In Flight USA Article Categories
In Flight USA Articles
Buddypilots, Redefining General Aviation Management
Flying is an amazing passion. For some pilots, it’s an opportunity to see our world from a new perspective, for others, it is a convenient way to travel and discover distant destinations. However, one thing is common to every pilot and aircraft owner; the pain caused by the overwhelming amount of preflight and post flight tasks, regulation complexity coupled with the increasing price of aviation.
A company named Buddypilots Aviation aims to solve these issues altogether. The Montreal based company has regrouped an international team to develop a powerful web platform for General Aviation. Available anywhere at any time, Buddypilots platform offers integrated tools to pilots, aircraft owners (single owner or partner) and organizations (flight schools, FBOs and flying club).
Editorial: Elections Have Come and Gone
By Ed Downs
It is traditional in many publications to use December editorial space to talk about the year that has just flown past. To be sure, that is a fine tradition, but perhaps the future is a topic of more interest and need. Aviation is entering some challenging times, and we need to take some positive steps to make sure the most unique aviation structure in the world remains healthy. But first, let’s just do some griping!
2012 was an election year to be remembered. Unfortunately, that remembrance is most likely not going to be because of the important issues that were covered or principles of government being argued. Instead, we will remember some of the most negative campaigning in this country’s history. But even more disappointing, was the manner in which politicians and pollsters divided up the country into opposing voting groups, or “classes.” Rich were pitted against poor; the middle class was pitted against both income “classes.” Age groups were defined and divided, with political “pitch” ads catering to each group as if in opposition to another age group. Certainly ethnic groups were carefully “classed” and addressed as if they lived in different countries. Women were focused upon as if their America was completely different from the one that men live in. This writer is sure that there is, somewhere, a set of stats that breaks America down by shoe and hat size, characterizing folks with big feet and small heads as voting in a particular style and needing to see particular political ads. The old axiom of “divide and conquer” is alive and well. The fact is, the divisiveness of 2012 has been the policy of politicians at all levels for some years and we must assume that it will continue, until we voters finally stand up and call for a stop.
The 104th Aircraft Recovery Squadron
By Steve Weaver
I was driving the other day and I spotted a small airplane, mounted on a trailer and being towed down the interstate. I was wondering what sad occasion had brought it to such a low state and I fell to thinking about my old friend Willie Mason and the “104th Aircraft Recovery Squadron.”
Willie came into my life in the late 60s as a flying student, while I was teaching flying and running a small country airport. Something between us clicked and in the process of teaching him about flying we became great friends. Through the next few years he taught me about the art of the small adventure.
Back to Business
By Ed Downs
The editorial staff of In Flight USA made a promise to our readers last August when it was decided to print monthly editorials that dealt directly with issues of concern to the aviation community. We promised to go beyond the usual tone of topical editorials, which smartly criticize a situation and or people and then back away from the subject, satisfied that word crafting alone will solve problems. We promised to make sure problem identification was accompanied by recommended solutions. We committed to changing or altering the content of In Flight USA when needed to address issues of importance.
For example, our expressions of concern over national policies that effectively abandoned America’s leadership in space exploration and science has been answered by the inclusion of a new feature focused on enabling our readers to enjoy the transition from The Skies to the Stars. Recent political rhetoric and a continued strategy of creating a class struggle in America has resulted in an innocent bystander, business aviation, taking well publicized hits from political luminaries. While In flight USA has always carried news and features about the business side of aviation, the decision has been made to significantly enhance our coverage of this important partner in America’ s air transportation system. A dedicated section will highlight business applications of fixed wing and rotor aircraft in addition to the technological advancements propagated by this sector of aviation. Additionally, In Flight USA will cover the services provided by America’s network of FBOs that specialize in serving this important sector of aviation.
Sport Flying With In Flight USA - March 2010
Where the Rubber Meets the Runway
By Ed Downs
This column has been addressing the Sport Pilot rule and Special Light Sport Aircraft (S-LSA) primarily from the perspective of general education. In others word, what this Sport Pilot movement is all about and how you, the reader, can apply Sport Pilot to your flying. The frustrating part of both writing and reading such accounts of these exciting, new, flying opportunities is that it lacks the “let’s go flying” side of the story. To be sure, S-LSA’s are being seen more often, but in general, one can wander around most airports and not see this new breed of airplane.