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 […]
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 […]