In January, a 66-year-old airline transport rated pilot went to the ER for chest pain. He was evaluated for a myocardial infarction (heart attack). The enzymes that we do when people enter the ER were negative for heart damage and his EKG was within normal range. However, his chest pain persisted. He stayed overnight in […]
Opinion
What causes engines to develop less-than-rated power?
QUESTION: I just read your article on the history of the 0-320-H2AD engine (What engines should I avoid, Dec. 24, 2004, issue). I have had three Skyhawks with the later engine (two 1977s and one 1979) and have had no problems with TBO — all went well past 2,000 hours. My question is about power. […]
What’s a billion here or there?
WASHINGTON, D.C. — If you live the average life span, from the moment you are born until your death your heart will beat a little more than 2 billion times. Many years ago when I worked for a newspaper, I drew a caricature of one of the columnists. He liked it and used it to […]
Teaching the next generation
Recently I witnessed an exchange between father and teenage daughter. The daughter, a student in the inaugural class of Seattle’s Aviation High School, was begging her father to let her start her flight training now. She is 14. “No, not until you’re older,” he said. “I don’t want to spend all that money and have […]
Sincere thanks
GAN does so much to help general aviation in many aspects, especially the EAA fly-ins. Ben Sclair and his staff are real supporters of all the groups. The EAA Southwest Regional Fly-In moved to its biggest and best venue this year: Hondo Municipal Airfield at Hondo, Texas. We had to shift operations and all our accumulated […]
Accidentally identified
First I want to compliment you on the quality of your publication. I like the Pacific Northwest regional coverage and find the aviation news very informative. In your April 22 issue Accident Reports (page 51), the second accident involves the loss of a Cessna T207 near Merlin, Ore. I was acquainted with the pilot. He […]
Win-Win situation
The Spokane Chapter of the Washington Pilot’s Association is making a difference. We started a move last fall through the Washington State Adopt an Airport program to improve a little known airstrip on the beautiful Snake River. The airstrip is “00W,” Lower Granite State Airport near Boyer Park Campground and Marina in southeast Washington State. […]
Required reading
I have just finished reading “The Outsiders,” (April 22 issue) several times over. This well-done article should be required reading for every one in the GA industry. It is a well expressed point of view of a highly qualified expert that requires consideration, if GA is going to continue to grow. Let’s face it, the […]
Lost pilots hurt us all
While I certainly don’t have all the facts concerning the recent incursion into the Washington ADIZ — and within three miles of the White House — by Hayden Sheaffer, a certificated pilot, and Troy Martin, a student pilot, in a Cessna 150, I am upset with them for what they’ve probably done to all of […]