In what some may see as “déjà vu all over again,” Lycoming has issued a mandatory service bulletin recalling what appears to be 1,227 crankshafts, some installed, some shipped as spares. Engines that have complied with Service Bulletins 552 or 553 are not affected. The affected engines are O-540, IO-540, AEIO-540 and TIO-540s rated at […]
215 NDB approach shut down
Earlier this month, 215 NDB approaches ceased to exist. The FAA decommissioned them July 7, which means they will no longer spend money to flight-check the approaches, maintain equipment and update charts. However, the FAA has not turned off any NDBs. A total of 479 approaches will be decommissioned, with the remaining 288 procedures going […]
New private airport approved in Houston
The FAA has given the nod to the construction of a private airport in Waller County near Houston. Ron Henriksen, a private developer, plans to build what will be known as Air Rice Airport on 1,980 acres. No public money will be used for construction. Several residents oppose the project, saying the airport’s proximity to […]
Ohio aircraft owners to get tax relief
Ohio aircraft owners are finally getting tax relief. Gov. Bob Taft recently signed the state budget, which includes a reduction of the annual aircraft license tax from a flat $100 per aircraft to a $15-per-seat fee. The state first raised the tax from $6 to $100 in 2003.
Sino Swearingen completes wet tests for SJ30-2
Sino Swearingen Aircraft Corp. has completed testing of its new SJ30-2 twinjet aircraft for drenched and flooded runway conditions for both rain and slush. The twin engine business jet completed the tests without modifications to the aircraft design, company officials noted. The jet is expected to be certified later this year.
Seawind passes 2,000 hours
The proof of concept Seawind has logged 2,000 hours, most of them between the company’s Pennsylvania headquarters and manufacturing facility in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec. Dick Silva, Seawind’s president, has flown all but 60 of the 2,000 hours. Those 60 hours were flown by a test pilot during early test flights. The company is now preparing flight […]
Diamond chooses G1000 for D-Jet
Diamond Aircraft has chosen the Garmin G1000 for its new D-JET. The D-JET’s flight deck will be a three-panel system with two 10-inch primary flight displays (PFDs), a centrally located 15-inch multifunction display (MFD), FMS controller, glareshield mounted Autopilot Controller, and dual AHRS/GPS/Magnetometer sensor system. Diamond already offers the G1000 on its DA40-180 Diamond Star […]
ADIZ incursion and joy rides lead to tough regs
The fallout from several recent incursions into the Washington, D.C., ADIZ, as well as the thefts of airplanes by unlicensed young people — one of whom was drunk — has begun. Knee-jerk reactions have resulted in two amendments to the Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill in the U.S. Senate. The most severe, sponsored by […]
To save our airports
We are losing an average of two airports a month in the United States, according to the most believable numbers, while substantial growth of general aviation is being predicted for the next 10 years. General Aviation News wants you to get involved in stopping — indeed, reversing — that disturbing loss rate. We should be […]