FAA funding for 2006 was recently approved by Congress. The $13.8 billion approved is $276 million higher than this year’s allocation and more than $1.1 billion higher than President Bush’s request. It includes $25 million to hire and train 595 new air traffic controllers.
News
Finding the right lender
How can you find the best lender to finance your new airplane? First, understand the marketplace, advises David Madden, who is a pilot and executive vice president of Aircraft Banking.Com. There are many ways to buy an airplane: with cash, going down to your local bank, using a broker or going to a finance company. […]
Blakey wants mediator to assist NATCA negotiations
FAA Administrator Marion C. Blakey has called for federal mediation to help reach a voluntary contract agreement with the air traffic controllers union. The FAA’s request comes after four-and-a-half months of negotiations. Officials at the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) say the request is a “publicity stunt.” The FAA’s contract proposal maintains the base-pay […]
Another TFR, this time for VP
A temporary flight restriction (TFR) around Vice President Richard Cheney’s new house could end up being permanent – at least until the next election. Cheney recently bought an 18th century house named Mount Misery on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. On Nov. 22, a TFR with a one-nautical-mile radius and a ceiling of 1,500 feet was established […]
RANS delivers S-LSA version of Courier
RANS Aircraft entered the Light Sport Aircraft market by delivering a Special-LSA version of its Courier to a customer in Montana. Known as the S-7LS, this ready-to-fly version of the popular kit plane carries a price tag of $75,000 and comes equipped with a Rotax 912S 100 hp engine and choice of King or Garmin […]
Superior receives Production Certificate for 180-hp Vantage Engine
The FAA has issued a full Production Certificate to Superior Air Parts for its new 180-horsepower Vantage Engine. “Now that we have full production approval in hand, we get down to the business of building and delivering this truly advanced engine to our OEM customers,” said Tim Archer, president and CEO. The first engines will […]
Czech Aircraft Works receives S-LSA certification
The Parrot, an all-metal design from Czech Aircraft Works, also has received Special-LSA certification. The plane, imported by Sport Aircraft Works of Palm City, Fla., was introduced at this year’s AirVenture. Deliveries of the quick-build Experimental or the finished, factory-built, ready-to-fly airplane will begin early next year.
New plans for Hangar One?
The New Year may bring a new plan for the use of Hangar One, the old dirigible hangar at Moffett Airfield in the San Francisco Bay Area. In February the Navy, which maintains jurisdiction over the 1930s-era hangar, is expected to release an Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis for each proposal under consideration. In 2002, the hangar, […]
Flight Safety Foundation and Aviation Safety Alliance to merge
The Flight Safety Foundation (FSF) and the Aviation Safety Alliance (ASA) will merge Dec. 31. The new organization takes the FSF name. ASA was founded in 1998 as a resource for journalists reporting on aviation-related issues. FSF is an independent, non-profit, international organization engaged in research, education and advocacy to improve aviation safety.