WASHINGTON — FAA chief Randy Babbitt braved snow, ice and foggy conditions at North Pole International Airport to give Santa Claus and his sleigh a thumbs-up for the jolly old pilot’s traditional round-the-world Christmas Eve mission. During a 90-minute check ride, Babbitt made sure Santa can properly execute the demanding maneuvers and precision rooftop landings […]
Spokane FBO becomes North Pole
About 60 underprivileged children flew to the North Pole last week for an evening of enchantment put on in part by XN Air at Spokane International Airport (GEG) in Washington state. The Phillips 66 Aviation dealer transformed its hangar into the North Pole for some wide-eyed kids who flew in on a special Alaska Airlines […]
Aircraft Spruce offers live chat online customer service
Aircraft Spruce & Specialty Co. now offers an online Live Chat service that allows customers to get real-time responses to their questions. Log on to the Aircraft Spruce website, click on Live Chat, and then select Product Support, Avionics, International Sales, Website Support, or Customer Service, and a representative will be available for assistance. For more […]
Miller introduces ArcStation
Miller Electric Mfg. Co. introduces ArcStation, a workstation designed specifically for welding and metalworking. ArcStation models start at $352 and are customized from there. Welders choose an approximately 30- x 30-in. or 30- x 60-in. table, a 3/16- or 3/8-in. tabletop, and customize it with optional accessories, including an X-Pattern tabeltop, X-Clamps, tool chest, weld […]
Spatial disorientation, structural overload kills two
This December 2007 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: Cessna 210. Location: Bloomfield, Ky. Injuries: 2 Fatal. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: The private pilot’s logbook showed he had logged 1,650 hours, […]
California pilots fight power plant next to C83
Some pilots are trying to convince the California Energy Commission that power plants and pilots don’t mix. The pilots are opposed to the construction of a gas-fired power plant near the Byron Airport (C83) in Alameda County east of San Francisco. Pilots are worried that the emissions coming from the proposed smoke stack, which will […]
Winter Haven invests in GIF
While municipalities across the nation struggle with debilitating fiscal woes, record unemployment, and depressed property values, Winter Haven, Florida, has taken an unexpected but welcome turn. This small, central Florida city has adopted a decidedly pro-aviation stance that has led to the investment of millions of dollars into Gilbert Field (GIF), and the decision to […]
Barnhart receives Sorenson award
Kurt Barnhart, professor and head of Kansas State University’s Department of Aviation, was awarded the Frank E. Sorenson Award for 2009 by the University Aviation Association. The Sorenson Award was presented at the UAA Fall Education Conference Awards Banquet in Wichita, Kan. The Sorenson Professional Educator Award is presented to professional educators who have made […]
Zenith & AMD 601XL under intense scrutiny
SPLOG By DAN JOHNSON Bad as in-flight break-up accidents are, many opinions blur the big picture. Last spring NTSB recommended FAA “ground the fleet,” so to say, of Zenith Air and AMD’s CH-601 aircraft. FAA chose further study. When additional CH-601s became involved, media outlets and other organizations jumped on the bandwagon. Let’s review: The […]