Although it is not scheduled to be released until January 2014, I have just finished reading “Fireball, Carole Lombard and the Mystery of Flight 3” by Robert Matzen. His research is impressive. Rather than dwell on the superficial or get bogged down on the sensational aspects of the story, Matzen treats the subjects like real […]
Opinion
Dumb mistakes and dumb luck
The other week, we Florida east coast residents enjoyed a strong, refreshing breeze — welcome tonic after a long summer. The weatherman said it was out of the north, but flags on the beach weren’t parallel to the surf. Reminds me of a grim story from my flying career. Stay tuned. I’m fessing up! For […]
GA looks to debt ceiling date
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Oct.. 17 is rapidly approaching and even the experts with crystal balls can’t predict what the government will do. Unless Congress moves before then and passes some sort of funding bills, general aviation could suffer more than the few problems the partial government shutdown is now causing. Day-to-day flying under the current […]
Top reasons to buy an LSA
At this year’s Midwest LSA Expo, held Sept. 5-7 at Mt. Vernon Outland Airport (KMVN) in Illinois, I delivered a presentation called “20+ Reasons to Buy an LSA.” However, to handle the subject a little bit differently, I turned it into an audience participation exercise. As I presented each slide of a particular reason, I […]
Talk of privatizing ATC reappears
WASHINGTON, D.C — A wise person once commented that we learn from history that we learn nothing from history. Nothing could be more accurate than the current flap over privatizing the air traffic control system. More than two dozen industrialized nations have turned air traffic control over to private or semi-private organizations. None of these […]
Maybe the O stands for opportunity
Next week, Fort Worth, Texas, will fill up with pilots, mechanics, air traffic controllers, writers, reporters, business owners, spouses, friends, and all the assorted characters who travel along with the big aviation enthusiast road show. The draw is the AOPA Summit, an annual gathering of the faithful, the hopeful, and the not-entirely-satisfied who all have […]
Canceling the Big Show
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association’s decision to cancel its annual convention and trade show made news this month. It certainly shows movement instead of “business as usual” under new president Mark Baker. I have some perspective to offer and a modest suggestion. Care to listen? When I showed up at AOPA in July 1991, […]
Exporting GA
WASHINGTON, D.C. — General aviation might be sluggish in the United States during these economic slow periods, but in the Asia-Pacific area, GA flying is getting a lot of attention — but not always for the most positive reasons. China, particularly, is flexing its muscles for all general aviation. Of course, there are many challenges, […]
Snowballs and dominos
It has been said, what goes up must come down. The statement is so obvious that it strikes us as a truism, something so apparent that it’s legitimacy is self-evident. Then again, not everything is as it seems. As an example, you may have noted earlier this month a small spacecraft named Voyager 1 departed […]