An agreement between the TSA and the National Fingerprint Collection Clearinghouse, a subsidiary of the National Air Transportation Association, has been expanded internationally. The clearinghouse, which has been training and certifying individuals to collect and process fingerprints for background checks since September 2002 for the TSA, will now take that work worldwide. TSA mandates that […]
News
NTSB debuts historical publication
As it marked its 30th anniversary as an independent agency, the NTSB issued a new publication that examines safety improvements that resulted from more than three decades of NTSB accident investigations. Titled “NTSB: Lessons Learned and Lives Saved,” the publication surveys safety measures inspired by NTSB’s more than 12,000 recommendations over the years. “We believe […]
Sport Pilot Tour scheduled
The first Sport Pilot Tour, designed to ignite interest in the new category of flying, takes off in June. First stop is Marysville, Calif., as part of the Golden West Regional Fly-In June 3-4. It’s then on to St. Louis June 10-11 and Franklin, Penna., June 17-18. The tour includes sport pilot forums, education for […]
The Texas Fly-In to set down in Hondo in May
The Southwest Regional EAA Fly-In, known as the Texas Fly-In, is billing itself as a Texas-sized celebration of a little-known American privilege: the freedom to build your very own airplane. A wide variety of airplanes from homebuilts to warbirds will be on display — and flying — during the event, which is set for May […]
St. Helens roars to life (again)
Pilots flying over southern Washington State and northern Oregon had to alter their flight plans on Tuesday, March 8, when Mt. St. Helens erupted for the second time in five months. The eruption, which occurred around 5:30 p.m., sent a cloud of smoke and ash some 40,000 feet into the air. Aircraft were warned to […]
Four more AWOS units installed in Colorado mountains
Flying in the mountains of Colorado is now a little safer, thanks to the installation of four more Automated Weather Observing Systems by the Vaisala Group. For the past few years the company has been working with state officials to install units near passes that aircraft use to transit the mountains. The most recent installations […]
SJ30-2 bizjet receives critical FAA approvals ahead of schedule
Sino Swearingen Aircraft Corp. recently achieved two milestones towards certification of its SJ30-2 business jet. Two critical Type Inspection Authorization (TIA) approvals, for systems and high speed upsets, were recently received from the FAA. TIA authorization is approval from the FAA to move to the next phase of testing for the items passed. “Now that […]
Can’t find a hangar? You’re not alone
A new study of hangars at general aviation airports within 30 miles of Class B airports has found that almost all GA T-hangars are filled — and most airports have a long waiting list. The study, by Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and ARM Aerospace, found that occupancy rates for T-hangars at GA airports is about […]
What’s next for the Global Flyer?
What’s next for the Virgin Atlantic Global Flyer and its millionaire pilot Steve Fossett? Fossett, who flew solo, nonstop around the world in 67 hours, 1 minute and 46 seconds, was presented with the world record by David Hawksett from Guinness World Records a few days after the flight ended. During the presentation, Fossett noted […]