by Isabel Goyer

The Department of Transportation’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG) recently completed an investigation into the alleged harassment of a Missouri pilot, Joseph Brinell, by the FAA. The report found that personnel at the Kansas City Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), including a supervisor, had indeed abused their authority in their dealings with Brinell. The […]

I recently finished a half-year evaluation of the OurPlane fractional ownership program, taking control of an eighth share in a brand-new Cessna Skylane. I was looking to see if fractional ownership programs, which are modeled loosely after those used for professionally flown business jets, like NetJets, could translate to owner-flown small airplanes. The OurPlane program […]

||| |—|—| | | | In my pursuit of various ratings and certificates over the past decade, I’ve watched countless pilot training video- tapes and I’ve used a number of computer-aided instructional programs. Such materials, while a far cry better than the hit-or-miss do-it-yourself approach of years past, had obvious shortcomings. Tapes are great, but […]

Do you have a new rating? Congratulations. But be prepared. Pilots are currently experiencing long delays and other problems in getting their new certificates back from the FAA. While this is not a new problem, predating the September 11th attacks by many months at least, it seems to be getting worse. Last April I added […]

Compared with that of the Falcon 900EX, the composite and metal wing of the FNX will be longer, thinner and more highly swept. Dassault’s latest Falcon Jet, code named FNX, will be the fastest, roomiest and most modern the company has ever produced. First flight for the French jet is scheduled for 2004. The FNX […]