Six CFIs recently earned or renewed their Master Instructors accreditation from Master Instructors LLC. The Master Instructor designation is a national accreditation recognized by the FAA and industry that is earned by a candidate through a rigorous process of continuing professional activity and peer review. Much like a flight instructor’s certificate, it must be renewed […]
AvFab receives STC for high-density seat
Aviation Fabricators (AvFab) has received STC approval for its High Density “Traveler Seat” for the King Air series aircraft. AvFab’s first model, the “Econo Seat,” received STC approval in December, 2003. Both models now have EASA approval as well. The high-density seating options are designed for adding passenger capacity. The seats are available in a […]
Computerized maintenance tracking program debuts
Among aircraft owners, it is common knowledge that aircraft records make up 25% of the value of a plane at resale, yet until now the most advanced systems for record keeping have only been available to owners of jets and turboprops. As part of its comprehensive maintenance program, Fleet Aviation now provides a Computerized Maintenance […]
Open door distracts pilot
This March 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: Gaithersburg, Md. Aircraft damage: Substantial What reportedly happened: The pilot, who had logged 327 hours, including 161 in a […]
The value of aviation
GAN blogger Jamie Beckett was recently invited to speak to the East Polk Committee of 100 at their February 2011 gathering. The topic was aviation — which is right up his alley. After talking about the speech in his blog, many GAN readers asked for a video of the speech. He didn’t have one, so […]
Dedications & Reunions
Drew Steketee was president of BE A PILOT, senior vp-communications for AOPA and executive director of the Partnership for Improved Air Travel. He also headed PR and media relations for Beech, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) and the Airport Operators Council International. I just learned that the city of Boise has named an airport […]
FCC action poses threat to GPS
WASHINGTON, D.C. – A representative of the new Coalition to Save Our GPS told a House subcommittee Friday that a recent action by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) could cause “consequences of disruption” to the Global Positioning Systems (GPS) that will be “far reaching, likely to affect large portions of the population and the federal […]
CAP aids in tsunami warnings
The Civil Air Patrol’s Hawaii Wing launched statewide tsunami warnings Friday following an 8.9 magnitude earthquake off Japan’s northeastern coast. Eight Cessnas with full crews flew pre-assigned warning routes around the islands to look for anybody on or near the shoreline. The planes began sounding the tsunami warning at 10:18 p.m. Thursday Hawaii time, nearly […]
FAA restricts Eclipse to FL300
The FAA has issued an Airworthiness Directive for the Eclipse 500 that, as of March 21, would limit its maximum operating altitude to 30,000 feet, according to a report from Aviation International News. This supersedes an existing AD, issued in November 2008, that limited the jet to 37,000 feet or below in response to carbon […]