The revised third edition of “The Rogue Aviator: In the Back Alleys of Aviation” is now available. Pilot “Ace Abbott” takes readers through his career spanning 36 years, including flights to 44 countries with 25 different employers. The story ranges from five star hotels and restaurants in Paris to noisy, greasy, cargo ramps, and a […]
FAA
Controllers say realignment OK if they are part of plan
WASHINGTON, D.C — Congress is taking a look at the FAA’s plans and efforts to consolidate air traffic control facilities and the controllers’ union says it supports the changes, but only if safety, efficiency, and service are improved. Paul Rinaldi, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, told the House Aviation Subcommittee that facility […]
FAA study: GA airports a national asset
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Nearly 50 years ago I wrote a magazine article titled “Airports are for people who DON’T fly.” The FAA’s recently released 18-month study of GA airports has information documenting that claim, which people who don’t fly should know. The study tells of the many different functions at these airports that advance the […]
Chris Linn awarded Master Pilot Award
Chris Linn of Farragut, Tennessee, flies every chance he gets. The retired aerospace engineer, who keeps his floatplane at Sky Ranch Airport, home of the East Tennessee Pilots Club, was recently honored by the FAA with the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award for “practicing and promoting safe aircraft operations for more than 50 years” during […]
FAA forecast: Spot on or improbable?
As the Light-Sport Aircraft industry ramps up for a summer of flying and the season’s biggest celebration of flight, AirVenture Oshkosh, I am still analyzing the FAA’s recently issued 20-year forecast for aviation, which shows growth prospects for LSAs, while predicting a decline in the total number of piston-powered aircraft. Viewed from a distance, this might […]
Hearing Thursday to examine FAA consolidation plan
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A Congressional hearing on Thursday will examine the FAA’S efforts to consolidate air traffic control facilities to provide long-term cost savings and help U.S. aviation transition to the NextGen air traffic control system. The House Aviation Subcommittee will hear testimony from the FAA, the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General (OIG), […]
Tampa-area general aviation airports prepare for Republican convention
Airports in the Tampa area are gearing up for increased traffic later this summer for the Republican National Convention, according to a report in The Tampa Tribune. TFRs will be in place for flights within a 10-mile radius of the Aug. 26 kick-off party in St. Petersburg and the Aug. 27-30 convention in Tampa. The […]
Wing spar cap inspections required for C210s
An airworthiness directive (AD) issued May 21 requires one-time inspections of the lower main spar caps on the wings of Cessna 210, P210, and T210 airplanes. According to a report at AOPA.org, the AD calls for either replacement of cracked parts or a to-be-determined FAA-approved modification if cracks are found, as well as reporting of […]
So is NextGen really NextGen?
By JEFFREY BOCCACCIO. This is the ninth in a series of articles looking at the impact of the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) on GA pilots. What the heck is this all about? NextGen really not NextGen? Over the course of the last 10 months we have reviewed quite a few navigation techniques that […]