Night vision is a perennial problem for pilots. Nature did not design us for night operations. Our eyeballs are too small, our pupils too narrow, and the rods in our eyes that allow us to see in the dark are located 20° off center. That is why to scan for traffic at night, we must […]
Visiting the Maine Air Museum
As my wife Joan and I travel around the country in our motorhome, we are always looking out for aviation museums. As members of EAA Chapter 534, we have a keen interest in aviation. Our home chapter is at the Leesburg International Airport in Leesburg, Florida, but during the summer we travel up the East […]
Time running out for FAA reauthorization
In an analysis on Air Transport World Online, Aaron Karp says not to hold your breath waiting for an FAA reauthorization bill, including major air traffic control (ATC) reform, to pass the US Congress in the next couple of months. “Avoiding a costly partial shutdown of FAA this autumn now seems the best one can […]
Aviation Design Challenge registration opens
The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) and Build A Plane has opened registration for the sixth annual 2018 Aviation Design Challenge. The first 110 high schools that enter the competition will receive complimentary “Fly to Learn” curriculum and software powered by X-Plane that teach aerodynamic and aviation engineering principles. The curriculum can be completed in approximately […]
New checklist app helps handle emergencies
If you have a situation in flight or on the ground, are your emergency checklists close at hand? You will with the new Aero Checklist from Apple’s App Store. With Aero Checklist, the most critical emergencies related to each stage of the flight are right at your finger tips, according to the developers. Aero Checklist […]
ASA Carbon Monoxide Detector redesigned
The ASA Carbon Monoxide Detector has been redesigned to meet National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommendations. Company officials report that the detector features a spot sensor on the front that darkens when harmful levels of carbon monoxide are detected, and then returns to its original color when the air freshens. A “date opened” feature allows […]
Failure of brake line tubing leads to ground loop
The pilot reported that after a simulated rope break maneuver while towing a glider, he maneuvered to the runway in Midlothian, Texas, and landed “normal.” He said that during the landing roll the Cessna 305 “yawed” to the left. He applied right rudder inputs to correct the yaw, but it was ineffective. He said he […]
One for the ages
Ralph Lacomba at Eagle Aviation in Columbia, S.C., sent us these photos taken during the Aug. 21, 2017, eclipse at Eagle Aviation. He reports the FBO at Columbia Metropolitan Airport (KCAE) had more than 100 airplanes “from all over.” “100% totality and clear skies made it one for the ages,” he reports.
Eight random facts about the Piper Cub
It is safe to say that hundreds of thousands of pilots learned to fly in a Piper Cub. For many non-pilots, the Piper Cub is the entirety of small aircraft aviation — like Kleenex is to facial tissue. 2017 marks the 80th anniversary of the J-3. As a tribute to that milestone, following are eight […]