Aero Cosmetics and WashWax.com have introduced their newest waterless aircraft wash product, the Wash Wax Mop. Designed to increase safety by eliminating the need for ladders, the patent-pending Wash Wax Mop also improves efficiency by saving time and reducing use of the Wash Wax All cleaning product, company officials say. Invented by Brian Phillips, founder […]
Nosewheel strut fails
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: Diamond DA-20. Injuries: None. Location: Spanish Fork, Utah. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: During the initial climb after takeoff, the pilot heard a […]
The parasol era
In a period in American aviation history when the biplane configuration was dominate, there was a slight aberration when the parasol became popular. From the start of the Depression until the mid-1930s, there was a strong spurt of interest that saw about 30 parasol designs certificated for production. With their wings placed above the fuselage, […]
The surprising secret to negotiating a good hangar lease
With the possible exception of that ego-enhanced titan of real estate and self-promotion, Donald Trump, most of us don’t particularly relish the idea of sitting down to hammer out a new contract. We don’t care for the process at the car dealership, we’re skittish in the lawyer’s office where we close on our homes, and […]
Wright ‘B’ Flyer takes flight
Photograph Timothy Gaffney has been busy in San Antonio, documenting the build-up to the March 2 celebration of the 100th anniversary of the first military flight at Fort Sam Houston. The Wright “B” Foundation sent two of its airplanes to participate in the celebrations. Wright “B” Flyer No. 001 took flight yesterday and Gaffney caught […]
Firms ask for compensation for lost business during Obama visit
Owners of several aviation firms in Hawaii say they want the federal government to compensate them $200,000 for lost business during President Barack Obama’s two-week holiday visit to Oahu in December, according to a recent AP report. A temporary no-fly zone was in effect over parts of the island while Obama and his family were […]
Congressmen request bonus depreciation extension for aircraft purchases
U.S. Congressmen Todd Tiahrt (R-Kan.) and Chris Carney (D-Pa.) recently sent a letter to the House Committee on Ways and Means requesting an extension of the current accelerated “bonus” depreciation incentive for aircraft purchases through Dec. 31 and placed in service by Dec. 31, 2011. “We have seen in the past how bonus depreciation is […]
Court says info on tail numbers must be made available
A district court judge for Washington, D.C., has ruled that aircraft tail numbers submitted to the FAA for blockage from distribution to sources outside the FAA under the National Business Aviation Association’s Blocked Aircraft Registration Request (BARR) program must be made available in response to a request under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The […]
New name for FAA magazine
Starting with the March/April 2010 issue, FAA Aviation News is changing its name to FAA Safety Briefing. “We’re changing the name to more accurately reflect the magazine’s mission: Safety,” said John Allen, director, FAA Flight Standards Service. “Briefings are used in health care, in the military, and in aviation, and are essential to get crucial […]