Given time — a lot of time, perhaps. But if you have someone in mind you’d like to recommend who meets the criteria, get hold of your local FAA FSDO and go for it! Master Pilots must: • Have been a U.S. citizen for a minimum of 50 consecutive years; • Have held a CAA/FAA […]
NTSB issues severe weather safey alert
The NTSB recently issued a safety alert to pilots warning them to actively maintain awareness of severe weather along their entire route of flight. NTSB officials say they have identified several accidents in which in-flight encounters with severe weather were the cause — or contributed to — accidents. All the accidents involved aircraft operating under […]
Van Bortel integrates Centurion 1.7 diesel engines into new Skyhawks
The Thielert Centurion 1.7 diesel aircraft engine is now being installed in new Cessna 172 Skyhawk aircraft by Van Bortel Aircraft, Inc. Van Bortel, based at Arlington Municipal Airport in Arlington, Texas, bills itself as the world’s largest Cessna dealer. The shop replaces the 172s’ standard Lycoming engines with the diesel engines, then sells the […]
Piper picks Williams to power its new jet
Piper Aircraft, Inc. has selected the Williams FJ44-3AP engine to power its new PiperJet. A close derivative of the FJ44-3A, the FJ44-3AP is based on proven engine technology with more than 2.5 million hours of flight time to its credit. According to Williams officials, the FJ44-3AP is Williams’ most efficient engine with a TBO of […]
13,000 attendees at 2006 AOPA expo
A record-setting 13,000 attendees, and 2,550 aircraft, flew in for this year’s AOPA Expo in Palm Springs.
Kirby Chambliss wins the Red Bull Air Race World Series
Kirby Chambliss won the Red Bull Air Race World Series, despite finishing third in the final race in Australia. Chambliss went into the race with 34 points, well ahead of his rivals. He ended the series with 38 points. Hungarian pilot Peter Besenyei claimed victory in the final leg of the competition as 300,000 spectators […]
AmSafe’s airbag saves 5 lives
AmSafe, Inc., a provider of restraint products to the aviation markets, has confirmed the successful deployment of its AmSafe Aviation Inflatable Restraint system, which saved five lives in three separate accidents in the last four months. The accidents occurred in Wisconsin, Switzerland and Brazil. The restraint system is built directly into the seatbelts so that […]
NASA’s Aviation Safety Reporting System celebrates 30th anniversary
NASA’s Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) recently marked its 30-year anniversary. The confidential reporting system is widely used by pilots to identify potential safety hazards. Established under a memorandum of understanding between NASA and the FAA, the system collects, analyzes and responds to voluntarily submitted aviation safety incident reports to reduce accidents and improve safety. […]
GAMA welcomes new members
The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) recently approved three new members: Eclipse Aviation, based in Albuquerque, N.M., which received the type certificate for its Eclipse 500 Very Light Jet in September and immediately went from being an aircraft developer to a manufacturer; San Antonio-based Sino Swearingen, manufacturer of the fast and long-legged SJ30-2 business jet; […]