Flying an airplane you’ve never flown before is a lot like cooking in someone else’s kitchen. Although you know how to work a stove, the microwave can present a challenge and finding the most basic of implements can be time consuming and frustrating. Now add the dimension of being at 3,000 feet above the earth […]
Aviation News
Two airplanes (almost) anyone can afford
“Everything you need and not much else,” is the catchy tagline from aviation entrepreneur Chip Erwin. With those words, he described the Italian Zigolo, which is based on a design by American Mike Sandlin. (In a sign of our global times, Erwin imports it to both USA and China.) One look at the aircraft and […]
Development underway on new Hartzell 5-blade props
Hartzell Propeller developmental activities for the company’s five-blade, swept-tip carbon fiber propellers will be featured at the 2014 National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Convention in Orlando, Fla., Oct. 21-23, booth 1817. Hartzell is working on several other yet-to-be-announced composite five-blade programs for turboprop business aircraft. DAHER-SOCATA’s new TBM 900 features the same Hartzell composite, five-blade, […]
Automated RNP AR NavData Validation Service introduced
Garmin and Jeppesen have introduced the RNP AR NavData Service, a new tool for pilots utilizing Required Navigation Performance – Authorization Required (RNP AR) procedures. The new service automates time-consuming data validation processes that are required for RNP AR flights, according to company officials. An industry first, the RNP AR NavData Service automates the data accuracy checks […]
FLG Teardowns opens facility at SEF
SEBRING, Florida — FLG Technics of Davie, Florida, opened its new business, FLG Teardowns, in Sebring Regional Airport’s Hangar 60 this past September. FLG Teardowns will handle everything from aircraft parts distribution through dismantling, as well as materials recycling for unused parts. “Aerospace leaders are developing new strategies for management of end-of-life aircraft,” says Michael Elkaim, […]
Channel Islands Aviation joins Phillips 66 FBO network
CAMARILLO, Calif. – Family-owned and operated Channel Islands Aviation (CIA) is Phillip 66 Aviation’s newest addition to its growing FBO network, with more than 850 facilities scattered across the U.S. CIA opened its doors in 1976 when co-owners Mark and Janie Oberman were selected as the first operator at Camarillo Airport (KCMA). “We’ve seen quite […]
Poor power management results in hard landing
Aircraft: Cessna 172. Injuries: None. Location: Miami, Fla. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: A flight instructor was attempting to demonstrate short field landing technique to a student pilot. About 50 feet over the runway, at an airspeed of 60 knots, with flaps fully deployed, the CFI reduced the throttle to idle and pitched the nose down to […]
Answering a kid’s question
“How can you fly visually, just looking out the window?” So asked our smart-beyond-his-years 13-year-old friend back home in Virginia. The question really set me off. In his devotion to computer flight sims, he was starting at the top and working his way down! Sure, he could “land” a virtual 757, but was clueless about […]
Fire destroys hangars, airplanes at 1W1
A fire tore through a row of hangars at Grove Field (1W1) in Camas, Wash., Oct. 6, destroying several airplanes and vintage automobiles. When firefighters arrived at the airport — which is about 20 miles northeast of Portland, Ore. — at 10:24 p.m., they found the hangar doors and roofs had been blown off by […]