I open all the mail General Aviation News receives. From time-to-time, a subscriber will write a note on their renewal notice. Most often the note is words of encouragement or appreciation. On occasion it is a complaint. We can’t please everyone. But when I read a note on Tom Wathen’s renewal notice, I was taken […]
Touch & Go
What about Military Eagles?
Chad Manning flies 737s for Alaska Airlines and C-17s for the 446th Reserve Wing at McChord Field in Washington state. He hadn’t flown in a J-3 Cub. Ever. “When was the last time you flew in a small plane?” I asked Chad as we drove to the airport. “16 years ago in a 172,” he […]
Third class medical reform: Done
With the swipe of his pen on Friday, July 15, President Obama set into law third class medical reform. I’m thrilled. So are a good many pilots. “It’s important to celebrate this moment, which has been a long time coming and resulted from an incredible amount of work over the past five years,” said Jack […]
I’m a pilot, not an airman
The FAA should have titled the Practical Test Standards (PTS) replacement Pilot Certification Standards, not Airman Certification Standards (ACS). Regardless what you think of the new standards for awarding (or earning) a pilot — see there it is — certificate, the title is wrong. Never have I been asked, “Are you an airman?” And I’d hazard a […]
Will others follow?
Bravo CubCrafters. Bravo. On June 2, XCub officially joined the CubCrafters line-up. It’s a 180-horsepower machine with lots of bells and whistles, including heated seats (coming soon) and a $297,500 base price. Go ahead haters… pile on. They can take it. But from my perspective, the best feature of the XCub announcement is… it’s certified and available for immediate delivery. […]
Back to the drawing board in Salem
If you doubt one person can make a difference, doubt no more. Salem, Oregon pilot Chuck West watched as Salem’s NcNary Field (KSLE) airspace was re-drawn, and re-drawn again. There was a problem. Portions of the instrument approaches were no longer protected and that violated FAA Order 8260.26F. Chuck found that a pilot flying inbound from […]
Thank you Dee
It should go without saying that aviation means a little (or a lot) more in Alaska. But it’s so much fun to talk about. My wife, Deb, and I just returned from Anchorage and the 19th annual Great Alaska Aviation Gathering. Once again, the FedEx Maintenence Hangar at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport was packed to the […]
A notebook’s view of SUN ‘n FUN
It is hard to see the bigger event that is SUN ‘n FUN while also producing the daily newspaper for the show. A 40-page newspaper requires feeding and attention, just like a baby. So as I look back on the show, it’s all a blur. Thankfully I had a reporter’s notebook in my pocket to […]
Bravo FAA, Bravo
The FAA just made flying safer. In case you missed it, the Experimental Aircraft Association announced — at SUN ‘n FUN — a new Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) that will allow Cessna 150s, 152s, 172s and Piper PA-28s and PA-38s owners to install Dynon’s EFIS-D10A. The EFIS-D10A fits a standard 3-⅛” panel hole and can replace either […]