WASHINGTON, D.C. — The decision by the Department of Transportation to change the rules and let anyone in the world follow any general aviation aircraft on an instrument flight plan — departure point, route and destination — may be challenged in court by three of GA’s alphabet groups. The National Business Aviation Association, Aircraft Owners […]
Opinion
Electricity in the air
Dan Johnson, president of the Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association, is an expert on Light Sport Aircraft. On the national scene, electric automobiles are generating lots of media attention, while the government has been subsidizing and using persuasion and incentives to whip up more interest and development activity for electric-powered vehicles. So, should it be any […]
Could Pipistrel win again?
Dan Johnson, president of the Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association, is an expert on Light Sport Aircraft. Question: What looks like two motorgliders flying in really tight formation sharing an engine… er, a motor, literally between them? Can this Burt Rutan-looking aircraft (pictured) win the big dough? And I mean seriously big money with a purse […]
Can autogas cause ‘varnish’ in carburetors?
The GAfuels Blog is written by two private pilots: 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. Recently, the owner of a 1936 Boeing Stearman PT-13 with a 300-hp Lycoming radial engine contacted us regarding the […]
What’s behind jump in controller errors?
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Air traffic controller errors are on the increase, but whether there are really more incidents or better reporting is not determined, according to experts testifying at a recent hearing by a Senate aviation subcommittee. Operational errors increased a whopping 53% between 2009 and 2010, according to FAA statistics. But FAA Administrator Randy […]
Baumann Floats closes doors
Dan Johnson, president of the Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association, is an expert on Light Sport Aircraft. Pilots interested in a floatplane LSA and airplane sellers seeking floats lost a good supplier recently when Baumann Floats, based at the South St. Paul, Minnesota, airport closed its doors. In an email, General Manager Joe Birkemeyer wrote, “Due […]
Southern Maine Aviation adds autogas, Legislature says no to ethanol
The GAfuels Blog is written by two private pilots: 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. GA pilots in the state of Maine have reason for optimism: The cost of flying there is dropping. Southern […]
It’s more than just an image problem
Imagine that you and your significant other go shopping in a pricey store that’s known for its exclusive clientèle. Think Rodeo Drive, maybe. Walking through the door is a little exciting, if not slightly intimidating, but you make it past security and find yourself on the inside. It isn’t long before you realize that you’re […]
Allegro: Made in the USA
One of the early success stories in Light-Sport aviation was the Allegro. The #3 Special LSA to be approved started out so strong that even after three years of no sales following the collapse of the Czech Fantasy Air company, Allegro still holds the #14 spot on the SLSA Market Share chart. When Fantasy Air […]