“During my 37 years of flying, I have observed the results of hundreds of weather events, including F4 tornados, straight-line winds, microbursts and severe thunderstorms. What I saw today was the equivalent of an F4 tornado that traveled over 100 miles along the Gulf Coast combined with a tidal wave. The difference was, this tornado […]
News
When to go REALLY means TO GO
One way to cut the cost of the $100 hamburger is to pack your lunch. Many airport restaurants can help you with this. For example, the owners of Narrows Landing restaurant at the Tacoma Industrial Airport in Washington state now offers boxed lunches for pilots. Each box contains a sandwich of your choice, fruit, cookie […]
Shuttle Launch promotes record Internet traffic
Where were you when NASA launched Space Shuttle STS-114? Approximately 433,000 people can say they were glued to their computer screens. According to NASA, that’s how many people tapped in to the NASA webcast of the post-Columbia return to space. The event is the most viewed NASA webcast, easily bypassing the number of viewers who […]
Congress creates liabilty shield for Katrina volunteers
The House of Representatives has passed a bill to protect volunteers assisting the victims of Hurricane Katrina from any liability arising from injury and property damage. HR 3736 shields volunteers providing aid, medical treatment and rescue assistance. In the aftermath of Katrina, some relief organizations chose not to use aircraft and other assets offered in […]
Chicago appeals FAA fine
The city of Chicago has appealed a $33,000 civil penalty imposed by the FAA stemming from the destruction of Meigs Field in March 2003. The FAA requires a 30-day notice be sent before an airport can be closed. City officials claim a 30-day notice was “not practicable” and the park district, which oversaw the airport, […]
Reagan to reopen to GA
Reagan National Airport in Washington D.C. is set to reopen to general aviation Oct. 15 for the first time since Sept. 11. Those flying into the airport, however, must follow stringent guidelines, including having an armed law enforcement officer on board all flights.
Bass replaces Suma as Piper head
The New Piper Aircraft Inc. has a new boss, James K. Bass. Bass replaces Chuck Suma, who has joined the company’s board as vice chairman. Bass joins Piper after leading a financial turnaround at Suntron Corp., a Phoenix high-tech company.
Eclipse completes static testing
The Eclipse 500 has completed the airframe static testing required for its FAA certification. The FAA cleared the Eclipse for an initial 10,000 hour lifetime, significantly more than is typically approved so early. “All tests were completed successfully without failure, eliminating the need for any redesign or retesting,” company officials said.
FlightSafety to train Mustang pilots
FlightSafety International has been tapped by Cessna to provide training for the new Mustang jet — not a big surprise since FlightSafety has been Cessna’s official training organization since 1977. Training will begin at FlightSafety’s Cessna Learning Center in Wichita in the fourth quarter of this year.