“We hope to encourage participation by seaplane pilots around the country to help refine the projects under consideration and to demonstrate the level of interest in using these facilities by the seaplane pilot community,” said Herb Lingl, Clear Lake Splash-In coordinator.
Aircraft
Montana legislators pass bill limiting use of ADS-B
The bill, introduced by Rep. Shane Klakken (R-Grass Range), who is a pilot, would prohibit the use of ADS-B data to assess landing fees on general aviation (Part 91) flights in aircraft that weigh no more than 9,000 pounds.
Aircraft Spruce opens new Texas distribution center
Aircraft Spruce & Specialty Co. and its sister company Aero Performance have opened a new 38,000-square-foot distribution center at AllianceTexas, a 27,000-acre master planned development at Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport (KAFW) in Texas.
Failure to activate pitot heat leads to loss of control
Probable Cause: The pilot’s failure to activate the pitot heat in a timely manner during flight into icing conditions, which resulted in a temporary failure of the flight instruments and a subsequent loss of control.
Picture of the Day: Surreal mountains
Scott Crosby sent in this photo with a note: “The photo was taken from my 1978 Cessna 182Q, on a flight home to Donaldson Field Airport (KGYH) in Greenville, South Carolina, from Reading Regional Airport/Carl A Spaatz Field (KRDG) in Reading, Pennsylvania. The actual location where the photo was taken is somewhere near Roanoke, Virginia, about half-way into the four-hour flight.”
Uptick in busted TFRs leads to warning from NORAD
Since the Jan. 20, 2025, presidential inauguration, NORAD officials report they have responded to more than 20 “tracks of interest” entering skies above President Trump’s Mar-A-Lago resort near Palm Beach, Florida.
Airline CEO nominated to head FAA
“As the former president and CEO of Republic Airways, Mesaba Airlines, and Business Express Airlines, Brian brings over three decades of experience in aviation and executive leadership to this critical position,” Trump said in a March 17, 2025, Truth Social post.
ASA releases new edition of Aircraft Inspection, Repair & Alterations
This handbook for aviation mechanics, AMT schools, repair stations, aircraft owners, and homebuilders details the standards for acceptable methods, techniques, and practices for the inspection, repair, and alteration of aircraft.
Tailwheel instructor startled when wind blows off hat, headset, and glasses
It was a warm day and we had been flying with the left window open. I had been flying with a loose fitting cap under my headset. When full power was applied, the wind blast came in through the window and knocked my cap back, taking the headset and my glasses with it. This startled and distracted me enough that I failed to straighten the airplane out to align with the runway center line.