A series of conflicting reports published Dec. 16 and 17 tell of a Britten-Norman Islander that crashed the previous day near the Turks & Caicos Islands with 11 or 12 people aboard. Apparently it crashed during the afternoon of Dec. 15. The Reuters and Associated Press wire service reports raised numerous questions about the flight, […]
New TSA rules affect many GA pilots
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association reported on Dec. 16 that the Transportation Security Administration has issued a directive requiring background checks for general aviation pilots based at airports served by airlines, starting next year. Pilots who pass the background check will receive an ID badge allowing them access to the airport where they are […]
LaHood to be Secretary of Transportation
Rep. Ray LaHood (R-Ill.) has accepted an offer to become President-elect Barack Obama’s transportation secretary and the nomination will be made official in coming days, two senior Democratic officials told The Washington Post in time for its Dec. 18 editions. LaHood is retiring from the House of Representatives after representing a rural Illinois district in […]
WAAS GPS Landing System certified
CMC Electronics‘ IntegriFlight CMA-5024 GPS receiver was certified recently by the FAA and Transport Canada to TSO-C145b Beta-3 and TSO-146 Delta-4. The C145 Beta-3 is the most stringent category for Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) navigation receivers and the C146 Delta-4 category allows these receivers to provide precision approach guidance signals to the autopilot and […]
Rolls-Royce marks 50-year partnership with scholarship
Rolls-Royce marked 50 years of partnership with Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. by establishing a 50th Anniversary Partnership Scholarship Program for eligible children of Gulfstream employees. Rolls-Royce will provide an annual stipend of $1,500 for each of the winners’ four years of college. The program is offered through the National Merit Scholarship Program, an annual academic competition […]
Get high definition radar
Weather Underground, an online weather service, now has free high definition radar maps available on its flagship website WunderGround.com. The data originates from Terminal Doppler Weather Radar systems that the FAA has in place for 45 airports across the U.S. to enable air traffic control to help airplanes come and go safely. This high-resolution data […]
Maintenance certification program gets FAA nod
SAE Institute‘s Aviation Maintenance Fundamentals (AMF) Certification Preparation and Technical Refresher Training Course has been approved by the FAA for inspection authorization renewal and FAA Aviation Maintenance Technician Awards credit. The course is part of the SAE Institute/Professional Aviation Maintenance Association‘s (PAMA) certifications program. It can be tailored to provide up to 24 hours of […]
Test prep software at Aircraft Spruce
Powerful Learning software is now available at Aircraft Spruce. The software has all of the tools you will need for your private pilot flight test and FAA knowledge test (airplane only). according to Aircraft Spruce officials. The software includes an integrated aviation library that can be updated online. Multiple versions are available, including Private Pilot, […]
Hawker Beechcraft donates $50,000 to Wichita Children’s Home
Hawker Beechcraft donated $50,000 to the Wichita Children’s Home during a special ceremony held on Dec. 17. Hawker Chairman and CEO Jim Schuster presented the check to Sarah Robinson, Executive Director of the Wichita Children’s Home, continuing a tradition of corporate giving during the Christmas season. The company and its employees have donated nearly $500,000 […]