GAO: NextGen over budget and behind schedule

Charles Spence | Capital Comments | February 27, 2012

WASHINGTON, D.C. — After causing the FAA to limp along on 23 temporary funding extensions, Congress finally passed a four-year authorization last month. A question now facing FAA watchers is: Will this steadier funding mean a smoothing of the turbulence the agency has seen in developing the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen)?

A report released Feb. 16 by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) revealed that of 30 major NextGen programs studied, costs for 11 have increased from initial estimates by a total of $4.2 billion and 15 programs experienced delays ranging from two months to more than 14 years. Of the 15 programs experiencing schedule delays, 10 also had cost increases. The WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System) program, which the FAA estimates will be completed in 2013, is the one experiencing the 14-year delay.

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Autogas passes the quack test

Kent Misegades | GAfuels | February 27, 2012

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 record as a safe, affordable, lead-free alternative to avgas that can power 70%-80% of the current piston-engine fleet. This includes numerous warbirds, many vintage aircraft, most auto-engine conversions as well as many  next-gen piston engines from Rotax, Jabiru, ULPower, Continental, and Lycoming.

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NW Aviation Conference recap

Ben Sclair | Airshows & Fly-Ins, Touch & Go | February 26, 2012

By Ben Sclair

The Northwest Aviation Conference & Trade Show is a “home game” for us at General Aviation News. It is always great to see so many great friends in one place. Continue Reading »

Is it security or bureaucracy?

Dave Hook | Airports, GA Security, General Aviation News | February 26, 2012

Security results in action. Bureaucracy results in more bureaucracy.

There is no group of people better qualified to discuss action and response than pilots. From our first day of flying training our flight instructors teach us not to take an action for granted. Flip a switch, look for an action. Make a control input, ensure you get the desired response.

Security is the same. It’s action-based, not paperwork-based. Continue Reading »

The $64 million answer

Jamie Beckett | Politics for Pilots | February 22, 2012

Here’s a good quiz question for you: What do Stuart Jet Center, in Stuart, Florida, Region Air in Sparta, Tennessee, and Missouri Aviation Center in Warrensburg, Missouri, have in common? They’re all running specials with discounts on fuel for pilots traveling to Sun ‘n Fun. That’s right, the reach of Sun ‘n Fun extends well outside the borders of Florida. Said another way, general aviation has a positive economic impact on North America that is absolutely undeniable. Better yet, it’s quantifiable — and that matters to all of us.

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GA Security: Risk controlling — how much?

GAN Staff | GA Security, GA Security Blog | February 21, 2012

By DAVE HOOK

How much disposable income should I invest in security stuff to protect my aircraft?

This question is probably one of the most sensitive that I get because flying is not cheap. Even if we have the best of situations, there are still annual inspections and scheduled maintenance, repair of things that break from normal wear and tear, state and local taxes, hangar or tie down fees, GPS database subscriptions, not to mention the fuel and oil. “So with all of these expenses just to be able to go enjoy my $100 hamburger, now I’m supposed to buy security, too?”

I hear you.

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Time to put on your walking shoes

Todd Huvard | Blogs | February 21, 2012

It is inevitable when I meet a pilot who learns I am an aircraft broker that the next question is: “How is the market?” That is quickly followed with a hip pocket analysis that it must be tough, that no one is buying and that Chicken Little must be my only prospect.

The real nature of the aircraft market of the past few years goes well beyond the apparent driver: The economy.

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Teamwork of the highest order

Jamie Beckett | Associations, Politics for Pilots | February 20, 2012

Last Friday evening, while standing at the front of a packed ballroom, with microphone in hand, Mayor Gow Fields announced, “Aviation has reached a new high in Lakeland.”

When’s the last time you heard a mayor say something positive and hopeful about aviation? Wait! Before you reach too far back in your memory banks to come up with an example, there’s more.

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These are the days

Deb McFarland | Short Final | February 19, 2012

It’s that time of year when I get to whine. Weather wise, December through March is typically dreary, often with gray skies and cold temperatures. We even have a snow shower or two here in north Georgia that gets the news media all in a tizzy. However, this year has been exceptionally warm, although we’ve had our share of dreary wet days.

I can get through the winter just fine if I get a day now and then for a smooth flight in Lester. It’s just as well that winter often limits my good VFR flying days, because this is also the time of year when our bank account is stretched to the limit.

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Death knell for LightSquared?

Charles Spence | Capital Comments | February 16, 2012

WASHINGTON, D.C. — After long and detailed — and often contentious — efforts to work out a safe way for LightSquared to build a network of about 40,000 land-based towers in the U.S. for high-speed wireless transmissions without interfering with GPS, the battle seems to be nearing a satisfactory conclusion for general aviation and others using GPS.

The Federal Communication System is expected to rescind a conditional waiver issued to LightSquared last year after it was informed on Feb. 14 by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) that there is no practical way to prevent interference of GPS frequencies from the planned LightSquared network. Industry observers note this could be a death knell for LightSquared’s plan.

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