A zoning change can kill an airport — or, at the very least, cripple its development dramatically. In a nutshell, that’s the issue facing Harvey Field (S43) in Snohomish, Wash., north of Seattle, where there’s a long waiting list for hangars but the airport cannot grow — or even make safety improvements to the runways […]
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Validation! LSA here to stay, now that Cessna and Cirrus are in the market
When the Sport Pilot/Light Sport Aircraft movement was introduced, it got a tepid reception from some in the aviation community who doubted the viability of the certificate, not to mention the aircraft. Oh what a difference time, marketing and education make. It also helps when big players get into the game. At this year’s AirVenture, […]
Euro imports: LSA importers find success marketing to flight schools
When the Sport Pilot/Light Sport Aircraft rule was in its early stages, the people behind the movement noted it was based in large part on a similar certificate already available in Europe, so is it any wonder that many of the LSA in America are Euro imports? Two companies that already have significant chunks of […]
SEADOG gets automated weather
When a hurricane hits, one of the first priorities is to get the local airport back up and running. That’s why the Southeast chapter of the American Association of Airport Executives created SEADOG: the Southeast Airports Disaster Operations Group. Besides sending personnel to help hard-hit airports get back into operation, the organization also has teamed […]
Seawind crash kills test pilot: All employees laid off as owner looks for answers and investment capital
The amphibious Seawind 300C certification test airplane crashed Aug. 16, killing the company’s test pilot and destroying the aircraft. A “temporary interruption of business has been instituted,” said the company’s founder and CEO, Richard Silva, a few days after the crash. “It will be in effect until we can determine the cause of this event […]
William T. Piper Jr. dies at 95
William T. Piper Jr., scion of the aircraft family that made the Piper Cub world famous, died Aug. 24. He was 95. He was a resident of Marco Island, Fla., and spent summers in Lock Haven, Pa. A pioneer in general aviation, Piper joined the company founded by his father, William T. Piper Sr., in […]
The Albatross Lady: Julie Fetco and her flying yacht
Her name is Julie Fetcko, but those who have met her at air shows call her “The Albatross Lady.” She and her husband, John, own and fly the spectacular Grumman Albatross of that name, turning up at air shows and fly-ins all across America, summer after summer. They bought the Albatross as a “flying motor […]
Safety & Risk: Are you a pilot with the Right Stuff?
Training, good judgment and the right equipment all contribute to ensuring you have what it takes to be the best pilot you can. In this issue, we explore a variety of issues related to safety and risk, starting with the Touch & Go on page 14, which details a new study of what makes a […]
FAA launches GA safety study
The FAA is launching a research project aimed at reducing loss of control scenarios, which it says account for about 50% of all GA accidents. The study’s goal is to determine the “feasibility of leveraging existing technology currently available in the GA market to implement automatic envelope warning and protection devices and improve GA safety […]