Sporty’s Flight Gear Mission Bag is a new design, created so that one flight bag is appropriate for any trip. The bag can be customized with Sporty’s MyBag system, which allows you to personalize or expand your flight bag with a variety of snap-on accessories. “This Mission Bag is a great example of a Sporty’s […]
New edition of Chart Guide available
The new updated 9th edition of the Aeronautical Chart User’s Guide by the FAA’s National Aeronautical Navigation Services (formerly NACO) is now available from ASA. The guide is a learning aid and reference document for understanding how to read and interpret all FAA aviation charts and chart navigation publications. Among other changes, this new edition […]
Collier nominations due by Jan. 31
The 2010 winner of the prestigious Robert J. Collier Trophy will be announced at the NAA Spring Awards Ceremony and Luncheon, to be held Tuesday, March 15, 2011. The winner will be selected the previous day by the Collier Selection Committee, comprised of a national group of stalwarts of the aerospace industry. There’s still time […]
Fuel selector foul up proves fatal
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 […]