Mark Phelps

Cirrus used its eighth annual owners’ meeting to make a few announcements, starting with a new model, the SR22T. The latest Cirrus offers the twin-turbocharged Continental TSIO-550-K engine from Teledyne Continental Motors. The new engine availability stems from a partnership between TCM and Cirrus, and the -K version of the engine is not available on […]

Also at its owners’ meeting last week, Cirrus announced pricing incentives. Effective immediately and running through July 31 (the conclusion of next month’s EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh), Cirrus will include air conditioning at no extra charge with any X-Edition or Xi personalized SR22 or SR20. And for current Cirrus owners who want to trade up, […]

Cirrus also announced the availability of its “retractable gear simulator” on new aircraft or for retrofit on existing Cirrus models. The accessory comes with a pilot interface panel (replicating a gear handle) and an “instructor fault select panel” allowing the instructor to simulate emergencies such as a “gear unsafe” indication. The system also includes a […]

The Experimental Aircraft Association announced it has begun the process of cutting direct ties with the National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI). The instructors’ group will become a fully independent association by March next year. Beginning in 1995, EAA hosted NAFI, sharing office space, administrative functions and other infrastructure. EAA chairman and president Tom Poberezny […]

A group calling itself the Avgas Stakeholder Group has asked the Environmental Protection Agency to extend the comment period on its Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking an additional 120 days. Originally scheduled for comments to close on June 28, the ANPRM addresses lead content in aviation fuels, and the implications of removing that lead are […]

Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) manufacturer Remos of Germany has received an investment shot in the arm, and plans to make announcements at this year’s EAA AirVenture on how it intends to use the cash. A spokesman declined to attach a dollar figure, but said the influx is “significant” and will support business development over the […]

If you’re used to big, busy airports with full-service FBOs, it might be confusing to taxi onto a ramp at a smaller, sleepier airport. Without someone in an orange vest hustling out to wand you into place, figuring out where to park can be a bit baffling. You don’t want to block the right-of-way for […]

After reviewing four accidents involving volunteer pilots flying medical patients, the National Transportation Safety Board has three areas of concern. There are numerous charity flight organizations throughout the country. Member pilots donate their time and use of their aircraft to transport ambulatory patients and family members to and from treatment. The accidents occurred between Sept. […]

Going to be in Chicago next week? On Tuesday evening (5 pm to 9 pm), the Garmin Store at 663 North Michigan Ave. (corner of Erie) will throw a party to unveil the new Frasca Mentor Simulator, which uses the Garmin G1000 avionics suite. There will also be a seminar covering the retrofit G500/600 series, […]

If a job is dirty, dangerous or just plain dull, you get a robot to do it. And you can add one more ‘D’ to the list of considerations for expanding the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) — Dollars. There is great demand at the FAA to permit launching UAVs that would perform a […]