In a special evening program on Jan. 28 at The Museum of Flight in Seattle, Dr. Tom D. Crouch, the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum Senior Curator of the Division of Aeronautics, will discuss his 2009 book, “Lighter Than Air-An Illustrated History of Airships and Balloons.” The 7 p.m. presentation chronicles lighter-than-air flight […]
Elliott Aviation earns FAA nod for digital flight data recorder
Elliott Aviation has received Supplemental Type Certification (STC) for the installation of a Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR) in a Beechjet 400/400A and a Hawker 400XP. The certification aircraft, a Beechjet 400, also received a new Hawker 400XP interior and fresh paint at Elliott Aviation’s aircraft refurbishment center at Quad Cities International Airport (MLI) in […]
Fatigue fracture leads to off-airport landing
This January 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: Piper Cherokee. Location: York, S.C. Injuries: 2 Minor. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The airplane was climbing through 4,000 feet when it began […]
The demise of 100LL is no surprise
At the recent AOPA Aviation Summit, several industry leaders made the startling comment that lead in avgas is going away. Well, duh, what do you think I have been saying for the last 20 years? The comments fall into three general areas: The first is the gloom and doom group that feel that it is […]
General aviation steps in to help Haiti
Bahamas Habitat’s aviation relief operation is up and running to Haiti, according to officials. “Sunday (Jan. 17) was our third day of airlift operations into the outlying airports around Port-Au-Prince and we delivered a lot of medical supplies and evacuated 27 more people today,” reported John Armstrong, president. Steve Merritt, the treasurer and chief pilot […]
Bendix/King urgent safety bulletin released
Honeywell has released an urgent safety bulletin, noting that updates for some Bendix/King databases contained incorrect information. The bulletin concerns databases for KLN 35A, KLN 88, KLN 89, KLN 89B, KLN 90, KLN 90A, KLN90B, KLN 94, KLX 100, KLX 135, KLX 135A, and KLN 900. According to officials with parent company Honeywell, after the […]
Wildlife hazard assessments in works for GA
The FAA is developing a program to conduct Wildlife Hazard Assessments at approximately 2,000 general aviation airports. The FAA expects this program to begin later this year, in a phased-in approach that will take several years to complete because of the large number of assessments required. The FAA will make AIP funding available for these […]
TSA adds gateway airports for Olympics
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has added gateway airports for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games. In addition to the three gateway airports announced previously, Boise Airport (BOI), Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO) and Spokane International Airport (GEG), the following are now gateway airports: Bedford Hanscom Airport (BED), Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW), Dallas Love Field […]
Belite to debut two new models at Sebring
Belite Aircraft will unveil two new versions based on its existing Belite 254 FAR Part 103 compliant ultralight aircraft at the annual US Sport Aviation Expo in Sebring, Florida, Jan. 21-24: The new Trike and Superlite models. “Many existing pilots don’t have the tailwheel skills, so the Trike solves the problem and opens up another […]