Pia Bergqvist

On January 10 the U.S. government filed a motion on behalf of the FAA requesting that the city of Santa Monica drop the lawsuit filed in October in which it claimed full rights over the property currently used by Santa Monica Airport (SMO). The motion alleges that the government’s interest in the property has been […]

Budget cuts have hit the FAA hard again this year, with the agency continuing to charge hefty user fees for temporary air traffic control services at airshows. One of the first airshows of the year, the Cable Air Show at the Cable Airport near Upland, California, took place over the weekend. The owner of the […]

FAR 91.209 requires pilots to use anti-collision lights any time an airplane is in operation unless the pilot determines that operating conditions makes it unsafe to have them on. Whether the airplane you fly is equipped with a beacon, strobes or both, you are probably in the habit of turning on some type of anti-collision […]

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association has announced the dates and locations for the regional AOPA Fly-Ins that will replace the organization’s annual AOPA Aviation Summit convention. This year, the one-day events will be held on Saturdays at each of the following locations: April 26 – San Marcos Municipal Airport, Texas (HYI) May 31 – […]

The 2014 edition of the annual Rose Parade in Pasadena, California, which took place just before the 100th Rose Bowl football game, had a special aviation-themed float this year. A T-6 Texan replica soared above eight original members of the Women Airforce Service Pilots riding along on the WASP Rose Parade float. The 20-ton float […]

The National Championship Air Races, the annual pylon race outside Reno, Nevada, continues to show distress as a result of the tragic Galloping Ghost accident in 2011. The Reno Air Race Association, which organizes the daredevil show, has ousted its long-time president and CEO Mike Houghton, who has led the organization for more than 15 […]

Embraer Executive Jets closed out 2013 with an important milestone in its Legacy 450 development program as it took the fly-by-wire mid-light business jet to the skies on December 28, meeting its targeted first-flight schedule. “The flight was a success,” said Embraer’s test pilot Eduardo Camelier, who flew the airplane with copilot Eugênio Cará. “The […]

Following the announcement of the certification of the GE Honda HF120 engine last week, the HondaJet has received its type inspection authorization from the FAA. The TIA indicates that the HondaJet meets certain design requirements, and it allows FAA test pilots to begin the final testing phase required for type certification. Over the past couple […]

During the holiday season, there can often be pressure to be in a place at a specific time. You may have a big family gathering planned, possibly at several distant locations within a span of a couple of days. Get-There-Itis becomes a reality. Making the choice to stay on the ground or turn around if […]

A new experimental airplane, the two-tandem-seat Thatcher CX5, has taken its maiden flight. Glen Bradley, who helped build and design the airplane together with the main designer, Dave Thatcher, was at the controls when the CX5 took off from the Jack Edwards Airport near Gulf Shores, Alabama. Bradley used one word to describe the visibility, […]