Jim Hefner submitted these photos and note: “My wife and I did a day trip flight from Tucson to Catalina Island. The first photo is a shot of our plane parked at The Airport in the Sky (KAVX). This flight had been on my bucket list for several years and it was worth the wait. Due to COVID we didn’t want to stay overnight, so we flew nearly 1,000 miles to have a picnic lunch on an island in the Pacific and were back home by 5 pm … only GA can let you do that! It was an incredible day getaway with my wife that we will never forget.”
Chaos created by pandemic could result in a better ATC system
“Out of the chaos of COVID-19, we have an historic opportunity to invest in our nation’s aviation system in both technology and physical infrastructure to ensure the U.S remains the gold standard in aviation worldwide,” says Paul Rinaldi, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA).
Doubling down on Able Flight
“The availability of the adapted Sky Arrow helped inspire the creation of Able Flight, and over the past 15 years, many people have become licensed pilots after training in the Sky Arrow,” said Able Flight’s Founder and Executive Director Charles Stites. “Their plane has been an outstanding training platform for our pilots, and it is gratifying that Magnaghi Aeronautica has now chosen to help support the scholarship program with a financial gift.”
ICON introduces SMART app
Called ICON SMART (Survey for Managing and Assessing Risks to Safety), the mobile app guides users through preflight planning questions such as expected payload, fuel, weather, takeoff and landing information, flight time, and even the pilot’s experience and health status.
Picture of the Day: Champ at sunset
Pete Burns submitted this photo and note: “Just ramming around the area in April 2021 in my 1946 7AC Champ. I was coming in to land and I saw a friend in a Cub take off. I circled around, he formed up, and a friend in the back of my plane took this photo. We are pretty much right over the strip — 0NY0, Bennett’s Field in North Creek, N.Y., in the Adirondacks.”
Expansion of LSA to LPA on track
As the FAA continues its update of the Light-Sport Aircraft and Sport Pilot rules, expect to see a new category of aircraft: Light Personal Aircraft (LPA).
More than 200 pilots set to race in Air Derby
The race will pit 90 teams of women pilots from eight countries and 36 U.S. States, including 17 teams from 10 colleges or universities. Routes will be flown in four countries: U.S., Canada, The Bahamas, and New Zealand.
Tail Slide now available in Brazil, Europe
The validations allow the Cessna Tail Slide to be immediately installed on every Brazilian- and EASA-registered Cessna 172, 172RG, 175, T-41, Hawk XP, 182, 205, 206, 207, and 210.
Picture of the Day: Climbing the ladder
Gord McNulty, vice president of the Canadian Aviation Historical Society, submitted this photo and note: “I was 10 years old when I was thrilled to climb the ladder to a U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds F-100 Super Sabre at the 1957 Canadian National Exhibition Air Show in Toronto. The Thunderbirds extended a warm welcome to my father, Jack, a well-known aviation photographer who took this shot at what was then Malton Airport (now Toronto Pearson International Airport).”