How did alligators get into the sewers of New York? Maybe they took an airplane. When West Palm Beach Airport was officially dedicated in 1936, the first flight out was an Eastern Airlines DC-2 bound for New York City. To celebrate the event West Palm Beach Mayor Ted Brown and Florida Postmaster O.B. Carr decided […]
Former President Bush’s wings bring luck to new aircraft carrier
When its 700-ton island was lifted onto the flight deck of the nation’s newest and most advanced nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, George H. W. Bush (CVN 77), the ship’s namesake placed his World War II Naval Aviator’s wings under the structure. Tradition holds that placing such tokens aboard new vessels brings good fortune. Vessels from ancient […]
the Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
“You guys are so lucky, you get to fly EVERY DAY!” — Part of a good-bye speech made to instructors at a Seattle flight school by a pilot about to leave for a desk job with the FAA. “It is in Florida where we believe the microjet-based air taxi concept will live or die.” — […]
On the mend: Changes in medicals a step in the right direction
Do you believe me when I write that among the top publications I receive, the Federal Air Surgeon’s Medical Bulletin is not one of those that regularly receive high priority? Believe me, I don’t read this 12-page quarterly bulletin on an even irregular basis. However, the other day I saw a copy at the office […]
We understand why, tell us how
I agree we need to do something to stop user fees and to get rid of the ADIZ (To build a fire, to save our airspace, July 21 issue). The problem is how do you get anyone to listen? I belong to AOPA and know they are doing what they can. I have talked to […]
Test pilots held to a higher standard?
I read with great interest about how Mr. Jim Stewart asserts that his life was saved by the design of the Sport Jet (Can your airplane save your life? Sept. 8). Then I got to the “So what happened?” section and was appalled that Mr. Stewart blamed the crash on Air Traffic Control. The article […]
Who was PIC?
Reference the article, “Can your airplane save your life?” in the Sept. 8 issue, in which the NTSB (initially) points to wake turbulence as a probable cause, it is disheartening to read that the pilot blames the accident on ATC, because “the tower cleared him to take off one minute and 28 seconds behind a […]
Mayor Dailey’s terrorist act
Regarding the Meigs settlement between the FAA and the Daley regime, the media has reported that Chicago taxpayers will be required to pay the FAA $1,033,000, but the cost to the taxpayers is much more. Not counting the loss in business to Chicago that the airport brought it, there are the legal expenses, estimated to […]
Last minute maneuers: User fees, VLJs and more on Congress’s agenda before its latest recess
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Before taking a recess to campaign for reelection, Congress took time to move on several issues important to general aviation. The Senate confirmed Mary Peters as Secretary of Transportation. In past transportation positions she has declared a need for new financing methods, i.e., user fees. Peters replaces the well-respected Norman Mineta, who […]