Everyone is up in arms about user fees. Where were you and others when the Flight Service System was being contracted out? That was the first step to to user fees. It seems no one wants to admit that, but all of you cannot be so blind as to see where this is all heading. After two […]
A CALL TO ARMS
During a recent Senate vote, the senator from Washington, Maria Cantwell, chose to vote with the airlines, and against the rest of aviation. It was a narrow vote — 11 to 12 — so her vote had a significant impact and could have easily turned the tide on this one. The battle is not over, […]
A READER REACTS
A few days ago as we were taxiing the Xenon back to the hangar an elderly gentleman was following us in his truck and waving madly. As soon as the prop stopped he was at our side. “Wow I just read all about the Xenon in General Aviation News,” he exclaimed. He could not believe his luck that […]
STEPHEN HAWKING CONFUSED?
Stephen Hawking was never “briefly free of the gravity normally limiting his motions.” (When boundaries flew away: Slipping the surly bonds of gravity, May 18 issue). In the article it states that, “Although he was weightless for about a minute, actually in free-fall…” In free-fall he was being accelerated toward the earth with the full force […]
WHO WERE THE FIRSTSMOKE JUMPERS?
I am writing in response to the letter from John Townsley in the May 4 edition (Tough pilots, tough planes, tough flying). John’s letter disputes a comment in your article on the Museum of Mountain Flying (Tough planes, tough pilots, tough flying: Montana Mountain Flying Museum showcases the best of aviation in the Big Sky […]
TOP 10 FLYING MOVIES
Yuk, not “Top Gun” (“Top Gun” takes top honors, but is it really the greatest aviation movie of all time? May 18 issue). Here’s my list of flying films that often get overlooked in top 10 lists; some have nutritional value, some are amazing only because they are in color, and some have pretty interesting […]
Why airplanes are better than women
You may have heard the jokes about “Why airplanes are better than women.” George Artigas from Pembroke Pines, Fla., has a shirt that outlines the argument and what better place to wear it than at an air show like Sun ‘n Fun? According to Artigas, the shirt does generate chuckles from some people, but caused […]
Whale of a ride
Who would be willing to pay $84,000 for an airplane trip from Chicago to Tacoma, Wash.? The folks at the Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma would, when the passenger is a beluga whale calf. The whale was flown aboard a chartered Air Force DC-8. “The animal was in a cradle made of fiberglass and reinforced […]
FAA moves to consolidate air traffic control facilities: But faces opposition from controllers, elected officials
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Should air traffic control facilities be consolidated? The FAA thinks so, but the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) says it is dangerous the way the FAA is doing it — and therein lies another struggle. NATCA says it is not opposed to consolidation “”where it makes sense.”” The FAA’s approach, declares […]