Keith Meyers is correct that there is a flying Connie in Australia (Connie down under, Oct. 21 issue), and the Save-A-Connie in Kansas City, however he is misinformed about where the rest of the flying Connies live. The MATS Connie, N494TW, was purchased by Korean Airlines about a year ago and was flown to its […]
Opinion
Could medical kill Sport Pilot?
I’m a long time reader of GANews, and I’ve even had an article or two published by your paper. I was dismayed by the cavalier attitude of your article recently about Sport Pilot medicals (Pilots still frustrated by Sport Pilot medical, Oct. 21). In particular, it starts off with, “It’s always better to ask forgiveness […]
Sam Lyons’ latest tells a wonderful story of two American icons
Should a plane be painted in its natural environs – playing tag with clouds or hopping over trees and meadows? What about painting it forlorn looking, like a sad-eyed puppy dog, on the ramp waiting for its master to take it for a hop? Or maybe it should be shown perched expectantly on a catapult, […]
Feds get serious about security matters
Washington, D.C. — Recent developments in the Washington area demonstrate just how serious the government is about security matters. A major announcement was made about reopening Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to general aviation after its closure following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The media carried stories about flights returning. The first general aviation flight […]
Time to get real: Zealous regulators are hazards to aviation
In olden times – that’s 60 to 70 years ago – wrist watches with glow-in-the-dark radium numbers were popular. Whether we wore a Timex or a Rolex, that’s what we wanted. In those days, many aircraft instruments glowed in the dark. That, too, was accomplished with minute amounts of radium-226. Thousands of World War II […]
Paying for the Meigs fiasco
In the end, we must assume the taxpayer in Chicago will pick up the tab for the $33,000 fine for the Meigs Field fiasco perpetrated by the Mayor of Chicago (FAA fines Chicago for Meigs Field destruction, Sept. 23 issue). And now we learn that there may be a much larger fine on its way […]
CAP’s public relations working overtime
I read with interest your editorial regarding lost opportunities for publicity on the outstanding contributions of the aviation community during Hurricane Katrina (The New Orleans example, Oct. 7 issue). The attached documents present the Civil Air Patrol’s Hurricane Katrina media relations program and a report on the publicity received. Please know that I applaud your call […]
Bonanza leader tackles critics
I must respond to the Oct. 7 letter from Michael R. Baas complaining about the mass arrivals of type specific aircraft at AirVenture (Just say no to mass arrivals). His complaint centered about the need for him and others to hold during the arrival. As leader of Bonanzas to Oshkosh I can answer most of […]
We are not the enemy
To: Federal Aviation Administration Subject: Federal Docket # FAA-2004-17005 I am a pilot. I was a Naval Aviator for more than 20 years, and am currently a captain for Southwest Airlines, based at the BWI airport. I am very familiar with the aviation profession. Just as important, I am a general aviation pilot, flying and teaching for the […]