Twin Commander has partnered with Aircraft Belts, Inc. (ABI) to offer a three-point shoulder harness system. ABI has been a leader in developing and manufacturing aircraft safety restraints for more than two decades, said Matt Isley, Twin Commander president. “They have also set a higher industry standard and that’s what we want for the Commander […]
Aircraft
Drones getting easier to fly in U.S.
A May 31 story by Sarah Childress on the Frontline website is titled, “It’s Getting Easier to Fly Drones in the U.S.” The story links to a few videos posted by the Mesa (Arizona) County Sheriff’s Office showing how they use their UAS. Childress also links to the Electronic Frontier Foundation’s “Lists of Drone Certificates” […]
Emergency AD issued for Great Lakes aircraft
The FAA has issued an Emergency Airworthiness Directive (AD) that addresses a safety problem with Great Lakes aircraft produced in the 1970s and 1980s. In an email sent out by WACO Classic Aircraft Corp., company officials note that while the affected aircraft were not produced by WACO Classic Aircraft, “as the new Type Certificate Holder, […]
Eclipse kicks off production
During the first International Eclipse Dealer and Sales Conference held this past Friday in Albuquerque, Eclipse Aerospace announced the official launch of initial production of the new model Eclipse 550 twin-engine jet. Eclipse dealers representing the United States and over 30 countries were on hand as the management team and board of directors for Eclipse […]
The Spivey family flying station wagon
There are many men who will tell you that buying an airplane very nearly resulted in divorce because their wives were dead-set against its purchase. Kenneth Spivey Jr., from Vestavia, Ala., says he had a completely different experience: “My wife actually MADE me go buy this airplane!” he said, gesturing to his 1952 Cessna 170B. […]
GRS Whole-Plane Rescue Systems wins patent
The rocket-assisted GRS airframe rescue systems manufactured by Galaxy High Technology of the Czech Republic has been awarded a U.S. patent for the deployment system incorporated in GRS parachute devices. “Galaxy builds the world’s fastest deploying whole-plane parachute in either high-speed or low-speed events,” said Bill Canino, President of SportairUSA, the American distributor of the […]
Icon releases spin-resistance video
Earlier this year, Icon Aircraft revealed that it had successfully completed spin-resistance testing of its A5 amphibious Light-Sport Aircraft to the standard specified by the FAA for Part 23 certified aircraft. This achievement will make the A5 the first conventional production aircraft to be designed to and fully meet this standard once it enters production, […]
Piper Seminoles get air conditioning upgrades
Piper Aircraft is adding the Kelly Aerospace ThermaCool air conditioning system to new 2012 twin-engine Piper Seminoles as an option, and making the system available via retrofit for the Seminole fleet. Kelly Aerospace Thermal Systems and Piper worked collaboratively on the FAA-approved Supplemental Type Certificate, company officials said. “The field-installable kit will be available for […]
What’s wrong with Cirrus pilots?
Despite all the safety features it has, from a glass cockpit to a whole airframe parachute, the Cirrus SR-22 has a higher fatal accident rate than most similar airplanes from other manufacturers. “Why, with every safety advantage, has this come to be true?” asks Richard Collins in his blog at Air Facts. “It can only […]