Air Transport Association Chairman Glenn Tilton, speaking Mar. 27 at the Phoenix Aviation Symposium, stressed the critical role of air transportation in economic development across the nation. “We are asking that the administration take the lead, working with Congress, the Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration, to partner with us to develop what […]
News
Was that PC-12 legal with 14 aboard? Maybe.
The Pilatus PC-12 that crashed at Butte, Mont., was configured with only 10 seats but, under FAR Part 91, it might have been legal to carry the seven adults and seven children aboard the turboprop single, aviation attorney Randy Davis told Aviation International News, March 27. All 14 died when the airplane crashed on its […]
Babbitt welcomed by AOPA, NATA
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and National Air Transport Association both issued statements on March 27 welcoming the Obama administration announcement that Randy Babbitt is the president’s choice to head the Federal Aviation Administration. “AOPA welcomes the announcement of Randy Babbitt,” said AOPA President Craig Fuller. “I have known Randy Babbitt for more than […]
Have tent, will camp
Does it make you cringe to throw a blue plastic tarp over the wing of your airplane to create a shelter for camping? Do you worry about the tarp scratching the finish? Have you or your airplane ever been attacked by hostile tent poles? Bjorn Spelter, a pilot since 1992 and an avid outdoorsman, thought […]
New company to offer Eclipse maintenance
A group of experienced former Eclipse Aviation workers appears to have launched a company called Eclipse 500 Services to provide maintenance for Eclipse 500 very light jets, according to a report from AIN’s Matt Thurber. According to the company’s website, Eclipse 500 Services is offering maintenance, inspections, service bulletin compliance, EFIS 1.3 downloads, nav databases […]
Mean machine
Lots of pilots will tell you their airplane is a mean machine. Carl Brownd of Centennial, Colo., can show you. A close-up inspection of the air intake on his RV-6 Rocket reveals a fierce, snarling creature. “It’s a pretty mean engine and I decided to have some fun with the intake,” he said when we […]
New GA airport near Orlando in works
The West Orange Airport Authority is once again pushing to build a new GA airport north of Walt Disney World. The Orlando Sentinel reports the airport board also has approved a feasibility study to find possible locations for the airport, expected to cost between $10 million to $50 million to build. The airport would require […]
Indiana’s 2R2 to expand
Planning has begun to expand Indiana’s Hendricks County Airport (2R2). Looking ahead 20 years, proposals would expand the 300-acre airport between Avon and Danville, lengthen the 3,400-foot runway, and add hangars and a second entrance for a passenger terminal area, according to a recent report in the Indianapolis Star. For the full story: Indystar.com/article/20090321/LOCAL05/903210361/1020/LOCAL05
More layoffs at Liberty Aerospace
Liberty Aerospace Inc. laid off another 14 people this week as the weak economy continues to take its toll, according to a report at FloridaToday.com. The Melbourne-based aviation manufacturer laid off 30 workers in January. It now has 32 employees, according to President and CEO Keith Markley. A year ago, it employed 180. But the […]