Shipments of every type of general aviation airplane increased in 2006, according to the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, which is dubbing 2006 a “banner year” for GA. The strong numbers have led to another record high in industry billings, reaching $18.8 billion, a 24% increase over 2005. Year-end, worldwide shipments of general aviation airplanes totaled […]
the buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
“They are attempting an end-around Congress to put the world’s safest, most efficient and largest air traffic control system into the hands of airline barons who’ve flown their own businesses into bankruptcy.” — AOPA President Phil Boyer on user fees “Caution: Cape does not enable user to fly.” — Warning label on Batman Halloween costume […]
It don’t come easy: A coveted ticket is hard earned
I did it. I finally obtained my Multiengine Commercial rating. If it is true that “getting there is half the fun,” then I had a whole lot of fun. My multiengine odyssey began just over two years ago, when I saved up $4,000 for the rating. The first challenge was finding an ME instructor. You […]
AN OPEN LETTER TO DIAMOND’S CHRISTIAN DRIES ABOUT THE D-JET
I recently read the Nov. 3, 2006 issue of General Aviation News with the article “In a class of its own” by Janice Wood about your D-JET. Although your statements in the article may be well targeted (as the D-Jet may be) at the less experienced, casual pilot who nevertheless wants to fly a jet, […]
LEGAL DEFENSE FUND CREATED FOR CFI
This is the case of a flight instructor, Paul Preziose, who is being sued by the owner of an Oregon skydiving operation. Over a long period of time, Mr. Preziose observed a pattern of rule infractions and threats to safety at the Hobby Field Airport in Creswell from the operations of the skydivers. Mr. Preziose […]
AIRPORTS BEWARE
Remember the relief we felt within the aviation community back in 1998 when the state of Washington passed a law requiring all communities to develop zones to protect airports from encroachment by incompatible development? Here is a big red flag, folks. You had better check what your local governments have done, because we found that […]
A SO-CALLED P-38
As a World War II Tac Recon pilot with the 64th TRG, 9th AF, ETO, I caught the misidentification of the so-called P-38 that Bill Lear Jr. was flying on page 46 of your Jan. 19 issue (Art Report: “Bill Lear and surplus WWII aircraft — what’s the connection?”). No gun ports on the nose, […]
IN SEARCH OF A BALANCED REPORT
Several months ago you did an article on the Symphony 160 (Symphony 160: The next generation trainer, July 7, 2006). I meant to write this back then, but it slipped my mind until reading about the company’s bankruptcy a few days ago (Bankrupt: Tiger and Symphony close doors, Feb. 2). I owned Symphony #29 (out […]
THE ART OF POLITICS
In reading the article by Charles Spence in the Jan. 5 issue concerning EPA’s fuel rules (“Capital Comments: The latest on NAVAIDS, user fees and fuel rules”), I am reminded of a comment by the famous film comedian of the 1930s and 1940s, Groucho Marx. He said of government, “Politics is the art of seeking […]