Three and a half years into writing this column, I finally found where all the general aviation reports to NASA’s Aviation Safety Reporting System have been hiding. Usually, when I query the ASRS database, I get at least six reports from airline pilots for every one report submitted by a GA pilot. Not true for the […]
FAA ADS-B rebate ends soon
FAA officials are noting the $500 ADS-B rebate ends soon. Aircraft owners have until Sept. 18, 2017, to make a reservation to qualify for the rebate. “But it goes away Sept. 19, as the FAA has no plans to extend the program now,” an FAA official said, noting “there is plenty of room for more sign […]
Video: A different kind of flying
How did you spend the longest day of the year? Miles Daisher spent the extra hours of daylight on the summer solstice, June 21, 2017, by throwing himself off a bridge — 63 times, to be exact. The feat earned him the record for the most unassisted BASE jumps in 24 hours. A BASE jump is […]
CNBC poll results: America says hands off the FAA
CNBC released the results of a quarterly “All America Economic Survey” June 20, 2017, conducted by Hart Research Associates on a wide range of topics, including public-private partnerships, infrastructure, and a proposal to spin off the air traffic control system from the FAA into a private non-profit corporation. As part of the survey, respondents were asked their opinion […]
First anniversary of first solar-powered flight across Atlantic
On this day in history, June 23: Solar Impulse 2 successfully completed the world’s first solar-powered flight across the Atlantic on June 23, 2016, establishing a world first and setting four FAI world records. The first solar-powered plane to circumnavigate the world was piloted by Dr. Bertrand Piccard. For its record flight across the Atlantic, it took off […]
Astronics 2300 Enhanced Vision System certified
Astronics Corporation, through its subsidiary Astronics Max-Viz, has certified its 2300 Enhanced Vision System (EVS) to the DO-160G standard. Company officials report that the 2300 blends infrared and visible light sensors. The Max-Viz 2300 EVS displays real-time heat sources along with LED airport lighting. With the airport lighting environment converting over to low-heat LEDs, many thermal […]
Super Cub’s landing goes awry
The pilot was landing at a remote, off airport site in Palmer, Alaska, in a homebuilt, tailwheel-equipped PA-18 Super Cub. He made two passes over the short strip, and while setting up to land on the third pass, he lost sight of his intended touchdown spot and landed longer than he had anticipated. After landing […]
Day campers explore aviation history
Penny Hamilton, a volunteer with the Emily Warner Field Aviation Museum at Granby/Grand County Airport in Colorado, sent in these photos, taken when a group of 8- to 12-year-old day campers visited the airport.
Full circle: An AirCoupe is back where she belongs
It was 31 years ago when newlyweds Jude and Mike Dennis, the founders of Oregon Aero, took off for an epic trip in the AirCoupe Mike shared with his brother. “We loaded her with camping gear and cameras, and left Oregon on a two-month adventure that took us to all four corners of the country,” […]