“Wright’s new control” was the heading of a 1914 report in the “New York Times.” It stated that Orville Wright had introduced a new system that would make it “easier and safer to fly.” In the new controls the usual lever was replaced by an automobile-type steering wheel in combination with a lever that made […]
Opinion
Southers withdraws from TSA nomination
President Barack Obama will have to look for a new person to nominate to be administrator of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) after Erroll Southers withdrew his name from consideration. Southers cited distractions caused by his position regarding possible unionization of TSA employees and other issues relating to his nomination. Southers had been nominated last […]
My man and his other love
SHORT FINAL By DEB McFARLAND Today, the man I married nearly 30 years ago, the man who suffered through my flight training and later patiently taught me to fly his Luscombe 8A, retired. After 35 years of service to the federal government, my best friend has come home to stay. It’s not a coincidence that […]
Confirmation of new TSA director delayed
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Errol Southers was nominated last August by President Obama to be director of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), but his confirmation has been delayed in the Senate, meaning the agency that deals directly with aviation security has been without a leader for nearly six months. Couple this with the security confusion following […]
Land use studies not the enemy
LETTER TO THE EDITOR from ROBERT HOM, Eagle River, Wis. I guess I am a little sensitive these days reading about airports in national publications; whether they have an obvious anti-GA airport slant as USA Today, or in the pro-airport General Aviation News. But, I do feel a couple of comments are warranted with respect […]
Neither rain nor sleet could stop Air Mail fleet
A 1961 British book on the development of air transportation includes a chart on early scheduled air services, which includes the operations of the U.S. Air Mail Service from 1918 till 1927. It may seem unusual to see the Air Mail Service listed here, but as it operated more than 200 aircraft, you realize it […]
Hard science needed in avgas issue, not politics and fads
LETTER TO THE EDITOR from TOM MULLER, Poland Spring, Maine I was impressed with Michael Kraft’s thoughtful article on the replacement for 100LL (Guest Editorial: Beware the “sound bite solution: There are no easy answers to the complex avgas issue). Several aviation writers seem to be assuming that because 94UL is already on the market […]
Sebring LSA Expo kicks off a new year
SPLOG By DAN JOHNSON OK, aviation fans, it’s time for a new year that will hopefully be a great turnaround from 2009. No one expects a quick return to the halcyon days of 2006, but aviation has been picking itself up off the floor for a few months. Many are starting to see signs of […]
Good riddance 2009!
Happy New Year! I’ve been waiting to say that for about six months now. While there is no guarantee 2010 will be any better than 2009, it always feels good to flip the calendar to a clean sheet, full of possibilities. That said, looking forward I find loads of challenges (or opportunities if you prefer […]