Sheltair, a network of FBOs with 13 locations throughout the U.S., has appointed Michael Lerma general manager of the Panama City FBO, while Gary Gutkowski has been named general manager of the Savannah FBO, and Bill Garghill has been named director of customer service for the FBO network. Lerma, who previously held the position of […]
Poor stall recovery bends airplane
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 172. Injuries: None. Location: Reidsville, Ga. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot was practicing power-off stalls in the landing configuration. The […]
House Committee starts FAA reauthorization hearings.
WASHINGTON. D.C. — A House committee held its first hearing Tuesday afternoon about FAA reauthorization, with several members wanting to roll back funding to 2008 levels while others and Senate leaders want full financing to speed the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen). Both Senate and House Aviation Committee members say reauthorization of FAA is […]
GA Avgas Coalition mischaracterized in blog post
By Chris Dancy, Media Relations Director, AOPA A recent GAfuels blog post in General Aviation News mischaracterized the position of several GA Avgas Coalition members with regard to automotive gasoline, or mogas. The aviation members of the GA Avgas Coalition have never been opposed to having mogas available as an alternative to aircraft owners and […]
Record using Swift Fuel verified
The world governing body for air sports and aeronautical world records has confirmed Richard “Smokey” Young set an official international airspeed record Sept. 11 using SwiftFuel, an unleaded general aviation biofuel. The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, based in Lausanne, Switzerland, validated that the flight established a new 100-kilometer closed-course speed record for a piston engine aircraft […]
EASA warns again about ethanol in Mogas
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 and aviation journalist. Despite widespread concern over property damage caused by ethanol’s presence in fuels in the U.S., […]
Flight Design confirms four-seat design
Flight Design GmbH will introduce its C4, a four-seat model patterned after the CT series, with the company exhibiting a full-size proof-of-concept at this year’s Aero 2011 in Freidrichshafen, Germany, as well as at this summer’s Oshkosh. Even before debuting the C4 at Aero, slated for April 13-16, the company is seeking comments from its […]
Applications for Electric Flight Prize now being accepted
Applications for the $60,000 Electric Flight Prize at EAA AirVenture 2011, showcasing the accomplishments and viability of flight powered exclusively by electricity, are now being accepted. An Initial Application Form, along with the official rules, is available at Airventure.org/Electric. Three flight competitions held during EAA AirVenture 2011, scheduled for July 25-31 at Wittman Regional Airport […]
Senator proposes hike in fuel taxes for GA
GA pilots could pay sharply higher fuel taxes under a U.S. Senate proposal to fund the NextGen air traffic control modernization effort, according to a report from Reuters, which notes that a if a plan by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus is approved, taxes on jet fuel for general aviation would rise to 35.9 […]