Robert “Bobby” Sturgell has been nominated by the Bush administration to replace Marion Blakey as FAA administrator. He has been serving as acting administrator since Blakey’s departure and was deputy administrator prior to that appointment. None of the general aviation alphabet groups has shown any marked enthusiasm for Sturgell, who is a supporter of user […]
Excel-Jet sues FAA for Sport-Jet crash
Excel-Jet Ltd. has filed suit against the FAA over the crash of the company’s Sport-Jet prototype last June at the Colorado Springs Municipal Airport. In its filing, the Colorado Springs-based company claims air traffic controllers caused the June 22, 2006, crash when the plane was cleared for takeoff behind a de Havilland Dash-8-200 in violation […]
Red Tail Project launches teacher’s kit
If you want to teach children about aviation history, you have to make it interesting. That’s the goal of a new teachers’ kit developed by The Red Tail Project, a not-for-profit group dedicated to preserving the history of the Tuskegee Airmen and to inspiring children today through their story. The Tuskegee Airmen were African-Americans who […]
Copperstate Fly-In
The 35th annual Copperstate Fly-in, held at Casa Grande Municipal Airport (CGZ) in Casa Grande, Ariz., Oct. 25 to 28, attracted hundreds of aircraft ranging from ultralights and classic designs to homebuilts, helicopters and warbirds. Those who sought information or were in the market for anything from a new airplane to new flight planning software […]
Taylorcraft strut AD creates challenges — and opportunities
On July 28, 2007, the left wing of a Taylorcraft BF12-65 seaplane separated from the aircraft about 25 minutes after takeoff. Both the pilot and passenger were killed in the crash. Although the National Transportation Safety Board has not yet ruled on the cause of the crash, during the preliminary investigation it was discovered that […]
Cessna takes next step to acquire Columbia
Cessna has taken the next step toward its acquisition of Columbia Aircraft Manufacturing Corp. of Bend, Ore. On Oct. 23, officials at the bankrupt Columbia revealed that shareholders had entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement with Cessna. The terms of the agreement are consistent with the Sept. 21, 2007, Letter of Intent between the companies, […]
Rent airplanes? Website makes comparison shopping a breeze
Four years ago Chris Archer walked onto the San Carlos Airport (SQL) in northern California with the intent of becoming a pilot. The first step was to find a flight school. It was almost an overwhelming task, he recalled. “I drove up to the airport and there were all these flight schools,” he said. “I […]
FAA says proposed Ferris wheel near Teterboro is too high
The construction of an entertainment complex near Teterboro Airport (TEB) in New Jersey has caught the attention of the FAA because of the height of some of the proposed rides. The amusement park’s intended location is just three miles from the airport and under the approach path to the runways. The developer, Colony Capital, has […]
GA pitches in to help fight Southern California fires
The fires burning in southern California impacted virtually every aspect of aviation. The fires began the weekend of Oct. 20 and grew exponentially when pushed by gale-force Santa Ana winds. Fire officials stated that one of the fires was started by a downed power line and at least one other may have been set deliberately, […]