Mark Phelps

As of April 20, a computer has been generating digital notices to airmen (NOTAMs) for Atlantic City (NJ) International Airport (KACY). The technical innovation, set to expand to several other airports soon, is said to offer numerous advantages over human-generated notams, according to FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt. For example, notams may now be transmitted to […]

The FAA recently decided that federally funded Independence State Airport in Oregon could allow residents with adjacent property access to the airport. Recent rumbling about the legality of so called “through the fence” (TTF) agreements has many airport operators unsettled. The principle of TTF means that tenants of an off-airport property have access to the […]

A pleasant spring jaunt on a sunny day often leads to meandering down a winding river. It’s one of the most scenic trips you can make, and a light airplane makes it so much more thrilling than floating downstream in an inner tube. But before you succumb to the temptation to skim too close to […]

This week’s European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva appears to be showing the way toward worldwide economic recovery for general aviation. Trade shows such as EBACE and the annual National Business Aviation Association show in the U.S. are not always accurate economic indicators, but the past two years have shown significant evidence […]

We probably didn’t need economics professor Richard Gritta (University of Portland in Oregon) to tell us, but he’s quoted in a Wall Street Journal article, saying: “It’s Economics 101. Less competition means higher prices.” Now that United and Continental have tied the knot (pending expected government approval), the number of legacy hub-and-spoke carriers is down […]

Press releases from Hawker Beechcraft Corp. (HBC) filled journalists’ inboxes as EBACE opened its doors in Geneva this week. One of the new strategies announced there takes a page from premium automobile brands with a “certified” pre-owned aircraft program. Under the Hawker Beechcraft Select Pre-Owned Program, qualifying turbine aircraft (sorry, pistons aren’t included) purchased through […]

In a regulatory move designed to curb runway incursions, after the end of next month, ground controllers will no longer be able to clear you to taxi directly to the takeoff runway if the route involves crossing another runway. Currently, a clearance to the departure runway enabled the pilot to cross any intervening runways without […]

On April 30, a pair of European pilots commemorated the 100th anniversary of the first flight of an aircraft in Switzerland. Their goal? To fly a pair of Flight Design CTLS light sport aircraft (LSAs) around the world. The two Swiss airline pilots, Yannick Bovier and Francisco Agullo, left Sion Switzerland on the first leg […]

American Legend has announced a new model, the Classic J3 Cub, aimed at delivering simple, fun flying at a price lower than most — $95,000. Described as a “slimmed down” version of its other Cub models, the new J3 is powered with a 100-hp Continental O-200.

Concord, Massachusetts-based Linear Air is back to flying point-to-point service from the New York area. Company president William Herp reports the carrier has resumed operations after a shutdown stemming from the failure of Eclipse. Linear Air began service in 2004 with Cessna Grand Caravans and added four Eclipse EA500s.