The next time you hear someone disparage aviation, point out that everyone depends on it. Don’t believe that? Think about it. The food we eat now comes from all over the world. Delicate fruits and vegetables don’t arrive by slow boat; they are flown in, fresh daily, from places such as Chile, the Netherlands, Israel, […]
Opinion
A Good Laugh
One of the funniest items in the last edition was the letter from Roger Lockwood of Sarasota, Fla., (No strings attached), in which he got so comically indignant over his little pieces of string and paper being referred to as “toys.” We all, in the aviation community, have our “toys,” whether they are ultralights, GA […]
Medical Mistake
First and foremost, thanks for your great magazine. I read each issue cover-to-cover with great interest. While reading Meg Godlewski’s article in the Aug. 18th issue titled “We Listened – Changes in medicals in spotlight as FAA administrator meets Oshkosh crowd,” I noticed an error which I had also noticed in another publication’s article on […]
Boeing slates historical building for demolition
The Boeing Airplane Co. is planning to tear down a significant piece of airplane history. The Plant 2 building on East Marginal Way South in Seattle is slated for demolition soon. This is the factory that employed 30,000 Seattle people at the peak of World War II, turning out B-17 Flying Fortresses at the rate of several […]
The FAA scorecard: How’s it going?
WASHINGTON, D.C. — During the dog days of August Congress is away and it’s a good time to take a look at some of the subjects not usually considered for news reports — for instance, the FAA’s scorecard. The FAA rates itself in a “”how are we doing” report matched to the goals it sets. […]
Positive news for a change
Chetek Municipal-Southworth Airport (Y23) in Wisconsin had its first annual fly-in Aug. 6. What my partner Tim Knutson and I wanted to accomplish was to show the residents of the Chetek area how general aviation, flying and airports benefit a community. We also wanted to promote the airport and flying and have some fun, along […]
One rogue pilot could kill VFR flight
I think VFR flight is worth saving and will fight to protect it (To build a fire…to save our airspace, July 21 issue). I am a member of several alphabet organizations that are leading the fight. As much as I want to protect it, however, we must realize that it will take only one rogue […]
How does a lady-or a Scottsman in a kilt-enter a Symphony160?
Meg Godlewski’s piece on the Symphony 160 was an interesting read (Symphony 160: The next generation trainer, July 7 issue) and I noted with interest that the company is one that has at last recognized that many of us Americans are now a little (little?) broader in the beam. An almost mandatory requirement for two […]
How safe are we, really?
One of our most avidly read features is Accident Reports. To put these together for every issue, reporter Meg Godlewski combs the National Transportation Safety Board’s database, choosing a wide variety of accidents to spotlight. We don’t do this to highlight bad news. In fact, we look at these reports as cautionary tales, presenting them […]