The Washington State Department of Transportation has appointed Robert Hodgman as capital improvement project planner for WSDOT’s Aviation Division. Hodgman served 24 years in the Army and Army National Guard, with eight years of experience in capital facilities management. This included responsibilities as the project manager for the design and construction of a $24 million […]
Pilot forgets to check fuel valve
This April 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: Ercoupe 415-C. Injuries: 1 Minor. Location: LaGrange, Ga. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: After completing a pre-flight inspection of the airplane, the pilot […]
A word of advice: Be polite for a better outcome
When viewed from a comfortably detached perspective, the ironies of life can be entertaining. Let’s face it, we all get a lot of good stories from the oddities that happen all around us. Then again, those same ironies can be an infuriating series of experiences if seen from a viewpoint that includes personal involvement. Consider, […]
Lycoming gets FAA nod to update list of approved fuels
Just weeks after Lycoming Engines announced it would seek approval to operate certain engines on ASTM D7547 UL 91 unleaded avgas, it has received FAA approval to update its listing of approved fuels. Lycoming’s newly available Service Instruction SI-1070R lists 35 engine models approved to operate on ASTM D7547 UL 91 fuel. The models are […]
Tuscaloosa Airshow thrills
By BOB JAQUES To college football fans, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, is home of the famous Crimson Tide 2011 National Champions, but to aviation enthusiasts, Tuscaloosa is rapidly becoming one of the fastest growing regional airshows in the country. This year’s airshow, held March 31 and April 1, was the best, so far, of the three airshows […]
Studying trends in general aviation
A researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has focused her thesis project on general aviation trends and is asking for help from general aviation pilots. The goal of the study is to gain a better understanding of the factors that drive general aviation activity in the United States, which includes identifying any challenges […]
SAFE in space
The Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE) recently entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Orbital Commerce Project (OCP) “to promote safety in the Commercial Human Spaceflight industry through excellence in training and education.” The two organizations will team up on initiatives that include: Working with the Office of Commercial Space Transportation (FAA/AST) […]
Summer programs at National Flight Academy
The National Flight Academy in Pensacola, Florida, is offering a high-tech, aviation-inspired summer program. Enrollment for summer single and group sessions is now underway. The five-day, immersive experience combines the love of game-playing with a science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) curriculum and kids. Ambition, part of the National Flight Academy’s suite of learning programs, […]
Parts marking system released
Insta Etch of Phoenix has released its Etch2000 professional parts marking system. The custom stencil design smartphone app is based off Android and Blackberry operating systems and wirelessly prints a pre-programmed or user designed stencil to a handheld Bluetooth printer. Using electrochemical solutions and these precision stencils, metal parts and tools can now be permanently […]