WASHINGTON, D.C. — The President’s fiscal year 2009 budget request for the FAA has been met with harsh criticism from aviation groups, as well as doubts and questions from the House aviation subcommittee. Continued calls for user fees, coupled with a decline in airport aid, brought quick comments from general aviation leaders. “The White House […]
Opinion
LIFE IS GOOD
To Deb McFarland: Great stuff (Diary of a mad Luscombe pilot). You’re right: Age and waistline are immaterial when your mind’s in the sky. Life is good. You got a purty airplane, too. JERRY PAINTER Arlington, Wash.
CAN AL GORE EXPLAIN THIS?
I read Thomas F. Norton’s column in the Jan. 25 issue, “Aviation and the green hysteria” — right on. I flew for Wien Alaska Airlines from 1952-1982, most of it north of a line from Nome-Fairbanks-Whitehorse. I have lived in Alaska since 1945. What I don’t understand is why somebody doesn’t ask Al Gore to […]
Engine exhaust creates unsafe condition for Colt owner
My Piper Colt has a strong odor of engine exhaust in the cockpit. The mechanic says he is sure the muffler is good, and turning off the heater does not change the amount of odor. Looking at the floor board, directly below the seats, I can see a lot of daylight. There’s an upholstery cover […]
“Welcome to sunny Florida.”
The fellow who uttered this statement was wearing long pants and so many shirts, sweaters and jackets that he did not appear able to bend his elbows. And rightly so. It was COLD, I tell you, on the last day of the Sport Aviation Expo in Sebring, Fla., which took place Jan.17-20. On that day […]
WE CAN’T EXPECT THE FAA TO BE OUR KEEPERS
This letter is a response to your article “Is a computer required equipment to fly?” in the Jan. 11 issue, and Lieutenant Colonel Burdon L. Davidson USAF (ret.), and his inability to locate pertinent information in keeping his aircraft in compliance with the Airworthiness Directives issued by the FAA. As an A&P (Airframe and Powerplant) […]
WHAT’S NEEDED TO BUILD AN AFFORDABLE AIRPLANE
Let me say right up front that I thank and applaud Cessna for its decision to bring the SkyCatcher to market. But I, too, was a little saddened to hear that Cessna will be building the C-162 SkyCatcher in China (SkyCatcher’s ‘Made in China’ label upsets some pilots, Jan. 11 issue). Not that I have […]
Politics put FAA’s top spot in limbo
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Nowhere is it more evident that politics rules government than what is going on with the inaction on presidential nominees. Robert Sturgell was nominated last October to be FAA administrator, but the Senate hasn’t held even one confirmation hearing. His is one of at least 75 nominations held up in the Senate. […]
Diary of a mad Luscombe pilot
Every new year brings contemplations, convolutions and resolutions, most of which are held dear for a week or two and then thrown out with that final bit of holiday trash. Contemplations of the New Year sort can get deep and perplexing at times. One realizes the Earth is another year older and one’s backside is […]