News

City and airport officials in Paso Robles, California, are facing scrutiny from the FAA because of a discrimination complaint filed by a local ultralight group. The brouhaha began when FAA and California Department of Transportation officials told the city that aircraft could not use ramps or taxiways as runways. Traditionally, ultralights at Paso Robles Municipal […]

The first new Cessna 172 and Cessna 182 equipped with AmSafe airbags as standard equipment have been delivered to customers in Texas and California. The first 172 with AmSafe Aviation Inflatable Restraints was delivered to Midland College, where it will be used in the school’s professional pilot program. The first 182 with airbags was delivered […]

Cirrus Design Corp., manufacturer of the Cirrus SR-20 and SR-22, has signed on as a sponsor of The Outdoor Channel’s new aviation series “Wings to Adventure.” The series, set to debut in July 2005, captures the magic of flight in high-definition. “This is a logical partnership for Cirrus,” said Cirrus CEO Alan Klapmeier. “Anyone who […]

Galvin Flying Services of Seattle has partnered with American Pacific University (APU) in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, to provide flight training for Vietnamese pilots. Galvin also will provide instructor and technician training. Pilots training at Galvin will graduate into a first officer jet transition program at the Alteon Seattle Training center, where they will […]

The infamous “DC-3” airports — the three general aviation fields inside the Flight Restricted Zone around Washington, D.C. — are once again open to transient traffic. Well, sort of. Open, that is, to anyone who wants to go through the Transportation Security Administration’s vetting process. For the DC-3, that means being fingerprinted at Reagan National […]

Future commercial space passengers will need more than a ticket to board a flight, according to the FAA. They also will need a signed consent form, releasing the government and all others from liability, and a doctor’s OK. Don’t want to sit in the cabin? Future space pilots will need specialized training, a license and, […]

The Virginia General Assembly is considering a bill that would take $5 million a year “off the top” of the Commonwealth Airport Fund to use as incentives for airline service at “non-hub and small hub” airports. House Bill 1603, assigned to a House finance subcommittee Jan. 12, seeks to amend a portion of the Code […]

Among the first to test those new regs, no doubt, will be the SpaceShipOne Team, winners of the Ansari X-Prize. Headed by Burt Rutan, the team just added another accolade, winning the Robert J. Collier Trophy earlier this month. The trophy is awarded every year by the National Aeronautic Association “for the greatest achievement in […]

Another recent award winner is the Civil Air Patrol, which received national recognition for its volunteer work following hurricanes Charley, Francis, Ivan and Jeanne last year. The 60,000-member all-volunteer CAP won a 2005 Award of Excellence from the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE). During last year’s hurricane season, CAP members responded to many requests […]