After 36 years in the House of Representatives, Rep. James Oberstar (D-Minn.) went down to defeat and his congressional seat will be taken over by a former airline pilot, an event that has members of Washington’s general aviation community shaking their heads in disbelief. A Democrat, he was swept away by what he termed “a […]
Fight against 3rd class medical gains momentum
David Wartofsky, the controversial owner/operator of Potomac Airfield, closest of the Maryland 3 airports to downtown Washington D.C., has filed a formal petition with the Secretary of Transportation (FAA 2009-0481), and the Transportation Committee, proposing to replace FAA’s 3rd class medical with a driver’s license for private-use aircraft under 6,000 lbs. “The day you lose […]
Study shows FAA delays and inconsistencies inflate costs and slow production
Irregular procedures, delays, and consistency problems in FAA’s programs to certify aircraft, aviation equipment and systems can inflate costs, lose production time, and put U.S. firms at a competitive disadvantage, according to a study by the Government Accountability Office (GAO). The study says there is a lack of uniform standards and evaluation criteria with FAA […]
Things are looking up, say the folks at Twin Commander
Everyone is looking for signs that the U.S. general aviation industry has weathered the worst of the worldwide economic malaise and finally is moving into recovery mode. That certainly was the topic that commanded most conversations at the recent National Business Aviation Association Convention in Atlanta. One company that says things are turning around is […]
Air Force museum director to retire
Air Force Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Charles D. Metcalf will retire as director of the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force effective Dec. 31. Metcalf will retire after 14 years as the museum’s director. Prior to joining the museum, he served for nearly 36 years on active duty in a variety of financial management and […]
Collaboration between controllers, FAA leads to NextGen progress
Collaborative efforts between the FAA and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) has led to better solutions for the NextGen air traffic control system, according to NATCA President Paul Rinaldi, who credits the leadership of FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt with this new way of working together. The current FAA leadership, Rinaldi said at a […]
WAI president to receive Brewer Trophy
Dr. Peggy Chabrian, president and founder of Women In Aviation International, will receive the Frank G. Brewer Trophy for Aviation Education from the National Aeronautic Association. The award is presented annually for significant contributions of enduring value to aerospace education in the United States. The citation for Chabrian’s award reads, “A longtime aviation enthusiast and […]
Film buffs flock to Dayton
This weekend, the National Aviation Hall of Fame (NAHF) hosts the Third Annual Reel Stuff Film Festival of Aviation in Dayton, Ohio. Five screenings over two days will celebrate the diverse and colorful world of aviation as depicted through invited independent documentaries, a feature film, and a new public television series. Each project will be […]
President George W. Bush featured speaker at Veterans Day Tribute
President George W. Bush will speak during a Veterans Day Tribute at 1:30 p.m. on Nov. 11 at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, Ohio. The event will coincide with the release of his memoir, “Decision Points,” by Crown Publishers on Nov. 9. During the event at the museum, Bush will […]