For many years I’ve maintained that the business executive who can afford a single or light twin airplane doesn’t get involved in flying for a couple of reasons. First is time. Many of these individuals started learning to fly or actually got their certificates as young people. As their businesses grew or they advanced in […]
Opinion
To fly with Wilbur Wright
General Aviation News reader Ken Rapier, who runs the Tuskegee Airmen Young Eagles program in Chicago, sent a link to a fascinating film clip from Austrian archives. It shows Wilbur Wright demonstrating a Wright brothers aeroplane in Italy in 1909. The Wrights went to Europe because there was little interest in their invention in the […]
Industry groups lobby for boost in general fund contribution to FAA
A coalition of 17 industry and trade associations have sent a joint letter asking the House Transportation Committee to provide 25% of the FAA’s budget from the general tax fund. The letter states that General Fund money has long been used to bolster the FAA’s budget, noting that as recently as 2003, 25% of the […]
Shaking off the gloom
By DAN JOHNSON The darkest hours of 2008 were lightened considerably by the rock-solid start to the year witnessed at the 2009 U.S. Sport Aviation Expo in Sebring, Florida, in January. Record crowds, numerous airplane orders, and the sellout of inventory by some exhibitors helped to shake off the gloom of the rotten economy. That […]
Flight & Flyers fan
Just a note to let you know how much I enjoy Dennis Parks’ Flight & Flyers column in GANews. I look forward to them with each issue. I am a regular advertiser in GANews (Aircraft Magneto Service-Boeing Field). Parks’ columns give the sense of perspective that is often missing from aviation publications. A lot of […]
Economic Stimulus?
President Obama’s recent trip to Chicago cost American taxpayers millions, but locally, the Temporary Flight Restrictions for Chicago’s airspace were responsible for a loss of business to the aviation community. It’s ironic that a president who talks about economic stimulus should cause a great need for economic stimulus for a local industry. According to the […]
What a ride
To Deb McFarland: Thank you for the wonderful stories you send to GAN for your Short Final column. The story published Sept. 26, 2008, “Yearning,” really got to me. I had to start that article three or four times before I could get my eyes dry enough to finish it. It was 55 years or […]
What oil should you use?
Many pilots want to know what oil to use and where to get it. To answer these questions accurately, I sent a questionnaire to the four main oil companies that supply lubricants to the general aviation industry. I received nice replies from Shell and Phillips, a note from BP that said the company was changing […]
Work begins on FAA reauthorization
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Reauthorization of the FAA is nearly two years behind schedule. The House is trying again to pass a bill, hoping that it won’t be stalled – again – in the Senate. The present temporary reauthorization expires March 31. “We need to get a bill passed as quickly as possible,” said Rep. Jerry […]