I finally got to the U.S. Sport Aviation Expo in Sebring, Florida, this year. I had two distinct impressions of the event — known by most as the Sebring LSA Expo — and, by extension, the state of the LSA industry. Perhaps it was because I hung out with two very different friends over two […]
Opinion
Lure them with pancakes, hook them with adventure
EAA Chapter 1067 is based in Naples, Florida. There are worse places to be in February, I can tell you. But there are few better. What attracted me is what attracts so many to the back corner of the T-hangars at Naples, directly across from the shade hangars, right along the fence line where EAA […]
1,000 pilots x $20 = 3 new pilots
We don’t need to attract every kid, just the next kid… or three. Seventeen-year-old Ella, 16-year-old Jonathan and 15-year-old Benjamin Robbins are passionate about aviation. The homeschooled trio from Ferndale, Wash., have been designing and building their own radio-controlled aircraft for several years. A family friend took each of the kids for a ride in […]
A new adventure
By IVY McIVER. Three years ago, I relocated from Salt Lake City, Utah, to Seattle, Wash. Though I had a lot of experience flying in a variety of weather conditions and in mountainous terrain, I didn’t have a lot of hard IFR flight time. I viewed this not as problem, but as an opportunity to hone […]
Rules of the road
At the close of 1927, 1,572 pilots had been licensed and 2,573 others had applied for licenses. Additionally, 681 aircraft had been licensed for interstate commerce, and 908 aircraft had been assigned identification numbers. There were also 2,218 applications for license and identification of aircraft awaiting action. It was at this time that the Department […]
The conundrum of general aviation
It will come as no surprise to you, a general aviation enthusiast, that the United States contains a considerable number of airports. Even so, the actual number of airports may be higher than you imagine. Higher by quite a bit, frankly. Our non-aviation enthusiast counterparts may feel differently, however. They may learn that in 2004 […]
LSA market share for 2014
When government reports unemployment, GPD numbers, or crop yields, they release some information that is invariably changed. Despite best efforts, statistics are often improved later. With that fact in mind, following is our preliminary report for fully-built Light-Sport Aircraft (LSA) in calendar year 2014. SEEKING TRUTH All the information is taken from the FAA N-number […]
If it’s about who you know…
When I was a young man headed out into the world, trying to make a success of myself, there was an expression I heard over and over again: “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” The subtext was clear. No matter how smart or capable or driven you might be, it would not […]
Letter: Dismantle the FAA’s involvement in medical certification?
By Jim Posner, Poulsbo, Wash. I have long thought that the FAA should NOT be in the medical certification business, at least for Part 91 operations. Ever since my denial – despite letters from my doctors specifically stating that I am good to go – I have tried to understand why they should consider themselves […]