The aviation gene is particularly strong in some families. The Boyd family from Washington state is a prime example. On Dec. 16, 2010, Jason Boyd, 19, passed his private pilot check ride. He’s the second member of his family to earn his wings through the professional pilot program at Clover Park Technical College in Lakewood, […]
Prediction 2011 – Students soar
2011 will be an amazing year for General Aviation. The following is one of a series of absurd (unless they come to fruition) predictions. The quotes are manufactured (by me) and the only thing standing in the way of making these a reality is the cajones to make it so. Student pilot retention rate soars […]
Strong survive, even thrive in another slow year
Dan Johnson, president of the Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association, is an expert on Light Sport Aircraft. Accompanying this post is our customary chart showing market share of the entire fleet of LSA. We’ve collected all market reports to make reviewing them easier. Here’s a look-back with emphasis on results only for 2010: With 83% of […]
DTC DUAT and Seattle Avionics introduce new flight planner
DTC DUAT and Seattle Avionics, Inc. have unveiled the new DUAT Voyager, a 100% free flight planner. While it downloads weather and TFR information from the Internet, it is not an Internet-based flight planner, and is not subject to the FlightPrep patent, according to Seattle Avionics officials. FlightPrep, which received a patent on its Internet-based […]
Cirrus gets FAA nod on new safety features
Cirrus Aircraft has received FAA approval and has begun delivery of new aircraft equipped with its latest safety and pilot assistance features: Perspective Electronic Stability and Protection (Perspective ESP) and Hypoxia Recognition and Automatic Descent Mode. “Just as the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System brought the equivalent benefit of automotive airbags to general aviation, Perspective ESP […]
Lycoming wins Shingo Prize
Lycoming Engines has been awarded the Shingo Prize for Operational Excellence, making it one of only two in history to achieve the honor at the business-wide “enterprise” level. Dubbed the Nobel Prize for manufacturing by Business Week magazine, The Shingo Prize for Operational Excellence is awarded annually by the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business […]
Aircraft enhancement business wins lawsuit
A Waller County, Texas, district court has determined that D’Shannon Products, Ltd. is the sole and rightful owner of a wide variety of upgrades for Beechcraft piston engine aircraft. The court also awarded D’Shannon and its owners $1,296,908 from prior holders of various Beechcraft upgrade rights for unpaid commissions, expenses and attorneys’ fees. “This judgment […]
$500 million more may be needed for ATC upgrade
The FAA may need to spend $500 million more to complete an air-traffic upgrade by Lockheed Martin Co. that is behind schedule and exceeding costs, according to a report at Bloomberg.com, which quotes the Department of Transportation’s Inspector General Calvin Scovel as saying the En Route Automation Modernization project will take as many as six […]
Youngsters flying high
Even the youngest flying aces can get their official pilot’s license at this year’s Noon Year’s Eve celebration at the Hiller Aviation Museum in San Carlos, Calif., which will include live stage entertainment, bounce houses, face painting, crafts and access to full-sized aircraft. And, kids can get a photo personalized pilot ID card. “The kids […]