While dodging raindrops and chatting amiably on Sun ‘n Fun Radio with the three highly animated hosts of the Uncontrolled Airspace podcast, the question came up: “What interested you most during Sun ‘n Fun this year?” To be honest, those may not have been the actual words spoken. The fact that a river of air-cooled […]
Opinion
You’ve talked the talk, now walk the walk!
As I write this blog post it is Monday afternoon, April 12. In a few hours I will sit at the dais at City Hall, flanked by four fellow city commissioners, all committed to doing the business of the people. But tonight will be different. Tonight will have an undeniably pro-aviation angle to it, something […]
Lower-priced LSA flock to Sun ‘n Fun
After a tough winter in most parts of the USA, spring evidently arrived early with 80° temperatures as far north as Minnesota…all before Sun ‘n Fun. More good news: After its coldest winter since the early 1980s, Florida is extremely pleasant now, warm with low humidity. Indications are the economy continues bearing down on Light […]
Ode to our days in the sun
As Sun ‘n Fun 2010 prepares to kick, our Short Final columnist Deb McFarland reminisces about past fly-ins: If I were feeling perky, I would quip that the sun is shining, the air is warming and spring is finally here. It’s kind of hard to be perky after this past winter with its days of […]
Accidents down last year, due to less flying
General aviation accidents decreased in 2009, while on-demand 135 operations had the lowest number of accidents and fatal accidents in the last 20 years, according to data released by the National Transportation Safety Board. General aviation accidents decreased from 1,566 in 2008 to 1,474 in 2009. Fatal accidents dropped from 275 last year to 272. […]
Cardinal Flyers Unite!
There are benefits to throwing the door open and seeing who comes sauntering through it. If airports thrive on traffic and visitors, perhaps there is benefit to hosting fly-ins both large and small throughout the year, whenever the opportunity presents itself. Failing the willingness of the management to host the event, why not let the […]
FAA girds to prevent cyber attacks
“America is at war,” FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt told attendees at an agency information technology conference. Malicious attacks on the FAA’s computer system and industrial networks are occurring at an unprecedented rate, he said, adding that it is an evolving menace on an international scale. The FAA gets pinged every minute of every hour of […]
More on glass cockpits
LETTER TO THE EDITOR Re: Glass cockpits haven’t boosted GA safety: The FAA is right on. So-called glass cockpit pilots need more training, but more than that, other issues remain which the article did not mention. First, they present an enormous amount of pilot distraction. Look at a typical layout with its scores of buttons […]
FAA sets new policy on antidepressants
Pilots taking medication for mild to moderate depression now may be considered for a special issuance of a medical certificate. In a change to take effect April 5, pilots who take one of four antidepressant medications will be allowed to fly if they have been satisfactorily treated on the medication for at least 12 months. […]