In a recent blog posted on General Aviation News by Ben Visser, he made a point that poses a serious conundrum for the conversion to unleaded avgas: “The big problem here is that almost all of the aircraft piston engines out there need to be broken-in on 100LL, then they can be switched over to […]
Opinion
Coming soon: The LSA industry’s biggest get-together
While AirVenture, Sun ‘n Fun, and Germany’s Aero may have more LSA professionals in attendance, the Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association (LAMA) Dinner at the Sebring U.S. Sport Aviation Expo is big. How big? For the last four years, LAMA has “sold out” — standing-room-only last year — its annual dinner. The event takes place in […]
Looking ahead to 2012: What to expect from lawmakers next year
WASHINGTON, D.C. — As the new year approaches, pilots should fasten their seat belts. It could be a bumpy ride. Next year’s election is expected to be one of the most volatile in decades. It will keep the President, Congress, and heads of government agencies focused on election and re-election. Failure of the Super Committee […]
Let’s make 2012 a year to remember
This Sunday night marks a watershed moment here on Earth. On this side of midnight is 2011, the year we’ve been working with for the past 12 months. All that ends when the little hand and the big hand arrive at the straight up position on the big wall clock Sunday night because, arriving simultaneously […]
We’ve hit the ethanol blending wall, government reports
As forecast by your bloggers for the past year, it looked likely that the mandated production of ethanol in the US would exceed consumption sometime this winter. According to a new report from the U.S. Energy Information Agency, it appears that this situation, known as “the blending wall” actually occurred this past summer! The report […]
First responders and pilots
Pilots are bold, confident people for the most part. We train to maintain our cool under pressure, be technologically adept at dealing with the machine entrusted to us, and maintain a state of safety consciousness above all else. Yeah, we’re cool. Barney Fife was not a pilot. The character portrayed so expertly by Don Knotts […]
Lesson learned
“Albert” was 25 and cocky back in 1975 when he got his license. Well, perhaps he was a tad nervous on his check ride, but thankfully he did well and would never have to do that again. Albert thought life was good. He and his Cessna 140 were temporary based at a sleepy, little airport […]
Looking ahead to the new year
Preparations are underway for the U.S. Sport Aviation Expo, the eighth running of the focused event. The annual gathering in Sebring, Florida, occurs about the third week of January each year and, as such, kicks off the aviation calendar. (Sun ’n Fun now starts the season of recreational flying.) Recently we visited the show site […]
Connecting flights
The end of the year is a time of reflection. As 2011 winds down, my family and I experienced an unreal 19-day stretch that put a great deal into perspective about life and aviation. Here’s a peek into a public journal: Nov. 10: My wife, Deb, and I were in the Indianapolis International Airport when […]