By MICHAEL B. JAGER Upon graduating from ROTC from Stanford University, I found myself in Bartow, Florida, in 1956 for primary flight training in the USAF. Then, in 1958, after two-and-half years flying the T-34, T-28, T-33, F84F and the F100 A and D, I was asked to go home because of an oversupply of […]
GA groups share concern about ATC with Congress
With the need to authorize the FAA before Sept. 30, 2017, a number of general aviation association leaders joined together to send letters to House and Senate transportation leaders underscoring “real and long-standing concerns” about a concept being pushed by some airlines regarding air traffic control. Specifically, the GA organizations cited concerns over a proposal to create “a new […]
NBAA releases 2017 top safety focus areas
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) has released its annual list of Top Safety Focus Areas, topics identified by the NBAA Safety Committee as primary risk-mitigation targets. The 2017 focus areas are: Loss of control inflight (LOC-I) Runway excursions Single-pilot accident rate Procedural non-compliance Ground handling collisions Distractions Scenario- and risk-based training and […]
Airport Courtesy Cars updated
New features have been added to Airport Courtesy Cars, including a new website, in addition to the free app. Now the data can be viewed on any device, notes developer Glenn Brasch. Updates include more than 1,725 airports nationwide that have courtesy cars. “We also started listing locations with airport cafes, in case a car is unavailable,” he […]
Five FBOs join Phillips 66 network
HOUSTON – Phillips 66 Aviation has added five FBOs to the network: Devils Lake Aero Service (KDVL), in Devils Lake, North Dakota; Lawton Aviation Services (KLAW), located in Lawton, Oklahoma; Storm Flying Service (KEBS), located in Webster City, Iowa; Brookneal Airport, (K04V), located in Brookneal, Virginia; and, Winamac Pulaski County BOAC (KRWN), located in Winamac, Indiana The company’s FBO locator will help pilots […]
MT-Propeller developing seven-blade prop for GA
MT-Propeller is developing a seven-bladed composite full feathering reversing propeller for general aviation airplanes. In October 2016, MT-Propeller egineers and test pilots flight tested the seven-bladed propeller on a PT6A-135A turbine installed in a Piper Cheyenne. The test flights — eight flights in total with five hours flight time — contained a functional test, performance test and noise test with “very promising results,” according to […]
VFR into IMC fatal for 182 pilot
The pilot was conducting a visual flight rules aerial observation flight and returning to his home base. Radar and weather data showed the Cessna 182 maneuvering in instrument flight rules conditions before radar contact was lost. Examination of the accident site near El Paso, Texas, indicated the airplane hit rocky, mountainous terrain in a slight left-wing-low attitude […]
Cirrus at sunset
Frequent contributor Megan Vande Voort sent in this photo with a simple note: “Two Cirrus at sunset.”
Taxiway landings
Harrison Ford landed on Taxiway Charlie at John Wayne Airport last month. Everyone who knows I am a pilot and an aviation safety columnist contacted me as soon as they heard about Ford. My mother even chimed in, certain the actor should be stripped of his license, as this was his fourth accident. I explained […]