As the FAA prepares to close 149 air traffic control towers as part of more than $600 million in spending cuts required by the sequester, a new Reason Foundation study shows how the FAA could save $1 billion a year by consolidating air traffic control centers and Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) facilities. More than […]
Aviation News
Erickson Air-Crane commits to $6,000 Whirly-Girls scholarship
PORTLAND, Ore. — Erickson Air-Crane has committed to a $6,000 annual scholarship through the Whirly-Girls International. The annual scholarship will fund a full External Load/Vertical Reference Course at Western Helicopters in Rialto, Calif. The course includes ground instruction and up to 6.5 hours of external load training in an MD500 helicopter. “We are committed to […]
Osvil ‘Ozzie’ York dies at 92
Osvil “Ozzie” York, a pilot for more than 60 years who was well-known in the helicopter community, passed away March 25 in Tulsa, Okla., following a brief illness. York, 92, had recently driven from his home in Oklahoma to attend the annual meeting of the Twirly Birds — of which he was a long-time member […]
Mid-Continent Instruments and Avionics named Trig Avionics service center
WICHITA — Mid-Continent Instruments and Avionics has been named the exclusive U.S. Service Center for Trig Avionics, serving Trig customers in all of North America. The agreement further expands Mid-Continent’s avionics capabilities to include Trigs’ TT21, TT22, and TT31 transponders, TY91 and TY92 VHF Comm radios. Trig Avionics, located in Edinburgh, Scotland, joins a network […]
Emergency Maneuver Training, Stall/Spin Awareness now available as iBooks
Rich Stowell recently announced that his books, “Emergency Maneuver Training” and “Stall/Spin Awareness,” are now available through Apple’s iBookstore. An expert on loss of control, Stowell produced the books, as well as four DVD programs, to address spins, emergency maneuvers, and aerobatics. He was on the team that created last year’s FAA Safety Standown, presented […]
The Pilot’s Guide to the Airline Cockpit updated
The second edition of “The Pilot’s Guide to the Airline Cockpit” has been released. This book by Stephen Casner introduces pilots to the fundamentals of today’s airline cockpit before they enter training at an airline company. Previously titled The Pilot’s Guide to the Modern Airline Cockpit, the book bridges the gap between the skills pilots […]
Crosswind compromises Cirrus
Aircraft: Cirrus SR22. Injuries: 1 Fatal. Location: South Bend, Ind. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: The pilot was attempting to land in winds from 300° at 15 knots with gusts to 24 knots. A witness on the ground stated that the airplane was being “bounced around” by the wind gusts and that it “stalled […]
Gone but not forgotten
We lost some key “downtown” airports as the 20th Century faded into history. Famous campaigns fought to save them; local politicians with big plans “got” them — Chicago Meigs (10 years ago this month) and Bader Field in Atlantic City, N.J. They represented the height of GA utility. Now, in their absence, have politicians’ airport-killing […]
Proposal to ban 121.5 MHz emergency locator transmitters opposed
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) has told the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) that it vigorously opposes the commission’s plan to prohibit the future use of emergency locator transmitters (ELTs) that use a 121.5 MHz signal. The proposal will have a negative impact on aviation safety and AOPA told the FCC it should immediately […]