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Touch & Go
What time it isn’t
In 1998 Charles Spence – our beloved Capital Comments columnist – was awarded Lifetime Achievement Awards from both the National Business Aviation Association and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. We played a part in making sure Charlie (as we call him) and his lovely wife Majel could be on hand to accept the awards […]
Reduce, reuse, recycle… hangars in this case
The great state of California reduced the number of general aviation airports in 2014 by at least one. Specifically, Rialto Municipal (L67) was shut down on Sept. 18 to make way for a 1,439-acre residential and business center. (I know, but don’t get me started…) From the ashes of L67, nearby Flabob Airport (RIR) will reuse […]
Book: The Day I Learned To Fly
Do you remember being a kid? Do you remember running all over the neighborhood until you heard the faint voice of your mother calling you home? I sure do… When I opened Jeffrey Kennon’s book, “The Day I Learned To Fly” and started to read, those long summer days of yesteryear came flooding back. Jeff […]
BoldMethod: The life of a 20-year-old banner tow pilot
“Haley Howard is a CFI and banner pilot from Gulf Shores, Alabama. At only 20 years old, she’s already well on her way with 1,350 hours of flight time… not to mention her CSEL (Commercial – Single Engine Land), CSES (Commercial – Single Engine Seaplane), Tailwheel Endorsement, CFI-A (Certified Flight Instructor), and Instrument Rating,” reports […]
Letter or spirit of ADS-B?
ADS-B is a source of much consternation at the recreational end of general aviation. More accurately, ADS-B Out is the source. Actually, it’s the Jan. 1, 2020 ADS-B Out mandate. The very same mandate FAA Administrator Huerta has repeatedly stated will not be delayed. Simply put, ADS-B Out — Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast — is a periodic […]
25° nose down in Fat Albert
In April of this year, I was lucky enough to be chosen to ride with the U.S. Navy Blue Angels support ship, a C-130 named Fat Albert. Not only did I get to ride in Fat Albert, I got one of the coveted cockpit jumpseats. Watching the crew perform… er, I mean fly, Fat Albert […]
Can you ignore the ADS-B 2020 mandate?
The Jan. 1, 2020 ADS-B mandate has a lot of aircraft owners wringing their hands and seeing red. For those of us at the recreational end of the aviating spectrum (which represents a great many aircraft), plunking down the money it’ll take to equip our aircraft to meet the mandate is not something we care […]
LA Times opines about Santa Monica Airport
We’ve been saying it for years. But it’s nice to hear the mainstream media pick up the argument. The Los Angeles Times editorial board said, with regard to Santa Monica Airport, “Open to private business and recreational aircraft, it relieves Los Angeles International Airport of some smaller plane traffic. Flight schools, airplane maintenance, charter jet […]