American pilots are extraordinarily fortunate. We have a freedom to fly that many around the world can barely comprehend, much less enjoy as we do. Yes, I’m well aware many American aviators don’t pay much attention to flying outside U.S. borders. Indeed, around 80% of all general aviation airplanes are located in the USA, also […]
First Thrush Switchbacks delivered
ALBANY, Georgia — The State of Georgia’s Forestry Commission has taken delivery of the industry’s newest firefighting aircraft — the Thrush 510G Switchback. Powered by a GE H80 turbine engine, the Switchback is designated as a Single Engine Air Tanker (SEAT) aircraft and will be used by the Georgia Forestry Commission for fire detection, rapid […]
Are airports the safest place to fly drones?
A veteran aviation attorney has proposed a counterintuitive idea: That airports just might be the safest places to fly drones. But the claim by Mark Dombroff of Alexandria, Va.-based law firm LeClairRyan, comes with quite a few qualifiers. The unregulated and unauthorized flight of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) in and around airport airspace clearly is […]
Impacts of shortened SMO runway already being felt
The 10-day closing of Santa Monica Municipal Airport (SMO) in Southern California brought significant ramifications throughout the general aviation and business aviation communities, and those effects will linger now that the airport has reopened with a shorter runway and other infrastructure changes, officials with the National Business Aviation Association say. FBO Atlantic Aviation saw its […]
Museum of Flight accepting applications for STEM Summer Programs
SEATTLE — The deadline for high school sophomores to apply for one of the Museum of Flight’s education programs is Feb. 16, 2018. The Western Aerospace Scholars Sophomore program is a distance-learning and summer experience program for Washington, Oregon. and Montana high school sophomores. The online course that takes place in the spring of sophomore […]
Kaman introduces Advanced Memory and Data Exchange Universal System
The Memory Division of Kaman Precision Products has introduced the AMADEUS — the Advanced Memory and Data Exchange Universal System. The AMADEUS includes the Model 9740 Multi-Port data transfer unit, which includes four removable memory cards (RMC) and a mini-Ground Station Adapter (GSA). The Model 9740 provides simultaneous data interface over 10GB Ethernet, Mil-Std 1553, […]
Carb icing contributes to forced landing
The private pilot reported that the engine cylinders had been replaced and the flight was to continue a cylinder break-in period. The engine run-up and propeller check were completed during the taxi to the runway to keep the ground run-up to a minimum. After engine start, no anomalies were noted. Break-in procedures called for lower […]
Pictures of the day: Much to be thankful for
Esta-Ann Elliott sent in these photos, taken just before a flight in the family’s Piper Arrow departing from Alexandria Field in Pittstown, N.J. She notes that her husband, Jack, is still climbing into the Arrow at the age of 93.
No more zero days
New year, new calendar, clean slate. Turning over a calendar seems to create in many of us the desire to do — and be — better. Sadly, all too soon, we fall back into our regular ruts and habits. But this year will be different, I hope. A friend of mine sent me a link […]