FRESNO, Calif. — On June 29, Jack Wiegand completed his mission to break the current Guinness World Records title and became the youngest person to fly solo around the world. The Fresno, Calif. native, 21 years 7 days, broke the current record held by James Anthony Tan of Malaysia who was 21 years 344 days […]
Pilots
Pilots still needed for study
The MITRE Corporation’s Center for Advanced Aviation System Development is still recruiting pilots for a study evaluating proposed changes to runway standards at general aviation airports. Pilots who participate can earn up to $250. The study will examine whether infrastructure standards, such as runway width and length, pavement markings, visual guidance systems and edge lighting, […]
Free eBook ‘How To Be A Pilot’ released
iFLYblog.com has released a new eBook that walks people through the process of getting their pilot’s license, step-by-step. Written by an experienced CFI, the free book is full of insider tips and techniques to set candidates up for success. Brent Owens, the force behind iFLYblog.com, suggests people who are already pilots should take advantage of […]
Fractional ownership: Getting a piece of a high-end aircraft
Would you like to fly a well-maintained, newer airplane, but can’t afford to buy one just yet? Rather than back-burner this dream, you might want to consider fractional ownership. One of the first fractional programs available to the single-engine piston driving crowd was PlaneSmart!, which began operations in 2003, “as a means to give pilots […]
MITRE seeks pilots for runway visibility study
The MITRE Corporation’s Center for Advanced Aviation System Development is recruiting pilots for a study evaluating proposed changes to runway standards at general aviation airports. The study will examine whether or not infrastructure standards, such as runway width and length, pavement markings, visual guidance systems and edge lighting, can be changed to accommodate satellite-based instrument […]
I do not consent to searches
By DAVE HOOK. When did American citizens give up Fourth Amendment rights just because they became pilots? Over the past year, there have been numerous reports of searches of private aircraft without warrants. The accounts described by the pilots also suggest that insufficient cause was given by the law enforcement agencies conducting the searches. This […]
Reversed adventures
We have an agreement that if chores get too strenuous, projects get too overwhelming, or lists get too long, it’s time to hit the road. Sometimes, it’s just for the day, but every few weeks, we’ll do an overnighter, and every couple of months we do several days. We don’t go far; maybe a few […]
Protect yourself from ‘get-there-itis’
By BRENT OWENS It’s a fancy name for “get-there-itis” — plan continuation bias, which is an unconscious cognitive bias to continue the original plan in spite of changing conditions — and it can be deadly for general aviation pilots. Plan continuation bias was identified in a NASA Ames human factors study from 2004 which analyzed […]
Type club established for Sonex aircraft
A national type club, the Sonex Builders & Pilots Foundation, has been established for the Sonex line of aircraft. In alignment with NTSB recommendations for the improvement of Experimental/Amateur-Built aircraft safety, the Sonex Builders & Pilots Foundation was founded as a type club to promote safety and education in building and operating Sonex aircraft, according […]