“Prepare yourself.” You can add that phrase to the list of those I do not want to hear in or around an airplane. The mechanic uttered the warning just before he pulled open the hangar door and showed me a Cessna 172 that was heavily damaged by a windstorm that battered the Pacific Northwest on […]
HOW TO PROTECTYOUR AIRPORT
Have anyone of you any concerns about the Yakima Airport in Washington State and the big new office development along the departure end of the flight path? I think the airport manager is more interested in getting revenue for renting the airport property than in what the sound of airplanes will do when the offices […]
FAA EFFICIENCY?
To Charles Spence: I’m sure your Capital Comments column (Fair is fair? FAA, airlines continue blitz for user fees, Nov. 17 issue) went to press before the story by AOPA came out in its internet newsletter on Nov. 24. You know the one where it was pointed out that the FAA had almost $5 billion […]
NEW FORMATA WINNER
I really like the format of the latest General Aviation News and hope that it will continue. 1. The pink pages are no longer all pink. The black print on the pink pages was difficult to read. The black on white is a big improvement. 2. The pink pages are located at the back of […]
the Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
“Although the future of general aviation looks bright, we have not allowed this optimism to make us complacent.” — Pete Bunce, president, GAMA. “There must continue to be robust funding for general aviation, something Congress has repeatedly recognized even when an administration has attempted to slash GA funding.” — Phil Boyer, president, AOPA. “Without question, […]
The latest on NAVAIDS, user fees and fuel rules
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Should the NAVAIDS at airports go unmonitored when the tower is closed? That’s a question the FAA is asking as it proposes leaving certain Instrument Landing Systems (ILS), Localizer Type Directional Aids (LDA), Microwave Landing Systems (MLS), and Non-Directional Beacons (NDB) unmonitored at times when the control tower is not operating. Some […]
And now, the rest of the story: An update on increased levels of copper in oil
After my Nov. 3 column, “”Why are there increased levels of copper in my oil?”” was published, I received some valuable advice from industry experts on the subject. After doing further research, here’s the rest of the story: First of all, the column was on the mark, but I feel I may have been off […]
How importnat is it to preheat an engine?
How important is it to bring up oil temperature before takeoff? So asks Larry Lowenkron, who uses a multi-viscosity oil. How important is it to bring up oil temperature before takeoff? So asks Larry Lowenkron, who uses a multi-viscosity oil. What’s important is not what type of oil you use, but rather the reason for […]
Tuskegee Airmen’s perfect record questioned
The Tuskegee Airmen never lost to enemy fighters a bomber they were escorting. That has been accepted as fact for 61 years, since the end of World War II. On Dec. 10, however, Tuskegee Airmen Historian William F. Holton told the Montgomery (Ala.) Advertiser that Air Force records show at least a few bombers escorted […]