AVweb Insider offers a curated collection of opinion pieces, personal narratives, and expert analyses that delve into the nuances of aviation. From firsthand pilot experiences to in-depth discussions on industry trends and safety considerations, this section provides readers with thoughtful perspectives that go beyond standard news reporting. Ideal for aviation professionals and enthusiasts seeking deeper insights into the flying world.
Remember that classic line by Dan Aykroyd on Saturday Night Live 20 years ago? He aimed it at some hapless girlfriend passed out on the floor during a bout of wild partying. It could apply equally to the two civil pilots who got jumped by an F-16 in the Gladden MOA, near Phoenix recently. One […]
I haven’t done a formal survey, but my impression from talking to aircraft owners, instructors and FBOs is that the price of avgas is definitely reducing flying hours. That’s understandable and a classic market response to rising prices. When something costs more, you buy less of it, find an alternative or become more efficient in […]
About a year ago, when everyone thought we’d have an FAA reauthorization bill passed within the fiscal year that it was supposed to be passed in, the Air Transport Association and practically everyone else who flies were in a pitched battle over the user fee issue. The brain trust at ATA came up with an […]
We’re not quite sure how Seattle attorney Dean Brett hopes to accomplish it, but his words to the Seattle Post Intelligencer should have everyone in aviation taking notice: “Our goal is to have the [Cessna] 208B [Grand Caravan] decertified from flying in icing conditions.” Brett represents the families of nine skydivers who died when the […]
This week’s news brought an emergency airworthiness directive for Thielert’s new Centurion 2.0. The AD requires a bracket to prevent cracking in a high-pressure line between the engine’s injection pump and the common rail injection manifold. A little over 500 airplanes are affected.This AD reflects one of several daunting challenges with aerodiesel engines: although they’re […]
When Carl Bellinger, a Republic test pilot, dropped by Chuck Yeager’s house early one Sunday morning to borrow some tools, he was startled to see that Yeager was using the Collier Trophy-the most prestigious award in aviation-to store scrap nuts and bolts on his workbench. But say this about Yeager: He was at least getting […]
From time to time, we’ll feature posts and commentary from our sister magazine Kitplanes. If building is your thing, do yourself a favor and check out the Kitplanes blog – and be sure to visit their web site.In February, when the FAA published the final report from the working group looking at major portion guidance, […]
Virgin Atlantic impresario Richard Branson took some bashing this week for what might fairly be called a dubious demonstration of the potential of bio-fuels for commercial aviation. Virgin Atlantic flew a 747 from London to Amsterdam partially powered by bio-fuel made of coconut and babassu oil. (Babassu is a type of palm-I had to Google […]
Are Americans unique in all the world for the ability to utterly bury some of the most glorious aspects of our history? In 1969, we flung three guys into space and two of them landed on the moon and came back home with a suitcase full of moon rocks. With the exception of subsequent Apollo […]
The last time I certified an airplane was, well, never, but something nags at me about the whole Adam collapse that makes so much sense to me I’m sure someone will set me straight. You see, I was there when Adam, which had been toiling away on its push/pull A500 twin for years with only […]
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