This May 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 Cherokee. Injuries: None. Location: Caldwell, N.J. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: During the approach the airplane drifted to the left side of […]
Selling the best airport in the world
Jamie Beckett is a CFI and A&P mechanic who stepped into the political arena in an effort to promote and protect GA at his local airport. He is also a founding partner and regular contributor to FlightMonkeys.com. As the introduction to this column stipulates, I’m a CFI and an A&P. But an increasingly larger portion […]
Warbirds, airshows and autogas
The GAfuels Blog is written by two private pilots concerned about the future availability of fuels for piston-engine aircraft: Dean Billing, Sisters, Ore., an expert on autogas and ethanol, and Kent Misegades, Cary, N.C., an aerospace engineer, aviation sales rep for U-Fuel, and president of EAA1114. Few aspects of an aviation event attract greater crowds […]
Backup plan for FAA reauthorization introduced
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A bipartisan committee in the House introduced a bill to again provide a short-term extension for the FAA if agreement cannot be reached for a long-term reauthorization before the present funding program expires May 31. If needed, this would be the 19th short-term extension and carry the FAA through to June 30. […]
JQF: Home to NASCAR’s air force
A fleet of planes owned by NASCAR drivers has put North Carolina’s Concord Regional Airport (JQF) on the map, according to a report from the Independent Tribune in Concorde, which quotes aviation director Dick Lewis: “NASCAR traffic accounts for about 60% of our business. We decided a long time that we weren’t going to be […]
Responding to an earthquake
Civil Air Patrol participated in an exercise Monday with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Northern Command, the National Guard Bureau and other federal and state agencies called Ardent Sentry 11, a major homeland security and disaster response exercise that tests emergency responders’ ability to handle a massive earthquake in America’s Midwest, along the New […]
Tests could make GPS unreliable
The FAA is warning that GPS service in a 330 nautical mile circle of Nevada could be “unreliable or unavailable” for six-hour stretches from May 16-27 as broadband wholesaler LightSquared tests whether a signal from one of its proposed 40,000 towers upsets satellite navigation, according to a report at AVweb.com.
AOPA to host International Learn to Fly event
On Saturday, May 21, people around the world will celebrate the second annual International Learn to Fly Day. As part of the worldwide effort, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), in conjunction with other aviation businesses located at Frederick Municipal Airport (FDK) in Frederick, Md., will host a daylong event designed to introduce the […]
Esterline CMC Electronics newest GAMA member
The Board of Directors of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) has approved Esterline CMC Electronics as its newest member, bringing the international trade association’s membership to 71. Esterline CMC Electronics is headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, where they design, manufacture, sell and support technology electronics products for the commercial and military aviation markets. CMC’s focus […]