When Hurricane Katrina roared through Mississippi Aug. 29, officials at Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport (GPT) figured it would take six months to a year for the airport to return to full service. Damage included the loss of the hangar that housed the general aviation FBO, as well as the south end of the airline terminal, which […]
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FAA Flight Plan still focuses on user fees
The FAA’s recently released Flight Plan 2006-2010, the agency’s strategic planning and goal-setting document, is still focused on user fees to take care of its claims of a funding crisis. “There is a fundamental disagreement between the FAA and AOPA about whether the aviation trust fund is running out of money,” said AOPA President Phil […]
Solo pole-to-pole flight scrubbed
A contaminant found in the fuel of Gus McLeod’s Firefly appears to be sabotage, the Maryland pilot said on Nov. 18. The mysterious incident has forced further postponement of McLeod’s planned pole-to-pole solo flight around the world. “After an analysis of the contamination, and cutting the tanks open for inspection, the verdict is inescapable,” he said. […]
Dr. Ebbs resigns Embry Riddle presidency
Dr. George Ebbs, president of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, has resigned after seven years as the university’s top official. Ebbs came to the university in 1998 after a successful career as CEO of an aerospace consulting firm. University Provost Dr. John Johnson will take over as interim president. Over the next year, the university will conduct […]
Float Planes & Amphics buys Leza AirCam
Float Planes and Amphibs (FPNA) of Sebring, Fla., has acquired Leza AirCam. “We are fully committed to continuing and further enhancing the production of all Leza aircraft, specifically the Drifter, AirCam and Flightstar,” said Shawn Okun of FPNA. “Our immediate plans are to introduce an updated version of the AirCam.”
Symphony certified for doors-off flight
In response to customer requests, Symphony Aircraft Industries has certified the Symphony SA 160 for “doors-off” flights. The certification allows for the aircraft to fly doors-off with the passenger door removed or with both doors removed. In either configuration, cruise speed is reduced by only 5.5%.
Cub vs. Cub
The Light Sport Aircraft movement has gone from the airport to the courtroom as CubCrafters has filed a lawsuit against American Legend Aircraft Co. over its Cub-inspired design, the Legend Cub. The lawsuit was filed in a Texas federal court to stop Sulphur Springs, Texas-based American Legend Aircraft Co. from using the names “Cub” and […]
Help arrives for Kitfox owners
Three aviation companies and the Experimental Aircraft Association have joined forces to help orphaned Kitfox customers obtain engines for their airplanes. When SkyStar Aircraft Corp. declared bankruptcy last month, it left dozens of Kitfox builders in the lurch who had paid for, but not received, their Rotax engines. As unsecured creditors, their chances of receiving […]
Another fatal Young Eagles creah discovered
The Oct. 15 crash of an airplane participating in a Young Eagles rally in Everett, Wash., was not the first fatal accident tied to the program. According to information obtained from the National Transportation Safety Board, a Grumman American AA-1B crashed in September 1998 during a Young Eagles event in Yoder, Colo., killing the pilot […]