Yesterday on the Senate Floor, U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), a member of the Senate General Aviation Caucus and CFI with more than 10,000 flight hours, previewed his new Pilots Bill of Rights. The bill, which would protect pilots facing enforcement actions, will be introduced today. You can watch the preview of the bill here
News
Stott wins autorotation contest
Jerry Trimble Helicopters (JTH) of McMinnville, Ore., held its first touchdown autorotation competition at the McMinnville airport on June 26. Twelve pilots competed in the event, with Mark Stott, a JTH flight instructor, taking first place. Adam Goad, also a JTH flight instructor, took a close second with Shannon Glenn of Apex Helicopters taking third. […]
Flight Design measures ash
A Flight Design CT was recently pressed into service, to provide airborne ash measurement, after the latest eruption of the Grimsvötn volcano in Iceland. Airborne ash from these volcanoes represents a major expense for airlines and airports, plus inconvenience for passengers. The Eyjafjallajökull eruption, in April 2010, caused the largest closure of European airspace since […]
Chuck Yeager featured at Oshkosh
One of aviation’s living legends, Brig. Gen. Chuck Yeager USAF (ret.), has confirmed his plans to attend EAA AirVenture 2011. Yeager is scheduled to arrive Tuesday, July 26, and depart Sunday, July 31, with numerous special appearances throughout the rest of the week. EAA AirVenture 2011 will be held July 25-31 at Wittman Regional Airport […]
Flying car gets exemptions
Terrafugia, developer of the Transition Roadable Aircraft (also known as the Flying Car), officially received a grant of all of the special exemptions it had requested from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Terrafugia’s Transition is the first combined flying-driving vehicle to receive such special consideration from the Department of Transportation since the Federal […]
New algorithm could prevent midair collisions
The FAA has mandated that by 2020, all commercial aircraft — and small aircraft flying near most airports — must be equipped with a new tracking system, ADS-B, that broadcasts GPS data, providing more accurate location information than ground-based radar. In anticipation of the deadline, the FAA has also charged MIT researchers with leading an […]
Wanted: Buyer for bankrupt Commander Premier
Officials at Commander Premier Aircraft Corporation, which recently filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the Federal Bankruptcy Code, sought to clarify its situation, noting the company is actively seeking a buyer or a partner to help it emerge from bankruptcy. Commander Premier, and its operating subsidiary CPAC, Inc., filed petitions in the Tyler, Texas, […]
Museum’s B-17 goes on display
On June 30 The Museum of Flight’s rare, Boeing B-17F returned to a place in the sun. The aircraft has been undergoing restoration for 20 years, and was last on extended display at the Seattle museum in 1999. It now can be seen on the lawn in front of the museum’s east entrance. Its restoration […]
FAA and NATCA reach agreement on fatigue recommendations
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The FAA and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) have reached an agreement on fatigue recommendations that were developed by a joint FAA-NATCA working group that was established under the 2009 collective bargaining agreement. “The American public must have confidence that our nation’s air traffic controllers are rested and ready to […]