NexAir Avionics is offering year-end special package pricing on its DFC90 Autopilot and WAAS GPS upgrade for owners of Avidyne Entegra-equipped Cirrus aircraft. The upgrade includes Avidyne’s new DFC90 Digital Autopilot, an Entegra PFD hardware and Release 8 software upgrade, two new WAAS-capable Garmin GNS430Ws with WAAS antennas, and NexAir’s Concierge Service providing free pickup […]
Unauthorized spins kill pilot
This December 2008 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: Diamond DA-20C1. Injuries: 1 Fatal. Location: Alamo Lake State Park, Ariz. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: The 18-year-old pilot obtained his private pilot […]
Breaking Through the Clouds
A decade-long effort to produce a documentary on the first women’s national air derby taught Heather Taylor a powerful lesson: Following your dreams isn’t always easy. In fact, she parallels the struggles she had in bringing “Breaking Through the Clouds” to the silver screen to the struggles the 20 women who flew in the first […]
First International Sport Pilot Fly-In
Dan Johnson, president of the Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association, is an expert on Light Sport Aircraft. “Too much fun!” was a common exclamation of my Alaska ultralight friend Mike Jacober. His signature phrase ran through my head as 18 airplanes, mostly LSA, arrived at the Freeport, Bahamas, airport for the first International Sport Pilot Fly-in […]
Hawker Beechcraft to stay in Kansas
Hawker Beechcraft Corp. has reached an agreement with the State of Kansas that “significantly incentivizes the company to maintain its presence in Wichita over the next 10 years,” according to company officials. The state’s incentive package requires Hawker Beechcraft to maintain its current product lines in Wichita and retain at least 4,000 jobs over the […]
First Flight of FAA-conforming HondaJet
Honda Aircraft Co. has successfully completed the first flight of its FAA-conforming HondaJet light business jet. The first conforming HondaJet lifted off yesterday, Dec. 20, at 15:31 EST from Honda Aircraft Co.’s world headquarters facility at the Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO) in Greensboro, North Carolina. The HondaJet remained aloft for 51 minutes, during which […]
Sporty’s spots top trends for 2010
Sporty’s has issued a Trends Report for 2010, highlighting the top trends of the year. Topping the list: the iPad. Pilots were early adopters of the Internet, laptops and GPS so it makes sense that they feel totally comfortable with technology, Sporty’s President Michael Wolf notes. Lightweight and compact, the iPad was built for cockpit […]
Congress approves yet another FAA reauthorization extension
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The FAA stays in business with another three-month authorization extension after the Senate passed the bill during its weekend session. The House had passed the extension Dec. 2. This is the 17th extension for the FAA, a record number for any government agency. The agency has not had full reauthorization since 2007. […]
GA terminal opens at DFW in time for Super Bowl
With about seven weeks before the Super Bowl is played here, Dallas/Fort Worth Airport (DFW) took the wraps off of its new corporate aviation terminal, according to a story in the Fort Worth Star Telegram. The airport spent $3 million renovating an old American Eagle terminal closed in 2005, according to the story, which notes […]