Tag Archives: AOPA

881 On-Condition Maintenance for GA

Guest

Mike Busch is the founder and CEO of Savvy Aviation, which provides aircraft owners, operators, and maintenance professionals with expert guidance grounded in data-driven, reliability-centered maintenance principles. Through maintenance management, education, and advocacy, Savvy helps the General Aviation community improve safety, reliability, and cost control.

Head shot of Savvy Aviation founder and CEO Mike Busch. — Mike Busch, Savvy Aviation founder and CEO.

Mike argues that general aviation aircraft are often over-maintained, wasting both owners’ time and money while straining already limited mechanic capacity. He believes the industry should shift its focus toward on-condition, or reliability-centered, maintenance. Mechanics, he says, need to be trained to think critically—not just follow the manufacturer’s book. By applying reliability-centered maintenance and working on-condition, our existing mechanics could be more efficient. Mike also outlines what a healthy, collaborative relationship between owners and mechanics should look like.

SavvyAviation has introduced the free, FAA-accepted SavvyCertified training course designed for mechanics studying for Inspection Authorization renewal. Mike reports that many aircraft owners signed up for the course and find it valuable. He also has a new podcast called Aviation Masters.

Mike is a well-known aviation writer, teacher, aviation type club tech rep, aircraft-owner advocate, and entrepreneur. He assists aircraft owners with their maintenance problems through his lectures, articles, and books. Mike is a National Aviation Maintenance Technician of the Year and has previously appeared in Episode 446 (April 5, 2017) and in Episode 667 (August 25, 2021).

Aviation News

Allied Pilots Association Delivers Scathing Ultimatum to American Management

In a letter to the American Airlines Group Board of Directors, the Allied Pilots Association (APA) Board of Directors says, “Our airline is on an underperforming path and has failed to define an identity or a strategy to correct course” and “…it is the result of persistent patterns of operational, cultural, and strategic shortcomings.”

“For more than a year, APA has voiced concerns regarding management’s ability to turn the corner. Management has been given repeated opportunities to articulate a credible strategy and demonstrate measurable improvement. Those opportunities have passed without meaningful change. Despite repeated assurances, the operation continues to struggle under predictable stressors, exposing systemic weaknesses in preparation, execution, and decision making. These consequences are shouldered by our customers and employees every day. “

“These failures have negatively impacted the financial performance of our company and frustrated all stakeholders, to include shareholders, for far too long.”

“American is no longer best in class financially, operationally, or in customer service. The pilots of American want our company to win and dominate the competition, not just survive and compete. Our careers are intrinsically tied to the fate and performance of this once-great airline.”

The Allied Pilots Association (APA) is the collective bargaining agent for American Airlines (AA) pilots. Founded in 1963 and representing more than 16,000 pilots, the APA says it is the world’s largest independent pilots’ union.

“Shame On You”: American Airlines Flight Attendants Call for Shareholder Coup to Oust CEO

Unlike the APA, the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) is calling for American Airlines’ chief executive, Robert Isom, to step down. In an internal memo addressed to Isom, APFA Chicago O’Hare base president Justin Patterson says, “I would like to say, sleeping on floors is NOT normal. Shame on you for trying to normalize this inhumane treatment. Doing the same thing on repeat and expecting different results [is] the definition of insanity.”

Patterson asks, “Do you intend on running this airline with piss poor planning and posting minuscule profits again in 2026?” And “This company failed more than just the Flight Attendants… they failed everyone who works here. American Airlines failed our shareholders. They were derelict in their duties to our shareholders.”

APFA is the official crew union that represents more than 28,000 AA flight attendants.

Passengers Left Stunned By Miniature Tray Tables on American Airlines New Long-Haul A321XLR

American Airlines flight attendant Heather Poole has posted on X photos of the new Economy cabin tray tables. Table depth is half what you’d normally expect from a tray table. A standard laptop will overhang the smaller tables, and the standard AA long-haul meal tray will as well. The table does not fold out or extend.

Pressure mounts on American Airlines CEO as carrier lags rivals

In 2025, Delta Air Lines posted $5 billion in net income with a 7.9% profit margin. United Airlines posted $3.3 billion in net income with a 5.7% margin. American Airlines made $111 million last year with a 0.2% margin.

AOPA’s Hiring a Crisis Communications Firm

AOPA’s board has reportedly hired a crisis‑management firm on a $250,000 retainer to handle intense backlash over the abrupt departure of CEO Darren Pleasance on February 4, 2026.

Off-Duty FAA Inspector Claims He Got Lifetime Ban from United After He Pointed Out Alleged Safety Concerns

Paul Asmus said that after a May 2022 flight where he pointed out his safety concerns, United removed him from the flight and gave him a lifetime travel ban. Asmus is suing United for $12.75 million in damages. The civil suit claims loss of wages, emotional distress, and punitive damages. Asmus, an FAA Inspector but off-duty, claims that he noticed a “torn seat-back pocket at his assigned seat,” which “impaired the ability to secure and access the emergency briefing card” and a passenger standing in the aisle while the aircraft pushed back from the gate. Asmus believed that he had an obligation to report the violations he observed and took photographs for an FAA report.

Audit Initiated of Air Traffic Controller Training at the FAA Academy

The U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General announced the initiation of an audit. The Memorandum, Audit Announcement | Air Traffic Controller Training at the FAA Academy [PDF] (Project ID 26A3002A000), dated February 5, 2025, states that:

“…the Academy is facing considerable challenges with training, including a shortage of qualified instructors, training capacity limitations, an outdated curriculum, and high training failure rates. Given the importance of increasing the number of certified controllers to safely manage the NAS, we are initiating this audit. The audit objectives will be to assess (1) FAA’s efforts to address the Academy instructor shortages, training limitations, and trainee failure rates and (2) the Academy’s progress with updating the air traffic controller training program curriculum.”

The OIG plans to begin the audit “in the coming weeks.”

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) works within the Department of Transportation (DOT) to promote the efficiency and effectiveness of DOT programs and operations and to detect and prevent waste, fraud, and abuse.

See the OIG Active Audits list.

Mentioned

Stories About Flying podcast from Rob Mark.

Aviation is an industry brimming with adventure and discovery at every turn. Award‑winning aviation journalist and Airplane Geeks co‑host Rob Mark invites listeners to enjoy captivating stories from a lifetime of aviation. Drawing on more than 50 years of experience flying for airlines, corporate and charter operations, and teaching as a flight instructor, Rob also reflects on his early days as an FAA and U.S. Air Force tower and radar controller. Along the way, he’ll share remarkable stories from fellow aviators and respected podcasters who bring their own perspectives to the fascinating world of flight.

Hosts this Episode

Max Flight, our Main(e) Man Micah, and Rob Mark.

879 Becoming a Professional Pilot

2 Replies

Pilot Nicki returns to describe her 1948 Globe Swift and explain her plans to make a mid-life career change and become a professional pilot. In the news, the FAA Administrator says what to expect from the “brand new air traffic control system,” a bill to address ADS-B “misuse,” navigating around the debris field after a rocket failure, accelerating the MV-75 Tiltrotor program, flying the Qatari 747 as Air Force One, reduced security restrictions at Heathrow, and a private jet crash in Maine.

Guest

Pilot Nicki Hovanec in her plane holding a tablet announcing that she'd reached 1500 flight hours.

Nicki Hovanec just reached her goal of 1500 flight hours and now plans to make a mid-life career change and become a professional pilot. She fell in love with aviation at an early age and attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University for Aviation at Daytona Beach, Florida. But 911 impacted Nicki’s career trajectory and took her away from aviation. However, with encouragement from her spouse, she returned to aviation, obtained her pilot’s license, and will soon look to be hired by an airline.

Nicki trained through independent flight schools and completed her solo in 2017, receiving her initial pilot’s certificate. She continued her training and completed additional certifications on various aircraft while progressing towards her goal of 1500+ flight hours. Nicki saved and borrowed funds to purchase a Cessna 152. Eventually selling that plane, she bought a 1948 Globe Swift tail-dragger, her current airplane.

With 1,500 flight hours completed, Nicki now begins the job search for a professional pilot position, starting with the NGPA job fair. We’ll continue to follow her progress.

A little history: In May 2017, Nicki sought our advice about starting flying lessons and making a career change to become a professional pilot. We encouraged her to keep us informed about her progress, and Nicki did so by sending us over a dozen recordings documenting her journey getting a pilot’s license. We were happy to include those in our podcast episodes.

Nicki in the hangar standing in front of her 1928 Globe Swift airplane. — Nicki and her 1948 Globe Swift.

See:

A Short History of the Swift
Wikipedia: Globe GC-1 Swift
2026 NGPA Industry Expo, presented by United Airlines, February 5-6, 2026.
FAPA.aero (Future & Active Pilots Alliance)

Aviation News

FAA’s Bedford Provides Glimpse into U.S. ATC’s Future

At the monthly Aero Club of Washington, D.C. luncheon, FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford talked about the “brand new air traffic control system.” He described:

“Greater precision about… flight trajectories… [while] navigating through the airspace.”
Many fewer handoffs flying through the system.
A cultural shift away from focusing on takeoff to when a pilot wants to land.
Changing the innovation cycle to be more like Apple or Tesla.

AOPA urges members to contact their representatives in Congress

AOPA issued a call to action asking its 300,000 members to contact their senators and representatives in Congress and urge them to cosponsor the Pilot and Aircraft Privacy Act (PAPA). AOPA President Darren Pleasance said, “When the ADS-B mandate went into effect in 2020, the FAA said this important technology would only be used for safety and airspace efficiency. Instead, we’re now seeing it used in ways that discourage adoption…The misuse of ADS-B is a step backward for aviation safety and erodes trust in our aviation system.”

If passed, PAPA would prohibit the use of ADS-B data to assist in the collection of fees from pilots or aircraft owners and clarify that ADS-B data may only be used for its intended purposes of air traffic safety and efficiency.

PAPA was introduced in 2025 by Rep. Bob Onder (R-Mo.) as H.R.4146 and Sen. Ted Budd (R-N.C.) as S.2175.

“We’re Too Close to the Debris”

On January 16, 2026, ATC instructed Caribbean flights to avoid the FAA’s debris zone after a SpaceX Starship rocket exploded. Dozens of planes made sharp turns to avoid the danger zone, which was closed for 86 minutes. ProPublica says this made “pilots and passengers unwitting participants in SpaceX’s test of the most powerful rocket ever built.”

Army Punches Its MV-75 Tiltrotor Program Into Overdrive

The Army wants to see the MV-25 testing this year and in service in 2027. Just twelve months ago, the Army targeted 2030. At the 2022 competition, service was expected in the mid-2030s.

The MV-75 is the designation given to the U.S. Army’s Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) tiltrotor. The design is based on the Bell V-280 Valor tiltrotor and will replace many of the H-60 Black Hawk helicopters. The V-280 demonstrator has flown, but not the MV-75 configuration.

Qatari 747 to fly as Trump’s Air Force One this summer

In May 2025, the US government accepted the 747 jetliner donated by the Qatari government to serve as a new Air Force One. Modifications began in September. An Air Force spokesperson said in a statement that delivery of the aircraft is anticipated no later than summer 2026.

Calling it a “VC-25 bridge aircraft,” the Trump administration intends this plane to serve as an interim Air Force One while waiting for the two 747s currently being modified by Boeing. The Air Force is expecting the first Boeing-modified 747 to be handed over in “mid-2028,” a delay of roughly four years.

London’s Heathrow eases liquid and laptop rules after £1 billion security upgrade

The airport completed a £1bn CT scanner upgrade across all four Heathrow terminals. This allows passengers to carry liquid containers up to two liters, and the removal of laptops from bags is no longer required.

7 dead, 1 seriously injured in plane crash at airport in Bangor, Maine, FAA says

A Bombardier CL-600-2B16 Challenger 650 veered off the runway on takeoff and crashed at Bangor International Airport in Maine. There was snow at the time of the plane crash due to a large winter storm. See also: Private jet carrying 8 crashes at Maine airport, FAA says.

Hosts this Episode

Max Flight, our Main(e) Man Micah, Rob Mark, and Brian Coleman.

815 Air Travel Expert

We talk with travel expert Gary Leff from View from the Wing.com. In the news, the DOT probe of airline frequent flyer programs, U.S. airlines reduced hiring, automated landing fee collection, more on PFAS in aircraft firefighting foam, and FAA action to ease network flight delays. Also, interviews from the Pacific Airshow.

Guest

Travel expert and blogger Gary Leff was named one of the world’s top travel specialists by Conde Nast. He often appears in the media on television, radio, and in print. He’s been a keynote speaker at many conferences and both a moderator and panelist at Flightglobal industry conferences, in addition to CardCon and Fincon. His credit card advice has been featured in the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. Gary blogs at View From the Wing.com and is co-founder of InsideFlyer.com.

We talked with Gary about the U.S. Department of Transportation’s inquiry into airline rewards programs, including their authority to do so and the likely time before DOT action takes place. Gary comments on the devaluation of miles and gives us his thoughts on airline staffing levels. We consider issues surrounding carry-on baggage and overhead bin space and the topic of code sharing.

Visit View From the Wing.com for the writings of a true travel expert.

Aviation News

Breaking: New Government Investigation Demands Airlines Expose Frequent Flyer Devaluations

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) launched an inquiry into airline rewards programs to protect customers from potential unfair, deceptive, or anticompetitive practices. DOT sent letters to American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines ordering them to provide records and submit reports with detailed information about their rewards programs, practices, and policies. The probe is focused on the ways consumers participating in airline rewards programs are impacted by the devaluation of earned rewards, hidden or dynamic pricing, extra fees, and reduced competition and choice.

See: US probes top airlines’ frequent flyer programs for unfair practices and USDOT Seeks to Protect Consumers’ Airline Rewards in Probe of Four Largest U.S. Airlines’ Rewards Practices

U.S. airlines cool hiring after adding 194,000 employees in post-Covid spree

During the pandemic, airline employment decreased significantly as customer demand dropped. With the travel recovery, US passenger airlines added almost 194,000 jobs as they tried to catch up. Now hiring is cooling off: demand is moderating, fares are down which puts pressure on profits, labor costs are up with the new contracts, aircraft deliveries are running late, and engine availability is not where it needs to be

AOPA Objects to Possible Florida Airport Landing Fees

The state of Florida contracted with Virtower to collect aircraft movement data using ADS-B. Virtower partner Vector Airport Systems can use the Virtower data with its PlanePass system to provide automated invoicing. Vector proposes to collect a fee of $3 per 1,000 pounds of aircraft weight. AOPA says ADS-B was never intended to be used as a tool to collect landing fees. They question the need to collect fees at the public-use airports that already receive federal funds.

Virtower “monitors key airport operational parameters including takeoffs, landings, touch and go’s, pavement utilization, and based aircraft operations. While providing a quick and easy noise complaint investigations tool for all customers.”

Brunswick passes unprecedented PFAS resolution calling for action after spill

In Episode 812, we talked about aviation firefighting foam, specifically Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF) that contains dangerous PFAS (“forever chemicals”). There are efforts to transition to fluorine-free foam (F3) for aircraft firefighting. The Brunswick Town Council passed a resolution calling for a statewide inventory of AFFF that was spilled on Aug. 19, 2024. The non-binding resolution calls for the Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection to take action.

To Ease Newark Flight Delays, the FAA Turned to Philly. Here’s Why.

The FAA moved oversight of Newark Liberty International Airport air traffic to the facility at Philadelphia International Airport. This required the relocation of 24 controllers from Long Island.

The air traffic controllers union says the move was rushed and operational problems have occurred. According to an FAA estimate, as much as 75% of the nation’s overall air traffic delays originate in the New York City area. See: FAA Knew of Potential of Radar Issues Before LaborDay Newark Failures.

Pacific Airshow Gold Coast

At the Pacific Airshow Gold Coast, Brian Coleman interviewed Kevin Elliott, the President and founder of Pacific Airshow. The two discussed the differences between the shows in Huntington Beach, CA and the Gold Coast. They also talk about the impact of the oil spill that caused the airshow closure in Huntington Beach.

Brian also interviewed Tom Tait, the Mayor of Gold Coast, Australia. They discuss the economic impact of the airshow.

Mentioned

Confessions of a New Corporate Pilot

Listener Patrick Wiggins recently flew his 300th participant in the Women of Aviation Worldwide free flight program. Patrick flies out of Tooele Valley Airport, Utah.

Cora and her friend standing in front of the airplane. — Cora (on the right) with her friend who participated last year.

Hosts this Episode

Max Flight, David Vanderhoof, our Main(e) Man Micah, and Rob Mark.

799 Doomsday Planes

Korean Air 747s will become the new doomsday planes, the new ATC rest rules have been delayed by the FAA, Breeze flight attendants voted to join the union, a United jumpseat pilot has upset some Southwest pilots, the GA flyover in DC was a success, Boeing employees were found to have falsified 787 Dreamliner inspection records, Airbus hasn’t leveraged an advantage in light of Boeing’s woes, and airlines sue the DOT over a new rule requiring the disclosure of fees.

Aviation News

Former Korean Air 747s Slated To Become USAF Doomsday Planes

Korean Air has confirmed the sale of five of its 747-8s to Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC), which is building the new Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC) aircraft, also referred to as “doomsday planes.” The USAF states:

The E-4B “Nightwatch” serves as the National Airborne Operations Center and is a component of the National Military Command System for the President, the Secretary of Defense, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

In case of national emergency or destruction of ground command and control centers, the aircraft provides a highly survivable command, control, and communications center to direct U.S. forces, execute emergency war orders, and coordinate actions by civil authorities.

SNC acquired five Boeing 747-8s from Korean Air. The current E-4B aircraft are based on the 747-200. SNC specializes in aircraft modification and integration as well as space technologies.

FAA Delaying the Start of ATC Rest Rules

The new FAA ATC rest requirements require controllers to have at least 10 hours off between shifts and 12 hours off before a midnight shift. The rule was to have taken effect by mid-July. However, the FAA has delayed those requirements while it talks to the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) union. FAA Air Traffic Organization Chief Operating Officer Timothy Arel hopes to reach a joint rest period agreement for the 2025 schedule “or sooner where feasible.”

Flight attendants at this Utah airline just voted ‘overwhelmingly’ to unionize

More than 76% of the roughly 600 Breeze Airways flight attendants voted to join the Association of Flight Attendants. AFA international president Sara Nelson said “We are inspired by their solidarity and thrilled to welcome them to our AFA family. Our labor movement is growing. Everywhere.” See: Breeze Flight Attendants Vote Overwhelmingly to Join the Flight Attendant Union.

“Breeze Flight Attendants organized for a union and a contract due to ongoing issues with constantly-changing work rules, substandard pay for time on the job, inadequate hotel accommodations, insufficient work hours, and inconsistent and disrespectful treatment from management.”

American Airlines is Issuing ‘Poverty Verification Letters’ For New-Hire Flight Attendants Because Their Wages Are So Low

Nearly One in Ten Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants Have Experienced Homelessness in the Past Year and Over a Third Have Been Forced to Use a Food Bank

Poverty verification letters are being sent to some new-hire flight attendants based in expensive areas.

Airline Feud Escalates: United Pilots Barred From Southwest Airlines Jump Seats After Controversial Incident

This stems from an incident where a “relatively new” United pilot reported some “inadequacies” to the FAA after jumpseating on a Southwest flight.

AOPA’s General Aviation Flyover in DC

Video: LIVE DC Flyover – AOPA’s National Celebration of General Aviation

FAA is investigating Boeing for apparent missed inspections on 787 Dreamliner

Boeing voluntarily disclosed to the FAA that some B787 Dreamliner inspections may not have been performed, but were signed off as completed. The inspections are intended to verify adequate bonding and grounding at the wing-fuselage joint.

In a statement to NPR, the FAA said it’s also investigating “whether Boeing completed the inspections and whether company employees may have falsified aircraft records.” The agency also said Boeing is re-inspecting “all 787 airplanes still within the production system and must also create a plan to address the in-service fleet.”

Boeing told NPR it “promptly notified the FAA and this is not an immediate safety of flight issue”.

Commercial jet maker Airbus is staying humble even as Boeing flounders. There’s a reason for that

Airbus has over 8,600 orders in backlog and can’t build planes fast enough. There is not much ability of Airbus to take orders from Boeing. (Boeing’s commercial backlog is more than 5,660 planes.)

Major airlines sue Biden administration over fee disclosure rule

The airlines don’t like the new DOT rule requiring upfront disclosure of airline fees. Filing a lawsuit against the DOT are Airlines for America, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Hawaiian Airlines, and Alaska Airlines. A4A said the new rules would confuse consumers and that its “attempt to regulate private business operations in a thriving marketplace is beyond its authority.”

Mentioned

Leo J. Kohn Digitization Project and Fundraising – Press Release [PDF]. The digitization and preservation project page where donations are accepted is https://www.wahf.org/kohn/.

Boeing YB-29J, "Pacsuan Dreamboat" on the tarmac. — Leo J. Kohn Photography Collection, #957 – Boeing YB-29J, “Pacsuan Dreamboat”, 44-84061. New York, NY. Photo by Larkins.

Exciting #SpotLAX24 Updates

ANA Star Wars livery — SpotLAX is a must-attend event!

Got $200K & Want To Fly Electric? This Ultralight eVTOL Ships In July & Doesn’t Require A Pilot License

Pivotal Helix eVTOL

Hosts this Episode

Max Flight, Max Trescott, Rob Mark, and our Main(e) Man Micah.

768 Xwing Autonomous Aircraft

Autonomous aircraft with the regulatory affairs lead at Xwing. In the news, Delta Airlines reconsiders loyalty program changes, GPS spoofing of commercial flights, the Schiphol airport capacity cap, a crash takes the life of an AOPA senior vice president, and a 104-year-old woman goes skydiving.

Guest

Anna Dietrich is the regulatory affairs lead at Xwing, a company that flies piloted commercial cargo operations under a Part 135 certificate with a fleet of Cessna Caravans. The company has developed an autonomous aircraft for cargo operations and has conducted the world’s first fully autonomous gate-to-gate demonstration of a commercial cargo aircraft.

Anna Dietrich, regulatory affairs lead at Xwing.

Anna leads the certification program for advanced aircraft control and detect and avoid systems for the company’s autonomous flight operations. She gives us an overview of the Xwing autonomous program and the Superpilot autonomous flight technology. A remote pilot monitors the flight and can modify the flight plan if necessary.

We hear how the regulator’s viewpoint on airworthiness is now a more performance-based approach to safety. Operational rules can be the same as with a crewed aircraft, but in this case, some are performed by a system, and some by a pilot on the ground. For now, airman certification is unchanged, but some requirements are different and these will need to change over time.

Anna brings up the roles of humans in autonomous aircraft operations: who has liability and responsibility, and what training is appropriate? Also, how AI is regulated, thoughts on the certification process, and even public acceptance. We take the opportunity to ask Anna about the Terrafugia roadable airplane project that she co-founded.

Anna is an industry-recognized leader in policy, certification, and government relations for advanced air mobility (AAM), eVTOL aircraft, and autonomous aviation. Her experiences include Mars rover testing, being the founding COO of Terrafugia, testifying on AAM for Congress, and speaking at TED Global. She has appeared on or been published in a wide range of outlets including CNN, Ms. Magazine, and Good Morning America. She runs AMD Consulting, serves as Director of Regulatory Affairs for Xwing, is the co-founder and Director of Industry and Strategy at the Community Air Mobility Initiative (CAMI), and is a Senior Policy Advisor for AUVSI. She was the founding chair of the GAMA EPIC EVTOL committee and continues to have key roles in industry, including standards development efforts such as ASTM AC377 Autonomy in Aviation. She received her BS and MS in aerospace engineering from MIT and is a private pilot. More at annamdietrich.com.

Aviation News

Delta CEO Admits Airline May Have Gone ‘Too Far’ With Loyalty Changes

Last week we described how Delta Airlines planned to change its SkyMiles program. The airline said it would retire Medallion Qualifying Miles and Medallion Qualifying Segments to focus on Qualifying Dollars. Many Delta customers were not happy with the change, and CEO Ed Bastian responded by saying, “No question we probably went too far in doing that. I think we moved too fast, and we are looking at it now.”

‘We moved too fast’: Delta Airlines may reverse controversial change

After the initial Delta announcement, Alaska Airlines said Delta SkyMiles Medallion members could join their Mileage Plan program with no flight segment or spending requirement. JetBlue offered elite status in its Mosaic loyalty program to Delta flyers through Oct. 31, or until 30,000 people take advantage of the offer.

Increasing Fake GPS Signals Near Iran Prompt FAA Alert

The OpsGroup reports that the number of GPS spoofing incidents in Iraq is increasing along a flight path alongside the Iranian border. The FAA calls this a “safety of flight risk to civil aviation operations.” OpsGroup said about a dozen business jets and airliners received fake GPS signals, and many of them lost navigation capability.

OpsGroup is a membership organization for pilots, flight dispatchers, schedulers, and controllers involved in international flight operations. The 8,000-member-strong organization shares new information on changes and risks that members have reported. Members get a Daily Brief, live Ops Alerts, and other resources. OpsGroup founder Mark Zee describes the organization in What Is Opsgroup All About?

US’s JetBlue challenges Dutch, EU over Schiphol capacity cap

The Dutch government is planning to cut capacity at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport from 500,000 annual flights to 440,000 flights. This is an effort to reduce noise and carbon emissions, but it is not a popular move within the industry. Opposition comes from KLM, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), and A4A representing ten US airlines. Other industry associations against the plan include BARIN (representing airlines in the Netherlands), Air Cargo Netherlands (ACN), Airlines for Europe (A4E), and the European Regions Airline Association (ERA).

JetBlue Airways has made a regulatory filing with the US Department of Transportation (DOT) against the Dutch government and the European Union, calling on the DOT to take action. The airline claims is it under an immediate threat of expulsion from Schiphol in 2024.

AOPA’s Vice President of Air Safety Institute, Richard McSpadden Dies in Plane Crash

Richard McSpadden Jr., senior vice president of the AOPA Air Safety Institute, was one of two people killed in an aircraft accident on October 1, 2023, in Lake Placid, New York. The Cessna 177 Cardinal experienced an emergency after takeoff. The airplane attempted to return to the airport but failed to make the runway. Also killed in the crash was former NFL player Russ Francis.

104-year-old Chicago woman becomes oldest tandem skydiver

The Guinness Book of World Records may certify Dorothy Hoffner as the oldest person in the world to tandem skydive. The woman turns 105 in December and wants to go for a ride in a hot air balloon.

Mentioned

From The American Helicopter Museum & Education Center:

Speaker: Robin Bartlett, Vietnam Combat: Firefights and Writing History, Thursday, October 5, 2023, 7 – 8:30 p.m.
Speaker: Alan Mack, Razor 03: A Night Stalker’s Wars, Thursday, October 19, 2023, 7 – 8:30 p.m.

Aviation Newstalk Podcast

Portland jetport briefly shut down Sunday after car crashes through gate, drives on runway

Hosts this Episode

Max Flight, Rob Mark, David Vanderhoof, Max Trescott, and our Main(e) Man Micah.

644 Aviation Art Designs

MotoArt turns unused aircraft parts into high-end furniture and aviation art designs. In the news, Pratt & Whitney’s new hypersonic engine project, the AFRL autonomous Skyborg aircraft and the Boeing Loyal Wingman, Boeing criticizes the A321XLR, Qantas offers mystery flights, and the Southwest Airlines grant program.

Guest

Dave Hall is the co-founder and owner of MotoArt which sells high-end aviation-inspired furniture and aviation art designs constructed from genuine aircraft parts.

MotoArt aviation art designs. — Dave Hall

Dave is also the founder/owner of PlaneTags – collectible, three-inch oval-shaped luggage tags made from authentic aircraft skin. Each PlaneTag is laser etched with the aircraft’s schematic and serial / tail number and is attached to a baseball-type trading card containing the history of the aircraft. PlaneTags allows collectors the opportunity to hold a piece of aviation history in their hands while simultaneously providing them with an educational experience for each aircraft offered. Nearly 100 different types of PlaneTags have been created to date and several years’ worth of aircraft are in the queue for future releases. PlaneTags fans can expect new releases each month.

Dave began his career working at his father’s fuel storage tank business and later moved on to marketing and selling high-end architectural signage for amusement parks and sports arenas. In 2001, he and former colleague Donovan Fell began creating sculptures out of vintage World War II propellers. The popularity of these sculptures prompted the two to form a partnership and together created MotoArt LLC, which introduced high-end aviation-inspired furniture and art designs constructed from genuine aircraft parts. Since its inception, MotoArt has created over 100 limited edition custom designs for both private and Fortune 500 clients.

Dave has graciously donated four PlaneTags to Airplane Geeks which we’ll be giving away to listeners in a random drawing. In addition, Dave is offering Airplane Geeks listeners a PlaneTags discount. Details in the podcast.

PlaneTags from MotoArt, aviation art designs. — PlaneTags giveaway.

Finally, the Pima Air & Space Museum is running a sweepstakes (open until April 9, 2021) where your donation enters you in a contest to win a $25,000 MotoArt gift certificate.

Aviation News

Pratt & Whitney Makes Hypersonic Revival As Pentagon Pushes Reuse

Pratt & Whitney has a secret development program to develop a low-cost, reusable hypersonic propulsion system. This is a capability high in priority for the U.S. Department of Defense. The program is called Metacomet and comes from Pratt & Whitney’s GatorWorks prototyping division in Florida. David Stagney, senior director of GatorWorks said, “The faster you go, the larger the propulsion system is relative to the vehicle and how much payload and fuel you can actually fit in. So, we have spent a lot of time going back to the fundamentals and thinking about how to solve that problem differently. We know the Air Force wants to go really fast. They also want to have some very low-cost solutions, and to be able to have a large quantity of vehicles.”

Boeing to base U.S. Air Force prototype on Australian pilotless combat jet

Boeing designed and manufactured the unmanned “Loyal Wingman” aircraft in Australia, which just completed its first flight. The US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Skyborg autonomous aircraft program has contracted with Boeing, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, and Kratos Defense & Security Solutions to develop the prototypes. Boeing says they are basing their bid on the Loyal Wingman. The technology will be tested during Orange Flag exercises this summer.

Boeing labels new Airbus jet a ‘potential hazard’ just days after being fined millions for safety oversights

The A321XLR gets additional range with a fuel tank that is moulded into the fuselage. Boeing has informed the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) that this design “presents many potential hazards.” EASA had already noted the design, saying “An integral fuselage fuel tank exposed to an external fire, if not adequately protected, may not provide enough time for the passengers to safely evacuate the aircraft.”

First there were flights to nowhere. Now there are ‘mystery flights.’

Qantas is launching three flights to unspecified Australian destinations. Passengers will have “low-level scenic flybys of key landmarks” and land about two hours after departure. That will be followed by a day’s worth of activities on the ground. In order to know what to wear and pack, Qantas will give passengers clues about the destination.

Southwest Airlines donates 7,500 free flights for those in need of medical care

The airline’s Medical Transportation Grant Program is providing roundtrip flights for those in need of urgent medical care. Southwest awarded the tickets to over 75 nonprofit hospitals and medical transportation organizations. The airline valued the transportation at $3 million. To date, more than $38.6 million in free transportation has been provided since the program began in 2007.

Mike Collins

Rob Mark talks about the passing of Mike Collins, AOPA Technical Editor and Director of Business Operations. See Saying Goodbye: AOPA Loses Technical Editor Mike Collins.

Mentioned

Aerojet Rocketdyne

Air Care Alliance

AvGeekFests.com

Innovations in Flight Family Day and Outdoor Aviation Display

47th annual Sun ‘n Fun Aerospace Expo April 13-18, 2021. See SnF Covid policy.

Podcasting on a Plane, Episode 091, Remote View Flight Check with Rob Mark.

Airplane Geeks Listener Poll #643: Who would you like to see win the 2020 Collier Trophy?

Cat attacks pilots in cockpit, plane forced to make emergency landing

Trade group again names Portland’s jetport best in North America. Airports Council International recognizes the world’s best airports in customer experience with their annual Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Awards. The Portland International Jetport was named the best airport in North America for customer experience in its passenger class.

Airplane Flyover

641 AOPA Events for 2021

The AOPA events planned for 2021, Bombardier ending Learjet production, United Airlines investment in eVTOL, VFR charts move to a 56-day production cycle, F-35A engine issues impact the demo team schedule, and a TSA agent saves the day for some confused passengers.

Guest

Chris Eads, AOPA Senior Director, Outreach and Events

Chris Eads is Senior Director, Outreach and Events for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). He’s a private pilot and an AOPA member since 2001. He began working for AOPA in 2013. Chris flies VFR all over the country both for fun and as a part of his role leading AOPA events and regional fly-ins.

We focus on AOPA’s thinking and plans for events late in 2021 and even into 2022. The organization has released plans for two 2021 Aviator Showcase events. Each showcase will be a single-day event designed to provide new product and aircraft information to pilots, aircraft owners, and prospective buyers.

Aviator Showcase at Manassas, Virginia
Aug. 27, 2021, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
At Manassas Regional Airport (KHEF), hosted by Chantilly Air Jet Center.

Aviator Showcase at Fort Worth, Texas
Oct. 1, 2021, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
At Fort Worth Alliance Airport (KAFW), hosted by Alliance Aviation Services.

These events will be one-day gatherings in an exhibit hall, with an aircraft sales display and technology-related seminars. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet with industry leaders in avionics and cockpit technology, flight planning, weather resources, aircraft manufacturing, and more.

To be sure AOPA is in alignment with current CDC guidelines at the time of the event, registration will open approximately 12 weeks prior to each event. Attendance will be limited according to CDC restrictions, and advance registration is required.

In addition to the two Showcases, AOPA is considering “pilot gathering air tours” for when the pandemic clears sufficiently. These would be similar to a barnstormer’s tour and include social functions, unlike the Aviator Showcase events.

Aviation News

Learjet, once the go-to private plane for celebrities, is ending production

Learjet, owned by Bombardier, will stop production later this year. Bombardier said it will concentrate on the Challenger and Global aircraft, which are more profitable. The company was started in 1962 by Bill Lear, with the first entry-into-service in 1963. The company was purchased by Bombardier in 1990.

Archer Aviation gets a $1 billion order from United Airlines, on the same day it announces a deal to go public

Archer Aviation Inc. announced that United placed an order valued at $1 billion for all-electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL). United has an option to buy an additional $500 million worth of aircraft. Archer also announced its merger with Atlas Crest Investment Corp. which takes the company public and allows the public to invest in the urban air mobility (UAM) market. United Airlines plans to have a role in the UAM market with “last mile” transportation between airports and urban destinations using low-emission eVTOL aircraft.

VFR charts to go on 56-day publication cycle in 2021

The 56-Day Visual Charts notice [PDF] was published January 15, 2021 and takes effect February 25, 2021. In shortening the update cycle for VFR charts to match the dates on IFR charts, the FAA will now be updating all charts every 56 days.

F-35 Demo Team Forced To Cut Airshow Appearances Due To Fleet-Wide Engine Issues

Turbine blades in the Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100 engine powering the F-35 are experiencing shorter than expected life. Some F-35As have been running close to design limits which is causing premature cracks in the turbine blade coatings. While not a flight safety issue, it is causing unscheduled engine removals. The depot system is apparently already backlogged, so this extra workload is adding to that problem. This impacts the available engine supply so the Air Force F-35 demonstration team is scaling back the number of air show appearances by about a third.

Wrong Portland: TSA officer helps family fly to correct coast

A family of three Spanish-speaking passengers landed in the wrong Portland airport – Oregon, not Maine. They were about 2,500 miles from where they wanted to be. A TSA agent escorted the family to a ticket agent, and learned the family only had $200. The agent personally provided the additional money that allowed them to book a flight to their correct destination.

Mentioned

Check Out These Stunning Images Of The Super Bowl’s Bomber Trio Flyover

Here’s why Army helicopters have Native American names

FAA Files Reveal a Surprising Threat to Airline Safety: the U.S. Military’s GPS Tests

Gerbino Flight Systems: Innovations in Flight

639 AeroEducate

The AeroEducate youth aviation initiative from the EAA, pandemic effects on airline pilot employment and proficiency, FedEx plan to temporarily relocate Hong Kong-based crew, a 5G program and its effects on satellite-based navigation, Norwegian Air Shuttle plans a different strategy, conformal fuel tanks on F-18 Super Hornets, the first contractor-owned F-16 aggressors.

Guest

Ron Connolly, Director of Museum and Education, EAA.

Ron Connolly, Ed.D, Director of Museum and Education, Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) is a U.S. Army veteran pilot who previously served as an EAA Aviation Museum docent and tour guide.

Ron introduces us to AeroEducate, the new youth aviation initiative from the EAA for young people from 5 to 18 years old. The AeroEducate initiative encourages youngsters to explore aviation and possible careers in aviation. It’s an interactive, educational, and engaging experience that will officially begin later this year. Designed for both individual and classroom settings, AeroEducate was developed with support from groups such as United Airlines’ Aviate program and North Carolina State University’s school of education.

EAA AeroEducate initiative helps young people discover and explore aviation interest

EAA AeroEducate Initiative Helps Young People Explore and Cultivate Aviation Interest

We also talk with Ron about Airventure Oshkosh and the EAA Aviation Museum, including some of the impressive exhibits and artifacts.

Prior to joining the EAA staff, Ron spent time with both the Milwaukee and Appleton Police Departments as a Patrol Officer and then as a Senior Sergeant. Since 2016 he has spent time as an Associate Professor at Marian University. Prior to that he was a technical college instructor at institutions like Fox Valley Technical College, North Central Technical College and Northeast Wisconsin Technical College.

Ron earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Mount Senario College. He also holds a Master of Science Degree in Organizational Leadership and Quality from Marian University and an Educational Doctorate in Leadership, for the Advancement of Learning and Service from Cardinal Stritch University.

Aviation News

We Finally Know Exactly How Bad The Pandemic Has Been for Airline Pilots

Pilot recruitment firm GOOSE and FlightGlobal conducted a survey [PDF] to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting pilots. Almost half of all pilots are either looking for work or furloughed. Of those who are looking, GOOSE says, 80% said that they’d accept a cut in pay for a new job. Pilot Survey 2021 had input from 2,598 pilots from all over the world. Survey topics include pilot retention, pilot job security, employee engagement, pilot referral, stress, mental health and well-being, and the future of aviation.

Airline pilots making in-flight errors say they’re ‘rusty’ because of pandemic

A number of errors and mishaps are being blamed by pilots on the pandemic and recorded in the NASA ASRS (Aviation Safety Reporting System). AOPA’s Richard G. McSpadden Jr., senior vice president at the Air Safety Institute said, “The key to flying safely is frequency. You are not as sharp if you haven’t flown for a while.”

FedEx Express balks at Hong Kong’s new coronavirus quarantine measures, will temporarily relocate aircrew and families to San Francisco

Hong Kong, the world’s busiest air cargo hub, plans to require a 14-day quarantine for aircrews. FedEx Express is concerned and the company says they will temporarily relocate Hong Kong-based pilots and their families to San Francisco. Other passenger and cargo airlines might be forced to reconsider their flights to and from Hong Kong.

Also: Hong Kong quarantine disrupts FedEx, Cathay Pacific crews and cargo

FCC Refuses To Halt Ligado 5G Program

Some aviation groups sent a request to the FCC asking it to reconsider its approval for Ligado Networks’ terrestrial 5G program. The groups are concerned about possible GPS interference. However, the FCC denied the “request to stay its unanimous decision,” allowing the Ligado Networks’ terrestrial 5G program to continue. Airplane Geeks reporter-at-large Launchpad Marzari describes the issue.

Norwegian Air Shuttle Falls Back On Original Business Plan and Returns to Short Haul

Norwegian Air Shuttle’s Board of Directors announced the airline will exit the low-cost long-haul market and focus on short haul routes within Norway and to “key European destinations.” Under the plan, 2,160 pilots and crew working at subsidiaries in the UK, U.S., Italy, Spain, and France will lose their jobs. Approximately half of that number are at Norwegian’s London Gatwick base.

Navy Considers Axing Conformal Fuel Tanks From Its Block III Super Hornet Upgrade Plan

In testing, the Navy identified unspecified “technical, structural, and sustainment” problems in a “carrier environment.” The Drive speculates that since “there is a specific link between [conformal fuel tanks (or CFT)] and the operation of CFT-equipped jets from its aircraft carriers, [that] could suggest the problems have to do, at least in part, with how the upgraded aircraft handle the stresses of catapult launches and arrested recoveries.”

The article continues, “Another possibility might be that the tanks have been found to block access to key sections of the aircraft when they are installed, requiring their removal to perform certain routine maintenance and other tasks, adding costly time and effort to those processes.”

First Contractor-Owned F-16 Aggressors Include MiG Killers, Veteran Of Iraqi Reactor Raid

Private contractor Top Aces provides red air adversary support and will now be the first to acquire fourth-generation fighters, starting with four ex-Israeli Air Force F-16s. These jets have combat experience from the 1980s. Three of them shot down Syrian MiGs during the conflict in Lebanon, and one of them participated in the bombing raid on Iraq’s Osirak nuclear reactor. The four F16s were transported from Ben Gurion Airport to Phoenix, Arizona on a Ukrainian-registered An-124 cargo aircraft.

Homebuilt

The tug is the homebuilt, not the Focke Wulf. Launchpad Marzari explains how he and a friend combined some decidedly non-aviation items into a functional tug.

Airplane Geeks Reporter-at-Large Launchpad Marzari and his new “snow tug.”

Mentioned

Phil’s Airline Fleet News published “The B737 MAX List – 1st February 2021” [PDF].

632 Flight Training with Jason Miller

Guest Jason Miller produces flight training videos, a critically acclaimed podcast (The Finer Points), and now the Ground School flight training app. In the news, legend Chuck Yeager dies at 97, flight training restrictions due to Covid-19 and airline plans to transport vaccines, insurance rates for pilots, Designated Pilot Examiners, and a hydrogen fuel cell-powered research aircraft.

Guest

Jason Miller is an award-winning CFI with more than 20 years of experience. He is the founder of the original flight training podcast, The Finer Points, and is the host of the fastest growing flight training channel on YouTube. He’s passionate about developing products that make a difference for real pilots in the real world and can be found online at learnthefinerpoints.com.

Video: Ground School Tour.

Aviation News

Yeager Leaves a Legacy of Speed

On December 7, 2020, Charles E. Yeager died of natural causes, at age 97. Besides breaking the sound barrier on October 14, 1947 in the Bell X-1, Yeager tested the YF-100 prototype of the F-100A, evaluated a Russian MiG 15 that had fallen into American hands, and on December 12, 1953, took the Bell X-1A to Mach 2.44 where he encountered “inertia coupling” at 76,000 feet. His skills were evident as he regained control at 25,000 feet.

Flight School Association of North America (FSANA)

FSANA says they are getting some reports of flight training restrictions and limitations that would limit in-person flight training. For example, Michigan has terminated all in-person collegiate instruction for at least a 3-week period. FSANA is also hearing concerns about crossing state boundaries for flight training and being subject to “return quarantines” due to state restrictions.

Potential insurance relief on the horizon for older pilots?

Many AOPA members are complaining that their premiums are spiking, coverages are being limited, and restrictions to just get covered are sometimes harsh—often with little to no explanation. “Not a day goes by that I don’t get a call about insurance rates,” says AOPA President Mark Baker. ow, AOPA’s strategic insurance partner AssuredPartners Aerospace, has teamed with an aviation insurer that will explore options for pilots up to age 79. This insurer will also offer potential coverage options for younger and newer pilots.

Flight School Association of North America (FSANA)

Although airman certification in the United States is conducted by the FAA, most of the actual certification of pilots is done by Designated Pilot Examiners (DPEs). They are certified as instructors, administer practical tests for airmen, and charge for their services. DPE’s serve at the pleasure of the FAA, meaning the FAA can revoke the privilege at any time, with or without need for cause. Recently, there have been two terminations of DPEs that have been reported in the press. FSANA is interested in the review process and termination, and/or appeal of such a termination process. Perhaps some additional transparency is needed.

Airlines Gear Up to Transport Vaccines That Could Revive Travel

US Airlines have been planning the distribution of Covid vaccine for months in anticipation of a huge demand for transport capacity. Airlines even are preparing to run vaccine-only flights. United says a single 777 can carry up to one million doses. Some vaccines need extreme cooling with dry ice – carbon dioxide – which is regulated by the FAA. United conducted some tests and asked the FAA to raise the limit so it could fly the Pfizer vaccine from Brussels to Chicago. The agency agreed, allowing the airline to carry up to 15,000 pounds of dry ice aboard a Boeing 777-224, compared with the previous limit of 3,000 pounds. See FAA Advisory Circular Re: Transporting Dry Ice [PDF].

Hydrogen-Powered HY4 Rolled Out

The HY4 research aircraft was shown by a consortium of European companies and organizations. Details are scarce, but the twin-boom HY4 looks like it is based on the Pipistrel Aircraft Taurus G4. The Taurus utilizes two electric gliders joined by a center section wing with an electric motor. The HY4 hydrogen drive uses a fuel cell powering a 160-HP electric motor. With a top speed of 108 knots, range is claimed to be up to 900 miles. Test flights began last month and more than 30 takeoffs and flights of up to two hours have been completed. See the HY4 website.

HY4 – 2020 6th Generation, courtesy H2FLY.

590 Richard Aboulafia

David Neeleman’s new airline, Breeze Aviation; Boeing’s board of directors, the 737 MAX, the NMA, and the FSA; United’s flight school purchase; NASA’s experimental X-59 jet and the prospects for supersonic transport; and a Southwest Airlines Teddy bear. Plus, the Igor Sikorsky Weekend Fly-In, other upcoming aviation events, the EAA mobile unit, carbon monoxide detectors and pulse oximetry, and a physics lesson.

Guest

Richard Aboulafia

Richard Aboulafia is Vice President, Analysis at Teal Group. He manages consulting projects for clients in the commercial and military aircraft field, and has advised numerous aerospace companies. He also writes and edits Teal’s World Military and Civil Aircraft Briefing, a forecasting tool covering over 135 aircraft programs and markets. Richard also writes publicly about the aviation field, with numerous articles in Aviation Week, Aerospace America, and other publications. Frequently cited as an aviation industry authority by trade and news publications, he has appeared on numerous television news programs and has spoken at a wide variety of conferences.

Aviation News

JetBlue founder unveils new, Utah-based ‘world’s nicest airline’

The new airline being started by David Neeleman will be known as Breeze Aviation, headquartered in Utah. Neeleman’s previous startups include Morris Air, WestJet, JetBlue, and Azul. Breeze will nonstop fly between currently underserved airports. Breeze ordered 60 new Airbus 220-300 aircraft, with deliveries beginning in April 2021. The company leased 30 Embraer 195 aircraft from Azul, which will be delivered starting May 2020.

Experts question whether Boeing’s board of directors is capable of righting the company

Some think the Boeing board took a long time to fire Muilenberg. Is that an indicator of the board’s ability to deal with the crisis Boeing faces? New CEO Dave Calhoun says the board repeatedly considered confidence, but then in December decided it was lost. Richard Aboulafia was quoted: “The board you see today was largely created by McNerney, and he packed it with people with zero engineering experience.”

United Airlines buys flight-training academy to speed up hiring of 10,000 pilots

United Airlines needs to hire more than 10,000 pilots during the next decade. The airline is buying the Westwind School of Aeronautics in Phoenix, a flight-training academy, with plans to bring student pilots into the academy with zero flight experience to become fully-rated commercial pilots.

NASA’s experimental X-59 supersonic jet could be built by the end of 2020

The X-59 QueSST is designed to test “quiet” supersonic transport over land. The aircraft was approved for final assembly in 2019. NASA commissioned Lockheed Martin to build the plane and they expect to have it completed by the end of 2020. First flight is expected in 2021.

Video: Quiet Supersonic X-Plane

Unbearably cute: A boy lost his teddy bear on a Southwest flight – so the airline sent him a new one

After a young boy lost his favorite Teddy bear on a Southwest flight during the Thanksgiving holiday, his mother took to social media to try and locate the Teddy. The airline assigned an employee to find the bear but after an investigation, the Teddy couldn’t be located. So the corporate office decided to send the boy a new Teddy bear along with a storyline on how it was coming to live with the boy.

Mentioned

Igor I. Sikorsky Weekend Fly-In at The Bradford Camps on Munsungun Lake in northern Maine. Meals and private lodging in waterfront cabins are included. July 10-12, 2020.

College Park Aviation Museum

That Last Decade, by Courtney Miller.

The Air Current Expands with new analysis, new director

The Experimental Aircraft Association will deliver the excitement of flight throughout the United States in 2020 as EAA’s “Spirit of Aviation” mobile unit, sponsored by the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), visits numerous events in 2020. The traveling experiential exhibit introduces EAA to enthusiasts through aviation activities for people of all ages.

April 17-18: Purdue University Aviation Day; West Lafayette, Indiana
May 13-16: Joe Nall Fly-In; Woodruff, South Carolina
May 29-30: AOPA Fly-In; San Marcos, Texas
June 12-14: Chippewa Valley Air Show; Eau Claire, Wisconsin
September 5-7: Lunken Airport Days; Cincinnati, Ohio
September 11-12: AOPA Fly-In; Rochester, New York
October 16-18: Fort Worth Alliance Air Show; Fort Worth, Texas

AOPA’s 2020 Fly-ins (now in AvGeekFests.com)

#StormCiara at London Heathrow – 20+ Go-Arounds and Crosswind Landings!!