SALINA, KAN. – Kansas State University’s polytechnic campus has set a new precedent in the unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) industry, becoming the first entity in the United States to receive…
Category: February/March 2016
Springfield Company Donates $850,000 To Lincoln Land Aircraft Maintenance Program
SPRINGFIELD, ILL. – Levi, Ray & Shoup, Inc. (LRS) has made a large financial contribution to assist Lincoln Land Community College expand its aviation maintenance program facilities at Abraham Lincoln…
Emery Air Launches Apprenticeship Program
ROCKFORD, ILL. – Emery Air, Inc., and the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship, have signed an agreement establishing a registered apprenticeship program at Emery’s facility located at Chicago-Rockford…
Model Building… Why It Is So Important
by Tom Biller Model aircraft building used to be a very common activity when I was young in the late ’70s early ’80s. My school actually had a model-building club…
Airforms Awarded Baffle Kit PMAs For Cessna 172RG, 177B, 177RG & Mooney M20B/C/D/J Aircraft
BIG LAKE, ALASKA – Amidst a torrent of recent new PMA announcements, Airforms Inc. has added engine baffles for the Cessna 172RG to its growing list of available replacement parts….
SwitchBox – A Remote Control Device For Your Aircraft Preheater & More
by Dave Weiman When “Foreflight” came out a few years ago, I was impressed with founders Tyson Weihs and Jason Miller – first for inventing the best pilot aid in…
EAA & Academy of Model Aeronautics Sign Memo of Understanding To Promote Flying
OSHKOSH, WIS. – The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) and Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) have signed a memorandum of understanding that expands the organizations’ joint efforts to bring the possibilities…
Astronaut/Air Racer “Hoot” Gibson To Speak At Minnesota Airport Conference
Hoot Gibson – naval aviator, astronaut, aviation accident investigator, and air race pilot – will speak at the Minnesota Council of Airports Conference on April 20, 2016 at Maddens Resort…
Is It A Bird? Is It A Plane? No, It’s An Aircraft!
by Tara Kalar Associate Legal Counsel MnDOT Office of Chief Counsel With an anticipated million unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) sold over the holiday season, aviation is experiencing an unprecedented boost…
Going Green Is A Win-Win!
It is now commonplace for businesses and industries to seek out new and different technologies that provide or produce greater efficiencies and lower costs. This saves the company money, while…
The Start of A Great New Year!
by Cassandra Isackson Director, Minnesota DOT Office of Aeronautics Days are getting longer; I even saw the sun for a moment on my way to work this morning. We don’t…
Drone Questions
by Hal Davis WisDOT Bureau of Aeronautics If the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) estimates were correct, there should now be about one million more drones buzzing through the air, thanks…
Airport Cooperative Research Program
by Hal Davis WisDOT Bureau of Aeronautics An airport manager often has a wide range of responsibilities, from managing hangar lease agreements and wildlife hazards to plowing snow. As knowledgeable,…
Wipaire Announces Return of Ben Wiplinger Memorial Seaplane Rating Scholarship
SOUTH ST. PAUL, MINN. – Following a hugely successful introduction, Wipaire is pleased to announce the return of the Ben Wiplinger Memorial Seaplane Rating Scholarship. The scholarship was established in 2015…
New Airborne Cinematography System Designed & Built In The Midwest
BUFFALO, MINN. – Have you ever tried to shoot video footage from a moving car? How about video footage from an airplane in turbulence? If you have, you know that…
Wag-Aero Creates New User-Friendly Website
LYONS, WIS. – Wag-Aero has launched a new user-friendly website: www.wagaero.com. Check it out on your smart phone, tablet or computer! Shop the entire 124-page catalog online at onlinecatalog.wagaero.com and…
EPS Runs Their First Pre-Production Engine
NEW RICHMOND, WIS. – Engineered Propulsion Systems (EPS) mounted its first in a series of pre-production diesel engines on a test stand on September 20, 2015. Based on data collected…
Cirrus Hiring For Vision Jet Production
GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The Duluth, Minnesota-based manufacturer, Cirrus Aircraft, is actively seeking employees for its Grand Forks, North Dakota plant to fulfill orders for its Vision SF50 personal jet….
Piper Sells First Diesel Archer In Scandinavia
ODENSE, DENMARK – Piper Aircraft, Inc. announced December 8, 2015, the first sale of a factory new diesel engine Archer DX in Scandinavia. Billund Air Center (BAC), a leading flight…
Mooney Achieves First Flight of M10T POC
CHINO, CALIF. – Mooney International Corporation has successfully completed the first flight of the M10T Proof of Concept (POC) aircraft. The first flight was performed by test pilot Len Fox…
Honda Aircraft Receives Type Certification For HondaJet
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Honda Aircraft received type certification for the “HondaJet” from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on December 8, 2015. The FAA presented the type certificate to Honda Aircraft…
FAA Final Rule Regarding Student Pilot Certificates, Photo IDs & CFI Student Pilot Endorsements
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Federal Aviation Administration just issued a final rule on a notice of proposed rulemaking they issued in 2010 in regards to the issuance of student pilot…
OPERATION LZ… A Community Air Show To Finally Welcome Home Our Vietnam Vets
by Jim Hanson Regardless of national policy in Washington, we tend to support our military personnel, whether we agree with that policy or not. For instance, when the decision was…
Aircraft Owner Makes Efficient Use of Hangar Space
Tom Green of Marcelona, Mich., designed a home and aircraft hangar combination at Lakes of the North Airport to store his two airplanes – a Cessna T337 Skymaster and Lake…
Under The Radar: Air Cargo At GA Airports
by Mike Maynard & Marc Cocanougher Picture this – you operate an automotive parts manufacturing plant in Indiana. An automotive assembly plant needs additional product by tomorrow morning in Montgomery,…
A Flight With Team Aerodynamix
by Larry E. Nazimek There are many formation teams on the airshow circuit, but Team Aerodynamix, the world’s largest air show team, is unique in that it consists of 10…
Eau Claire Airport Restaurant To Reopen Soon!
EAU CLAIRE, WIS. – Pilots will be pleased to learn that the restaurant in the Chippewa Valley Regional Airport (KEAU) terminal in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, will soon reopen as the…
Patty Wagstaff… Passing On The Gold of Her Experience To Others
by Dave Weiman A regular performer at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh and a dozen other airshows in the U.S. and abroad each year, is Patty Wagstaff, now flying the Extra 330LX….
Sunglass Eye Protection For Pilots, Skiers & Mountain Climbers
Pilots have very unique needs for special eye protection. The sun is incredibly bright above the clouds, and one can easily be blinded by solar glare. Ultraviolet rays are especially…
Top Airshow Performers To Fly At EAA AirVenture-Oshkosh 2016
OSHKOSH, WIS. – Some of the world’s top airshow performers have made their commitments to fly at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2016, July 25-31 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, as…
New FAA Recreational UAS/Drone Registration Program: Better Than Nothing?
by Russell A. Klingaman Attorney At Law On December 14, 2015, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued its interim final rule entitled “Registration And Marking Requirements For Small Unmanned Aircraft”…
AOPA Calls UAS Task Force Recommendations, “A Good Start”
FREDERICK, MD – The FAA announced, November 23, 2015, that it has accepted the final recommendations of its Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Registration Task Force Aviation Rulemaking Committee, and has…
Review of 2015’s Advocacy Efforts In The Central Region
News & Information You’ll Want To Know In Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska & Iowa by Yasmina Platt Manager, AOPA Central Southwest Region Addressing the big issues that will affect the way…
Letter from John Craparo
Hi Dave: Thank you for the coverage of our gyroplane flight in the December 2015/January 2016 issue of Midwest Flyer Magazine (Pilots Crisscross USA In Experimental Aircraft & Set World…
Why Mentorship Is Important & Easier Today Than Ever Before!
by Dave Weiman I don’t think very many of us would be in aviation today if it were not for the selflessness of a “mentor.” For myself, I always had…
Priorities For The New Year
News & Information You’ll Want To Know In Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota & South Dakota by Bryan Budds Manager, AOPA Great Lakes Region Over the past…
A Hand Up For Flying Clubs
by Mark R. Baker President & CEO Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association It’s never been easier, or more cost-effective, to start and operate a flying club, thanks to some great…
U.S. Senate Passes Third-Class Medical Reform
FREDERICK, MD – The full Senate passed the Pilot’s Bill of Rights 2 (PBR2), December 15, 2015, which will now go to the House for consideration. The Senate passed the bill,…
How Hypoxia Can Ruin A Flight
by Dr. Bill Blank, MD In the last issue, Midwest Flyer Magazine Editor Dave Weiman wrote about a general aviation oxygen system, so I thought an article about “hypoxia” would…
Confidence vs. Complacency
by Harold Green Recently, I was asked, “How does a pilot develop confidence in his/her piloting ability?” My answer is weak because everyone reacts differently and I am certainly not…
FAA Beefs Up Security At Chicago Center
AURORA, ILL. – The Federal Aviation Administration has significantly increased the security of its air traffic systems to ensure that they are more resilient and less vulnerable to the type…
Which George Is Steering The Airplane?
by Michael J. “Mick” Kaufman When I first got acquainted with autopilots, they were referred to by the pilots that flew them as, “George.” In this issue of Midwest Flyer…
D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals Grounds Flytenow & AirPooler Private Pilot Flight-Sharing Concept
by Gregory J. Reigel © December, 2015 All rights reserved. As you may know, one of the ways a private pilot is permitted to reduce the cost of a particular…
Paulisms by Paul Poberezny
(September 14, 1921 – August 22, 2013) Paul H. Poberezny founded the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) in 1953 and spent a significant part of his life promoting aviation and fighting…
Letter from Thomas P. Curran
Hey Dave: I sent you a complimentary copy of my book, “Millionaire Legacy.” My goal in writing the book was to share the real story behind Sean D. Tucker, Capt….