This January 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: Siai-Marchetti SF-260C. Injuries: 2 Fatal. Location: Santa Monica, Calif. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: The main wing tanks had been topped off about […]
Earning a seat at the table
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. In December 2008, my home city of Winter Haven, Florida, cut the ribbon on a new terminal building at Gilbert Field. With millions of dollars invested and a golden […]
Is GA a menace?
WASHINGTON, D.C.—“Private Plane, Public Menace” is the title of a feature article written by Jeffrey Goldberg for The Atlantic magazine. How did an article with such a title appear in such a prestigious magazine? As the magazine is published here in Washington, I decided to try to determine why. After two and a half days […]
NTSB study: Airbags increase safety
Today the National Transportation Safety Board adopted a study that concluded that general aviation airplanes equipped with airbags provide additional protection to occupants in accidents involving survivable forward impacts. Airbags are designed to mitigate head and upper body injuries and are installed in the lap belt or shoulder harness portions of the restraint system. They […]
Deicing: Dollars and sense
Weather-related issues always pose special challenges for pilots. But at this time of the year, ice and snow are of particular concern, especially during takeoffs and landings, according to officials with the National Business Aviation Association, who want to spread the word about the need to follow proper deicing/anti-icing procedures and help pilots budget for […]
Adopt a plane
With the one-year anniversary of the Haiti earthquake Jan. 12, missionary organizations are still working hard in the island nation. Want to help? You can “adopt” a plane for $1 a day. Your donation will help cover fuel and maintenance costs for “your” MAF plane. Rather help elsewhere in the world? You can even choose […]
Airbags for GA
NTSB officials are slated to issue the first formal government recommendations for installing air bags to save lives in private-plane accidents, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal, which notes that the board’s groundbreaking study is expected to outline the benefits of air bags in reducing fatalities and injuries when small aircraft crash.
Living Legends of Aviation
The 8th Annual Living Legends of Aviation Awards will be held Jan. 21 in Beverly Hills, bringing together some of the biggest names in aviation. Actor and pilot Morgan Freeman presents the “Flown West” tribute to the Legends lost. John Travolta, also an actor and pilot, will present the newest Legend inductee, M. Laurent Beaudoin. […]
LiveAirShowTV profiles Reno racer Will Whiteside
LiveAirShowTV kicks off 2011 with a return to coverage of the 2010 Reno Air Races, including a profile of Will Whiteside. Whiteside, pilot for Race #5 Voodoo, is no stranger to the Reno Air Races. In the profile, he talks about the modifications done to this P-51, his own Reno racer, and the steps he […]