Richard Epton has always had a fascination for military airplanes. He grew up on a dairy farm on the east coast of England and his father told him stories about all the airplanes, both English and German, that battled it out in the skies during World War II. “My father told me stories of what […]
Pilots
Comment period on medical petition extended
The period for pilots to comment on the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and Experimental Aircraft Association medical petition has been extended to Sept. 14. More than 14,000 pilots have already commented on the petition, but AOPA and EAA officials asked the FAA to extend the comment period to allow more pilots to voice their […]
Boeing projects exponential growth in demand for pilots, AMTs
Boeing projects the world will face an unprecedented demand for pilots and aviation maintenance technicians over the next 20 years as global economies expand and airlines take delivery of tens of thousands of new commercial airplanes. At the Farnborough International Airshow, Boeing released the 2012 Pilot and Technician Outlook, which indicates that by 2031 the […]
Keeping the spirit of flight alive
Story and Photos By JEAN-PIERRE BONIN I like to call myself an aviation freak. Though I never became a pilot, I have been an aviation lover since I was a teenager, but it was not until some decades later that I stumbled into general aviation. In 2000, a neighbor began building a Ultravia Pelican Sport […]
Aplomado Falcon chicks released at Texas state park
The Aplomado Falcon is regaining a foothold in parts of Texas where they disappeared more than a half-century ago. On July 1, biologists began releasing captive-bred Aplomado Falcons to the wild for the first time at Mustang Island State Park. The birds were flown to the park by volunteer pilots with LightHawk. “We are delighted […]
New company solves rental checkout dilemma
A report by Matt Thurber at AIN Online features a new company, OpenAirplane, which hopes to develop a standardized checkout for rental aircraft. Owners Rod Rakic and Adam Fast hope this will encourage more people to fly. The report quotes some interesting figures from a company survey: 96% of respondents said they would fly more […]
An unexpected mentor
Sitting across the table from a distinguished looking airline pilot who is both youthful and highly experienced, I can’t help but reminisce about the old days. As we chatter away about scheduling, performance, weather issues, family, and mutual friends, I can’t help but remember that this is the man who taught me to fly. It […]
What does Pilots Bill of Rights mean to GA pilots?
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Pilots will get better notices to airmen (NOTAMs) and more equitable treatment from the FAA during any enforcement actions against them as a result of passage of a bill introduced by Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), which was passed June 29 by the Senate and sent to the House, where similar legislation had […]
College student wins first NJ Spot Landing Contest
Aviation Exploring Post 107 recently sponsored the first Mid-Jersey Spot Landing contest. Open to all pilots of Central New Jersey Airports, the event drew contestants from Solberg-Hunterdon, Central Jersey, Lincoln Park and Somerset Airports. Contestants ranged from 17-year-old, newly minted pilots to pilots with years of experience. The winner, Kyle Coulson, is a sophomore at […]