Hammerhead Industries, manufacturers of Gear Keeper industrial tool tethering systems, has introduced a pair of new tool tethers for heavy tools and instruments. Both of the new anchored tethers are designed for attachment to a fixed structure rather than to a person. The TL1-3025 Fixed Loop Tether and TL1-4025 Fixed Loop Tether are rated at […]
Piper appoints aftermarket business director
Piper Aircraft named aircraft customer support executive Wes Norris as Director of Aftermarket Business. Norris joins Piper after a 31-year career at Hawker Beechcraft Corp. and leads Piper’s aftermarket business development office in Vero Beach, Fla., working with customers and dealers throughout the world. “Norris’ mission is to provide a high level of support to […]
Deep snow bends Stinson
This December 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: Stinson 108-1. Injuries: None. Location: Selawik, Alaska. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The private pilot was on a cross-country flight in a ski-equipped […]
Correction: Exxon Mobil to remain 100LL manufacturer
In a blog posted on Monday, December 19, fuels expert Ben Visser incorrectly stated that Exxon Mobil had stopped manufacturing 100LL for the general aviation marketplace. In fact, Exxon Mobil continues to manufacture 100LL for distribution under brand names other than its own. Exxon Mobil will cease selling 100LL under Avitat-branded FBOs. Says Ben Visser, […]
Holiday gift-giving, Washington-style
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Reaching reliable sources of information here can often be confusing and frustrating. I sought to interview someone about the Christmas holidays and wanted to go directly to the source for gift giving. Knowing the problems of getting correct answers in Washington, I started checking sources around the nation. Everyone I talked to […]
A new pilot…and future aircraft owner
Mark Donovan, who wrote a story for us earlier this year about Flying Solo at Half a Century, sent us this message earlier this week: “I just wanted to let you know that I finally got my Private Pilot’s License on Nov. 13. It took a little bit longer than I had planned (7.5 months […]
Aircraft ‘luxury’ tax resurfaces in Washington State
As Washington State lawmakers grapple in a special session with another huge budget shortfall, numerous revenue ideas have surfaced from various groups and organizations — including a “luxury tax” on aircraft — to bring the budget into balance, according to a report at AOPA.org The report notes that two plans to tax aircraft have failed […]
Paper charts still needed, but AeroNav is wrong
Does anyone dispute the need for paper charts for pilots? I hope not. Likewise, there can be no doubt about the rapid rise of digital chart usage. More and more general aviation pilots (and airlines and flight departments for that matter) are adopting “appified” navigation via [insert app here] on Apple’s iPad and a few […]
Barefoot Bandit gets more than seven years jail time
The 20-year-old “Barefoot Bandit” was sentenced Friday to more than seven years in prison after pleading guilty to dozens of charges, according to a Fox News report. Colton Harris-Moore gained international notoriety while evading police across America in stolen planes, boats and cars during a two-year crime spree. What captured the general aviation community’s interest […]