A proposed hike in the excise tax for aircraft in Washington State would hurt pilots, the aviation industry, and ultimately the state economy, officials with the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association say. A report at AOPA.org notes: “House Bill 3176 would impose a .5% annual excise tax “for the privilege of using any aircraft in […]
PMA8000B Silver Edition debuts
PS Engineering, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, has unveiled a “host of improvements” to its flagship audio panel, the PMA8000B, according to company officials. New for the Silver Edition device are: Monitor Mode, Multiple Music Muting Modes, user-selectable Telephone sidetone, and selectable Music for the pilot while in ISO mode. “As is our custom […]
International Seaplane Fly-In slated
If you’re planning to attend the 37th Annual International Seaplane Fly-In, slated for Sept. 9-12 at Moosehead Lake in Greenville, Maine, organizers say make your plans now. The fly-in is sponsored by the International Seaplane Fly-In Association. The non-profit organization’s main focus is to provide aviation education (and a whole lot of fun) to participants […]
Managing fatigue
Aviation insurance company USAIG and Alertness Solutions have introduced the first science-based fatigue and alertness management solution that is designed to reduce risk for aviation professionals. The Z-Coach Game Plan is web-based and available 24/7. It focuses on the individual, providing practical tools for each person to understand and manage their personal fatigue thresholds and […]
New flight school opens at Flabob Airport
Dave Rogers, CFII, has moved his flight training operation to Flabob Airport (RIR) in Riverside, Calif. He brought six aircraft with him, including a pair of Skyhawks, a Skylane, a Comanche, Apache and a 415C Ercoupe LSA. Rogers Aviation is open seven days a week, normally from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with other times […]
Wash your plane without water
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 […]