Q: In my pilot club meeting last month, a pilot complained of spark plug fouling before takeoff in our Grumman Cheetah with 150-hp Lycoming. I suggested that after starting the engine, and before taxiing, she lean the mixture, keep it lean while taxiing and put on full rich for run-up. However, if there is a […]
Plane lands on Massachusetts freeway
The pilot of a Piper Cherokee who made an emergency landing on southbound Interstate 495 near Mansfield, Mass., Sept. 1 had been practicing stalls and could not restart the plane’s engine, a spokesman for the FAA was quoted in a story in The Boston Globe. The story reports: “The Cherokee, piloted by Matthew Kleindienst, 24, […]
Bahamas goes after the GA market
The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Aviation is targeting the multi-billion general aviation/private plane market, recently rolling out the red carpet to lavishly pamper key aviation executives, according The Bahamas Weekly. A four day/three night familiarization tour of the Bahamas attracted pilots, and representatives from aviation clubs, associations, schools, FBOs and the Aircraft Owners and […]
Go ahead and pull that chute
London Aviation Underwriters now waives the entire deductible for Cirrus SR20 and SR22 pilots who deploy the parachute to save their lives. According to a story by Alton K. Marsh at AOPA.org, the insurance company commonly waives deductibles if an aircraft is destroyed. The story notes: “The offer simply formalizes that situation.”
Vintage DER application checklist available
A new checklist created by the EAA and the FAA will help with the application process for those interested in being apopinted a Vintage Designated Engineering Representative (VDER). The VDER designation, announced at AirVenture this year, will allow individuals with demonstrated expertise of an entire vintage airplane the “holistic” authority to approve engineering data on […]
Time to end TFRs
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: I totally agree that it is time to end TFRs. It is time general aviation and its airports are removed from the ridiculous so-called security rules that have been imposed. Also, there is no need for any more restrictions placed on GA aircraft and passengers departing and entering the USA than […]
CubCrafters creates ‘certified’ sales centers
CubCrafters recently overhauled its distribution network, creating the Certified Sales Center program. The program is the worldwide network of independent CubCrafters aircraft resellers. “Our goals for the new program are to provide improved product knowledge and customer support through our sales network, and increase access to demo aircraft in local markets,” said Randy Lervold, general […]
Garmin unveils new autopilot interface
Garmin has unveiled the GAD 43, a new adapter unit that offers enhanced autopilot interface capabilities for the G500 and G600 flight display systems, allowing an attitude and heading reference system (AHRS) to provide attitude information to selected autopilots in place of an attitude direction indicator (ADI) or remote vertical gyro (VG). Providing analog attitude […]
Tempest Volare releases safety video
Tempest Volare has released a new video that demonstrates the safety and quality benefits of its new solid epoxy float. According to company officials, more than 50% of all FAA service difficulty reports on carburetors are related to float damage or failure. “We view this new float as not only a product improvement but an […]