Certification for the PK 3050A amphibious floats for the Cessna 185 was received by PK Floats earlier this spring. The new float is the lightest in its class, tipping the scales at 579 lbs. installed. New features include: stainless steel hydraulic cylinders, stainless steel main landing gear swing arm and composite nose gear and water […]
Thommen Instrumentation chosen for bizjet RVSM solutions
The Revue Thommen AG AD32 Electronic RVSM Display and AC32 Air Data Computer have been chosen by ARINC DirectSM of Colorado Springs, Colo., in its partnership with AeroMech, Inc. of Everett, Wash., for several business jet aircraft RVSM solutions. The team recently received RVSM Group Certification approval for its systems for the Cessna Citation 650, […]
L-3 TACAN System selected for Pilatus PC-9
L-3 Avionics Systems’ Tactical Airborne Navigation System (TACAN) has been selected by Pilatus Aircraft Ltd for its PC-9M Advanced Turbo Trainer. The TACAN equipped PC-9M will be utilized by the Bulgarian Air Force. With more than 260 aircraft sold, the PC-9 is established as an advanced pilot trainer. The aircraft features modern avionics, including a […]
James Stockdale, Vietnam War hero, dies at 81
James Stockdale was a Naval aviator, a prisoner of war who earned the Medal of Honor for his heroism, a teacher, and a reluctant vice presidential candidate. He died July 5 at the age of 81, after an unsuccessful battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Vice Admiral Stockdale was a captain, commanding Carrier Air Group 16 aboard […]
FAA’s certification office faces cutbacks
It may take a little – or a lot – longer to get new aviation products certified if a 3% budget cut is sustained at the FAA Aviation Safety Office – formerly known as Regulation and Certification. The office is expected to lose 302 jobs through attrition in the current fiscal year, due to a […]
Commander Aircraft back in business after owners group buys assets
Commander Aircraft is back in business, but with a new name and a new location. A group of Commander owners acquired the assets of the bankrupt company June 29. The new company, dubbed Commander Premier Aircraft Corp. (CPAC), paid $1.7 million for the FAA type certificates for the line of four-place, high performance, single engine […]
Back to the days of heroes
How did you spend the first summer after you graduated from college? Jared Aicher from Boise, Idaho, spent the first part of his summer flying around the lower 48 states giving rides to Young Eagles. Ideally, he wants to do a world tour giving flights to some 400 kids between the ages of 8-17. The […]
UAVs to help Smokey Bear
Here’s another reason to avoid the TFRs over forest fires: Some of the aircraft up there may be unmanned. The United States Forest Service, taking a cue from other federal agencies, is exploring the idea of using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to fight forest fires. The Forest Service is testing UAVs at a NASA facility […]
Drunk pilot faces charges in two states
A student pilot who allegedly stole a single-engine Cessna in Connecticut and flew it while drunk is facing criminal charges in two states. Philippe Patricio, 20, of Bethel, Conn., faces a felony charge of circumventing airport security in Danbury for the theft of the Cessna 172 used during the June 22 incident. Patricio told authorities […]