Oklahoma City-based Commuter Air Technology (CAT) has acquired the STCs previously held by Downtown Airpark. The STCs, relating to modification of various airframes, include the Cessna Caravan. The Cessna Caravan is a favorite platform for short duration missions and preferred by law enforcement and border security organizations around the world. The STCs acquired by CAT […]
Hobart Welding unveils new helmets
Hobart Welding Products introduces the new XTP Professional Series of auto-darkening welding helmets with two bold designs, The Patriot and the Red Rivet. Light weight and designed for high performance, the XTP Series is perfect for the sensitive demands of low-amp TIG applications. The helmets darken in 1/16,000 of a second after arc start and […]
Aircraft Spruce West plans 10th annual Fly-In
Aircraft Spruce & Specialty will hold a Super Sale and Fly-In at its west coast headquarters in Corona, Calif., Oct. 7. Besides special pricing on a wide range of products, the fly-in also will feature a free lunch, raffle prizes and the opportunity to talk to a variety of manufacturers’ reps about items such as […]
User fees: to be or not be be?
Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) says he won’t let user fees be imposed on general aviation by the FAA. “We’re not going to allow that to happen,” Inhofe stated flatly during an interview at Oshkosh. Although other U.S. Senators hold pilot licenses, Inhofe says he’s the only active pilot currently in the Senate, with the emphasis […]
How about this? “Buy a Plane, Get a Car”
Comp Air Inc. announced Aug. 28 that it would give away new Chevy Aveos to buyers of selected models of its airplanes.The first taker called three days later, according to Ron Lueck, owner of the Merritt Island, Fla.-based company. “He called from Miami and said he wanted to be the first,” Lueck said, “and he […]
Airplane airbags: A no-brainer?
Adding airbags to your airplane is really a no-brainer. So says Yvonne Tillyer, director of sales for AmSafe Aviation, which produces seat belts and inflatable restraints for GA, commercial and military customers. “The technology is there for our cars, so why wouldn’t you want it in your airplane?” she asks. “It should be standard practice […]
Is your life worth $500?
Back in 1996, Ash Vij was a student pilot on a solo flight, heading his Cessna 172 to the practice area. But something just didn’t feel right. “I started feeling uncomfortable,” he remembers. “So I turned around and headed back to the airport.”After landing, he took the plane to the mechanic. “It was due for […]
Has saving lives become old hat?
Have deployments of whole-airplane parachutes become old hat? That’s what Larry Williams, president of Ballistic Recovery Systems (BRS), a leader in the industry, is wondering. The company just learned about saves 189 and 190 a few months ago. Good news to report, right? Except company officials were a little puzzled about how to report the […]
Can your airplane save your life?
Could your airplane save your life? Long-time test pilot Jim Stewart is convinced the design of the prototype Sport-Jet, a composite and aluminum four-place single-engine jet, saved his life. The prototype crashed June 22 on takeoff from Colorado Springs Airport. Preliminary reports from the NTSB point to wake turbulence as the cause of the accident. […]