Virginia Governor Robert McDonnell has proclaimed August “General Aviation Appreciation Month.” General aviation generates $728 million in economic impact annually, and supports 5,155 jobs, in the Old Dominion State. Selena Shilad, executive director of the Alliance for Aviation Across America, said, “Governor McDonnell understands the essential role that general aviation plays in the economy of […]
News
Is there still ‘Room at the Top?’
Drew Steketee was president of BE A PILOT, senior vp-communications for AOPA and executive director of the Partnership for Improved Air Travel. He also headed PR and media relations for Beech, GAMA and the Airport Operators Council International. We’re packing up our home of 21 years to leave Washington, D.C., for the last time. In […]
GA won’t repeat 2008 rout
With equity markets whipsawing, national debt issues, and overall economic uncertainty, some in the general aviation sector wonder if it’s a precursor to another 2008-like industry free-fall. “Not so,” asserts industry analyst Brian Foley. “I wasn’t shy in publicly proclaiming the sky was falling back then, and I’m now categorically insisting that same scenario just […]
Call for more homebuilders to participate in safety survey
WASHINGTON, D.C. — More than 5,000 experimental aircraft and homebuilders have completed a survey on how these aircraft are built, but the National Transportation Safety Board and the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) would like to see more participation. On July 14, the NTSB launched a safety study of experimentals and homebuilts — which NTSB officials […]
Teen returns home after flying around perimeter of U.S.
There was a frenzy of excitement at Corona Municipal Airport (AJO) on Aug. 18 as people scanned the sky searching for 17-year-old Taylor De Ley, who had just flown his family’s RV-4 around the perimeter of the U.S. by himself. According to a story in the Press-Enterprise, Taylor said upon landing: “It was an absolute […]
New national commander for CAP
Civil Air Patrol National Vice Commander Brig. Gen. Charles L. “Chuck” Carr Jr. of Columbus, Ohio, was elected national commander last week, while Middle East Region Commander Col. Joseph R. Vazquez of Richmond, Va., was elected national vice commander. Carr’s election to a three-year term as national commander occurred on the first day of business […]
Drone tests… coming to airspace above you?
AOL Defense is reporting the FAA and Pentagon are “carving out between four to 10 “bubbles” in civilian airspace above the United States to test UAS [unmanned aerial systems]”. These bubbles will be located are the U.S. “to show that UAS can fly in heavily-traveled commercial airspace in all conditions across the United States.”
AirVenture from the ground up
Every summer, I face a decision that millions struggle with as much as I do. Should I go to Oshkosh to be a part of AirVenture? If the answer if yes, another set of decisions follow: If I go, how should I get there? Once I’m in the neighborhood, where should I stay? Unlike most […]
Dear President Obama, Why are you killing the only industry that still shines?
In an letter to President Obama posted on his blog at GlobalAir.com, Jeremy Cox of Jetbrokers Inc., asks the Commander in Chief this question. He opens with: “I wanted to take a moment to ask you ‘man to man’ why you have decided to single out the General Aviation Industry for your public vilification and […]