The GAfuels Blog is written by two private pilots concerned about the future availability of fuels for piston-engine aircraft: Dean Billing, Sisters, Ore., an expert on autogas and ethanol, and Kent Misegades, Cary, N.C., an aerospace engineer, aviation sales rep for U-Fuel, and president of EAA1114. The EPA has once again been forced to face […]
Opinion
Over the horizon LSA producers: Iran and Malaysia
Most of what our media reports about Iran is bad: Islamic militants. Contested elections. Brutal suppression of dissent. Nuclear ambitions. What we don’t hear is about the country’s light aircraft producers. Then consider Malaysia. Do you think of that country relative to aircraft production? Do you think of it in any way? My guess is […]
Triple Play: Pipistrel wins SLSA approvals
After a pause in new SLSA, Pipistrel burst onto the scene with multiple approvals — three at once — reports Michael Coates, the importer for Pipistrel USA. We raced to get these placed on the SLSA List because it’s news, but also because FAA uses this list to verify new models before assigning them N-numbers. […]
Autogas sellers exceed avgas
The GAfuels Blog is written by two private pilots concerned about the future availability of fuels for piston-engine aircraft: Dean Billing, Sisters, Ore., an expert on autogas and ethanol, and Kent Misegades, Cary, N.C., an aerospace engineer, aviation sales rep for U-Fuel, and president of EAA1114. On Independence Day, an important new watermark was reached […]
Let’s focus on the words, not the man
On June 29, President Obama gave the aviation industry a great gift. It may not appear to be a beautifully wrapped present with a bright, tidy bow on top. But it is. Some of us will recognize this opportunity for what it is. Others will not. That’s human nature. Some of us focus on the […]
Irony is Congress lecturing on financial stewardship
Ironic: A member of Congress lecturing the FAA Administrator on financial stewardship. From Tuesday’s (July 5) edition of The [Tacoma, WA] News Tribune: “We need to see a realistic strategy for funding NextGen,” she [Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash.] told FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt at a May hearing. “To date, the FAA has filled its budget […]
Objections keep coming on Obama’s criticism of GA
“Obama is trying to demoralize the private plane industry and engage in class warfare.” That statement by U.S. Sen. Mike Johanns (R-Neb) sums up the atmosphere after the attack on business jets by the president at a press conference last week. Johanns is co-chair of the Senate Aviation Caucus. “It may be good politics at […]
What’s going on at the top?
What do the following LSA have in common? Skycatcher, Paradise P1, Remos GX, SeaRey, and PiperSport. The answer: All the companies supplying these LSA have gone through major management changes in 2011. The most widely reported departure was that of Jack Pelton, who held the titles of president, CEO, and chairman at Cessna. Along with […]
What kind of pilot are you?
I’ve observed aviation for more years than I’m comfortable admitting. I’ve talked to a ton of pilots (one of the great joys of my life is to have met so many fine folks). Over those years, I’ve distilled the kind of pilots we are to “one or the other.” Yes, just that simple: This kind […]