Like it or not, most of us are followers. That’s not a bad thing. It’s not a good thing. It’s just a thing. A description of the way things are. A stand-alone fact. Most of us follow someone else, a political office holder, an employer, a manager, a spouse. Among us there are leaders, but […]
Opinion
Ask Paul: What spark plug is best for my airplane?
Q: Can the Champion 37BY plug (either REM or RHM) be used on a Lycoming O-360 A1A engine? My concern is that the piston may hit the plug tip. Is this a valid concern? DAVID M. GITELMAN, via email A: David, thanks for your question. I’m certain others have had the same question regarding the […]
The next decade of LSA innovation
At AirVenture Oshkosh this year, the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) mounted a very visible celebration of Light-Sport or Sport Pilot-eligible aircraft. The exhibit drew dense traffic throughout the week by offering a large cross section of the aircraft types and configurations available since the FAA loosened its control over the process of approving new aircraft […]
Exit ramps, profit, and Yourtown USA
It is well known in most circles that airlines travel on highways in the sky. Admittedly, most folks don’t know those highways are called airways, but the name is logical, whether the general public knows it or not. However, few have made the obvious connection between the highway in the sky concept, and the airport […]
License or certificate?
If you pilot an aircraft, you probably tell friends you have a pilot’s license. Right? Maybe. What you have now is a pilot’s CERTIFICATE. The FAA issues LICENSES for commercial space transportation. The FAA recently began using certificate most of the time for aviation to differentiate it from space work, as well as from licenses issued by foreign […]
NTSB wants your thoughts
The National Transportation Safety Board has issued a notice of proposed rulemaking seeking public comments regarding its proposed changes to rules governing investigation procedures. The agency proposes to organize its procedures into mode-specific subparts to make the rules easier to access and consult. It also wants to update some terms and procedures, including using the […]
NTSB to study drug trends in aviation accidents
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Transportation Safety Board will consider a study on drug use trends in aviation Sept. 9. It will examine trends in over-the-counter, prescription and illicit drug use documented from toxicology reports of pilots that died in aircraft crashes for the 22 years between 1990 and 2012. The meeting on the drug […]
Brrrrr, ka-ching
If you’re connected to social media in any way, you’ve no doubt spent a good deal of time in recent weeks watching people get wet. Like flagpole sitting, goldfish swallowing, and stuffing as many college kids into a VW bug as possible, it’s something of a fad. Most commonly referred to as the “ice bucket […]
Video: Jamie Beckett’s Ice Bucket Challenge
As always, our Politics for Pilots columnist looks at things just a bit differently…Here’s his take on the challenge: