Author Archives: Mac

The Low Down On Wind

Posted on March 7, 2012 by Mac

Strong stratification of winds can occur over the U.S. at any time of the year, but they are most common in the winter and early spring. And this has been one heck of a year for strong winds over most … Continue reading →

Posted in Mac Clellan's Left Seat Blog | 33 Comments

A Kinder FAA, or a More Effective FAA?

Posted on February 29, 2012 by Mac

It has been fashionable at various times for the FAA to bill itself as being “kinder and gentler” when it comes to rules enforcement. The concept sounds good, but does it make sense? The people in charge of Flight Standards, … Continue reading →

Posted in Mac Clellan's Left Seat Blog | 12 Comments

Homebuilders and Electronic Flight Control Advancement

Posted on February 20, 2012 by Mac

I believe the new frontier for light airplanes is fly-by-wire, or more likely, electronic enhancement of flying qualities and envelope protection. And homebuilders are the people in a perfect position to pioneer those advances. Light airplane design and technology is … Continue reading →

Posted in Mac Clellan's Left Seat Blog | 21 Comments

Airframes Need Experience, Too

Posted on February 15, 2012 by Mac

Sikorsky helicopter president Jeff Pino was talking about the company’s S76 twin engine helicopter that will soon be offered in yet another evolutionary version, the “D” model. The S76 has been in production since 1979 and continues to be one … Continue reading →

Posted in Mac Clellan's Left Seat Blog | 1 Comment

Aviator or Pilot?

Posted on February 8, 2012 by Mac

  My boss, EAA president and CEO Rod Hightower, likes the word aviator. And also aviate. I am pleased that Rod thinks of me as an aviator. But, as usual, some have groused about use of the title aviator and … Continue reading →

Posted in Mac Clellan's Left Seat Blog | 15 Comments

Is A Crash A Crime?

Posted on February 2, 2012 by Mac

In many countries accidents are considered to be criminal acts. Italy and Brazil come to mind as nations that have treated high profile aviation accidents as criminal acts by the pilots involved.  In Italy several years ago a U.S. military … Continue reading →

Posted in Mac Clellan's Left Seat Blog | 31 Comments

Are Touchscreens Here to Stay?

Posted on January 25, 2012 by Mac

Garmin is all in on touchscreen avionics. It will no longer build its wildly successful GNS 430/530 flight management systems which have been replaced in production by the GTN 700/600 series units that have touchscreen control. Garmin also has the … Continue reading →

Posted in Mac Clellan's Left Seat Blog | 48 Comments

Over Water Worries

Posted on January 17, 2012 by Mac

I was chatting with EAA founder Paul Poberezny last week. What an amazing guy. Through a very unusual set of circumstances during his military career during World War II and then as an officer in the Wisconsin National Guard he … Continue reading →

Posted in Mac Clellan's Left Seat Blog | 30 Comments

Two Single-Engine Jets Funded Again

Posted on January 9, 2012 by Mac

The Cirrus SF50 Vision single-engine jet development program had been on hold since last fall while the company’s new Chinese based owner, CAIGA, analyzed and reviewed the program. But the new owners are apparently satisfied with the prospects for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Aircraft, Industry & Government | 16 Comments

The International Politics of NDB Approaches

Posted on January 4, 2012 by Mac

How old is the non-directional beacon (NDB) as an aeronautical navigation aid? Eighty years? 90 years? Or maybe more. I’m not sure. The NDB was certainly around before even the fancy four-course range with its dit-dah left-right guidance along a … Continue reading →

Posted in Aircraft, Industry & Government, Technology | 40 Comments