SHORT FINAL By DEBORAH McFARLAND Like many aviators, I spend some of my free time cruising various aviation forums, and from past experience, I have learned to take what I read with a grain of salt. Recently, however, it has been kind of difficult to ignore some of the nonsense that makes its way to […]
Going after Joe Six-Pack
LETTER TO THE EDITOR Re: Ben Sclair’s Touch & Go column, “Let’s attract the money,” in the April 3 issue: Though I find much of what you say accurate, I don’t think it entirely covers or tenders a plan to fix the problems. As a longtime stakeholder, airport and flight school owner/operator, providing a number […]
Are controllers dead tired?
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Controller fatigue and on-the-job training are growing problems for air traffic control, according to a report recently issued by the Assistant Inspector General at the Department of Transportation. The FAA and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association have been at odds for several years since the two have been unable to get […]
Ninety-Nines create Cruse scholarship
The Ninety-Nines have established a memorial scholarship in the name of Vicki Cruse, International Aerobatic Club president, who died Aug. 22 when her single-seat Zivko Edge 540 crashed during a training session for the World Aerobatic Championships. The Vicki Cruse Memorial Scholarship, which will be administered through the Ninety-Nines’ Amelia Earhart Memorial Scholarship Fund, will […]
9/11: We remember
Growing the next generation
GUEST EDITORIAL By JAMAIL LARKINS We all remember our first flight — the feeling of seeing the world from a completely different perspective, the freedom of controlling an aircraft through the three dimensions of flight, the opportunity to make the world a smaller place by expanding our realm of possibilities. No matter what aspect of […]
Oil analysis saved the day
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Re: Paul McBride’s column, “TBO: 2,000 hour or 12 years,” in the June 23 issue: This is absolutely the best article I have ever seen on the subject. I started oil analysis every 25 hours the day I bought my used C-180. The original engine (which had a “log cabin overhaul” […]
NBAA gears up for convention
NBAA’s 62nd Annual Meeting & Convention (NBAA2009) kicks off next month in Orlando, Florida. The convention, known as one of the largest in aviation, will host nearly 1,000 exhibitors in Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center Oct. 20-22, NBAA officials noted. More than aircraft will be on static display at Orlando Executive Airport (ORL). A variety […]
J-3 VG kit improved
Micro Aerodynamics has enlarged its micro vortex generator kit for the J-3, J-4, J-5 and PA-11 to include the horizontal stabilizer. The complete kit with FAA STC approval, which sells for $695 plus shipping and handling, reduces the J-3 stall speed to 23 mph, according to company officials. The addition of the 24 vortex generators […]