These October 2009 accident reports are provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, they are intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others. Aircraft: Cessna 182. Injuries: 2 Fatal. Location: Pryor, Mont. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: The pilot was returning to his home airport. He contacted […]
It’s a new world
I’ve always believed that much of General Aviation’s success in our time is a legacy of World War II. Aviation was a hero, if not “the” hero, of the war. Pilots were idolized. And everyone saw a bright future and new horizons for “The Air Age.” I find a potent artifact of this gospel in […]
A model for leaning the FARs
The bloat we’ve seen in the Federal Air Regulations is a hurdle to those interested in learning to fly. I’ve said it before. Now I’ve got proof. OK, so it’s not regulatory bloat, but it translates. In the September 2011 issue of the Avionics News, a story titled, “Lean & Mean” details how Duncan Aviation […]
NextGen hits turbulence
NextGen, the government’s program to modernize the nation’s air traffic control system, has run into serious problems that threaten to increase its cost and delay its completion, a government watchdog said during a Congressional hearing Wednesday. According to an Associated Press report, NextGen is being held back by software problems that have delayed full deployment […]
Slow growth to continue for GA
In a new study titled “The Market for General Aviation/Utility Aircraft 2011-2020,” Forecast International projects that general aviation and utility aircraft manufacturers will produce more than 24,000 aircraft worth approximately $28 billion in the coming 10 years. The Connecticut-based market research firm, which excluded the production of business jets and light sport aircraft from this […]
LightSquared threatens legal action
Start-up wireless carrier LightSquared threatened litigation if the Federal Communications Commission does not clear it to operate a network of up to 40,000 cell towers the GPS industry claims will interfere with GPS receivers. According to a story at Government Executive, Jeff Carlisle, LightSquared’s vice president of regulatory affairs and public policy, told reporters at […]
New administrator for Salem Airport
The City of Salem’s Urban Development Department has named John Paskell as the new administrator of Salem Municipal Airport (SLE) in Oregon. Salem’s 751-acre airport serves general aviation aircraft and the Oregon Army National Guard – Army Aviation Support Facility. As the Airport Administrator, Paskell is responsible for coordinating and maintaining the development and growth […]
California avgas lawsuit on hold
After hearing arguments for more than two hours yesterday, a California federal judge has postponed until next week any preliminary rulings on a legal actions barring the sale of avgas in the state, according to a report at Aviation International News.
CFIs respond to training reform projects
Following the Pilot Training Reform Symposium in Atlanta last May, the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE) issued a 35-page preliminary report to government and industry stakeholders with a request for action. Recipients were given 90 days to respond to the six projects distilled from two days of intense work by more than 150 […]