The Helicopter Association International (HAI) First Responder Program database is now online at Rotor.com. Helicopter pilots are encouraged to sign up so that when emergency situations arise, flight and ground crews can be mobilized quickly. While Hurricane Katrina proved that helicopters save lives, it also highlighted the shortcomings in emergency response coordination, HAI officials note. […]
Again, NY legislators push for background checks.
Alphabet groups are fighting another attempt to require background checks for anyone seeking flight training. The New York State Senate recently passed House Bill A02122, which was first proposed in January 2005. The bill is similar to one proposed in late 2003, which was rejected because federal law supersedes it. “The federal law does not […]
The Buzzzzzzz
“There’s a lot of rhetoric about what user fees do or don’t do. In the absence of real information, people will believe anything.” — Ruth Marlin, executive vice president, National Air Traffic Controllers Association “We have reached a crossroads in general aviation and our future is unsure.” — Pete Trabucco, pilot and GA activist “We […]
To build a fire … to save our airspace
You may remember reading Jack London’s short story, “To Build a Fire,” in which a would-be Alaska gold rush prospector dies when he can’t build a fire to stay warm. He ignored the advice of the more experienced and set out ill prepared for the trail. It can be seen as a cautionary tale for […]
A READER ADDS TOTHE RULES FOR FLIGHT
Here is another “rule” for your database (Rules for flight, June 9 issue), an oldie but a goodie: “The two most useless items in flying are the runway behind you and the altitude above you.” Par Loennquist via email
WHAT ABOUT MID-AMERICA AIRPORT?
I am only a recent subscriber to General Aviation News, and read your article about the long-coming problems with airport development (Capital Comments: Today’s problems have been decades in the making, May 5 issue). But one point I take some issue with is your statement that “no major airport has been built in the United […]
ANGEL FLIGHT’S NEEDFOR HOMEBUILTS ANDTWO-SEAT TRAINERS
I wish to thank Charles Spence for his fine and informative article reporting on the Angel Flight tribute dinner in Washington, D.C. (Capital Comments: Tribute dinner shines light on GA’s humanitarian efforts, June 9 issue). He writes that missions are flown in “all types of aircraft from four-place single-engines to corporate jets.” I can attest […]
DIESELS ARE THE WAY FOR GA TO GO
I just had to respond after reading Paul McBride’s response to Alex Rougier’s question concerning diesels in the June 9 edition (Why is it better to put a diesel engine on a GA aircraft?) I disagree with the answer you gave him, and here’s why: First off, a diesel is inherently more efficient because of […]
AM I MISSING SOMETHING
I must be missing something. The gentleman with the formerly flawless O-360-CIF (Ask Paul: What causes a formerly flawless engine to run rough? May 19 issue) says he swapped the #1 and #3 EGT probes and the problem moved to #3 on the JPI. To me, an A&P/IA, that means the problem is most likely […]