Bob Reding has joined FlightSafety International as senior advisor to the CEO. Reding has led and contributed to the management and operation of several airlines during his 30 years in the industry. He was most recently Executive Vice President-Operations, for AMR Corporation, the parent company of American Airlines. He also served as Senior Vice President-Technical […]
General Aviation
Auto-darkening welding helmet debuts
The new Tweco WeldSkill auto-darkening welding helmet features four sensors and can be used in both weld mode and grind mode. The helmet has a viewing area of 3.86” x 1.69”, weighs 16 oz., and uses solar power to eliminate the need to change batteries. Suggested retail price is $129. When switching from light-to-dark, the […]
Fuel leak sparks in-flight fire
This February 2010 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others. Aircraft: Piper Saratoga. Injuries: None. Location: Reserve, N.M. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: During takeoff the pilot heard a “pop” noise and smoke filled […]
Flying the Evektor Harmony
The Light-Sport Aircraft movement is coming of age. During the U.S. Sport Aviation Expo held in Sebring, Florida, last month, many LSA manufacturers showed off the next generation of their designs, including Evektor Aircraft. The Czech Republic-based company, which has the distinction of producing the first LSA certified in the U.S., showcased the Evektor Harmony […]
LightSquared to cut 45% of its jobs
Billionaire Philip Falcone’s LightSquared wireless venture is cutting 45% of its jobs — about 150 positions — after the Federal Communications Commission rejected its plan to start operating, after finding that the proposed network interferes with GPS signals, according to a Bloomberg News report. Company officials said the move was intended to reduce costs while […]
FAA bill allows fuel reimbursement for volunteer pilots
Buried in the long-term authorization for the FAA is a provision that will make pilots who fly charitable medical flights happy. The provision allows a pilot to accept reimbursement from a volunteer pilot organization for the fuel costs associated with a flight to provide transportation for an individual or organ for medical purposes. The bill […]
NextGen contracts over budget, behind schedule
More than one-third of the 30 contracts critical to building the Next Generation Air Transportation System, commonly known as NextGen, are over budget, while half are delayed, according to a Bloomberg BusinessWeek story on a new Government Accountability Office report. The GAO report notes that 11 of the 30 contracts exceed projected costs by a […]
Coradine launches LogTen Pro Universal
Coradine Aviation Systems has introduced a universal version of its flagship product, LogTen Pro. “With the incredible success of the iPad and iPhone, many of our customers have been purchasing both the iPad and iPhone versions of LogTen Pro separately to ensure they had their logbook data accessible at all times, whatever device they happen […]
Most memorable aviation records of 2011
Each year, as the official record keeper for United States aviation, the National Aeronautic Association tracks dozens of world and national record attempts. New U.S. records are certified and those qualifying as world records are then ratified with the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI). At the end of each year, under the direction of the Contest […]