The Third Edition of the Aviation Maintenance Technician Oral & Practical Exam Guide has been updated to reflect the most current FAA PTS and Guidance Documents. The original text by Dale Crane has been edited by Raymond E. Thompson of the College of Aviation, Western Michigan University, and covers the certification process, typical projects with required […]
Improper fuel planning breaks 172
The pilot departed on the two-hour flight with the fuel quantity gauge of each fuel tank indicating about half full, but did not verify the quantity of fuel present in the tanks prior to the flight. Approximately 20 minutes from the destination airport, the left fuel tank gauge indicated between empty and one-quarter full, and […]
Pictures of the day: Floatplane flying
In response to our call for seaplane stories, Ed Heinen sent in these two photo with an explanation: “In June 2002 I got my floatplane endorsement when I was over from Holland visiting my parents on Vancouver Island. The pictures were taken while getting the floatplane ready on a deserted pebble beach at Cowichan Lake […]
Four extremely affordable aircraft
In the fall of 2015, I wrote about four Light-Sport Aircraft (LSA) you could buy for under $96,000. For many pilots, this price point seemed to strike a melodious chord. Unless you are flying for work purposes, you may prefer to spend only a modest amount to enjoy the view from on high. In this column, I’ll […]
Ohio man wins flight in P-51
Ben Rayl of Loudonville, Ohio, will soon fly a piece of World War II history. Mercy Flight Southeast drew Rayl’s winning raffle ticket for a chance to fly a P-51 Mustang. Stallion 51 had donated the experience flying its P-51 “Crazy Horse” to raise money for Mercy Flight Southeast, which provides free air transportation to […]
FAA launches online ADS-B equipment database
The FAA recently published its 2016 NextGen update, which provides an overview of where NextGen stands today, and where it’s going in the years to come. As part of this update, the FAA posted an online ADS-B equipment database, which allows pilots and aircraft owners to learn what equipment has been certified and other useful […]
Secord flies Meyers 200C to victory in Sunshine Express
John Secord is no stranger to flying fast in his Glasair Super II, so this year’s Sunshine Express 400 from Greenwood, South Carolina, to Winter Haven, Florida, was another great opportunity to race in the highly regarded but fairly new venture, which debuted last year as the “Race to the Sun.” And, while John is a […]
Last flight slated for rare 1933 Boeing 247D
SEATTLE — The world’s oldest flyable Boeing airliner will make its last flight April 26, according to officials with the Museum of Flight. The classic twin-engine Boeing 247D from the 1930s — one of four remaining in the world, and the only one flyable — has been in the museum’s collection since 1966. Based at the Museum’s Restoration Center […]
Aerial photography, inspection tops list of FAA-approved RPA use
The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) has released an interactive analysis that finds 38 types of business operations have been approved by the FAA to fly remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) — also known as drones and unmanned aerial systems (UAS) — commercially in the National Airspace System (NAS). According to the report that analyzed […]