Hall Of Fame Honors Pioneers of Years Past

Women in Aviation International (WAI) has chosen their crop of inductees for 2024, with 3 historic pioneers being added to their International Pioneer Hall of Fame. Each will be honored at the 35th Annual Women in Aviation International Conference, which will include a ceremony and celebration dinner next March.

As The Engine Power Remained Unchanged, The Instructor Made The Decision To Execute An Emergency Landing

On November 18, 2023, about 1522 Pacific standard time (PST), a Cessna 150M, N6266K, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Woodland, Washington. The flight instructor and student pilot sustained no injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The flight instructor reported that about 1425 PST, they were departed from Pearson Field Airport (VUO), Vancouver, Washington to practice steep-turns and slow flight maneuvers, to include an introduction to power-off stalls and recovery.

Inattentive Maintenance Kills Again

A Piper PA-28R-201 crashed in Conway, South Carolina on September 14, 2022, causing fatal injuries to 2. "Shortly after departure, on the first flight following maintenance, the pilot reported a loss of engine power," reads the NTSB report. "The pilot attempted a forced landing onto a gravel road, but the airplane impacted trees and powerlines on final approach. The airplane came to rest against a berm and a post crash fire ensued."

Titan Aviation Fuels to Serve as Title Sponsor for T-6 Texan Team

The North American Aerobatic Team will be parting ways with AeroShell after 2 decades of sponsorship, with all-new livery, uniforms, and promotional materials to be produced for the 2024 season and beyond. The team has long been associated with AeroShell in the public eye, to the extent that few of the youth today may even recognize their "North American Aerobatic Team" moniker. But Titan Aviation Fuels proved to be the title sponsors this time around, and there's no bad blood between the former partners.

Helo Manufacturer Empowers In-House Refurb and Repair Capabilities

Schweizer has obtained its FAA Part 145 Repair Station certification, allowing the manufacturer to work on its own aircraft as a post-sale service provider. The brand makes the Schweizer S300, S300CBi, and S333 helicopters. Their repair station cert allows them to now overhaul transmissions and "other labor intensive components" in-house, lowering costs for S-series operators. “We are extremely grateful to our partners at the FAA who helped us earn this additional level of quality assurance and capability as we continue to build back the trusted Schweizer brand,” said David Horton, president and CEO of Schweizer.

Brockton Councillors Vote to Sell Saugeen Municipal to Private Interests

A small-town airport in Canada will soon be up for grabs, after the local council voted to sell off the Saugeen Municipal Airport. A Canadian Owners and Pilots Association report shined a light on the tough life of a small town airport, quoting the council's studies that show each year, despite some activity and business, the taxpayers subsidize Saugeen to the tune of about $15,000 CAD.

Despite the Continental Offerings Abroad, BAA Still Buys American

International flight enterprise BAA training inked a deal for 48 C-172s, expanding their educational Cessna fleet around the world. BAA Training is a full-spectrum GA provider with facilities in Spain, Lithuania, France and Vietnam. Additionally, pilot training services are provided through a consultancy office in India and a sales representative office in the UAE. Their sprawling flight training kingdom means they need plenty of trusty trainer planes, and they're willing to pony up for the blue chip of the GA world in the C-172 Skyhawk. They went all-in on a purchase for 48 spiffy new Cessnas, taking a bit of an unusual tack in a region where Diamond's little DA-20 Katana or do-all DA-40 seems to get more love.

Conducting A Low Pass Over An Off-Airport Landing Strip At An Altitude Of 100 Ft Above The Ground

Analysis: The pilot reported that, while conducting a low pass over an off-airport landing strip at an altitude of 100 ft above the ground, the airplane encountered a downdraft. The pilot felt the airplane was unable to climb out of the valley without stalling, so he maintained airspeed, but the airplane descended and impacted the ground. The airplane subsequently rebounded and came to a rest in an upright position, which resulted in substantial damage to both wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Visitors to WWI Exhibit Can Fly the Legendary Dogfighter

The Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington recently obtained a pair of Sopwith Camel flight simulators, allowing attendees to experience the closest thing to the original today. The sims were designed and built by local company one-G Simulation in collaboration with Cignatec, an education tech company. These simulators will be one of the jewels of the Museum's WWI exhibit, offering visitors an immersive flying experience in the iconic aircraft. Rather than push newbies through the usual flight training curriculum of a flight sim, the Sopwith Camels will give operators a range of scenarios to play with, reinforcing repeat attendance and fresh experiences.

Good Old Skyhawk Never Goes Out of Style

Liberty University signed on to purchase 16 more Cessna Skyhawks for delivery through 2026, adding to their fleet of 24 of the type. "We are proud to support Liberty University's aviation program and equip students with access to the industry-leading Cessna Skyhawk," said Chris Crow, vice president, Piston Sales. "Liberty University's commitment to excellence in aviation education aligns with Textron Aviation's vision of inspiring the journey of flight, and we are confident that these aircraft will enhance the training experience for their students."