Aircraft: Piper Matrix. Injuries: 4 Fatal. Location: Greensburg, Ind. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: The instrument-rated private pilot was executing a non-precision instrument approach procedure at night in deteriorating weather conditions. According to GPS track data, he executed the approach as published, but descended below the missed approach point’s minimum altitude before executing a […]
Picture of the day: Shadow play
Mark Cook submitted this photo of an airplane shadow on the clouds, taken from a Beech Queen Air over Grand Rapids, Minn.
Pilot reports: The beginnings
“After running the motor a few minutes to heat it up, I released the wire that held the machine to the track, and the machine started forward into the wind,” reported Orville Wright in the December 1913 issue of Flying magazine. Though possibly not the first pilot report in an aviation journal, it sure is a […]
Michigan pilot becomes youngest TBM 900 owner
Michigan businessman Phillip Bozek recently took delivery of a TBM 900, making him the youngest owner of this new variant in the family of TBM very fast turboprop aircraft. Having learned to fly three years ago, the 28-year-old Bozek runs his family’s lighting business, Conserva Electric Supply, and also is involved in real estate investment. He […]
2015 and beyond: Defining years for general aviation
Flying magazine’s Robert Goyer predicts that the next few years will be “pivotal” ones for general aviation. “From time to time in history, for reasons that are hard to understand even in hindsight, a short period of years becomes the confluence for a number of critical events that one might have seen coming but the […]
FAA deputy administrator new pilot
FAA Deputy Administrator Michael Whitaker, who is responsible for helping to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the National Airspace System, recently took his private pilot checkride — and told officials with the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association that he “felt the pressure,” noting it “wouldn’t be acceptable” not to pass. In a blog […]
ICG host Virginia governor
Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe recently chose the Newport News, Va., headquarters of International Communications Group (ICG) to announced the designation of five new Virginia Enterprise Zones (VEZs) and the renewal of five others. The company, celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, manufactures satellite-based voice and data telecommunications. It is involved in the design, development and manufacture of […]
WingX Pro7 introduces CFI Free and SV Free
Hilton Software has unveiled two new initiatives: CFI Free And SV Free CFI Free provides every CFI with a free solution to integrate WingX Pro7 and WingX Rewind into their flight training. Certificated Flight Instructors (CFIs) get the following for free: A WingX Pro7 subscription including WingX Rewind An Advanced IFR subscription with Approach Chart Geo-Referencing […]
Cirrus escapes during hand-propping
Aircraft: Cirrus SR22. Injuries: None. Location: Eden Prairie, Minn. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: When the pilot attempted to start the engine, the starter motor turned, but the starter did not engage. He turned off the battery master switch, exited the airplane, and walked around to the front of the airplane. He reached through […]