SPLOG By DAN JOHNSON Most folks following LSA development know the Sting, refreshed for the U.S. market with the S3 model. Now, welcome to the TL3000 Sirius as the newest SLSA to hit the market in a blur of new offerings seemingly triggered after the industry hit #100. Importer SportairUSA maneuvered its low-wing, all-carbon-fiber Sting […]
Opinion
EAA underscores importance of mogas at airports
In commenting on the FAA’s unexpected release of a new Airport Compliance Manual on Sept. 30, the EAA cited three major weaknesses of the document. The first dealt with the absence of any mention of autogas as a legal and important aviation fuel: “Autofuel was not recognized as an authorized aviation fuel, nor does it […]
Pair of floatplanes debut
SPLOG By DAN JOHNSO We’ve arrived at the end of the main float-flying season, but two of our largest LSA manufacturers just unveiled floatplane models. Welcome to the American Legend FloatCub and the Remos GX on floats. The most successful American LSA producer, American Legend, won approval Oct. 2 for its amphibious Legend FloatCub. FloatCub […]
The power of triple digits
SPLOG By DAN JOHNSON The operative phrases are: Triple Digits and Global Reach. Triple digits refers to the number of approved Special Light Sport Aircraft available. In fact, once it hit #100, the industry shot past to #104 and I see no end in sight to new models. Some major ones are expected soon, including […]
Ask Paul: Narrow deck cylinders, the Twin Comanche and a Lycoming milestone
Geez, it’s really beginning to look like I’m losing it when it comes to misstating things in my columns. The most recent concerned the “Wide Deck” vs “Narrow Deck” cylinder column in my last column. I thought I’d explained the difference between the two and used an example of the Piper Twin Comanche PA-30 as […]
The Spirit of Thomasville
SHORT FINAL By DEB McFARLAND The forecasters were wrong. I don’t generally pay attention to forecasts until a day or two before my flight because, frankly, here in the South, weather predictions bob up and down nearly as bad as the float on my old fishing pole when cast in a pond of bored fish. […]
NextGen computer doesn’t keep up
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) said a recent test of the computer system for the NextGen at the Salt Lake Center worked well with light traffic, but failed when traffic volume picked up. Called En Route Automation Modernization (ERAM), the system is the cornerstone of NextGen. NATCA officials say there are numerous bugs […]
House group calls for no user fees
Democrats and Republicans in the House are trying to keep user fees out of the President’s proposals for the 2011 budget. Rep. Jerry Costello (D-Ill.), chairman of the House Aviation Subcommittee, and Ranking Member Thomas Petri (R-Wis.) are circulating a letter, which is being signed by other members of the House, that calls for no […]
Study proves only that ‘watchdog’ group doesn’t understand GA
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Another alleged independent group has come out with a study of airport financial grants and revealed that they, too, know little about aviation. The study, released by a “watchdog” group that looks into government spending, says it found “billions of dollars flowing to low priority airports.” A release from Subsidyscope, an initiative […]