Pia Bergqvist

p>An all-solar-powered airplane, HB-SIA, created by Swiss Solar Impulse, is being prepped to depart on its first international flight. The airplane is scheduled to attend an event in Brussels from May 23 through May 29, followed by an appearance at the Paris Air Show from June 20 through June 26. After seven years of development, […]

Owning an airplane, somehow, is far different from owning a car, a house or any other high-ticket item. For many owners, the airplane becomes part of the family. And so it was for me. I found my Cessna 170 in the middle of Michigan and picked it up with my friend David. David had hundreds […]

A new facility for the Central Florida Aerospace Academy (CFAA) opened officially with a ribbon-cutting ceremony during the Sun ‘n Fun fly-in and expo across the street from the Florida Air Museum (FAM) at the Lakeland Linder Airport. The 58,000-square-foot building is capable of supporting up to 500 high school students and was made possible […]

Tecnam recently introduced two certified airplanes currently in development: the P2012 Traveller and the P Twenty-Ten. Both of the new airplanes will undergo FAA Part 23 and European Aviation Safety Agency CS-23 certification concurrently. With the capacity to carry 11 passengers, the P2012 is by far the largest airplane Tecnam has brought to market since […]

(June 2011) The FAA has issued an STC to Eclipse Aerospace for its Avio Integrated Flight Management System (IFMS), specifically designed for the Eclipse twin-engine light jet by Innovative Solutions & Support. The IFMS system is an upgrade to the already certified AvioNG system. As was the case with other systems, the avionics package originally […]

(June 2011) The Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF) and the Montana Pilots Association (MPA) have joined efforts to build Russian Flat Airstrip, the first backcountry airstrip to open on United States Forest Service (USFS) land in more than 46 years. The 3,000-foot runway is located in a large, grassy meadow 69 miles southwest of Great Falls, […]

Flying IFR into new environments can be a serious challenge, particularly in busy airspace where controllers are talking nonstop, and it’s more important than ever to listen up and follow their instructions precisely. For flight in congested areas, pre-published, low-level IFR routes make both pre-flight planning and the actual flying much more straightforward and enjoyable. […]

While the Los Angeles City Council has no legal authority over the Santa Monica Airport (SMO), it voted unanimously last Wednesday to close six operational flight schools at the airport and alter departure procedures. The vote will have no effect on current operations, although the moves have angered pilots, who wonder why a city council […]

After the launch of three new airplanes, Phil Solomon, CEO at Tecnam North America, described last week’s AERO Friedrichshafen as “incredibly successful,” with a total of 42 airplanes sold during the four-day event. The three airplanes announced were the 11-seat P2012, four-seat PTwenty Ten and a new version of the popular P92 Eaglet, all designed […]

I climbed a few thousand feet and completed my tests. When it was time to land, I reduced the throttle to idle. “That’s when we experienced a huge explosion. I was jolted in my seat. I saw both of the bomb-bay doors blow away. We were completely engulfed in flames. I could see the flames […]