This July 2010 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others. Aircraft: Beech Debonair. Injuries: 3 Fatal. Location: Tolar, Texas. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: The pilot was employed as a flight instructor and, according […]
The search is on for Texas Airplane #21
John Bradberry from Sulphur Springs, Texas sent me an email recently with a very specific request. I’m hoping someone from our readership can assist him. “On Thursday, May 19, 1938, Texaco Airplane #21 piloted by Roy Harding landed at six towns in Northeast Texas, picked up mail pouches at each stop, and returned to Dallas Love Field in […]
Back ups, understudies, and substitutes
Politics shares at least a little bit with baseball — at least in the sense that to get something done politically, you’ll occasionally need to rely on your backup. You see this in the theater, as well. Eventually you’ll find that the main player isn’t available for some reason, so an understudy will step into […]
A roadmap to finding a new fuel
The transition to an unleaded aviation fuel is still years away, according to the final report from the FAA’s Unleaded Avgas Transition Aviation Rulemaking Committee (UAT ARC). And whether it is GAMI’s G100UL, Swift Fuels biofuel, or some other alternative, all candidate fuels require “significant assessment” by the FAA to ensure safety, according to the […]
Comment period on medical petition extended
The period for pilots to comment on the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and Experimental Aircraft Association medical petition has been extended to Sept. 14. More than 14,000 pilots have already commented on the petition, but AOPA and EAA officials asked the FAA to extend the comment period to allow more pilots to voice their […]
Analysts skeptical over Hawker Beechcraft deal
The Associated Press is reporting that aviation analysts are skeptical about claims being made in the planned sale of Hawker Beechcraft Inc. to a Chinese firm, quoting one longtime industry observer who called it “beyond smoke and mirrors.” The $1.79 billion offer for Wichita, Kan.-based Hawker Beechcraft by Beijing-based Superior Aviation Beijing Co. is “a […]
‘Green’ general aviation terminal opens at PTK
A state-of-the-art general aviation terminal building has just opened at Oakland County International Airport (PTK) in southeastern Michigan that has been certified to the LEED Gold standard. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification provides independent, third-party verification that a building was designed and built using strategies aimed at achieving high performance in sustainable […]
Colorado Aviation Week raises thousands for scholarships
The Colorado Aviation Business Association (CABA) is reporting that, by every measure, “Colorado Aviation Week” was a huge success. “We are very pleased with the turn-out of the events held during ‘Colorado Aviation Week’,” stated Brittany Davies, chairwoman of CABA. “We achieved our goal of community outreach and exceeded our expectations with respect to money […]
Boeing projects exponential growth in demand for pilots, AMTs
Boeing projects the world will face an unprecedented demand for pilots and aviation maintenance technicians over the next 20 years as global economies expand and airlines take delivery of tens of thousands of new commercial airplanes. At the Farnborough International Airshow, Boeing released the 2012 Pilot and Technician Outlook, which indicates that by 2031 the […]