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: Air Cam. Injuries: None. Location: Hamilton, Mont. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot performed three takeoffs and landings on a river sandbar. […]
Did you notice the FAA is shutdown?
With the debt crisis averted.. for now, the FAA’s funding status has regained prominence in the mainstream media. However, a series of press releases, news stories and the recently completed EAA AirVenture have me thinking. A July 28 press release from Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.) titled, “Facts About FAA Partial Shutdown” includes 17 “facts.” Following […]
$1.5B lost if Congress doesn’t address FAA bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. — National Air Traffic Controllers Association President Paul Rinaldi is urgently appealing to Congress not to adjourn for its August recess until it passes an FAA bill that would return 4,000 laid off FAA employees (of which NATCA represents 1,200) and 70,000 laid off construction workers back to their jobs. “All we are […]
In praise of the alphabets
Two of the main alphabet organizations focused on general aviation include the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) and Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). They both offer something of real value to each of us who works or recreates in the realm of general aviation. Let’s face it, it’s a tough market out there these days […]
Aviation Fuel at EAA AirVenture 2011
GAfuels co-author Kent Misegades, just back from AirVenture, summarizes below some of the aviation fuel-related news gleaned from among the hundreds of forums, workshops, press releases, and countless conversations with exhibitors and attendees: Aviation Fuel Club and Sport Fuel: Despite heavy downpours, Kent’s talk attracted a crowd of 30 to 40 people, many of whom […]
GA groups ask FCC to withdraw waiver that threatens GPS
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) and General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) are strongly urging the Federal Communications Commission to take action to prevent interference with GPS reception and threats to the future of a GPS-based air traffic system. The FCC has applications from LightSquared, a company that wants to build […]
#OSH11: AirVenture’s final figures
Attendance at last week’s AirVenture was 541,000, up 1.3% from from 2010. “This year’s event was a tremendous success,” said Rod Hightower, EAA president. “From the arrival of the Boeing 787 to our tributes to Bob Hoover and Burt Rutan, all the way through the huge crowd on the flight line for Saturday’s night air […]
Assume public flight tracking
Operators of private aircraft who have relied on the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Block Aircraft Registration Request (Barr) program to protect privacy “should assume their flights will appear” on Internet flight-tracking displays as the government’s plan to limit the program takes effect today, Aug. 2, an Aviation International News report says. Read it here.
#OSH11: Rolls Royce offers scholarships
At last week’s AirVenture, Rolls-Royce pledged financial support for the 2011 EAA Young Eagles Scholarship Program. The scholarships fund flying lessons and flight experiences for teenage student pilots. In 2011, flight training scholarships funded by Rolls-Royce will be awarded to six students who have completed the majority of EAA’s online ground school. Winners will attend […]