UV Radiation and the Risks Pilots Face Ultraviolet radiation is an electromagnetic wave that occupies a portion of the spectrum between X-rays and visible violet light. This corresponds to wavelengths of between approximately 400 nanometers on the visible light side to about 10 nanometers on the X-ray side. This spectrum is subdivided into several sub…
Senate Passes FAA Reauthorization Bill, While House Still Reviewing On April 19, 2016, the U.S. Senate passed Bill H.R. 636 to reauthorize funding and programs for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The bill, which passed with significant bipartisan support, includes measures highly supported by the aviation community for streamlining the certification process for aviation technologies,…
I received a recent phone call from a fellow who was preparing to attend initial King Air B200 training at the King Air Academy. This man had no previous King Air experience, although he had flown in both the military and airline worlds. He was requesting a copy of the Normal Procedures checklist so that he…
The stock market crash in October 1929 thrust a knife into the heart of America’s economy and put Wichita’s thriving aviation industry into an unrecoverable tailspin. The ramifications of Wall Street’s disaster were both cruel and inevitable. Across the United States, banks began to fail as people rushed to take out their money and borrowers…
Textron Aviation Inc. announced it has added new factory-direct coverage programs – Pre-Buy Assurance, Extended Care and King Air Direct. Through these new programs, the company says its customers can increase efficiency, reduce costs and optimize the value of their aircraft. The Pre-Buy Assurance plan provides peace of mind to customers when considering buying or…
The FAA STC for Raisbeck Engineering’s Swept Blade Turbofan Propellers for the King Air 350 has been officially validated by Mexico’s Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil (DGAC). The request for the validation was submitted to the DGAC in mid-February of this year; official approval was received on April 1, 2016. Raisbeck’s Swept Blade Propellers for…
Grand Junction, Colorado-based West Star Aviation has been approved as an authorized dealer and installation facility for Advent Aircraft System’s new digital anti-skid braking system, called eABS. This system offers enhanced tire protection, tactical feedback, smoothness in adverse conditions and low-speed cut-out, and required no change in existing braking system components. West Star is currently…
CenTex Aerospace, Inc. announced it has received FAA approval of the Halo 250 increased gross weight conversion for King Air 250s equipped with the Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion flight deck. The Pro Line Fusion avionics system is now standard equipment on new production King Air 250s, and is available as an upgrade to earlier…
Garmin International Inc. announced new enhancements made available within the Garmin Pilot app for iOS mobile devices. Pilots flying around the globe, including Europe, are now offered the option of filing VFR flight plans for free directly with the country Aeronautical Information Service (AIS) with a Garmin Pilot subscription. Additional features for iOS include a…
Gogo Inc., the leading provider of in-flight connectivity and wireless entertainment solutions to the global aero market, announced new hourly pricing plans for turboprop and light jet operators, making connectivity affordable and predicable for airframes of all types. Starting at $39 per hour, the new service plans provide the convenience of in-flight connectivity with predictable…