Pocatello, Idaho NBC affiliate KPVI reports the Pocatello Regional Airport wants to attract more pilots.
“The airport board is ramping up its efforts to attract more general aviation aircraft to Pocatello by joining forces with all the businesses that already exist on the field, from the newest business Utah Helicopter, to some of the oldest like the AVCenter.”
Better late than never.
The Dayton (Ohio) Business Journal reports that four Ohio airports (Dayton-Wright Brothers, Henry County, Ohio University Snyder Field and Williams County Airport) have received a combined $863,000 for a variety of airport projects.
Homeland Security Today reports that “a Homeland Security appropriations bill before the Senate Tuesday would push the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to consider flexibility in security mandates for general aviation operators, which have come under increasing scrutiny since last year.”
From the same story…
Meanwhile, general aviation likely will continue to face heightened scrutiny by TSA because the agency last year boosted its General Aviation staff in its Office of Transportation Sector Network Management from a handful to several dozen, Jens Hennig, GAMA vice president of operations said.
Carolyn Lee of The Imperial (Nebraska) Republican reports that Angel Flight Central will face challenges if President Obama’s budget, including aviation user fees, is passed.
From the story…
“Richard Stull of McCook said the user fee proposal would hurt not only his flying, but “General aviation pilots would be negatively impacted by that. We do the Angel Flight by what we want to give back. There’s no remuneration for anyone. We absorb all the costs.”
WSDOT Aviation has awarded $900,000 in Local Airport Aid grant funds to 35 airports for 41 different projects. Despite a significant projected decline in aviation revenues, WSDOT Aviation was able to use approximately $288,682 to leverage $11.2 million in federal funds, bringing the combined state, local and federal grand total to more than $12.6 million.
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AOPA has sent a letter to the FAA calling for “greater flexibility in the pending policy” regarding through-the-fence (TTF) agreements at public-use airports on a story posted today on its website. An excerpt from the story…
“In many ways, residential airparks or hangar homes can provide security and economic benefits to the airport and support an overarching goal of helping the airport become self sustaining,” said Heidi Williams, AOPA senior director of airports. “In fact, Independence Airpark in Oregon is a stellar example of the economic benefit the adjacent airpark offers in creating a self sustaining state-owned and -operated airport.
At issue are businesses and homes on private property that currently have legal access to public-use airports. Read AOPA’s story and download its whitepaper.
Mobile, AL – Teledyne Continental Motors (TCM) introduced its O200 Lightweight Engine for sale to the Piston Aircraft market. The O200 Lightweight Engine line is purpose-built for the Light Sport and Kit Aircraft markets. (O200 spec sheet).
“The O200 Lightweight Engine offers aircraft builders a certified and pedigreed engine that is lighter in weight without compromising performance, durability or service life” said Rhett Ross President of Teledyne Continental Motors.
Following is an excerpt of a post titled, “From a Concerned Pilot” on the Transterrestrial Musings blog that is making its way around the internet. If you haven’t seen it, the original post and the comments are worth a read.
A tiny minority of Americans, a minority of which I am a member, are airplane pilots and owners. We own and operate small propeller-driven aircraft, used primarily for personal recreational travel. In other words, for fun. I compare us to RV owner-operators, as these airplanes are equivalent in price range to the RVs and campers so many Americans own and enjoy.
Check out this video of the SkySpark‘s (an electric-powered airplane) record setting flight.
Charlie Harris, Chairman of the National Biplane Association submitted the following report from “The Grande Finale Biplane Expo” in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. After 23 successful years, the event is being retired. Below is a photo gallery from the show. Images from Rick Bryant of Bartlesville, Oklahoma.
Under three days of perfect blue skies and full moon cloudless evenings, “The Final Curtain” of The Biplane Expo’s extraordinarily successful run of 23 years of “Biplanes at Bartlesville” came to a standing ovation close on Saturday evening June 6, 2009.
Ben Sclair is the Publisher of General Aviation News, a pilot, husband to Deb and dad to Savannah, Brenna and Jack. Oh, and a staunch supporter of general aviation.
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