“U.S. accident statistics reveal that a helicopter pilot operating under Visual Flight Rules who unintentionally continues flight into IMC will very likely lose control of their aircraft and be dead within an average of 56 seconds.”
Aviation News
New solar panels help Clay Lacy work towards zero carbon footprint
The new solar array will offset the equivalent of 530 metric tons of CO2, the same amount of CO2 generated by driving more than 1.3 million passenger miles in an average car or burning over 584,000 pounds of coal, according to Clay Lacy officials.
Schweiss Doors introduces Superstructure, Triple-Leg Stand-Alone hydraulic door
The new design transfers the weight of the door to the footings that support the hydraulic door, eliminating the need for additional side columns from the building manufacturer, offering a “significant building cost reduction,” according to company officials.
Rushed pilot lands with gear up, blames iPad for blocking his view of landing gear position light
The pilot’s failure to extend the landing gear before landing. Contributing to the accident were the pilot’s inability to see the landing gear position light because his iPad was blocking his view of it and his feeling of being rushed during the approach and landing.
Picture of the Day: Cool flying
Jon Humberd submitted this photo and note: “A bit nippy in the Tennessee hills on a winter day!”
A perfectly pleasing Piel Emeraude
More than a half century later, David Wiebe is still flying the Piel Emeraude his father built from plans — and there’s a good chance the homebuilt will be flying well into the future, perhaps introducing another generation of Wiebes to the sky.
Avionics sales plummet 26% in 2020
While 2020’s sales marked the lowest amount of sales in the Avionics Market Report’s nine-year history, officials with the Aircraft Electronics Association note that the industry experienced “healthy sales growth” during the last six months of the year as pandemic restrictions loosened.
Registration opens for FlightSimExpo
The expo offers both in person and virtual attendance to those interested in flight simulation. It will feature an exhibit hall, panel discussions, and two days of presentations from airline pilots, dispatchers, accident investigators, air traffic controllers, flight simulation developers, and an F-35 test pilot.
Complacent student pilot bends plane
The student pilot’s complacency, which led to his improper crosswind correction and subsequent failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a runway excursion and ground collision.