FAA Looking For Testing Designees

The FAA has issued a Request for Information (RFI) this week seeking to work with stakeholders on the administration of a new aeronautical knowledge test for recreational drone operators. Section 349 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 (PDF) requires new conditions to operate recreational small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). Many drones can be flown today with minimal training or knowledge of aviation rules or safety practices. The new statute is an opportunity to educate recreational flyers on UAS safety and to bring new flyers into the existing aviation safety culture. The law requires that flyers of recreational drones pass an aeronautical knowledge and safety test. The test will demonstrate a recreational

Witnesses Suggest The Aircraft Was Having Engine Trouble

In the days following a highly visible and tragic aircraft accident that took the lives of a well-known aerobatic pilot and a highly respected local reporter, a few reported details indicate that former airshow Pilot Franklin Augustus knew that his Pitts S-2B was in trouble. An NTSB senior air safety investigator from Denver arrived at the accident site Saturday to begin the on-scene phase of the investigation. At about 3:06 p.m. CDT, Aug. 16, an Aerotek Pitts S-2B (registration N600DF) crashed shortly after taking off from New Orleans’ Lakefront Airport. Both occupants, the commercial-rated pilot and the passenger, were fatally injured. Shortly after take-off, the pilot radi

Don't Miss A Chance To Promote Aviation Today

Stephen K. Brown, an FAASTeam Program (or Flight Proficiency) Manager, sent us a note over the weekend that we thought worth sharing... "August 19th is National Aviation Day, which is (today). This year will be the 80th year of the national day in recognition of Orville Wright's birthday and a day to celebrate all things aviation. It is in Part 36 of the United States Code and is a day to encourage activates by citizens to promote interest in aviation...

Only A Few Hours Logged in Previous 18 Months...

On August 3, 2019, about 1143 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180 airplane, N5167L, collided with trees and terrain near Ontonagon, Michigan. The private pilot was fatally injured, and the airplane was destroyed. The airplane was owned by private individual and operated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 without a flight plan. Day instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the accident site. The cross-country flight to Ontonagon County Airport (OGM) departed Gogebic-Iron County Airport (IWD), near Ironwood, Michigan, about 1115. According to the pilot's brother, the pilot intended to fly to OGM to meet some friends and go fishing on Lake Superior. The pilot's brothe