The National Transportation Safety Board has issued a Safety Alert for General Aviation pilots, called “Minding Weight, Maintaining Balance: Improper or Unperformed Calculations Can Be Fatal.” NTSB officials note that between 2008 and 2016, the probable causes of 136 GA accidents were related to pilots improperly conducting preflight performance calculations for weight and balance or […]
Flying Colours ramps up production at new St. Louis facility
Flying Colours, the North American MRO, completions and avionics business, has officially opened the doors of its new St. Louis, Missouri, facility. Manufacturing at the new facility, which primarily supports the design, build and finishing of woodwork for large business jet cabins, has already begun. The first components will be delivered to an undisclosed customer […]
On time and under budget at KMLB
MELBOURNE, Florida — It’s a major undertaking to close, reconstruct and re-open all three runways in succession at an international airport, and probably not for the faint of heart. “But it was necessary and our team was up to the challenge,” said Greg Donovan, A.A.E., executive director of Orlando Melbourne International Airport (KMLB). It’s been […]
Pilot Assist Pro launches
Pilot Assist Pro for the Apple iPhone and iPad has been released. Designed by pilots for pilots, Pilot Assist Pro declutters the cockpit and allows unified access to important flight resources – checklists, scratchpads, manuals, weather, flights logs, NOTAMs and more — direct from an Apple device, according to developers. “I initially dreamed up Pilot […]
Failure to use checklists results in fuel starvation
The student pilot departed on the solo cross-country flight with about four hours of fuel onboard the Cessna 172. About two hours into the flight, he noticed that the left tank fuel gauge was indicating almost empty. He was not concerned about the indication, stating that he had been trained not to rely on the […]
Picture of the day: Sunburst morning
Tom McNutt took this photo from a Piper Pacer during an early morning formation flight over Kentucky in January 2018 with Mark Poliak in an Ercoupe. The photo was shot with the camera on an iPhone 6, the photographer notes. Would you like to have your photo featured as Picture of the Day? You can […]
What is the best oil temperature for my engine?
Running at 245° may be OK during break-in or during climb out, but I do not recommend running continuously at cruise condition at this temperature after your engine is broken-in.
Time to change 50-year-old aviation curriculum
CEDAR CITY, Utah — Aviation schools around the country are mandated by law to adhere to the curriculum drafted by the FAA. This curriculum cannot be changed or modified by schools by any means, even though requirements for what is taught have not been adequately updated since 1962, officials with Southern Utah University note. That […]
Seaplane-A-Palooza slated for weekend before SUN ‘n FUN
The pre-SUN ‘n FUN Seaplane-A-Palooza will be held April 7-8, 2018, at the Tavares Seaplane Base (FA1) in Florida. “Pilots journeying to SUN ‘n FUN are invited to get a jump start on their aviation experience in America’s Seaplane City,” organizers note. Seaplane-A-Palooza 2018 will provide opportunities for pilots to visit with exhibitors and participate […]