The FAA has extended the comment period on a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) equipment requirements. Deadline for comments on the NPRM, issued Oct. 5, initially was Jan. 3, 2008, but due to requests from several alphabet groups, including AOPA, the Air Transport Association and others, FAA officials decided to […]
News
Boom times. Kentucky opens three new GA airports, with another set for next month
GA is booming in the Bluegrass State. According to Steve Parker, Deputy Commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Aviation, state officials are in the midst of a push to enhance existing GA airports and add to the number of GA airports in the state. “Kentucky has been a little behind in the number of general […]
AWOS corrosion study begins
Weather equipment manufacturer All Weather, Inc. (AWI) of Sacramento, Calif., has teamed with the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) to study the long-term effects of corrosive marine environments on Automated Weather Observing Systems (AWOS). AWOS systems are used worldwide to determine current weather conditions at airports and to broadcast up-to-the-minute reports to pilots. In […]
New Jersey airport sold to make way for ball fi elds. Massive tax increase forces long-time owners to sell
William and Jean Weasener of Pennington, N.J., have spent the better part of their lives operating Twin Pine Airport (N75), but a massive increase in property taxes is forcing them to sell the privately owned, public use airport. “The township did another tax assessment and increased the property taxes from $14,000 to $55,000,” said William […]
EPA seeks comments on anti-avgas petition
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking comments on a petition from Friends of the Earth asking it to limit lead emissions from GA aircraft that use 100LL. The environmental group’s petition asks the EPA to declare that lead emissions from GA aircraft endanger public health and welfare, and issue an emissions standard for lead […]
Growing pains: Random hangar inspection creates controversy at Utah’s Vernal Regional Airport
How carefully did you read your hangar lease before you signed it? Does it stipulate what can and cannot be stored in the hangar? Does it allow the airport owner and the FAA to inspect your hangar at any time, no notice necessary? Officials at Vernal Regional Airport (VEL) in Vernal, Utah, claim that is […]
Honda Aero breaks ground for NC jet engine plant
Honda Aero, Inc. broke ground Nov. 28 for its new corporate headquarters and jet engine plant in Burlington, North Carolina. The plant is adjacent to Burlington-Alamance County Regional Airport (BUY). Honda plans to manufacture its GE-Honda HF120 turbofan engine there. The HF120 has been chosen to power Honda’s own HondaJet, as might have been expected, […]
Randy’s Red Rocker: Want attention on the ramp? Start with candy apple red paint, then add a flaming skull or two for accents
There is something about a red airplane. It can be sitting perfectly motionless but it will catch your eye. Randy Pflanzer, from Indianapolis, agrees. He says he gets a lot of attention when people see his candy apple red F-1 Rocket. “It took me about two years to build and I have been flying it […]
FAA reauthorization stalled
Congress is expected to pass yet another extension of the FAA Reauthorization bill, which expired Sept. 30. A second extension expires Dec. 14 and Washington insiders say there is no way a bill will be ready by then. Some estimate it could be at least a year before the reauthorization is complete, because lawmakers cannot […]