Flight Training

New FAA rules affecting how student pilots are certified took effect today. The new rules require all applicants to be vetted through the FAA’s Airmen Certification Branch, a process the FAA says will take about three weeks. Currently, the FAA completes the same vetting process, but not until after a student certificate has been issued, […]

Icon Aircraft founder Kirk Hawkins has famously said his company aims to reshape—actually reinvent—general aviation by “democratizing” access to it. What that means exactly is about as clear as mud, but this week, Icon’s buyer agreement escaped into the wild, and it appears as though Icon’s view of “democratization” centers on a legal construct that […]

Glasair Aviation’s Merlin LSA received FAA light-sport certification this week, marking the company’s first foray into factory-built aircraft as it continues to produce its series of kitplanes. Glasair announced on Wednesday it anticipates sales to personal owners as well as flight schools. The high-wing Merlin, which was introduced nearly two years ago at Sun ‘n […]

The phrase “rusty pilot” seems to be a thing now. Since we can’t find many new pilots, we’re stirring up the walking wounded, clearing out the ambulatory wards, perhaps enticing them with AOPA logo walkers and a discount on the early-bird special at the airport cafe. I get it. It’s as good a plan as […]

A reader recently questioned the wisdom of flying IFR in “old” aircraft with traditional flight displays that lack modern accouterments—GPS in particular. It’s a fair question and one that deserves some thought. I have to admit that growing up in an earlier age, and having flown IFR for almost a decade before I had the […]

Letter of the Week:Frequent Reporting Best Anyone who flies on VFR weekends knows that CTAFs are awash in squealing verbal garbage, making it often impossible to announce a position or identify the cluck who’s announcing every stinkin’ leg of the traffic pattern or that he’s taxiing to the runway at your airport so you can […]

We can argue about a lot in aviation, but one thing we rarely dispute is the unwritten rule that your AME and your doctor shouldn’t be the same person. Unpack the logic of that and two things become implicit: We don’t trust the government with our medical data (rightfully) and, if we’re honest, we want […]

Almost 5,000 people attended Women in Aviation’s annual convention in Nashville. The meeting wrapped up Sunday and the group celebrated awarding more than $10 million in scholarships since the inception of the scholarship program in 1995. “Thousands of women made powerful connections this week that will enhance their lives and careers for years to come,” […]

An integral part of the various jobs I’ve held for the last 37 years has involved reviewing aircraft accident reports and looking at data generated from them. During that time, what the NTSB euphemistically refers to as “maneuvering,” has remained in the top three causes of fatal accidents with usually about 40 percent of general […]

Regional carrier GoJet Airlines has put its money on the table to attract pilots and mitigate the shortages that are affecting the industry. The airline, which flies 47 CRJ700 and seven CRJ900 as United Express and Delta Connection from Boise to Quebec City, is guaranteeing new first officers at least $2,700 a month and captains […]