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 […]
Opinion
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 […]
Words are important
I received the following from Neil Cosentino over the weekend. Interesting food for thought… Dear Friends of Flying, As a proud, long time member of AOPA, I am disappointed that no one at HQ/AOPA/ASF has explained to me the merits or demerits of my terminology recommendations to AOPA, the FAA and the industry. The recommendation […]
Let’s attract the money
At last weekend’s Northwest Aviation Conference a young man asked AOPA President Craig Fuller how to attract more young people to aviation (click here to watch Craig’s full speech). Craig responded by tipping a hat to many of the nations flight training colleges and many of the new lower priced aircraft now available as but […]
Piedmont Aircraft Co. launches
Piedmont Aircraft Co. has opened in Winston-Salem, N.C., representing previously owned Beechcraft and Hawker aircraft. Industry veteran Tom Mekis is leading the company as president and CEO. Piedmont Aircraft Co. was recently part of Landmark Aviation, acquired when the Carlyle Group purchased and combined the assets of Piedmont-Hawthorne Aviation, Garrett Aviation Services and Associated Air […]
Sebring generates a solid start to 2009
By DAN JOHNSON Although marred by the fatal crash of a Remos LSA on its last day, the 2009 U.S. Sport Aviation Expo provided an optimistic start to the new year, posting the best opening day in the show’s five-year history. According to my visits with many airframe manufacturers or importers, a sense of improvement […]
Congress gets to work
WASHINGTON. D.C. – Congress has a plateful of aviation issues to work on and the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure has started to take bites into them. Committee Chairman Rep. James Oberstar (D-Minn.) called a meeting of the full committee in the early days of the 111th Congress to set out the agenda. Then, […]