“Not many companies can say that they have been in business for 80 years, especially not many aviation companies,” noted Cessna President and CEO Jack Pelton when we sat down with him at EAA AirVenture in 2006. “But Cessna can. 2007 is our 80th anniversary.” Pelton then quickly noted that the company has been marking […]
Newest advances hit the airwaves
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), in partnership with the National Institute of Aerospace (NIA), has launched a National Public Radio program called “Discovery Now” to explore the newest advances from NASA and the aerospace community. The 90-second radio segments air on National Public Radio’s WHRV 89.5 FM, during its prime-time weekday news […]
Bill introduced to protect Montana backcountry strips
Montana Congressman Denny Rehberg (R) has introduced legislation to protect the state’s backcountry airstrips. The Backcountry Landing Strip Access Act would prohibit the federal government from closing or otherwise rendering inoperable aircraft landing strips located on federal lands. Montana relies on rural airstrips to provide access to the backcountry for firefighting, emergency relief, research and […]
Women in Aviatin slated to meet at Disney World
Before you can plan your future, you need to imagine it. That’s why “Imagining Your Future” is the theme of this year’s Women in Aviation Conference. The 18th annual event is slated for Feb. 15-17 at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Attendees will be immersed in the tactics and strategies necessary […]
DID YOU KNOW?
When the aviation industry took a downturn, Cessna built pizza pans for Pizza Hut (the restaurant chain was founded in Wichita). The company also built furniture for a time, and during World War II sewed uniforms in addition to building aircraft. The number of Cessna employees worldwide is 13,655. Cessna didn’t just build piston-powered aircraft. […]
Got an older airplane: Rumors abound that maintentance shops refuse to work on them
Reports on the Internet and scuttlebutt at airports suggest that some maintenance shops are refusing to work on airplanes that are 18 years old or more. The reason, these reports say, is that aircraft and parts manufacturers are immune from liability suits once their products reach the age of 18, or 18 years after a […]
Cirrus adds safety checklist: ‘Risk Assessment Tool’ includes self-assessment
Cirrus Design Corp. has upgraded the Avidyne Entegra Multi-Function Displays in its SR20 and SR22 aircraft to include a safety checklist. Similar to electronic checklists found on airliners, the MFD displays three pages of information and queries for the pilot when the plane is started. Questions range from performance issues to a self-assessment for the […]
CarterGyro achieves vertical takefoff
During flight testing of a new gyro prototype just before the New Year, Carter Aviation Technologies test pilot George Mitchell executed several vertical takeoffs. The aircraft was able to jump more than 150 feet straight up into the air, according to Mitchell. “It was phenomenal,” he said, “but it took a little getting used to. […]
Bankrupt: Tiger and Symphony close doors
The end of January was not a good one for two GA manufacturers. The companies, Tiger Aircraft and Symphony Aircraft Industries, entered bankruptcy. Both companies have been shut down and their assets will be liquidated to pay off creditors. Tiger Aircraft, based in Martinsburg, W.Va., filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy Jan. 16. The company listed […]