Despite claims that manufacturing in North Carolina is in a death spiral, aircraft-related production continues to grow at an ever-increasing list of companies, including GE Aviation, GE Honda Aero Engines, HondaJet, Spirit AeroSystems, BE Aerospace, MX Aircraft, Allegro LSA, Twin Commander Aircraft, Atlantic Aero, Preceptor Aircraft, and probably a few others I’m not aware of. […]
The ups and downs of scorched earth
When dealing with political issues, there are multiple methods of making your voice heard. Few are as productive in the short term as the scorched earth method. Ironically, few are as detrimental in the long term too. The problem is that you are willingly making the choice to play with fire and, as we all […]
Purple Heart recipient wins Able Flight scholarship
Sergeant Chris Gschwendtner felt fortunate that he had suffered “only a concussion” after an explosion destroyed his vehicle on the infamous “IED Alley,” the highway from Baghdad to the city’s international airport. It was Valentine’s Day of 2008, and the young infantryman had escaped with body and spirit intact. But not for long. Less than five weeks […]
89.5 AKI was enough
With the recent announcements from both Lycoming and Continental of new engines capable of running on 94UL and autogas, we wondered why, in both cases, a minimum octane was specified that was significantly higher than that required from autogas STCs for very similar engines that have been used safely by thousands of pilots since the […]
LEAP awards first Lindbergh Prize for Quietest Aircraft to e-Genius
At the NASA Green Flight Challenge, Erik Lindbergh, founder of LEAP, announced the first winner of the Lindbergh Prize for Quietest Aircraft. The prize was awarded to e-Genius, a two-seat electric airplane piloted by team leader Eric Raymond and Klaus Ohlmann. The plane was designed and built by University of Stuttgart Institute of Aircraft Design […]
Furloughed FAA workers will receive back pay
The nearly 4,000 FAA employees who were furloughed for two weeks this summer will receive back pay in October. According to a report at Government Executive, Transportation Department lawyers determined that additional congressional action is not necessary to provide retroactive pay to the furloughed workers. The back pay will be included in affected employees’ Oct. […]
All flights not created equal
An editorial in the News Virginia notes that President Obama’s recent rhetoric characterizing general aviation airport users as fat cats may be good politics but not good policy. The proposed $100 per flight air traffic control fee could further hurt the economy and local airports, the editorial notes, quoting Eagle Nest Airport manager John Trissel: […]
Conklin & de Decker to hold Aircraft Acquisition Seminar
Conklin & de Decker will host the 12th Annual Aircraft Acquisition and Planning Seminar in Scottsdale, Ariz., Dec. 6-7, 2011 at the Scottsdale Plaza Resort. The seminar is designed to help the aircraft buyer, owner or aviation professional understand how to make an informed decision when buying and owning an aircraft. It will focus on […]
Second annual Grass Strip Foundation Fly-In slated
The second annual Grass Strip Foundation Fly-In/Open House will be held Saturday Oct. 22 at Berg Park Aerodrome (9GA2) in Midway, Georgia. The Grass Strip Foundation is an educational and preservation foundation dedicated to vintage, experimental and general aviation aircraft, educating the “uninformed about the joys, practicalities and necessities of aircraft in our modern society […]