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 […]
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Ready for the final frontier?
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, […]
Virginia lawmakers look at diverting airport improvement funds
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 […]
First to test new space regs
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 […]
CAP honored for hurricane work
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 […]
AOPA awards Twin Comanche
A South Carolina pilot is the proud owner of a newly restored 1965 Piper Twin Comanche. Roy Wilbanks of Greenwood, S.C., is the grand prize winner in the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association’s 2004 Win-A-Twin Sweepstakes. Wilbanks, who is co-owner of a Piper J-3 Cub, also won initial multi-engine training from American Flyers and type-specific […]
GlobalFlyer launch date pushed up again
Launch date of the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer’s world-record attempt has been pushed up again. Weather conditions don’t look favorable until after Feb. 21 for Steve Fossett’s attempt at the first solo, non-stop, non-refueled around-the-world flight attempt.
California’s Corona Airport set to reopen after floods
Mother Nature, in the form of drying winds, is helping with the cleanup at Corona Municipal Airport (AJO) in Southern California. The airport has been closed to the general public since the second week of January. Torrential rains turned the airport into a lake last month. Although most of the aircraft were moved to higher […]
Aviat improves on its Husky
The Aviat Husky is known for its STOL capability and nimble handling. How could anyone improve on that? By changing the aileron and flaps on the aircraft, says Stu Horn, owner of Aviat Husky, Inc. The first thing Husky fans will notice, says Horn, is that the spade that hung off the wing has been […]
