briefs

Burt Rutan spent some time at each of his AirVenture forums in Oshkosh last summer trying to recruit more workers for his company, Scaled Composites, in Mojave, Calif. Last week, he was still at it, with a story in Space.com telling about his need for workers. “We are looking for people that like to build […]

Stephen Hopson has wanted to fly since he was four years old, and decided long ago that being deaf would not stop him. He earned a private and commercial certificate, and last week became the first deaf pilot to get his FAA instrument rating, flying a Cessna 172 in Akron, Ohio. Since instrument pilots must […]

When Congress and the FAA start tossing billion-dollar budget numbers around, it can seem very remote and unreal. But here’s what proposed cuts from Airport Improvement Project funding translates to on the ground — a hangar that’s never built, a security fence not installed, an ILS out of operation. Mike Fricker, chairman of the Airport […]

Researchers in North Dakota say they have been working for four years on a process that converts soybean or canola oil into aviation turbine fuel. The biofuel, which is now almost ready for an Air Force test, runs colder and cheaper than conventional jet fuel and is more environmentally friendly, the Grand Forks Herald reported […]

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BRAINTEASERS Quiz #104: Preflight ThisNo person shall begin a flight without ensuring that most of the aircraft parts are attached in an airworthy fashion. That inspection requires more than a laminated checklist, so let’s preflight the logbook, fuel, and pilot’s airworthiness. ___________________MAINTENANCE MATTERS No Muss, No Fuss Oil ChangingIf you’re interested in changing your own […]

Sixty-three of America’s first African-American fighter pilots will receive honorary degrees from Tuskegee University today, as part of the Sixth Annual Tuskegee Airmen Convocation. The event recognizes the Tuskegee Airmen’s exemplary combat performance during World War II, which included the destruction of 260 enemy aircraft while not losing a single bomber to enemy fire in […]

Young people who belong to Aviation Explorers can apply for up to $10,000 in scholarships to advance in their aviation career. The National Aviation Exploring Committee will this year award five scholarships. The scholarships include $10,000 to help finance a course of study leading to an aviation profession; three $3,000 awards to study avionics, maintenance, […]

Space Adventures said last week it has entered into a joint venture with Prodea, a private investment firm founded by the Ansari family (the same Ansaris who funded the $10 million X Prize). The company also has partnered with the Federal Space Agency of the Russian Federation to develop a fleet of suborbital spaceflight vehicles. […]