WASHINGTON, D.C. — It has been one year since FAA Deputy Administrator Mike Whitaker took over as Chief NextGen Officer. In his first report to Congress early in June, he noted that “significant progress” has been made. That optimism is not totally shared by others, however, most of whom have questions about equipment requirements and […]
Opinion
Memorial Day: Early and late this year
Last month, it seemed that Memorial Day came early, didn’t it? Regardless of the calendar, it came early for some of my old buddies in aviation. And it came decades late for some World War II GA fliers I knew. Let me explain. First, there was the memorial luncheon for my buddy and president of […]
Small airports important in national airport financing
WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Obama’s budget calling for a reduction in airport funding would have a serious effect on small airports, Dr. Gerald Dillingham of the U.S. Government Accounting Office told a congressional hearing Wednesday, June 17. Dillingham was one of two government witnesses appearing before the House aviation subcommittee, which held the hearing on airport […]
Can aviation get its mojo back?
There was a time not so long ago when aviation was cool. It was hip. It was a celebrity in its own right. Being photographed next to an airplane was a dream come true. Being one of the lucky few who got to actually fly from here to there, faster than any train or car […]
Ask Paul: Does my engine need an oil filter?
Q: I just purchased a 1978 Citabria 7ECA with a Lycoming O-235-C1. Just had my first oil change done — it has no oil filter! Just one, maybe two, screens. Are these screens just as effective if I change my oil every 25 hours? Should I add an oil filter? Is that even possible? I run Phillips X/C […]
A quarter century of power
In 1989 something remarkable happened. You might remember the fall of the despised Berlin Wall that separated Germany. Certainly that was a remarkable event in human history, but it wasn’t the only noteworthy occurrence that year. Not far away in Wels, Austria, something else happened that, for pilots, was also important. In 1989, Rotax Aircraft […]
GA reluctant to jump on NextGen bandwagon
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The FAA needs to take speedier action, as well as assure pilots and aircraft owners that expenditures for equipment will not significantly change for general aviation to move ahead to prepare for the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen), members of Congress were told in a hearing held Wednesday by the House Committee on Small […]
Motivation, inspiration, and big ol’ dreams
I’ve just returned from a beautiful morning chat on my friend Ben’s front porch. Ben’s 87 years old. As a solid member of that group known as the greatest generation, he fills the bill well. A southern boy born into hard work and low expectations, he went off to war as a young man in […]
NextGen progressing, FAA tells Congress
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The FAA is making progress in the next generation air traffic control (NextGen) program, Deputy Administrator Mike Whitaker said in a report to the Congress. Whitaker was appointed Chief NextGen Officer a year ago. In his report, Whitaker said the FAA has “strengthened our partnerships with key stakeholders, coming to an agreement […]