote Aug. 25 that landing fees or runway usage fees will be seen as “a negative consideration” for […]
NextGen focus of Wednesday hearing
A Congressional hearing on Wednesday, Oct. 5, will examine the costs, benefits, progress and management of the FAA’s NextGen air traffic control modernization program. Wednesday’s hearing, chaired by U.S. Rep. Tom Petri (R-Wis), will focus on the FAA’s progress in delivering measureable benefits to aviation users, as well as the agency’s projections for future benefits […]
Heritage Trail marks key sites in life of Glenn Curtiss
The Glenn H. Curtiss Heritage Trail now marks historic sites in and around Hammondsport, N.Y., where Curtiss worked and developed the innovative motorcycles and airplanes for which he is remembered. The trail consists of six post-mounted displays marking the following locations: The Curtiss bike shop The Curtiss factory The June Bug flight, the first pre-announced, […]
Touring the Aero Accessories plant
Despite claims that manufacturing in North Carolina is in a death spiral, aircraft-related production continues to grow at an ever-increasing list of companies, including GE Aviation, GE Honda Aero Engines, HondaJet, Spirit AeroSystems, BE Aerospace, MX Aircraft, Allegro LSA, Twin Commander Aircraft, Atlantic Aero, Preceptor Aircraft, and probably a few others I’m not aware of. […]
Purple Heart recipient wins Able Flight scholarship
Sergeant Chris Gschwendtner felt fortunate that he had suffered “only a concussion” after an explosion destroyed his vehicle on the infamous “IED Alley,” the highway from Baghdad to the city’s international airport. It was Valentine’s Day of 2008, and the young infantryman had escaped with body and spirit intact. But not for long. Less than five weeks […]
LEAP awards first Lindbergh Prize for Quietest Aircraft to e-Genius
At the NASA Green Flight Challenge, Erik Lindbergh, founder of LEAP, announced the first winner of the Lindbergh Prize for Quietest Aircraft. The prize was awarded to e-Genius, a two-seat electric airplane piloted by team leader Eric Raymond and Klaus Ohlmann. The plane was designed and built by University of Stuttgart Institute of Aircraft Design […]
Furloughed FAA workers will receive back pay
The nearly 4,000 FAA employees who were furloughed for two weeks this summer will receive back pay in October. According to a report at Government Executive, Transportation Department lawyers determined that additional congressional action is not necessary to provide retroactive pay to the furloughed workers. The back pay will be included in affected employees’ Oct. […]