“If we truly want to fix the real problems facing the FAA today, the solution is simple,” claims Oregon Representative Peter DeFazio. Really? “Congress can and should pass targeted reforms.” Cool. That is simple. Umm. So… why haven’t you passed “targeted reforms” Rep. DeFazio? After all, you’ve served as a member of the House Transportation […]
Touch & Go
Horrific story of survival leads to ELT
As the saying goes, “aviation regulation is written in blood.” In the case of the emergency locator transmitter (ELT) regulation, I suppose it would be more accurate to say “written in horrific survival.” I just finished Ross Nixon’s detailed and informative book, “Finding Carla,” which tells the nightmarish story of 15-year-old Carla Corbus, her mother […]
The FAA gets its knuckles rapped
The FAA’s drone registry is unlawful. So says the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. Way back when the 2012 FAA Modernization and Reform Act was passed, the legislation stated “that the FAA ‘may not promulgate any rule or regulation regarding a model aircraft.’” Circuit Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh wrote, “Statutory interpretation does not […]
BasicMed is creating…conversation
BasicMed is brand-spanking new. And the topic has created nearly endless discussion. Merits, drawbacks, pros, cons, and more are all fair game. A good amount of mis-information — sadly — seems to be feeding the fire. For example, I’ve seen discussions centered around indicated versus true or calibrated airspeed. For the record, BasicMed allows you to operate […]
$600K today or $900K tomorrow?
What sounds better to you? $637,000 today or $900,000 in the near future? But first some back story before you answer: Way back in 2015, Washington state’s HB 1526 became law. The legislation reallocated 100% of the aircraft excise tax to the “Washington State Department of Transportation aviation airport aid grant program.” Previously, just 10% […]
FAR Part 0 – Really?
If you’ve spent any time reading — and re-reading — the Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs), then you’ll recognize the humor in the FAR Part 0. It has crossed my email inbox a few times now and I think it’s funny enough to share. Enjoy. FAA Regulation / Part 0, Section 000 (a) 1 (c) Section I: No […]
The cost of $3,200
United Airlines has had a rough few weeks. And yet, the days of overbooked commercial flights are likely here to stay. So what’s an airline to do? When crew must get from A to B and all the seats are filled with paying passengers, the options are often limited. United Airlines recently offered four passengers […]
A letter from prison
“I imagine it’s not very often you get mail from a prison,” Tim’s letter started. He’s right, we don’t get many letters from prison. We do have a dozen — perhaps more — General Aviation News subscribers who are currently incarcerated. “After getting a grace issue and letting my subscription lapse, I felt obligated to thank you,” […]
The dream of flight is universal
Humans have dreamed of flight for hundreds — if not thousands — of years. And today is no different from centuries ago. Want proof? BBC Culture’s Fiona Macdonald wrote a marvelous story about the making of the book, “Aeronautics in the Backyard.” “He [Zhang Dousan] retrieved an engine from the wreckage of a light aircraft destroyed in a […]