Jamie Beckett is a CFI and A&P mechanic who stepped into the political arena in an effort to promote and protect GA at his local airport. He is also a founding partner and regular contributor to FlightMonkeys.com. As the introduction to this column stipulates, I’m a CFI and an A&P. But an increasingly larger portion […]
Opinion
Backup plan for FAA reauthorization introduced
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A bipartisan committee in the House introduced a bill to again provide a short-term extension for the FAA if agreement cannot be reached for a long-term reauthorization before the present funding program expires May 31. If needed, this would be the 19th short-term extension and carry the FAA through to June 30. […]
Do you know your state’s aircraft tax legislation?
Aircraft owners should be alert to state taxes, the National Business Aviation Association recently warned its members in a webinar. Webinar presenters Phil Crowther, an attorney, and consultant Nel Stubbs discussed the types of taxes that pilots and business aviation operators might find themselves hit with, including sales tax, use tax, personal property tax, aircraft […]
Environmental group initiates legal action against avgas producers
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. In the latest action of an environmental group to […]
Bin Laden’s death heightens security; renews focus on new pilot licenses
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The potential threat of retaliation for the execution of Osama Bin Laden is bringing heightened security efforts throughout the United States — and this includes aviation. This focus on security brought the subject of pilot licenses to the forefront at a May 10 Senate hearing, with elected officials especially worried about the […]
Fliers or liars?
Dennis Parks is Curator Emeritus of Seattle’s Museum of Flight. When Wilbur Wright arrived in France May 29, 1908, to carry out demonstrations for a French syndicate interested in building Wright Flyers, it would be the first time one of the Wright brothers flew outside of America. Wilbur not only faced the challenge of flying […]
Sharing your two cents
Jamie Beckett is a CFI and A&P mechanic who stepped into the political arena in an effort to promote and protect GA at his local airport. He also is an owner and contributor to FlightMonkeys.com. There is nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing, that’s as consistently dull and lifeless as a public meeting when only […]
HOVA’s in the house
Jamie Beckett is a CFI and A&P mechanic who stepped into the political arena in an effort to promote and protect GA at his local airport. He is also a founding partner and regular contributor to FlightMonkeys.com. A curious thing happened when I stopped into my local FBO this past weekend. As I wandered past […]
Top Democrat fights FAA bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A bill to reauthorize the FAA has passed the House of Representatives, but the ranking Democrat on the aviation subcommittee continues to fight against it. This time, Congressman Jerry Costello has called on the National Transportation Safety Board for help. Costello wrote to NTSB officials, asking them for an opinion on a […]