Senators John Rockefeller (D-W. Va.), and Trent Lott (R-Miss.), both long-time supporters of general aviation, now say they are determined that GA will pay more in fees to support modernization of the air traffic control system. During recent Senate Finance Committee hearings on the FAA reauthorization bill, Rockefeller threatened to restrict GA access to congested […]
Eclipse flies single-engine Concept Jet to Oshkosh
Eclipse Aviation pulled off the most dramatic surprise at this year’s EAA AirVenture, introducing its v-tail, single-engine Concept Jet which, until that moment, had been a carefully-guarded secret. As the company’s Chief Operating Officer, Peg Bilson, introduced the Concept, a curtain dropped revealing a cloud of mist, flashing lights and a mockup. The press corps […]
A little off the top, please: San Diego developer told to reduce height of building near airport
A Southern California development company has until Aug. 25 to reduce the height of a newly constructed building near Montgomery Field Airport (MYF) in San Diego. On June 22 San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders issued a stop-work order to Sunroad Enterprises to remove the top 20 feet of the building — or two floors — […]
Is your airport in danger? Is your airport in danger?
Airports do not close overnight. Usually there is a string of events, often taking place over several years — perhaps decades — that put the existence of an airport in jeopardy. What should you watch out for? Here’s a short list with some suggested solutions. Problem: Lack of an updated Master Plan for the airport […]
P-51s crash at AirVenture
The Friday air race demonstration at EAA Venture came to a tragic ending when two P-51 Mustangs collided during landing. Gerald S. Beck, 58, of Wahpeton, N.D., was killed when his aircraft flipped over. The other pilot, Casey Odegaard, 24, was able to walk away from the accident although his aircraft landed on its nose. […]
Getting the story: Shooting air-to-air
“It’s refreshing to have two pilots on board,” said Dr. H. Jay Bruninga as he walked with GAN publisher Ben Sclair and me onto the ramp at Tacoma Narrows Airport in Washington State. We were going to see the turbine-powered Bonanza that is the photo airplane for Tim Weber Airshows Inc. We were going up […]
It sure beats a day at the office: Air show performer Tim Weber can’t imagine any other career
Air show performer Tim Weber is one of those people who have been lucky enough to find a flying job they love. “I have been doing this 12 years,” he said with a smile during a recent stop in Tacoma, Wash., for a July 4th air show. “It is my full-time job and I can’t […]
Cirrus unveils its Light Sport Aircraft11:03:54 AM Company will’ Cirrus-ize’ FK14 Polaris
When some people learn they can’t have children, they opt to adopt instead. In a sense, that’s what Cirrus Design has done to enter the Light Sport Aircraft market. The Duluth-based aircraft manufacturer plans to enter the LSA market by making modifications to the FK14 Polaris. The design comes from FK Lightplanes in Germany and […]
FAA shrinks the ADIZ
Of all the things she told the crowd during the Meet the Administrator Forum at EAA AirVenture, nothing raised as much of a cheer as the announcement that the FAA is reducing the size of the Washington, D.C., Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). Instead of resembling the head of Mickey Mouse, the newly designed, smaller […]