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Category Archives: Industry & Government
Two Single-Engine Jets Funded Again
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
15 Comments
The International Politics of NDB Approaches
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
The Good, and the Bad in 2011
I’ve been writing this Left Seat blog for EAA with the generous sponsorship of Aspen Avionics for a year. I don’t think it’s my fault, but 2011 has not been the most memorable year in aviation, but there was some … Continue reading
Posted in Aircraft, Airmanship, Flying for Fun, Industry & Government, Safety, Technology
11 Comments
Small Aircraft Transportation System
At one time NASA promoted SATS – What happened? In the mid-1990s NASA created a program to revive general aviation and transform piston airplanes into reliable transportation machines that could be safely operated by pilots without thousands of hours of … Continue reading
The Ultimate Homebuilder – Frank Robinson
People build their own aircraft for all sorts of reasons, but high on the list is a desire for a machine you just can’t buy from a factory. And that’s exactly why Frank Robinson built his own helicopter. And that … Continue reading
Posted in Aircraft, Industry & Government
9 Comments
Education Can Replace Third-Class Medical
The petition by EAA and AOPA to allow required medical education to replace the third-class medical for recreational flying is the first proposal that I think actually can improve safety and be approved by the FAA. The petition asks the … Continue reading
Posted in Airmanship, Industry & Government, Safety
100 Comments
Tougher Than the Weather
A forecast that has proven tougher to make, and certainly less accurate than the weather, is how new airplane sales will go in the future. But that doesn’t stop some companies from trying to see over the edge into the … Continue reading
Posted in Aircraft, Industry & Government
25 Comments
Pilots Buy Dreams, but Not Airplanes
Human economic behavior is perverse. We buy expensive items such as houses and stocks when prices are high, but sell them, or don’t buy, when prices go down. And we spend millions on dream airplanes, but when an airplane becomes … Continue reading
We Must Meet FAA Safety Targets
The eternal frustration for anyone who has studied general aviation safety statistics is the complete lack of reliable data on exposure. We know with reasonable accuracy how many accidents occur each year, and we know with even better certainty how … Continue reading
Posted in Aircraft, Airmanship, EAA, Industry & Government, Safety
31 Comments
Making Sense of Small Airplane Certification Rules
The FAA rules that govern certification of “small” airplanes are a mess. Finally, the FAA has begun the lengthy process of trying to change FAR Part 23 so that both the makers of basic piston singles, as well as those … Continue reading
Posted in Aircraft, Industry & Government
12 Comments
