Julie Boatman

The FAA seeks pilot input on its testing and exam process, while a new webinar delivers info on those new processes that went into effect on January 13, 2020. The Airman Certificate Testing Service recently implemented by the FAA seeks to provide a “comprehensive, best-practices approach to enhance the overall quality of the FAA Airman […]

If it’s happened before, we’re not aware of it. Our congratulations go out to what is most likely the only pair of female twins to achieve their private pilot certificates on the same day. On December 7, 2019, the pair successfully passed their practical exams at Bergstrom International Airport in Austin, Texas. Lexie and Emily […]

When Garmin launched the first of its aftermarket touchscreen navigators in 2011, Flying noted that the most remarkable thing about the new multifunction units was not the touchscreen itself, but the enabling power behind it. In the initial versions, this involved losing the keypad and finding in its place what many pilots considered to be […]

Registration for the 44th edition of the Air Race Classic has opened. The all-women’s cross-country air race takes place from June 23 to 26, 2020, flying from Grand Forks, North Dakota, to Terre Haute, Indiana, and several stops in between. The course will cover 2,646 miles, and racers have essentially four days to complete the […]

When a person’s life is at stake, every minute counts. That’s the premise behind Carl Dietrich’s motivation to enter into the electric-propulsion-aircraft sphere, with a vehicle that proposes to cut emergency response time in half. Dietrich, co-founder of Terrafugia, has partnered with co-founder Anna Dietrich, of the Community Air Mobility Initiative, and Jeff Myjak, of […]

With the advent of X-Plane’s latest versions of flight simulation programs for desktop and mobile devices, and the hotly anticipated return (after 14 years’ absence) of Microsoft Flight Simulator, 2020 may be your year to set up a real in-home flight training and proficiency experience. The MSFS developers just released another teaser, “Let It Snow,” […]

As we turned over the calendar on 2020, the era of required ADS-B equipage in the United States began—with certain exceptions. To this end, the FAA released its advisory circular, AC 90-114B, “Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast Operations,” on December 30, to provide guidance for those pilots flying under Part 91. Specifically, the AC expands upon the […]

OpenAirplane and FlyOtto ceased operations on December 29, 2019. The aircraft rental and charter services sought to make processes easier and with less hassle for pilots and prospective passengers. Co-Founder and President Rod Rakic cited a discrepancy between the stated desire of pilots to use the OpenAirplane service and the numbers that actually showed up […]

The Snowball Express—which brings together the children and surviving spouses of fallen US military heroes for a special trip to Disney World—arrived at the Norfolk International Airport on December 7 to deliver families to Orlando, the Navy Office of Community Outreach reported. In 2006, the Snowball Express sprung from a heartfelt letter that a solider […]

The FAA announced that on January 13, 2020, it would launch changes to the pilot certification process, including the requirement for an FAA Tracking Number for knowledge exam testing, and additional updates for airman knowledge exam results. The FAA Tracking Number, or FTN, should be familiar to those who have undergone a practical test in […]