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Badly needed rain shortened the Gardner, KS fly-in last Saturday morning, but that’s the risk event planners have to take when scheduling a pilot pancake meeting; pop and donuts had to suffice. We’ve had a nice run of fall flying, so it’s time to cool down and hopefully get wet.
The “star” visitor on the transient ramp at Butler last week was a twin-engine Aerostar that was here on Wednesday, a rare bird built back in the 1970’s into the 80’s. The turbocharged versions could top 300 mph. Other visitors were a Piper Archer or two, a nice 1960 Beech Debonair 33 and a Cirrus SR-22 from St. Louis. Locally, Roy Conley flew his experimental gyrocopter, a 1975 Cessna Skyhawk moved in, and instructor Delaney Rindal made wind-up flights with some of her students. The nearly-11-month fuel drought continues; the NOTAM was allowed to expire without resolution.
This coming Saturday, the 25th, marks the monthly fly-out of the Fliars Club, so in the last mistaken week of Daylight Saving Time we summon hardy Fliars to gather in the gloom at 0730 hours at the Butler airport to seek sustenance. See you there.
As of this issue’s publication, October 22nd, the new Sport Pilot rules are in effect, a major change into uncharted waters for private aviation. The sport pilot rating has been available since 2004 and it worked well for individuals who wanted to skip some of the rigorous training needed to gain a Private Pilot license, and who were satisfied to fly two-seat light airplanes of 1320 pounds (600 kg) or less. No medical certification was needed, just a driver’s license. And pilots with higher ratings could drop down to fly as sport pilots as well.
But, as of today, sport pilots are no longer restricted to the Europe-style microlight planes. Instead of the weight limit, the new sport pilot privileges apply to any airplane with a clean (flaps up) stall speed of 59 knots or less, with no more than four seats, although only one passenger can be carried, just as before. That means a Cessna 172 or Piper Cherokee is allowed, under the FAA’s new rules. Insurance companies may still require some sort of medical certification, if you want coverage. Welcome to a new world of enhanced light sport flying.
Pan American World Airways may be coming back, after decades since the famous brand closed up shop. A venture capital firm, AVi8, filed paperwork with the FAA last Thursday to seek FAR Part 121 certification as a scheduled air carrier under the Pan Am livery. The Clipper Jets may fly again.
Secretary of Defense (or War) Pete Hegseth was on his way back from a meeting in Belgium last Wednesday when our Boeing 757 he was riding in developed a crack in the windshield. The crew declared an emergency and dropped down to 10,000 feet, in case the whole panel let go and depressurized, but the extra pane held and they landed uneventfully at an RAF base in England. I’m sure Safelite got ‘em back on the road quickly.
Our weekly question wanted to know if a pilot can allow an intoxicated individual to fly on their aircraft. Per the FAA regulations, no one under the influence of alcohol or drugs can be taken on board, unless under the care of a physician. For next time, our question is, why do boats and planes have a red light on their left side and a green one on the right? You can send your answers to kochhaus1@gmail.com.
