Category Archives: Industry & Government

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 | 15 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

The Good, and the Bad in 2011

Posted on December 30, 2011 by Mac

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

Posted on December 14, 2011 by Mac

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 →

Posted in Industry & Government, Mac Clellan's Left Seat Blog, Safety | 46 Comments

The Ultimate Homebuilder – Frank Robinson

Posted on November 16, 2011 by Mac

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

Posted on October 24, 2011 by Mac

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

Posted on October 13, 2011 by Mac

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

Posted on September 28, 2011 by Mac

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 →

Posted in Aircraft, Industry & Government, Mac Clellan's Left Seat Blog | 48 Comments

We Must Meet FAA Safety Targets

Posted on September 14, 2011 by Mac

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

Posted on August 30, 2011 by Mac

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