Landmark Aviation has named Eric Lugger its new director of safety. As a U.S. Army helicopter pilot, Lugger served on a combat tour in the Middle East during Operation Desert Storm. Since retiring from the military, he has worked as a line pilot, a general manager of an aircraft structural repair facility, and as a […]
EMU expands flight training to LAN
Eastern Michigan University and its partner, Eagle Flight Centre, will expand their professional flight training program. The new program, which will operate out of Capital Region International Airport (LAN), will be modeled after a similar program that has been operating out of Willow Run Airport (YIP) in Ypsilanti for five years. The new Lansing Flight […]
Poor approach, poor landing
This July 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: Cirrus SR22. Injuries: None. Location: Winder, Ga. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The purpose of the flight was to fulfill an insurance company […]
Standing tall in the face of opposition
Let’s be totally honest for a moment. Airplanes crash now and then. They ditch, make emergency landings, have system failures and, once in a while, one of them catches on fire. That’s all true. It’s also exceedingly rare. We need to be truthful and willing to speak on that topic. Because we can tell the […]
EASA finally releases LSA certification specifications
Try not to yawn. This is important. The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), roughly the equivalent of FAA for the European Union, finally released its CS-LSA, or Certification Specification for Light-Sport Aircraft. While not exactly what the industry hoped for, it at least represents acceptance of the ASTM certification standards. That reduces uncertainty for LSA […]
EAA Chapter 1083 hosts summer camp
Rowan Area EAA Chapter 1083 in North Carolina recently hosted A.S.C.E.N.D — Aviation Summer Camp Exploring New Dimensions — at Rowan County Airport (RUQ). The summer camp, for kids 14 to 17, was started with a vision of EAA Chapter 1083 and member Jana Brown of Lexington. The camp was partially made possible through a […]
Twin brothers, twin records
How cool is this? Twin brothers Mark and Mike Patey broke transcontinental speed records in both directions: West to East and East to West. The brothers both own Lancair Legacys; Mark’s Legacy is equipped with a Lycoming TIO-580 engine, while Mike’s is equipped with a Continental TIO-550 engine. According to the National Aeronautic Association, on […]
A twist in funding requests at PIB
Officials at the Hattiesburg-Laurel Regional Airport (PIB) in Mississippi say that business is so good, they are requesting less money from the Jones County Board of Supervisors for its budget. A story in the Laurel Leader-Call quotes the airport’s executive director, Tom Heanue: “Our general aviation business is growing by leaps and bounds.”
Cessna marks 15 years at Independence
Cessna Aircraft Co. recently marked 15 years since opening its manufacturing facility in Independence, Kan., where the company has produced nearly 9,500 single-engine pistons and more than 350 Citation Mustang business jets. Work at the Cessna Independence facility includes assembly, paint, installation of interiors and delivery of seven single-engine piston aircraft models — 172R Skyhawk, […]