Mark Phelps

With an ice storm dripping supercooled misery outside, I’m inclined to dip into one of my collection of aviation movies — or better yet, I love it when I stumble upon one on the classic movie channel while surfing. Huddled under a blanket on my couch, munching popcorn, it’s fun to fantasize. ‘Twelve O’clock High’; […]

You’re taxiing out for takeoff at an enroute airport, and the controller tells you you’re cleared “as filed.” Hot dog. For once, no worries about reprogramming the GPS before launching into the murk. So you continue on happily with your run-up and other pre-departure chores. But is that enough? Maybe; maybe not. According to FAA […]

Piqua, Ohio-based Hartzell Propeller has announced the development of a new two-blade Top Prop conversion kit for Piper PA-23-250 Aztec twins. The scimitar-shape, 77-inch propeller blades incorporate blade-mounted counterweights, offering greater redundancy for pitch control and feathering, compared with the original-equipment propellers that relied on air pressure. The shape of the blades is more efficient, […]

Five manufacturers of Light Sport Aircraft (LSAs) will launch a statewide “roadshow” tour following the U.S. Sport Aviation Expo, which opens today in Sebring, Florida. Bill Canino of SportairUSA said, “We wanted to create an intimate atmosphere for purchasers to see planes, without the noise of a show.” Jim Julius of Sport Planes Florida said, […]

Twelve minutes might not seem like such a long time to hold a flight. No general aviation pilot would think twice about such a minimal delay. But for Mark Dickinson, it seemed like an eternity. And for one Southwest Airlines pilot, those 12 minutes spotlighted a show of humanity that has touched the hearts of […]

Flying and AMPT have announced the dates and locations of their Parade of Planes events for 2011. For its fourth season, PoP will be visiting the Chicago and upstate New York areas for the first time, bringing the “dealership” experience direct to consumers who would not otherwise have the opportunity to meet with manufacturers and […]

The U.S. Sport Aviation Expo, kicking off today, should provide a forum for further answers to the future of Czech Sport Aircraft’s SportCruiser. Last week, Piper announced it was breaking off its relationship with the Czech Republic-based company, and the name PiperSport has been stripped from the aircraft’s marketing resume. The 13 U.S. dealers quickly […]

The following was received from reader Roger Halstead in response to last week’s Flying_ Tip: Be Careful How You Respond_ “Yes, I think we need to be a LOT more vigilant, but not for security’s sake, but rather for the impression we create with the “unknowing and uneducated” when it comes to aviation. “Like “middle […]

Each and every day last year, an average of eight cancer patients were flying on corporate aircraft thanks to the efforts of the Corporate Angel Network (CAN). In all, 3,021 patients flew during the year — a record. That’s 9 percent more than the previous annual record of 2,778 and a 21 percent increase over […]

Every major Congressional study into FAA funding packages has rejected the concept of user fees, and the trend continues. Representative Jerry Costello (D-12-Ill.), who sits on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, issued a written statement calling on President Obama to reject the idea of instituting user fees for aviation services. General aviation advocates have […]