Author Archives: Mac

We’ve been hearing that some people are concerned that EAA’s big show at Oshkosh this summer is in jeopardy because of the FAA budget cuts caused by the federal government sequestration. Nothing could be further from the truth. The concern … Continue reading →

It’s been a tough time for general aviation since the U.S. economy went bust in the early fall of 2008. But I was happy to hear some good news for a change when I visited Cirrus Aircraft in Duluth last … Continue reading →

I received a solicitation from my auto insurance company offering at least a 5 percent discount if I would install a tracking device in my car. The device would use GPS, and perhaps cell phone tower triangulation, to monitor all … Continue reading →

With federal government budget cuts looming on Friday many pilots wonder why the FAA doesn’t just move controllers around to fill in for gaps left by inevitable furloughs. It seems logical that the FAA could close the least used towers … Continue reading →

What’s that old saying? Don’t tax you, don’t tax me, tax that man behind the tree. It looks like aviation is now that guy behind the tree. With the federal budget sequestration set for March 1 it’s starting to become … Continue reading →

When most of us learned to fly instruments the term partial panel had a very specific meaning. Flying partial panel meant the attitude gyro, and usually the directional gyro, were not working and you were left with only a turn … Continue reading →

The FAA has issued an AD requiring inspection of the stabilator control system of all Piper Cherokees, Lance/Saratogas, Senecas and Seminoles that are 15 years old and older. The FAA estimates that the AD applies to about 34,000 airplanes in … Continue reading →

What killed the piston twin? That’s easy. It was the piston single. All types of piston airplane production have faded over the last 30 years but the piston twin has nearly vanished. Only the Beech Baron 58 and Piper Seneca … Continue reading →

I’ll admit that I fib to controllers. Not about my altitude, or airspeed or course, but about approach procedures. I secretly track GPS/RNAV approaches without telling. The good news is that the FAA has proudly announced that it has published … Continue reading →

Boeing had fair warning that there could be problems with lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries but went ahead and used them in its 787 Dreamliner. Now the fleet is grounded because at least one Li-ion battery has caught fire. The warning came … Continue reading →