Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor has announced its “Kids Free for Summer” promotion. With every paid adult admission, one child ages 4 through 12 gets free admission to the museum June through August. Children under 4 are always free. Young “aviators” especially like flying the Combat Flight Simulators, exploring inside the big helicopters, and nosing […]
Intoxicated pilot crashes
This February 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: Piper Cherokee. Injuries: 1 Fatal. Location: Springfield, Ky. Aircraft damage: Destroyed, What reportedly happened: The pilot, who had logged 1,522 hours and held commercial […]
More than a plane
Roger Starr’s Fairchild is the reason he gets up in the morning There are some airplanes that you don’t acquire and fly — you have a relationship with them. That’s how Roger Starr of Canby, Oregon, describes his “ownership” of his 1946 Fairchild 24W-46. “With the exception of my wife, it’s the reason I get […]
Solo times two at Sporty’s Academy
Two brothers, each enrolled in the University of Cincinnati’s Professional Pilot program, soloed within one hour of each other at Sporty’s Academy last week. Brothers Will and Andrew Gilliland each soloed in Cessna 172 Skyhawks. The brothers are both first year students in the University of Cincinnati’s Aviation Technology: Professional Pilot Training Program. The flight […]
Microsoft embraces LSAs
Microsoft recently announced the return of Flight Simulator, once one of the best-selling games on computers. Well, in truth, it’s no longer called Flight Simulator, rather simply “Flight.” In 2009 Microsoft abruptly dropped Flight Sim, leaving only the techy X-Plane for digital joystick jockeys. It’s way above my pay grade to understand why the Microsoft […]
Fracking, Bakken, Marcellus and GA
Some of the best energy news in recent years is the discovery of massive oil and gas reserves in the Bakken and Marcellus fields, among others. Thanks to advances in horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing (fracking), deposits once thought unprofitable have now created an economic boom in Montana, North Dakota, Pennsylvania and other places where […]
Residential Through The Fence protection in FAA bill
After three and a half years of hard work by many Residential Through The Fence (rTTF) advocates, H.R. 658, the FAA Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act containing language preserving rTTF, has passed the House and Senate and sent to President Obama for his expected signature. RTTF access is defined as homes with attached […]
AOPA boss warns House committee of threats to GPS
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association President Craig Fuller offered recommendations on new protections needed to preserve GPS’s critical role in the national airspace system in testimony today before a House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s aviation subcommittee hearing. Fuller noted that pilots rely on satellite-based systems for everything from en route navigation to precision approaches. “Just […]
CALPILOTS newsletter online
The January/February 2012 newsletter of the California Pilot Association is now online. Archived issues are available as well.