That’s the question asked by a new book, “Glass Cockpit Flying,” by Robert Littlefield. The author notes that glass cockpit airplanes are certainly less safe than they should be. A recent National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) study showed fewer total accidents for glass cockpit aircraft but a higher fatal accident rate and a higher total […]
True-Lock now available at Aircraft Spruce
True-Lock LLC and Aircraft Spruce have partnered to provide STC’d fastener systems to the aviation community. True-Lock is the only patented aviation wheel fastener system in the world that has been awarded an STC (Supplemental Type Certificate) by the FAA for axle nut technology, according to company officials. True-Lock aviation fastener systems reduce premature wear […]
Museum celebrates Women’s History Month
On Saturday, March 12, the International Women’s Air & Space Museum will celebrate the achievements of Bessie Coleman, the first African American woman to earn a pilot’s license, at the museum’s sixth annual free family day. The free event is open to the public and will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Parking […]
ACONE to present Crash Course
The Aero Club of New England (ACONE), the oldest aero club in the Americas, will hold its annual Crash Course Wednesday, March 9, in Bedford, Mass. Admission is free. The seminar will feature true-life experiences from pilots who learned from their mistakes and lived to tell about them. Stories such as losing a prop in-flight, […]
Downdraft catches Cessna
This February 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: Cessna T210. Injuries: None. Location: Twenty-nine Palms, Calif. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot was attempting to land. The approach was normal […]
The first sport planes
Dennis Parks is Curator Emeritus of Seattle’s Museum of Flight. In the May 13, 1920, issue of the English magazine Flight, a survey of a new type of aircraft they called the “sporting aeroplane” was published. The article provided a list of these aircraft of 50 horsepower or under, along with drawings of each. Though […]
FAA reauthorization introduced in House
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Reauthorization of the FAA was introduced in the House of Representatives today calling for a four-year period, cuts in funding after fiscal year 2011, and a sunset time for the Essential Air Service to small communities. The bill saves $4 billion compared to current funding levels, requiring the agency to do more […]
No user fees in President’s budget
The White House on Monday released a budget that avoided user fees, provided funding to advance NextGen modernization, and set aside money specifically for improvement projects at general aviation airports, according to the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). “This is a long and extraordinarily complex document, and a complete review of all the language […]
Bids being reviewed for Florida’s state planes
The agency in charge of selling Florida’s two executive airplanes hasn’t decided if the bids received for the aircraft are too low, considering the “soft market” for private planes, according to a report in the Tallahassee Democrat. Gov. Rick Scott ordered the state’s 2003 Cessna Citation Bravo jet and 2000 King Air 350 put up […]