BLR Aerospace has earned FAA certification for its new Ultimate Performance Package (UPP) for the King Air 200GT twin turboprop aircraft. The Ultimate Performance Package was developed in partnership with Hawker Beechcraft Corp. and includes the BLR Winglet System, Hartzell’s latest 4-blade composite propeller, and the Raisbeck Ram Air Recovery System. Each individual system has […]
Piper over-stressed on landing
This August 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: Piper Pacer. Injuries: None. Location: Tacoma, Wash. Aircraft damage: Minor. What reportedly happened: The pilot was attempting to land in a crosswind and was […]
SLSA #120 approved
Way over in Paris, a new airplane has arrived — only this Paris is in Tennessee. SLSA #120 Spirit comes from a new company but one whose leader earned his SLSA pedigree gaining four model approvals. That would be Skykits and its STOL variations. All are designs from ICP of Italy (Savannah, plus ADV and […]
China’s first GA show next month
A five-day AOPA-China General Aviation Summit will be held in September in Beijing. The summit kicks off Sept. 20 and will include Chinese civil and military aviation officials, a two-day forum on the country’s low-altitude economy, and the first GA fly-in in the country, according to a report at AOPA.org
An aviation club in every high school
Aviation managers are worried about finding enough qualified people to fill the millions of job openings in the aviation industry that will be created by retirements and expansion over the next two decades. Especially vexing is the relatively small number of young people who are entering aviation-career-track education programs. The National Association of High School […]
Air Safety Institute to develop passenger briefing course
In response to a recommendation from the NTSB, the AOPA Foundation’s Air Safety Institute is developing a short training video to coach general aviation pilots on how to give an effective passenger briefing on emergency communications and survival equipment. The NTSB recommendation was a result of the board’s investigation into the August 2010 accident in […]
Rocky Mountain Airshow slated
The 32nd Annual Rocky Mountain Airshow takes off the weekend of Aug. 26-28. The show, at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (BJC) in Broomfield, Colo., will be comprised of aerobatics, afterburners and pyrotechnics, including an appearance by the B2 Stealth Bomber. The show also will feature a “Walk Through Time” in the air and on the […]
Stoned pilot crashes
This August 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: Piper Pawnee. Injuries: 1 Fatal. Location: Creswell, Ore. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: The airplane was being used to tow gliders. Shortly after […]
The girl in the tree
I must confess right off that my interview with pilot Keena Pope wasn’t so much an interview as it was a good, old-fashioned, girl’s day out, get-together and gossip fest. That it was done while she was on the clock and at her boss’s expense made the visit all the more special. Since I know […]