Last November, at AOPA Expo, Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta claimed that the FAA’s funding problems wouldn’t be solved by user fees. “The fuel tax is the best way to finance the needs of aviation,” he told a standing-room-only crowd of pilots. But Mineta’s tune has changed. Mineta recently told the Aero Club of Washington, D.C., […]
Clemson professor’s research leads to safer runways
Look at just about any paved runway and chances are good you’ll see a jigsaw puzzle pattern in the pavement. This kind of deterioration plagues a number of airports, especially where de-icing and anti-icing chemicals are used. A professor at Clemson University in South Carolina has been given the green light by the FAA to […]
Florida poker run helps kids
Advocating 4 Kids is holding a poker run and fly-in benefit in central Florida, winding up at Jumbolair Estates (17FL), near Ocala, on March 19. The event supports the recruiting and retention of volunteer child advocates for the Florida Guardian Ad Litem program, which covers special needs for about 5,000 child abuse victims in central […]
Extra celebrates milestone
Extra Aircraft celebrates a milestone this year: its 25th anniversary. Executives are predicting a record year for the company, which produces the aerobatic EA-200 and EA-300, as well as the EA-400, a six-seat piston aircraft and the EA-500, the turboprop version of the 400. Extra Aircraft will have a number of events and giveaways throughout […]
A new Sport Aircraft center for Florida
Sportsplanes.com, a major Light Sport Aircraft distributor, has established a Sport Aircraft Regional Center (SARC) for central and northern Florida. It is the latest in a growing number of SARC territories across the United States. Darrell Hamilton opened the center with a Breezer aircraft, to be used for flight training and demonstrations. Hamilton expects to […]
Want to see ADS-B in action?
On Saturday, March 11, the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s Aviation Division and Wings of Carolina Flying Club plan to provide rides so that interested pilots can see ADS-B in action. Paul Wilder, Flying Club president, said that six or seven planes will be involved, so “not only will secondary contacts from air to ground […]
NTSB investigatesfewer accidents
The National Transportation Safety Board is sending investigators to ever-fewer fatal airplane accidents – particularly those involving small aircraft – and that has safety experts worried, according to Brian Riley of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA). GAMA has urged Congress to give NTSB more money to hire more investigators, but sees little hope that […]
Ormond Beach Aviation leases 35 Liberty XL2s
A Montana-based aircraft leasing company, LAFT, LLC, placed firm orders for 35 Liberty XL2 aircraft late in January. LAFT, in turn, leased the two-place planes to Florida-based Ormond Beach Aviation, which will use them as trainers. Ormond Beach Aviation plans to operate the XL2s as replacements for its current single engine Cessna and Piper training […]
Finding a type club that’s just right for you
When World War II ended there was a general aviation boom. Thousands of people learned to fly during the war and there was a glut of military airplanes on the market that were defanged and made available to civilian pilots. Civilian manufacturers got into the act too. Many had been under contract to produce aircraft […]