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 and aviation journalist. A group of concerned citizens in Vero Beach, Fla., calling itself the Airport Oversight Committee, […]
Opinion
Support to end 3rd Class Medical grows
GUEST EDITORIAL By DAVID WARTOFSKY In addition to many great e-mails and telephone calls from around the USA, my petition to replace the 3rd class medical for aircraft under 6,000 lb. with a driver’s license, like for LSA pilots, has gathered almost 800 supporting comments so far. I’ve even heard the FAA has been floating […]
Too many LSAs?
Dan Johnson, president of the Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association, is an expert on Light Sport Aircraft. How many is too many? As the Light-Sport Aircraft industry has now reached 114 FAA approved models, some have started to say, “Enough!” True, a small number have already left the roster, but even those may not be permanent […]
FAA Reauthorization top priority for new Congress
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Reauthorization of the FAA is one of the main concerns for the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in the House of Representatives, according to its new chairman, Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.). The FAA has been operating on a series of short-term extensions since 2007. The last full authorization for the agency was passed […]
Sebring’s over… but next: Florida LSA Tour
Dan Johnson, president of the Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association, is an expert on Light Sport Aircraft. Every now and then the marketing geniuses in Light-Sport aviation have an exceptionally good idea. Here’s one of them: Initially organized by SportairUSA’s Bill Canino and now-American Legend marketer Dave Graham (formerly of Gobosh), a flock of planes, including […]
Ask Paul: Why are holes larger than dowel pins?
Paul McBride, an expert on engines, retired after almost 40 years with Lycoming. Q: I recently saw your article about Narrow Deck vs. Wide Deck and believe you are just the person to ask this question. A fellow AMT has been field overhauling his Lycoming O-360A1A engine. It is a “first run engine” out of […]
Let silence reign
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. My local newspaper, The News Chief, ran a piece in its Reader’s Rants and Raves section this week that read as follows; “Where are the clear-thinking Winter Haven leaders […]
In the mail…
Deb McFarland is the proud owner of Lester, a 1948 Luscombe 8E, and part of the “Front Porch Gang” at Pickens County Airport in Georgia. It’s not often that a reader takes the time to send me a written letter through the postal service, and when he or she does, it is special to me. […]
Calling Chris Christiansen
LETTER TO THE EDITOR I just read Meg Godlewski’s about Chris Christiansen’s Savor homebuilt aircraft and I wanted see if we could get in touch. I am an advisor in an Aviation Explorer Post in Mesa, Arizona. We teach kids how to fly and maintain an aircraft at Falcon Field and I thought that our […]