A promised top-down review of general aviation enforcement practices by the Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP’s) Office of Air and Marine shows that the agency has heard GA’s concerns. But officials with the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) said they will remain vigilant to ensure the rights and freedoms of pilots are respected. The review, dated […]
NASA helicopter test a smashing success
HAMPTON, Va. — The successful crash test of a former Marine helicopter could help lead to safer civilian and military helicopters, according to NASA aeronautics researchers. The full-scale test sent the fuselage and its 15 dummy occupants crashing into the dirt at NASA Langley Research Center’s Landing and Impact Research facility in Hampton, Virginia, at […]
Mercy Flight Southeast to hold fundraising golf tournament
LEESBURG, Florida — Mercy Flight Southeast will hold its 18th Annual Golf Tournament, sponsored by the Harper Family Charitable Foundation, at Arlington Ridge Golf Club on Veteran’s Day, Nov. 11. Mercy Flight Southeast coordinates approximately 3,000 free flights each year for children and adults who need transportation to life-saving, far-from-home medical care. The non-profit relies on a […]
National Air and Space Museum releases free children’s app
A new iPad app from the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum helps children learn about airplanes and rockets through four games inspired by the history of early flight. Pilot Pals, the museum’s first app, also enables children ages 4 to 6 to personalize their experience by naming their hangar and choosing a Pilot Pal to […]
Snap-On introduces short handle flex ratchet for tight spaces
Any mechanic knows that working in confined spaces can be challenging. That’s why Snap-on Industrial introduced its new 3/8” Drive Short Handle Flex Ratchet. The 3/8” Drive Short Handle Flex Ratchet (part number FF80) comes with a 8-5/16” long handle, making it the ideal ratchet to use in tight spaces, according to company officials. Additionally, the ratchet […]
Notes on Flying VFR published
“Notes on Flying VFR” has just been published by University Aviation Press. The book contains summaries of all subjects pertaining to VFR flight in a single-engine, fixed-wing aircraft, according to the publisher. It is intended as a refresher and a reference for licensed, non-instrument-rated pilots, but may also be useful in preparation for a flight review, the […]
Iced-up airplane stalls on landing
Aircraft: Piper Comanche. Injuries: None. Location: Colorado Springs, Colo. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: During the IFR flight, the pilot notified ATC that the airplane was accumulating structural icing. He asked for a lower cruise altitude. ATC provided the pilot with a lower altitude, but the airplane was still in icing conditions and in clouds. The controller […]
Sing a happy song
Nobody who is seriously involved in aviation is unaware of the concern that student pilot starts are down and student pilot completions are down. At the same time, aviation has become a critical part of the global economy. Ideas abound for how the industry might combat this trend and hopefully reverse it. You may have […]
Minden pilot wins world championships
MINDEN, Nevada — Jim Payne from Minden has won his third consecutive world championship in the Aerokurier Online Soaring Contest (OLC). This contest is a year-long contest with almost 15,000 competitors from around the world. To compete, glider pilots record their flights with a GPS logger and submit their flight logs to the contest web site for […]