This January 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: Cessna 172. Injuries: 2 Fatal. Location: Holland, Mich. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot was a 23-year-old foreign exchange student from Nairobi, […]
First solo: Matt Ferrari
The day started out normal, another flying lesson, the same maneuvers I’d been practicing, nothing out of the ordinary. Flying back to the airport my instructor handed me the microphone prompting me to get an airport advisory. Without much choice, I said “Brainerd Unicom, Cessna 757 Echo Yankee, 10 miles out to the South, inbound […]
Why can’t I find ethanol-free fuel?
One of the most frequent questions we receive from pilots is why their local gas station can no longer supply them with ethanol-free autogas, an FAA-approved lead-free aviation fuel since 1982. Readers of this blog know the answers to this question, but there remain many who believe that gas stations are forbidden from selling anything […]
Business up at GMU
Air traffic and fuel sales are up at Greenville Downtown Airport (GMU), the busiest general aviation airport in South Carolina, signaling expectations of a turnaround. In 2011, air traffic at the Greenville Downtown Airport rose 6% over the year ending 2010, reports Joe Frasher, airport director. “In 2010, GMU had 55,267 operations, which are counted […]
Wichita forms task force to bolster aviation
AviationWeek is reporting that community leaders in Wichita are assembling a task force that will develop some “fairly aggressive strategies” to boost the aviation industry as the city wrestles with announcement that Boeing will pull out of Wichita and lay off or relocate up to 2,100 workers, says Suzie Ahlstrand, interim president of the Greater […]
FAA on schedule to process December BARR requests
After the FAA restored full access to the Block Aircraft Registration Request (BARR) program, many general aviation pilots contacted the agency to enroll in the program, according to officials with the National Business Aviation Association, who report the FAA is on track to transmit an updated list of aircraft blocked at the “ASDI vendor level” […]
Flying Musicians to perform at Sebring LSA Expo
The Flying Musicians Association is gearing up for the first event of 2012, the U.S. Sport Aviation Expo, held in Sebring, Florida, Jan. 19-22. FMA performers will entertain on stage in the AeroShell tent daily, Thursday through Saturday. John Zapp, co-founder of the association, said, “Being invited to the first aviation event of the year […]
AOPA Regional Manager Program extends to Hawaii
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association will extend its field representation program to Hawaii. New Western Pacific Regional Manager John Pfeifer now has responsibility for Hawaii, California, Nevada and Arizona. On Jan. 2, AOPA launched its new Regional Manager Program as a key component of strengthening its commitment to providing representation in every state. In […]
Smyrna Air Center expands Power 90 conversion program
Smyrna Air Center has expanded its United States installation center network for the Power 90 engine conversion program to Mather Aviation in Rancho Cordova, Calif. Mather Aviation is a FAA certified MRO that is recognized as a leader in aircraft maintenance providing comprehensive maintenance of piston, turboprop and jet aircraft, according to Smyrna Air Center […]