The Women Soaring Pilots Association (WSPA) will hold its 34th Annual Women Soaring Seminar in Reno, Nevada, July 18-23. Members from Europe and across the United States will meet for a week-long seminar on cross-country soaring and SSA Badge work. Included will be lectures, dual flights, lead and follow cross-country flights and dry lake landouts, […]
Failure to follow checklist leads to power failure
This March 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: Beech Bonanza. Injuries: 1 Minor. Location: San Diego, Calif. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot had leaned the mixture during cruise flight […]
Debates must continue to find solutions to aviation’s upcoming technical challenges
I recently received a letter, “Is global warming debate over?”, from Peter Mortensen criticizing one of my previous columns. I appreciated his letter and he made several valid points. Letters, even critical ones, ensure that we stay centered and help us ensure that what we write is valid and can stand up to scrutiny. However, […]
More memories from ‘Nine Lives’
Recently I’ve been reading a book by Malvern (Mal) Gross titled “Nine Lives – Adventures of a Lucky Pilot.” (See the first part of the review here.) Gross started his career as a CPA and during his many years he set world records in his Cessna 210, headed up a couple of national and international […]
EPA orders studies on lead pollution around airports
As reported in the March 15, 2010 issue of AVWeb: The Environmental Protection Agency continues to go through administrative motions suggesting it’s serious about removing lead from avgas. Earlier this month, the agency sent a draft endangerment finding to the White House as part of its proposed action to address a petition from Friends of […]
Epic Air assets up for bid
Phillip Friedman, CEO of Harlow Aerostructures of Wichita, is vying to buy the assets of bankrupt aircraft developer Epic Air, according to a report at Aviation International News, which notes an auction for Epic’s assets is slated for March 26. Read Matt Thurber’s full report here.
Wichita Police Department recognizes Mid-Continent Instruments
The Wichita Police Department’s Air Section has recognized Mid-Continent Instruments’ excellent customer service with the WPD Certificate of Appreciation. Lt. Paul Shields and David Fry, director of maintenance, presented Mid-Continent Instruments President and CEO Todd Winter with the award recently. According to police department officials, Mid-Continent literally helped keep the Air Section’s 2003 MD500E Light […]
FreeFlight WAAS GPS Sensor tapped for ADS-B testing
FreeFlight Systems’ 1203 WAAS GPS receiver has been selected by the FAA as part of the official ADS-B testing in Alaska. It will join its sister product, the 1201 WAAS GPS receiver, which has been successfully used in Alaska since 2003 as part of the FAA Capstone Program, according to officials with the Waco, Texas-based […]
Flight Design debuts CTLS Lite
Hearing concerns over increasing prices and decreasing payloads in Light Sport Aircraft, Flight Design has created the new CTLS Lite, which lowers the price and substantially raises payload. “We hear about more and more interest for a lighter airplane, but one that costs less and carries more,” explained Flight Design CEO Matthias Betsch. “Now, based […]