The Aspiring Pilot

Logbook Pro AirVenture sale and AirVenture Day 3 and 4 highlights

NC Software has announced that in honor of EAA's 2011 AirVenture, they are offering 15% off ANY software or subscription item from today through Sunday night, midnight EST. Logbook Pro is the electronic logbook that I use alongside my paper logbook. I love the software in terms of not only having a backup to my paper logbook, but also because it's SO much easier to sort the flights, run reports and even track currency on various items.  When shopping, please enter Coupon Code 'OSHKOSH11' in the appropriate field when checking out. Visit the store here: NC Software

Also, here are exceprts for my day 3 and 4 write-ups on AirVenture. Please be sure to visit the full articles for the full stories! 

As AirVenture approaches it's midpoint, images of last years 'Sloshkosh' began to replay in visitor's memories. The rain moved in around dawn, continuing on and off during the day and bringing about 1 inch of precipitation to the airfield. There remains a chance of rain through Thursday night and grass parking areas are already being effected by the moisture, with AirVenture staff marking off portions no longer suitable for use. The latest update from EAA staff was that the grass roadways were the most effected by the rain. Thankfully, the area had a dry spell leading up to AirVenture, allowing the soil to soak up much of the rainfall.

 

In news from around AirVenture, following on the footsteps of Tom Poberezny's retirement announcement yesterday, EAA's President and CEO, Rod Hightower, announced an expansion plan for the EAA's Young Eagles program. Beginning in 2012, the program will expand it's reach to include adults and no longer be limited to just kids between the ages of 8 and 17. The adult program will be a spinoff of the Young Eagles. Specific details, and a name, have not yet been released, but it should be popular and possibly become a catalyst to re-ignite interest in general aviation. 

 

Today was also Navy Day at AirVenture and the day started with a special honor flight presented by Southwest Airlines.

Continue reading on Examiner.com Rain moves in for Navy Day, day 3 of AirVenture. - National General Aviation | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/general-aviation-in-national/rain-moves-for-navy-day-day-3-of-airventure#ixzz1TSqxKeBa

Day 4 highlights:

AirVenture 2011 is now past the halfway point of the world's greatest aviation celebration and what better way to mark the midpoint than to honor two of the greatest aviation legends. The weather held out for most of the day unlike on Wednesday, with rain finally moving in toward the evening and expected to clear out by nightfall. The parking areas were still in good condition, but the grass roadways were muddy but open. The general aviation parking was reported as 90% full with the general aviation parking area at 80%. 

The day focused on Burt Rutan, a legendary designer of aircraft, some of which are more known for how unique they appear than anything else.

Continue reading on Examiner.com Day 4 of AirVenture spent honoring aviation legends - National General Aviation | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/general-aviation-in-national/day-4-of-airventure-spent-honoring-aviation-legends#ixzz1TSrCAc3j

 

EAA AirVenture day two summary

 

Aside from the airshows, airplanes and forums happening all around AirVenture on the event's second day, the biggest news was probably an EAA announcement made earlier in the day. Tom Poberezny, the chairman of both EAA and AirVenture, along with EAA executives, made the announcement that he will be retiring effective August 1st. Later in the afternoon, 'Fifi', the world's only flying B-29 Superfortress, made it's arrival to AirVenture and quickly became the most popular airplane on AirVenture grounds. 

Continue reading on Examiner.com Fifi arrives as EAA Airventure's second day comes to a close - National General Aviation | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/general-aviation-in-national/fifi-arrives-as-eaa-airventure-s-second-day-comes-to-a-close#ixzz1THJK24rx

2011 Airventure Day one recap

Missed day 1? Here's my write up of the first day of this years Oshkosh. 

Day one of EAA's 2011 Airventure has drawn to a close with some exciting events in the books, with plenty more in stock the rest of the week. The crowds also continued to swell on the first day, with fly-in areas filling quickly. As of 3:45 pm the General Aviation camping area was 80% full and the General Aviation parking area was 75% full.  

Capping off the day is REO Speedwagon, currently on stage for the sixth annual opening day concert presented by Ford Motor Company. The concert performances will continue with Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band on Friday and Aaron Tippen on Saturday. 

Hawker Beechcraft showcased a new upgrade opportunity for Bonanza owners that has come to be nicknamed 'Extreme Makeover: Bonanza Edition.' The actual upgrade is called the Bonanza Extra Tim Glaser, manager of sales/aftermarket development, stated that 'We wanted to offer our current customers more performance, comfort, and safety.'  The upgrades include the same engine found on current production model A36 Bonanzas, the Teledyne Special Edition IO-550 paired with a Hartzell 3-bladed propeller. The new engine, combined with the propeller, provides improved climb and cruise performance while decreasing noise and vibration. The increased in the performance add 150 lbs of usable weight, that can be utilized as carried weight or used to fill the new 20-gallon tip tanks (40 gallon total). For additional modifications and the cost and time of the upgrade, see EAA's article on the Bonanza Extra. 

In addition, some other interesting aircraft that were present were a replica Supermarine Spitfire from the WWII era along with Burt Rutan's 'Boomerang' design aircraft.

Continue reading on Examiner.com Exciting first day of Airventure 2011 draws to a close - National General Aviation | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/general-aviation-in-national/exciting-first-day-of-airventure-2011-draws-to-a-close#ixzz1TB0d0sRp

 

AP reporter notifies pilot's family after Oshkosh area crash?!

UPDATE - The airplane was identified as well as the pilot and passenger and it came out that the original identification 'made' by the AP reporter was completely incorrect. The plane was NOT the one they thought it was and was not in any way realted to Mr. Wood as originally mentioned below. So not only did they jump the gun and risk being the ones to notify a family of a fatal wreck, but they misindentified the airplane and possible pilot and probably gave a family an unnecessary scare. 

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Okay, I'll leave the actual reporting of the incident to the media that has more details; however, to summarize, a Piper Cub departed Oshkosh (Airventure is this week) this morning and attempted an emergency landing in Lake Winnebago. The plane flipped and sunk, killing both occupants before the dive teams could rescue them. 

Now, I have a HUGE issue with the way this story is playing out in the media, particularly the stories being run via the Associated Press (AP) information. It appears that the AP obtained the tail number, or somehow identified the aircraft involved. They then were able to check, I'm assuming via the FAA airplane N-number database, who the plane was registered to. Here's the part of the story I am absolutely astounded by:

The single-engine Piper Cub is registered to Kenneth Wood of Mt. Carmel, Ill. A man who answered the phone at Wood's home and identified himself as one of Wood's sons told The Associated Press that his brother, William Wood, had been flying. But he says the 28-year-old William had already landed in Oshkosh and posted pictures.

Based on the son's response to the report, it's almost very obvious that the family was NOT AWARE of the accident involving their father's airplane! The AP reporter essentially was the one's to notify them that it's probably that one of Kenneth Wood's son's perished in the plane. (A male and female were both recovered from the crash site.) Writing on General Aviation news at Examiner.com, I would NEVER contact the family of someone that was possibly involved in a fatal incident until I KNEW 100% they've been informed by the proper authorities first. 

Remember, there is no-way the family will not figure out that their loved one is most likely dead. He landed 'safely' at Oshkosh, true, but that was yesterday and the accident occured this morning. I can't imagine the uncertainty, stress and fear that accompanied the family members as they tried to contact their family at Airventure to ensure their safety after the reporters calls? 

I guess that's one problem with the FAA Databases being public, (knowing the names and cities, we can even now pull up the pilot's certification information as well!) It's a great tool for research, but this shows that it can be abused, with negative consequences. 

Please feel free to comment on here, actually I highly encourage it. I understand the reporter didn't do anything illegal and was within his right to obtain the information and 'inquire' with the family, but do you think he crossed the line by calling the families of someone that may have been killed in an accident PRIOR to proper notification? 

 

FAA shutdown begins shortly, 12 AM EST July 23rd

While it's expected to have little impact on commercial or general aviation flights this weekend, the US Congress has failed to overcome disagreements about aspects of the most recent attempt at an FAA Reauthorization Bill. As of midnight EST tonight, the FAA will need to cease all non-essential operations, resulting in the layoff of nearly 4,000 FAA employees. ATC services will not be affected and those employees will remain at their consoles, safely guiding planes to their destinations. 

Beyond the layoff of FAA employees, the FAA Airport Improvement Program grant payments will also come to a halt. This will result in the stoppage of hundreds of construction projects that are reliant on nearly $2.5 billion in grant funding. As a result, over 86,000 construction workers will also be without a job as their worksites are brought to a standstill.

Continue reading on Examiner.com As reauthorization bill fails to pass Congress, FAA begins shut down process - National General Aviation | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/general-aviation-in-national/as-reauthorization-bill-fails-to-pass-congress-faa-begins-shut-down-process#ixzz1StgMvxSE

 

United recalling about 10-15% of it's furloughed pilots.

United announced today that it will be recalling 100-200 of it's pilots that are on furlough over the next year. They currently have around 1,400 pilots on furlough and expect to make the recall offer shortly.  The recalled pilots will actually be flying for Continental as the two airlines continue to merge their operations. 

It's only a small percent of the 1,400 still sitting our at United, but it's finally a start in the right direction. Other airlines such as Delta and American had already been recalling their pilots and have many less left on furlougs.

Hopefully this is a trend that will continue and I'm sure this will be welcome news for the pilots of United that have been furloughed for such a long time already.