Aviation News

NTSB investigating Near Miss Between United Jet and small airplane near SFO – ATC Audio

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The NTSB emailed a press release about 1 PM PDT today stating “NTSB has launched an investigation to determine why a commercial jetliner and a small light airplane came within an estimated 300 feet of colliding over San Francisco on Saturday.” While much of this event has been made by news media, a review of the San Francisco tower tape shows that both aircraft were in contact with the tower and followed their instructions. Transcripts of the ATC audio suggests that neither aircraft was in danger, though the aircraft may have been a little closer to each other—a loss of separation in FAA parlance—than permitted.

Cessna’s First Lady Rose Pelton Talks about Learning to Fly in Her SkyCatcher

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Rose Pelton, wife of Cessna Aircraft CEO Jack Pelton is effervescent when she talks about getting a pilot certificate in her new Cessna 162 SkyCatcher. As she stood next to what was literally “her” aircraft on display at the Sebring LSA Expo, she explained to me the N450RP registration number on the aircraft. The RP portion was obviously her initials. The “450” she explained was “for my 50th birthday.”
Whether intended or not, Cessna has found the perfect spokeswoman in Rose. I can’t wait to hear more about her progress and I hope she motivates tens of thousands of people to start learning to fly. If you’re interested in learning to fly, download my free Learn to Fly ebook—which has a picture or Rose’s SkyCatcher on the cover—and then call a flight school to schedule your first lesson.

NTSB Glass Cockpit Safety Study Concludes Pilots Need More Training

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On Tuesday March 9, the NTSB held a public Board meeting to consider a study on whether glass cockpit-equipped general aviation aircraft are safer than aircraft with traditional round gauges. The NTSB wanted to identify any difference in operational characteristics of glass and non-glass aircraft and determine how glass has affected safety. To do this, they decided to compare accident information and activity between matched groups of aircraft, specifically glass and non-glass aircraft manufactured between 2002 and 2006. The Board reached the same conclusion as other similar studies. Glass Cockpits have the potential to increase safety. However pilots need additional training, both initially and on a recurrent basis, to reap the benefits of these technologies. Five of the six study recommendations were related to training. Recommendations on developing your own plan for getting the best glass cockpit training.

Aviation Professionalism? Control Tower Unstaffed and Cop Shoots Out Airliner Window

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Last week, the big aviation gaffe was the revelation that a JFK controller allowed his children to speak over the radio. FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt is right to focus on professionalism. While the FAA controller story got worldwide attention, here are two stories this week that have flown under the radar, but which were far more serious. Cops Shoot Out Airliner Window. ATC Tower Left Unstaffed – Plane Diverted.

2010 National CFI of the Year and other GA Awards Recipients Named

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In each of the past 47 years, the General Aviation Awards program and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have recognized a small group of aviation professionals in the fields of flight instruction, aviation maintenance, avionics, and safety for their contributions to aviation, education, and flight safety. I’m proud to count two of the 2010 recipients as friends that I’ve known well for a number of years. Both richly deserve the recognition as I’m sure do all of the recipients. As the 2008 National CFI of the Year, I’m always interested in new GA Awards recipients. Recipients of this year’s national awards are Neil John Nederfield of Lafayette, New Jersey, Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) of the Year; Kirk Harold Peterson of Larimore, North Dakota, Avionics Technician of the Year; MCFI Jeffery Robert “Jeff” Moss of Los Angeles, California, Certificated Flight Instructor (CFI) of the Year; and MCFI Thomas Paul “Tom” Turner of Rose Hill, Kansas, FAA Safety Team Representative of the Year.

General Aviation Making a Difference in Haiti Disaster Relief Effort: How You Can Help

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Three million Haitians were affected by last week's earthquake, but in the aftermath successes are measured one life at a time. This evening I was present when Missionary Flights International (MFI) President Dick Snook took a call by satellite phone notifying him that 27 orphans had just boarded an MFI plane in Port-au-Prince and would … Read more

American Airlines Flight 331 Crashes after Long Landing at Kingston, Jamaica Airport; Downwind Landing May Have Been a Factor

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At shortly before 10:30 PM last night, a landing American Airlines Boeing 737-800, that originated at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, overan the runway at Kingston, Jamaica’s Norman Manley International Airport. Flight 331 reportedly crossed a road and may have ended up on a beach just short of the Caribbean. The Jamaica Observer reported 40 injured passengers and Jamaica TV reported in a CNN video that 4 of the injuries were serious. There were conflicting reports about whether the aircraft broke up into as many as three pieces after the accident.

Video Interview: Iraqi Militants Intercepting Drone Video Feeds with $26 Software

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Video Interview. Militants in Iraq and Afghanistan have been intercepting live video feeds from U.S. Predator drones according to the online version of the Wall Street Journal. Using $26 software intended to intercept and decrypt movies transmitted over satellites, the insurgents have been able to monitor and potentially evade U.S. military operations.

Boeing 787 First Flight Video

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Earlier today, on a cold and rainy morning, thousands of Boeing employees lined the runway to watch the first flight of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The takeoff was broadcast via a webcast, but if you missed it live, you can watch the takeoff here on YouTube. Several minutes into the video, take a look at the rearview of the airplane and note the upward curvature of the aircraft’s wings.