The constant drumbeat of stories about close encounters between airplanes and unmanned aerial systems (UAS) can be described as nothing short of a panic, with pilots and non-pilots alike convinced that a drone disaster is looming, says blogger John Zimmerman of the Air Facts Journal. “And yet, I am unable to find a single verified […]
UAS Alliance research takes off
STARKVILLE, Miss. — Officials with the Alliance for System Safety of UAS through Research Excellence (ASSURE), led by Mississippi State University, met with FAA officials this week, with the focus on the initial challenges the alliance’s researchers are tackling to safely integrate unmanned aerial systems — also known as remotely piloted aircraft or drones — into the […]
NASAO launches new website ahead of annual convention
The National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO) has launched a new website, just ahead of the association’s 84th annual convention and tradeshow, which begins Saturday in Boise, Idaho.
Parade of Planes returns to Flying Aviation Expo
PALMS SPRINGS, Calif. — The Parade of Planes will return to the 2015 Flying Aviation Expo Oct. 15-17 at the Palm Springs Convention Center. SkyRunner, an experimental flying ATV, will lead the parade. The parade is set for Thursday, Oct. 15, at 10 a.m. The planes will taxi from the Palm Springs International Airport to […]
Go-around goes bad
During a practice touch-and-go landing in the Cessna 172 in Deer Valley, Ariz., the student pilot did not properly maintain runway alignment during the landing flare. The flight instructor took control of the plane as the wheels touched down on the runway, and attempted a go-around. However, during the go-around, the CFI did not retract […]
Picture of the day: A blue beauty
John McGraw sent in this photo of a 1966 Cessna 185 with the orignal paint.
Expect the unexpected
Like so many general aviation pilots, I found myself some years ago with very limited options for renting aircraft. Whenever I found a company that was willing to rent to the public, I found the price was high, the service was poor, the aircraft were less than inviting, and I never felt particularly valued as […]
Electric aircraft … Going mainstream?
Can electric aircraft truly become part of the national or worldwide fleet? You might discount the possibility, but then consider Airbus. When I was a youngster, I remember a TV commercial with a song jingle that went, “Electricity does more for you each day.” (Despite the decades that have passed, the tune still plays in […]
Learning to fly, with cameras and without the ego
Steve “Flight Chops” Thorne has been called the least cocky pilot on the Internet, and that suits him just fine. With what began as a personal mission to record his flights to learn from — and improve on — his mistakes in the cockpit, his everyman approach has resonated with fellow pilots and flying enthusiasts the world over. It […]