Cessna’s Citation M2 has begun its initial production run in the company’s Independence, Kansas facility. The front and aft cabin assemblies for the light business jet are built at Cessna’s Wichita facility and are then transported to Independence for final assembly and delivery. Unit 800 is slated for demonstrator purposes, and is expected to roll […]
VCT flight school earns Part 141 certificate
VICTORIA, Texas — Calhoun Air Center at Victoria Regional Airport (VCT) was recently issue a Part 141 certificate. The certificate enables Calhoun Air Center to teach the Private Pilot certification under Part 141 for airplanes. Flight schools certified under Part 141 provide a structured training program with a standardized training syllabus approved by the FAA. […]
PAST buys Piper Plastic
TYLER, Texas — Premier Aerospace Services and Technology (PAST) has purchased Piper Plastic from Heinol and Associates. Piper Plastic’s production of interior parts for general aviation aircraft has been relocated to the PAST facility in Alva, Okla., and will be integrated with the PMA manufacturing processes already in place, according to company officials. FAA Regulations […]
Bad landing, bad news for student pilot
Aircraft: Cessna 172. Injuries: None. Location: Lebanon, Tenn. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The student pilot was practicing takeoffs and landings. After the third landing he thought the airplane’s left main tire felt flat, so he taxied back to the FBO to have the tire checked. The FBO representative found no discrepancies and the […]
American Angel
Angels have been part of aviation myths since the early days of flight — so much so that two successful Hollywood movies, “A Guy Named Joe” and the 1989 remake “Always,” were centered on a pilot turned angel who comes to the rescue of fellow pilots. John and Patti Stahr from Eugene, Ore., enthusiastically embraced […]
3rd anniversary of Haiti Airlift
Saturday, Jan. 12, is the third anniversary of the devastating earthquake in Haiti, which sparked one of general aviation’s largest emergency relief efforts in history. To commemorate the anniversary, we received the following from Richard Sante of the Airlift Flyers Aviation: “General aviation woke up on a cool winter morning in January 2010 to an […]
Texas Tech researcher seeks help with NTSB survey
A doctoral candidate at Texas Tech University is researching how general aviation accident reports released by the NTSB and the retelling of those events influence aviation safety. Researcher Kristi Dunks said she is focusing on personal, agricultural, sightseeing, flight instruction, air tour, and other flights. This study will not focus on major airline accident reports. […]
NAFI begins search for new executive director
The board of the National Association of Flight Instructors has begun the transition process in the wake of the resignation of Jason Blair as executive director. Blair, who cited economic issues for his resignation, said “resigning offers the best possible future for the organization and myself. I fully support the mission of NAFI and hope […]
Cessna Grand Caravan EX certified
Cessna’s Grand Caravan EX has earned FAA Type Certification, company officials report, adding it has outperformed initial targets. Powered by the new Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-140 engine, the Grand Caravan EX boasts a 38% improvement in the rate of climb of the Grand Caravan, a figure that exceeds the original 20% improvement projection. “When […]