Since its inception in 2007, more than 2,000 pilots have received the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award from the FAA. The award, which recognizes 50 years of accident-free flying, consolidated several similar pilot awards, such as the Golden Eagle Award, that had been presented by various Flight Standards District Offices over the years. The award […]
Pilots
DRE 8001 headset debuts
Headsets Inc. now has available the new model DRE 8001 active noise reduction headset with Bluetooth. Made in America, the new headset integrates a “Lynx” Bluetooth audio controller into the existing DRE 6001 headset, company officials said. The Lynx is an audio/comm/power controller providing Bluetooth, Hi-Fi amplification of audio input, rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, plus traditional […]
Navigation simulator app released
Digital Aviation has released a lower cost iPhone/iPod touch version of its mobile flight simulator for radio navigation training. Radio Navigation Simulator is a 2D flight simulator, designed for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch, that enables pilots and students to practice and become proficient in the use and management of VOR, VOR-DME and ADF instruments, […]
FAA proposes to raise pilot qualification standards
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The FAA has proposed to substantially raise the qualification requirements for first officers who fly for U.S. passenger and cargo airlines. The proposed rule would require first officers to hold an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate, requiring 1,500 hours of flight time. Currently, first officers are required to have only a commercial […]
General aviation user fee civility
User fees have reared their head in President Obama’s fiscal year 2013 proposed budget. Longtime General Aviation News columnist Charles Spence wrote about a letter 100 mayors sent to President Obama regarding the budget’s potential $100-per-flight fee. The comments that follow are interesting. Commenter “gbin” says: “I wonder how many of the mayors who signed […]
Autogas passes the quack test
You know the old adage, right? “If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck.” This year marks the 30th anniversary since the FAA approved the first STC for the use of autogas in aircraft. Since then, it has enjoyed an excellent track […]
Thinking of buying a plane?
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association is hosting a free webinar “Aircraft Ownership: Tips on Buying and Owning an Aircraft,” Wednesday, Feb. 29. Hear the first-hand the purchasing experience of an aircraft owner and learn from the ownership tips he will share. Get answers from representatives of AOPA Aircraft Financing Program, AOPA Insurance Agency, AIC […]
ForeFlight launches ForeFlight Manage
ForeFlight has launched ForeFlight Manage, an online portal for individual and business aviation customers that provides access to account information and ForeFlight Mobile pilot and device management tools. ForeFlight Mobile customers can access ForeFlight Manage online. “Our customer base has grown rapidly over the past year,” said Tyson Weihs, co-founder of ForeFlight. “In addition to […]
FAASTeam approves latest CFI forum
The Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE) recently delivered another in its series of 12 Seminar-in-a-Box products to the FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam), this one focusing on Takeoff and Initial Climb. The seminars are designed to facilitate discussion among instructors, examiners, and FAASTeam members on topics related to flight training and accident prevention, as […]