Fontainebleau Aviation is now open at Miami’s Opa-Locka Executive Airport (OPF). Located at the entrance to Opa-Locka Executive Airport’s (OPF) main facilities, Fontainebleau Aviation has five hangars and more than 100,000 square feet of space that can accommodate aircraft as large as a Boeing 737. It also has 19,000 square feet of executive and maintenance […]
Wichita Aero Club Trophy goes to Spirit AeroSystems
The Wichita Aero Club has selected Spirit AeroSystems and its chief executive officer Jeff Turner as the recipients of the 2011 Wichita Aero Club Trophy. Spirit and Turner were selected by the Selection Committee from seven nominees. The WAC Trophy will be presented at the Wichita Aero Club’s second annual Trophy Gala at the Wichita […]
Thompson joins Sun ’n Fun
Irene Thompson has been named Director of Sales & Special Events for Sun ’n Fun Fly-In, Inc. and its Florida Air Museum. In making the announcement, Sun ’n Fun President John Leenhouts said he “was very impressed with Thompson’s extensive and varied experiences, including the planning and production of high level events and visits while […]
Cessna crashes in fog
This December 2009 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 310. Injuries: 1 Fatal. Location: Alva, Okla. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: Prior to departing on a night, instrument cross-country flight, the […]
Meet the new president of Sun ’n Fun
Just a few months ago, John “Lites” Leenhouts was thinking about retirement. “My life was set,” the 27-year Navy veteran said. “I was going to retire after 10 years at Northrup-Grumman and we knew exactly what we were going to do.” He and his wife Nancy had built a good life in Jacksonville, Florida, during […]
Pilots collect toys for Tree of Hope
By DEB KLIER The morning of Dec. 3 dawned overcast, with predictions of snow in the Flying Cloud, Minn., area. Flight service was reporting weather in the area was OK now, but would get worse later in the day. As we were heading out to the airport, we wondered if we would be able to […]
Who should be the next FAA administrator?
Just days after FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt’s resignation, rumors were abounding on the Internet about possible successors. Some people mentioned that Capt. Chelsey “Sulley” Sullenberger, pilot of the Miracle on the Hudson flight, would make a good choice. When we mentioned this on Facebook, the responses were fast and furious. “Sully might be a good […]
Pipistrel introduces Alpha trainer
Pipistrel, the Slovenia company that has won the NASA CAFE Efficiency Challenge three years in a row, is now developing the Alpha Trainer, aimed squarely at flight schools. The Alpha, based on the company’s Virus SW (pictured), will sport a price tag of about $83,000 (US), fully equipped. “The name ‘Pipistrel Alpha Trainer’ describes the […]
Remembrance: M. Gene Dow
By NORVAL G. KENNEDY M. Gene Dow, former editor and publisher of General Aviation News, “The Green Sheet,” died Nov. 27, at age 82. He was editor of GAN in Snyder, Texas, from 1972 through 1977, then GAN publisher from 1977 through 1983. As GAN editor, Dow wrote his GUMP (Gas Undercarriage Mixture Prop) column […]