BasicMed is brand-spanking new. And the topic has created nearly endless discussion. Merits, drawbacks, pros, cons, and more are all fair game. A good amount of mis-information — sadly — seems to be feeding the fire.
For example, I’ve seen discussions centered around indicated versus true or calibrated airspeed. [Read more…]
What sounds better to you? $637,000 today or $900,000 in the near future?
But first some back story before you answer: [Read more…]
Stories are all around us. All we have to do is look. Sometimes it is as simple as opening an envelope. You remember what an envelope is, don’t you?
I open all the mail General Aviation News receives. Makes sense, since I’m the only one who picks up the mail. On the back of a recent subscription renewal was a hand-written note from Sanford Orenstein in Florida. His story is worth sharing. Enjoy. [Read more…]
When I think about why we produce General Aviation News, it boils down to two things: People and planes. It’s really that simple.
Sure, it can get more complex from time to time, but strip away all the doo-dads and it quickly returns to a simple state: People and planes.
In keeping with that theme, I caught up with Katie Pribyl under the wing of her 1956 Cessna 180 — Buck — at the recent Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) Fly-In at Bremerton, Wash.
As an AOPA staffer and fly-in host, she was busy. But I hadn’t seen Katie since SUN ‘n FUN and was excited to see both her and the plane Bill Walker profiled in the July 28, 2016 edition of General Aviation News. [Read more…]
The August 2016 issue of Seattle Business magazine has two feature stories regarding commercial aviation in the greater Puget Sound in Washington state.
Why do I care? Because “small aircraft” are a part of the story — and not in a good way. [Read more…]
I open all the mail General Aviation News receives. From time-to-time, a subscriber will write a note on their renewal notice. Most often the note is words of encouragement or appreciation. On occasion it is a complaint. We can’t please everyone.
But when I read a note on Tom Wathen’s renewal notice, I was taken aback. “Mr. Wathen is deceased.”
Simple, understated and to the point. But I had a hard time believing it. A quick Google search turned up his obituary notice in the Santa Barbara News-Press. He died peacefully on June 20, 2016, his wife Carol by his side. [Read more…]
Chad Manning flies 737s for Alaska Airlines and C-17s for the 446th Reserve Wing at McChord Field in Washington state.
He hadn’t flown in a J-3 Cub. Ever. [Read more…]
Reality TV strikes again — this time with Discovery Channel’s Deadliest Job Interview.
In the first episode, which aired Friday, Jan. 29, we followed Ron Vargas to South Africa. Ron’s goal is to become a bush pilot. He’s in South Africa to train with Milne “CC” Pocock, owner of Bush Air. [Read more…]
The wide range of opinions in the aviation community is something I continuously marvel at. Take our continuing coverage on the update of the Pilot’s Bill of Rights 2 legislation. The comments vary widely, both in scope and tone. [Read more…]
Spoiler Alert: The final paragraph of The Wright Brothers is my favorite.
“They took off, soaring over Huffman Prairie at about 350 feet for a good six minutes, during which the Bishop’s only words were, “Higher, Orville, higher!”
