After 35 years of federal and state service, including the last six years as Director of Aviation at the Washington State Department of Transportation, Tristan Atkins is retiring. Under Atkins’ leadership, WSDOT completed landmark studies, including the Airport Investment and Airport Investment “Solutions” studies, which helped identify aviation funding gaps and target investments in the state. […]
PlaneLogiX releases free builder logbook
CARRBORO, NC — PlaneLogiX has released a new Builder Logbook module available to aircraft builders for free. Builders can use the free service to keep track of their airplane as it is built. Add photos, videos, and more to catalog the homebuilder journey, company officials note. PlaneLogiX officials said they designed the Builder Logbook to be […]
Online insurance portal now available for drone operators
FREDERICK, Maryland — In partnership with Global Aerospace, aircraft insurance broker Aviation Insurance Resources (AIR) recently launched its online UAS/Drone insurance portal. The Global Aerospace policy offers multiple liability options, as well as hull coverage and worldwide territory, according to AIR officials. Sean Berry a commercial drone pilot and Mavic Pro owner, noted that the online portal is “Super […]
Plane hits building after aborted landing
The Zenith CH-750 pilot reported that during takeoff, the airplane’s engine was producing normal rpm, and “the aircraft lifted off about halfway down the runway, but did not climb normally.” He aborted the takeoff, landed beyond the departure end of the runway, and hit a building in Gainesville, Missouri. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall […]
Basking in the sun
Frequent contributor Star Novak just sent us this photo, explaining: “This pretty little Luscombe owned by Adam Pratt from Lenexa, Kansas, was basking in a warm summer sunset at the conclusion of the VAA Chapter 16’s annual Fly-In at K34 June 24.”
Air Racing from the Cockpit: Disputing the results
Dispatch from KDMH, Carbondale, Illinois: The carefully arranged chairs in the giant hangar are in disarray, hurriedly pushed and pulled to either side, parted like the Red Sea to make room to bring Les Burrill’s wounded bird— Race 11 — in out of the baking sun. A small cluster of racers gathers around the green and […]
Video: Pancake breakfast at a pilot shop
Our friends at FunPlacesToFly.com recently posted this video, chronicling a flight to Tina’s Pilot Shop in Roanoke, Texas. They say: “Today, we’re visiting Tina’s Pilot Shop, otherwise known as the North Texas Pilot Supply, which is located at Northwest Regional Airport (52F), on the DFW Sectional. “The pilot shop, which has been in business for almost 20 years, […]
General aviation survey underway
The 39th annual General Aviation and Part 135 Activity Survey is now underway. The survey is the FAA’s primary source of information about the size and activity of the general aviation and on-demand Part 135 fleet. According to the FAA, data collected from the survey helps the agency: Anticipate and meet demand for National Airspace System […]
Commercial drone market to reach $12.6 billion by 2025
According to a new report from Tractica, worldwide commercial drone hardware and services revenue will increase from $792 million in 2017 to $12.6 billion by 2025. While the majority of revenue currently comes from hardware sales, the balance will shift in the next few years and, by the end of the forecast period, Tractica anticipates […]