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: Beechcraft Premier. Injuries: None. Location: Lewistown, Mo. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: Prior to departure, the pilot was informed that it had been […]
For the good of the order
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. Patrick Henry, a man who knew a thing or two about standing up when the chips were down, famously spoke the words, “United we stand, divided we fall.” He […]
Wasting tax dollars on ethanol
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. You know that your political agenda is in trouble when the Tea Party movement agrees […]
FlightPrep to enforce its flight planning patent
FlightPrep, an Oregon company that received a patent for online flight planning, has apparently started charging royalty fees to other services doing the same thing, according to a report at AVweb.com, which notes that the result may be that some of the most popular services will shut down rather than pay the fees or try […]
Growing GA in China
As the China Air Show at Zhuhai wowed the crowds, another type of revolution in Chinese aviation was taking place at the western end of the airfield: A ceremony to mark the completion of an FBO and storage/maintenance building. The historic development is a result of a cooperation begun over a year ago by Zhuhai […]
UNT to award first degree in aviation logistics
When Laura Rusnok was 14 years old, her father took her to the American Airlines C.R. Smith Museum. Rusnok saw the museum’s DC-3 and surveyed the multitude of controls for the first time. After seeing a film showing the spirit and courage of the early aviators, she was inspired to fly. A few years later, […]
Know your limits
Knowing your limits is sage advice that applies to everything in life from financial risk to piloting an airplane. But when it comes to aircraft tire wear, it’s all about routine inspection and knowing the facts. Aircraft tires experience wear during taxi, takeoff, and landing. Takeoff generates the most tire wear because the airplane has […]
Kermit Weeks honored by acrobatics society
Fantasy of Flight creator and founder Kermit Weeks was recently honored by the World Acrobatics Society as one of its 2010 Gallery of Legends inductees in the Extreme Sports category. Weeks was tapped for this honor for performance in specialty aerobatic airplanes. Every year WAS selects a GOL recipient in each of seven categories: acrobatics […]
Piper taps two for customer service
Piper Aircraft has promoted two experienced managers to higher positions within the company’s Customer Service organization. Vincent Zarrella has been named director of Customer Service, while Jim Slaton was named senior manager of Parts Sales. Zarrella has nearly 25 years of aircraft support experience, the past eight at Piper in increasingly responsible roles, including his […]