The day is soon coming to the aviation community that air shows will need to be drastically limited. The allocation of an increasingly precious commodity can no longer be used for entertainment. Global oil production is nearing its peak. Oil is a finite resource and cannot be economically pumped from the ground forever. The transition […]
Sharing a plane not a new idea
Great article about sharing aircraft (Share a plane, without all the hassle, Feb. 3 issue), but the idea is not at all new! We have been doing this for over 53 years here at East Hill Flying Club in Ithaca, N.Y. Started by Mohawk Airline employees with a PA-11, we now have six aircraft and […]
Industry’s excitment about record sales tempered by spectre of user fees
WASHINGTON, D.C. — At the annual industry review meeting of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), companies reported a record year for dollar volume in 2005, a 20% growth in the number of piston airplanes delivered, a positive outlook for the future, and a determination to not allow user fees, proposed by the administration and […]
What’s the best engine for a kit-built helicopter?
QUESTION: I just purchased a Safari kit-built helicopter. The factory has configured the kit for the O-360. The engine is mounted vertically using a conversion kit supplied by the manufacturer. My question concerns which version of the O-360, in your opinion, would be best suited for this application. Would you recommend turbo charging or electronic […]
Fred Quarles is an axemplary Southern Aviator
“General aviation pilots are an untapped national resource,” says Fred Quarles. He reached that conclusion after organizing a phenomenally successful effort to rescue survivors of Hurricane Katrina, many of whom were facing imminent death. Quarles, who operates an international aircraft delivery service based in Charlottesville, Virginia, organized the rescue effort, called Operation Teacup, immediately after […]
Expansion continues at Kissimmee Gateway
Florida’s Kissimmee Gateway Airport (ISM) is soaring to new heights with recent developments. Ranger Aviation, an FBO at ISM, is in the process of building a 60,000-square-foot executive terminal. This facility will house corporate offices, tenants, conference rooms, pilot facilities and a full-service restaurant. Meanwhile, another FBO, Marathon Flight Services, is nearing completion of a […]
Stennis Airport honored for post-Katrina efforts
The FAA’s Southern Region Airports Division has selected Stennis International Airport in Bay St. Louis, Miss., to receive the 2005 General Aviation Airport Safety Award. Immediately following Hurricane Katrina, Airport Manager Bill Cotter and his son cleared debris from operational and safety areas and repaired runway edge lights to allow resumption of night operations. The […]
Sun ‘n Fun to celebrate the final frontier
Planning continues for Sun ‘n Fun, scheduled to kick off April 4 at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport in Florida. This year’s event, which runs through April 10, includes a tribute to the 25th anniversary of the Space Shuttle program, as well as a 20th anniversary reunion of the volunteers who made the epic flight of […]
HEICO eyes Chinese market for its parts
A Hollywood, Fla.-based company is set to tackle the Chinese aviation market. HEICO Corp. has signed a deal with the China Aviation Import and Export Group Corp. (CASGC) of the Peoples Republic of China to sell FAA-approved aircraft and engine replacement parts in China. The cooperative agreement is the first of its kind in the […]