Aviation Interest

The deadline for switching to plastic pilot certificates is weeks away. Paper pilot certificates will no longer be valid after March 31; don’t let procrastination ground you. The cost for a new certificate is $2. Temporary and student pilot certificates are not impacted by the rule. The steps for the process are provided on the…

As reported previously by ACI-NA, TSA launched its General Aviation (GA) Vulnerability Assessment Survey earlier this month. Following is a link to the Web site. Although TSA advised that it is still awaiting information on the survey results from its contractor, the Office of General Aviation committed to provide information on the results as soon as it is available.

The Human Element in Aviation
– A GA Guide to Human Factors
Human factors: It’s a topic discussed at most aviation safety seminars, as well as a fundamental subject during pilot and mechanic training. Yet, despite widespread awareness of the importance of human factors in safety, it continues to play a key role in a majority of today’s aircraft incidents and accidents.

The FAA has been made aware of an issue with an update to a navigation database that became effective on 14 January 2010. To date, the known affected models are: Honeywell Bendix/King KLN 35, KLN 88, KLN 89, KLN 89B, KLN 90, KLN 90B, KLN 94, KLX 100, KLX 135, KLX 135A, KLN 900. Please…

The Civil Aviation Authority of the United Kingdom (UK) has informed EASA that significant quantities of Halon 1211 gas, determined to be outside the required specification, have been supplied to the aviation industry for use in fire extinguishing equipment. Halon 1211 (BCF) is used in handheld fire extinguishers, usually fitted or stowed in aircraft cabins.To…

Flight school new program for wannabe pilots
A handful of juniors at Waterford Kettering High School are proving to be high achievers — really high achievers. They soon will be soaring in single-engine Cessna 172s, as part of a new district program to cultivate wannabe pilots and aircraft mechanics before they even get out of high school.

A Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) advising pilots, owners, operators, and maintenance personnel of potential hazards of resetting an opened circuit breaker on General Aviation aircraft was published on December 23, 2009, and can be found at https://www.faasafety.gov/files/notices/2009/Dec/SAIB_CE-10-11.pdf or at http://rgl.faa.gov.This SAIB also gives in-flight recommendations and best practices regarding tripped circuit breakers, inspection and…

Are you operating your propeller under stress? Are you damaging your propeller? Will your propeller suddenly fail? You will likely respond with a confident – NO! But wait! How do you know for sure?

If you want to be sure, obtain and read FAA Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin SAIB NE-08-21, dated May 14, 2008. Yikes! 2008! Yes, it is dated, but the information could save your life; because what you don’t know can hurt you! Consider the following.