WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Senate continued to dawdle on appropriation bills, forcing another extension of the FAA’s temporary authorization to Dec. 31, 2007. In late October, the Senate passed a single provision of the FAA Authorization Act, the Essential Air Service (EAS) program. By voice vote the House approved an amended version of the bill […]
Which valve is safe to use?
QUESTION: I have a question on my IGO-540-A1A, an engine with a rated RPM of 3,400. When it comes time for an overhaul, S.I. 1037K calls for intake valve LW-12949. This valve is prohibited from use in an HIO-360-D1A, an engine with a rated RPM of 3,200 by S.I. 1280C. The use of this valve […]
What effect does ethanol have on airplanes?
“”What is the effect of having mixed 10% ethanol with avgas and/or ethanol-free mogas on two or three occasions?”” asks reader Ken Rice. “”The place where I bought ethanol-free mogas lied to us about the change to 10% ethanol. I only found out about it when I asked the tanker driver.”” “”What is the effect […]
Mid-air collision kills New Jersey pilot
The inadequate visual lookout of the pilots in both airplanes, resulting in a midair collision during cruise flight.
Nolan Herndon, Doolittle Raid navigator, dies at 88
Nolan A. Herndon, a member of the Doolittle Raiders who was held captive in, then escaped from, the Soviet Union after participating in the famous bombing raid on Japan, died of pneumonia Oct. 7 at the age of 88. He was the last survivor among the three Doolittle Raiders from South Carolina. Herndon was a […]
Flying Tiger ‘Tex’ Hill dies
Brig. Gen. David Lee “Tex” Hill was exactly the sort of man we describe as a living legend. He died Oct. 11 at the age of 92, very much a legend in his own time and, doubtless, for a long time to come. He was affable, candid, endowed of a great sense of humor, a […]
TFR-busters off the hook
Some of the pilots heading for the annual Hagerstown Fly-In in Maryland in antique airplanes, most without radios, found themselves in unexpected trouble Oct. 7. A dozen flew into airspace they didn’t know had been restricted for a visit by President Bush to a nearby memorial service for firefighters, according to the FAA. Four were […]
Sturgell nominated as FAA administrator
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 […]