When more than 10,000 people flock to Tampa, Florida, for the AOPA Aviation Summit, Paul Phillips wants to be prepared. According to a story in the Tampa Tribune, Phillips, director of general aviation for the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority, is overseeing improvements to Peter O. Knight Airport, which were begun in October 2008. The project […]
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What’s behind AirVenture’s record crowds?
If you build it, will they come? That had to be the worry of EAA officials, who invested more than $4 million over the last year on site improvements to the AirVenture grounds at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh. Would aviation enthusiasts return this year to aviation’s biggest show? Or would the continuing bad news […]
Deaf pilots gather for annual fly-in
The annual fly-in of the Deaf Pilots Association was recently held in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. In a story at Fox11online, pilot Mitchell Lock notes: “General aviation is open to anybody and everybody.” For more information: DeafPilots.com
His dream job – at 23
As the owner, president and flight instructor of First Landings Aviation at Orlando Apopka Airport in Florida, Adam Valencic has his dream job at 23. A story on the new flight school at TCPalm.com notes: “I always liked the idea of owning a business and didn’t know that it would be a flight school,” said […]
The insurance fall-out from New York mid-air collision
The fatal collision between a recreational airplane and a tourist helicopter over the Hudson River should not affect rates for such planes, but could possibly impact helicopter coverage, according to two insurance brokers in a story in National Underwriter. According to the story: For insurers, the most important underwriting factors are training and flight experience. […]
Green Aircraft Challenge unveiled
The NASA Innovative Partnerships Program and the Comparative Aircraft Flight Efficiency (CAFE) Foundation recently unveiled the Green Flight Challenge, a flight efficiency competition for aircraft that can average at least 100 mph on a 200-mile flight while achieving greater than 200 passenger mpg. The prize for the aircraft with the best performance is $1.5 million. […]
Debate heats up over Sport Pilot training
Sport Pilot training cannot be applied to meet the dual instruction requirements for a private pilot certificate, a recent letter of interpretation from the FAA chief counsel states. Alphabet groups are objecting to the rule, according to a story at AOPA.org: “This rule as written requires student pilots who want to transition from seeking a […]
Diamond’s Austro engine gets FAA nod
The FAA recently certified Diamond Aircraft’s Austro Engine AE300. The jet-fuel burning, 170-hp turbo-diesel piston engine offers single lever thrust control, electronic engine management and monitoring, and independence from leaded fuels, Diamond officials said. The engine, developed by Austro Engine in collaboration with MB Technology GmbH (Mercedes Benz) and Bosch General Aviation Technology GmbH, features […]
Tennessee Aviation Hall of Fame lands Kershner library
The family of the late William K. “Bill” Kershner has donated his personal library to the Tennessee Aviation Hall of Fame, according to a story by Mike Collins at AOPA.org. Kershner, a Naval aviator, flight instructor, author and lecturer, was known as “the spin doctor” because of his research into spins and dedication to spin […]