The Midwest Flyer is reporting that the Red Lake Nation will release Darrin Smedsmo’s aircraft at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, and the tribe will drop all charges against the Minnesota pilot.
Aircraft
Epic Flight Academy Launches Six-Month Fast Track Pilot Program
Students commit to training seven days a week, dedicating 12 to 14 hours a day to flight training, simulator work, and study, according to officials with the flight school. Students can earn private pilot, instrument, commercial single-engine, and commercial multi-engine ratings in that time frame, they add.
Garmin brings SmartCharts to Garmin Pilot Web
Garmin has integrated SmartCharts into Garmin Pilot Web, offering pilots information tailored to their flights.
Assumptions About Fuel Factor Into Colorado Crash
Probable Cause: The failure of the flight instructor and the pilot to visually confirm the airplane’s fuel quantity during preflight, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and an off-airport forced landing in rough terrain.
Picture of the Day: Study Break
Lindsay Petre submitted this photo and note: “Needing a break from studying for my private rotorcraft, I took a little solo trip around the beautiful springtime Connecticut countryside in the Robinson R22.”
Flying Lower and Slower at 86
At 86, retired attorney Peter Hartmann has transitioned from a fast Turbo Cessna 210 to a lower, slower Lake Amphibian. He shares how a modern digital cockpit keeps him safely flying — and adjusting to the realities of aging in the sky.
Piston Aircraft Deliveries Climb So Far in 2026
GAMA’s first quarter report shows notable increases in piston airplane and business jet deliveries. While total airplane shipment values soared to $6.1 billion, helicopter shipments experienced slight declines across the board.
ALSIM Introduces its First FTD Level 6 Simulator
US Aviation Academy has ordered five of the ALSIM P2006T MKII simulators, which replicate the Tecnam P2006T MKII twin-engine aircraft, according to ALSIM officials.
Passenger Not Wearing Seatbelt Seriously Injured When Pilot Loses Control While Landing
Probable Cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain control while landing on a wet turf runway, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with trees. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to ensure the passenger’s proper use of seatbelts before the landing.