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 […]
SunState Aviation Flight School opens new base at GIF
SunState Aviation Flight School is expanding in Florida, adding a new base of operation in Winter Haven (GIF). The satellite facility is the flight training base for Polk State College’s new pilot science program. SunState Aviation Flight School has contracted with Polk State College (PSC) to provide flight training to students enrolled in the program, […]
Business cards with your plane on them
General aviation pilots now can have business cards with their airplane on it — or any airplane of their choice — thanks to Air Pix Aviation Photos. Air Pix has served a mostly airline clientele with photo business cards since 1983, company officials say, noting the company has one of the largest collections of photos […]
Waco Flying Service expands
WACO, Texas — When Waco Flying Service began operating as a one airplane, one instructor flight school in 2009, its two-man team had big dreams of improving the services provided to student pilots. They succeeded, and that success attracted investment and some big ideas. Enter Clark Brooks, who purchased the company in December 2010 and […]
Distracted pilot flips floatplane
Aircraft: Cessna 206. Injuries: 1 Fatal. Location: Stanwood, Wash. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot, 55, held multiple ratings, including Airline Transport Pilot. He had logged more than 4,200 hours, including 474 hours in seaplanes. The accident airplane was mounted on amphibious floats. Within the previous 90 days to the accident, the pilot […]
Respect for the seldom celebrated man
The odds are good you’ve never heard of Lon Cooper. There’s no reason you would have, really. But you should have. We all should have. At least we should have if life is fair, which it is not. So working on the theory that being late is better than nothing, allow me to make the […]
Stick wigglers vs. glass panel geeks
After flying more than 350 different aircraft models, I’ve become reasonably adept at what some pilots call “stick wiggling.” The reference is for all the actions you take to physically fly the plane. This is about what’s required on very basically-equipped ultralight aircraft that I still love to fly. Modern LSA, however, typically offer loaded […]
Pilots needed for General Aviation Flight Data Monitoring Survey
Pilots are being asked to complete the General Aviation Flight Data Monitoring Survey, designed to evaluate the familiarity and perceptions of the general aviation community concerning flight data monitoring capabilities and objectives. The 18-question survey takes about five minutes to complete. Check it out here.
Bonus depreciation extended
To the relief of many in the aviation community, when President Barack Obama signed The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 Jan. 2, he extended the 50% bonus depreciation for capital goods, including aircraft, through the end of 2013. This means that new business aircraft purchased in 2013 are eligible to qualify for 50% Bonus […]