Aircraft Archives - FLYING Magazine https://cms.flyingmag.com/aircraft/ The world's most widely read aviation magazine Tue, 13 Aug 2024 18:38:05 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.4 This 1992 SOCATA TB-9 Tampico Is a Stylish-But-Economical ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick https://www.flyingmag.com/aircraft-for-sale-top-picks/this-1992-socata-tb-9-tampico-is-a-stylish-but-economical-aircraftforsale-top-pick/ Tue, 13 Aug 2024 18:38:02 +0000 https://www.flyingmag.com/?p=213398&preview=1 A European design that arrived in the U.S. during the 1980s, the TB series brings variety to the local ramp.

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Each day, the team at Aircraft For Sale picks an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, represents a good deal, or has other interesting qualities. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily.

Today’s Top Pick is a 1992 SOCATA TB-9 Tampico Club.

Sometimes the most basic airplanes also are the most practical and economical for first-time buyers who are—officially or not—acquiring an aircraft to continue their aviation education.

One possible downside is that there is not much variety in that market segment. Whatever you find is likely to come with a Lycoming O-320 on the nose, fixed-pitch propeller, fixed gear, and an overall design that is not too exciting.

One exception is the SOCATA TB-9 Tampico, which, despite sharing specs with basic Cessna 172s and Piper PA-28s, manages to look alluring on the ramp. The stylish, upward-opening gull-wing doors certainly help. So does its more modern shape, which, in my opinion, clearly did not emerge from a domestic drafting table.

The Tampico and its siblings, the more powerful TB-10 Tobago and retractable TB-20 Trinidad, simply look European, which they are. They are not orphan designs, though, as SOCATA’s parent company Daher, known today for TBM turboprops, continues to support these piston singles.

The Tampico is sure to be a superior icebreaker for any pilot flying into an unfamiliar airport. People will ask what kind of airplane you are flying and you will have the opportunity to share the model’s interesting details.      

This 1992 TB-9 Tampico has 3,611 hours on the airframe, 1,531 hours in its 160 hp Lycoming O-320-D2A engine since its major overhaul, and 71 hours since the engine underwent a top overhaul. Additional equipment includes strobe lights, heated pitot tube, and alternate static system

The IFR panel includes a KMA 24 audio panel with markers, Garmin GNS 430 GPS/nav/comm, NSD-360 HSI, KT 76 transponder with encoder, two-place intercom, and wing beacon with ADS-B Out.

Pilots searching for a more stylish four-seat personal aircraft that is versatile enough for training, building time, or traveling should consider this 1992 SOCATA TB-9 Tampico, which is available for $69,500 on AircraftForSale.

If you’re interested in financing, you can do so with FLYING Finance. Use its airplane loan calculator to calculate your estimated monthly payments. Or, to speak with an aviation finance specialist, visit flyingfinance.com.

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NTSB Releases Prelim Report on Vintage WACO YKC Crash https://www.flyingmag.com/aircraft/ntsb-releases-prelim-report-on-vintage-waco-ykc-crash/ Tue, 13 Aug 2024 18:12:27 +0000 https://www.flyingmag.com/?p=213382&preview=1 Agency investigation reveals the VFR aircraft was in foggy conditions at the time of the accident.

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Weather may have been a key factor in the fatal crash of a 1934 WACO YKC in Selden, Kansas, in June, according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)

The antique aircraft’s owners—Dave and Jeanne Allen—were killed in the June 30 accident.

According to the preliminary report released by the agency (below), thick fog was reported by residents in the area at the time of the accident.

The Allens, from Elbert, Colorado, were both accomplished pilots. Dave was a retired airline pilot, and Jeanne flew gliders. The accident airplane, the teal cabin-class model, had been restored by the Allens and was one of the most photographed vintage airplanes at airshows and fly-ins.

What Happened

According to the NTSB preliminary report, on June 30 the Allens were planning to fly from Knox County Airport (4I3) in Mount Vernon, Ohio, to Oberlin Municipal Airport (KOIN) in  Kansas. According to SkyVector, the straight-line distance is approximately 829 nm. 

The Allens made two fuel stops en route—one at the Shelby County Airport (2H0) in Shelbyville, Illinois, around 8:40 a.m. CDT, and another at the Chillicothe Municipal Airport (KCHT) in Missouri, about 11:35 a.m.

[Courtesy: Meg Godlewski]

The aircraft was not equipped for IFR flight as it was not required to be when it rolled off the assembly line in 1934. The panel of the WACO was period correct with the required original instruments, including an airspeed indicator, altimeter, slip-skid indicator, magnetic compass, and vertical speed indicator.

Investigators also found a hand-held Garmin GPSMAP 496 and an Appareo Stratus 3 in the aircraft. The circuit boards of both were recovered and retained for further examination.

While in Shelbyville, Jeanne Allen made the first of several text messages to the manager of Oberlin Municipal Airport stating that their estimated time of arrival would be around 5 p.m., according to the NTSB report. A second message sent later said that the weather was looking too low for VFR at Oberlin, so they would divert to Phillipsburg Municipal Airport (PHG) in Kansas, approximately 57 nm to the west.

Dave and Jeanne Allen, in front of their 1934 WACO YKC. [Courtesy: Meg Godlewski]

From the ground, Dave Allen made several telephone calls to both the Oberlin Municipal Airport manager and a family friend in Colby, Kansas, to inquire about the weather en route and possible destinations.

According to the NTSB, the airport manager told him that the weather conditions included low ceilings and visibility, and he did not know when or if the weather would improve.

The family friend told investigators that, based on the telephone conversation, he assumed the couple would stay overnight in Colby.

The WACO took off from Chillicothe Municipal Airport at 5:10 p.m.. Approximately six minutes later, the passenger sent a text to the manager in Oberlin stating they were “going to try and go south to get out of this stuff.”

ATC radar data, beginning at 5:46 p.m., showed the airplane making several climbing turns starting at an altitude of 3,025 feet msl. The aircraft reached a maximum altitude of 4,625 feet msl over the accident site, then began descending right bank. Data was lost by 5:49 p.m. The last readout shows the aircraft on a heading of 75 degrees, with a groundspeed of 109 knots and an altitude of 3,800 feet msl, which put it approximately 1,050 feet agl.

The accident site was in a flat agricultural field about 0.10 nm southeast of the last received ATC radar position. The impact marks and debris were consistent with the airplane hitting the ground in about a 90-degree right bank and about 40-degree nose-down attitude. There was a postaccident fire.

NTSB said that an oil rig crew, located about a half mile from the accident site, reported that fog was so dense it could not see the top of its derrick.

The NTSB final report with the probable cause of the accident is expected to be released in about 18 months.

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FAA Clears Piper M700 for Unpaved Field Operations https://www.flyingmag.com/aircraft/faa-clears-piper-m700-for-unpaved-field-operations/ Mon, 12 Aug 2024 19:42:58 +0000 https://www.flyingmag.com/?p=213339&preview=1 The agency's latest certification follows the Fury's type certification in March.

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Piper Aircraft’s M700 Fury has received FAA approval for unpaved field operations, the company announced Monday.

According to Piper, the M700 Fury, which was certified in March, underwent “rigorous testing for unpaved field certification.”

“The Fury’s performance was exceptional,” Ron Gunnarson, vice president of sales, marketing, and customer support at Piper Aircraft, said in a statement. “The aircraft’s robust design and construction quality ensured seamless operations in all test conditions. The certification process was also smooth with the Type Inspection Authorization (TIA) flight test being completed in just one day.”

Safety is key with the Piper Fury, according to the company. The airframe comes standard with a G3000 avionics suite, including autothrottle, emergency descent mode, electronic stability protection, SurfaceWatch, SafeTaxi, and Garmin PlaneSync, along with the HALO Safety System, featuring Garmin Emergency Autoland. 

The system is designed to allow the aircraft to land safely at the nearest suitable airport in the event the pilot is incapacitated.

The powerplant of the M700 Fury is a Pratt & Whitney PT6A-52 700 SHP capable of a maximum cruise speed of 301 ktas. The Fury has a standard useful load of 2,320 pounds and a range of approximately 1,852 nm.

The single-engine aircraft can be configured for executive transport, a cargo hauler, or both.

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This 1948 Piper PA-14 Family Cruiser Is a Super-Rare ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick https://www.flyingmag.com/aircraft-for-sale-top-picks/this-1948-piper-pa-14-family-cruiser-is-a-super-rare-aircraftforsale-top-pick/ Mon, 12 Aug 2024 18:13:26 +0000 https://www.flyingmag.com/?p=213316&preview=1 Essentially a four-seat Cub, the PA-14 resulted from widening the Super Cruiser’s cabin.

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Each day, the team at Aircraft For Sale picks an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, represents a good deal, or has other interesting qualities. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily.

Today’s Top Pick is a 1948 Piper PA-14 Family Cruiser.

How many more pilots would have purchased a Piper Cub or one of its many derivatives if the aircraft could carry more than two people? Certainly the company had this in mind when developing the three-place PA-12 Super Cruiser.

But even Cub fans might not be aware of the PA-14, a four-place model developed by widening the front of the Super Cruser’s cabin to add a fourth seat. This machine could have been just right for many customers with families of four, but difficult financial times at Piper coincided with PA-14 production. Only 200-odd PA-14s rolled out of the Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, factory before the model was discontinued.

Subsequent four-place Piper models, such as the Pacer and Tri-Pacer, eventually addressed the needs of traveling families, though the Family Cruiser, with its traditional control sticks and Cub styling, always seemed like the one that got away. The aircraft for sale presents a rare opportunity.

Like many PA-14s, this one wound up in Alaska, where pilots truly appreciate an airplane with extra utility. Many of the modifications made to the airframe and systems are aimed at maximizing the aircraft’s performance in the region’s often-challenging conditions. The airplane’s design and features could make it an ideal vintage traveler for modern families.

This 1948 Family Cruiser has 11,117 hours on the airframe and 749 hours on its 160 hp Lycoming O-320-A2B engine. Time on the Sensenich two-blade 74DM6-0-52 propeller is unknown.

The aircraft is equipped with Super Cub landing gear, throttle and horizontal stabilizer with modified elevators, Cleveland brakes, 26-inch Goodyear tires,  Scott ABI 3200 tailwheel, seaplane doors, float fittings, and other modifications, and comes with EDO 2000 floats.

The VFR panel includes a Garmin Aera 500 GPS, King KY 92 comm radio and a CHT gauge.

Pilots who love Cubs but need four seats should consider this 1948 Piper PA-14 FamilyCruiser, which is available for $125,000 on AircraftForSale.

If you’re interested in financing, you can do so with FLYING Finance. Use their airplane loan calculator to calculate your estimated monthly payments. Or, to speak with an aviation finance specialist, visit flyingfinance.com.

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Ultimate Issue: From Radial to Radical https://www.flyingmag.com/ultimate-issue-from-radial-to-radical/ Mon, 12 Aug 2024 13:00:00 +0000 https://www.flyingmag.com/?p=212686&preview=1 Harbour Air Seaplanes has taken the bold initiative to put electric motors on its de Havilland Beavers fleet.

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When it rolled out of the de Havilland factory in Toronto in 1956, DHC-2 Beaver registered as CF-JOS was launched into the typical life of the most iconic bushplane ever built. That is to say its life has been anything but typical because it was purpose built to challenge the norms of aviation in the postwar era.

Tough as nails, able to get in and out of small unimproved runways or high mountain lakes, while carrying a ton of freight, ponderously slow and superbly stable, the Beaver led a renaissance in backcountry air service. It also set standards for safety and reliability in the far-flung wilderness of northern North America.

It spread those attributes around the world, achieving previously impossible results from the Sahara to Mount Everest and both poles. There were 1,167 built, and they remain coveted and useful platforms in myriad roles almost 80 years after the first was finished in 1947.

CF-JOS (now C-FJOS) has toiled most of its life on British Columbia’s rugged West Coast, initially as a lifeline for loggers, miners, and anglers, and most recently, as one of dozens of Beavers providing scheduled floatplane passenger service for Harbour Air Seaplanes between Vancouver and Seattle and about a dozen coastal communities. 

C-FJOShas been written off twice and rebuilt (Beavers are often rebuilt from the data plate alone), has tens of thousands of hours and a million stories, including its own electrifying one. Now, at 68 years old, this seemingly vintage aircraft sits at the forefront of a massive technological renaissance in air travel. 

In 2019, Harbour Air fitted C-FJOS with a magniX electric motor, batteries, and control system, and it has since accumulated more than 78 flights. Based on the experience of the past four years with C-FJOS, Harbour Air has ordered 50 electric propulsion systems from magniX to convert its whole fleet of Beavers and will likely become the first airline to use electric power in scheduled passenger service, possibly by 2026.

In doing so, the chunky, awkward-looking, sheet-metal creation of another era will climb slowly past sleekly modern multicopters and other futuristic designs to serve the market the new aircraft were supposed to generate.

It’s a story of innovation tempered with practicality that is a common thread in the development of aviation as it takes on a future that demands a nimble and responsible industry.

The original Beaver was a fuel hog whose radial engine spewed so much oil in normal operation that de Havilland put an oil filler spout in the cockpit so the sump could be replenished in flight. That unrestrained use of petroleum products is receiving considerable scrutiny these days and the public, through its governments and regulators, want an aviation industry that can get it anywhere on earth in less than a day without beating up the planet.

It’s a tall order. It takes a lot of energy to hoist a few hundred people to 35,000 feet and move them thousands of miles. But progress is being made, and the goal of making aviation a net-zero-carbon creator by 2050 is considered doable.

Electric aviation is just part of that solution. Hybrid systems using hydrogen show promise, but it’s unlikely that hydrocarbon-fueled aircraft will become obsolete anytime soon. But with developments in the production of sustainable aviation fuels, much of it from agricultural waste and overcapacity, they can be made much better for the environment.

Harbour Air Seaplanes fitted C-FJOS with a magniX electric motor, batteries, and control system in 2019. [Courtesy: Harbour Air Seaplanes/Blago Hristovski]

The quest for environmental stewardship in aviation has already paid dividends. The latest  aircraft engines are up to 30 percent more fuel efficient and have the side benefit of being much quieter than previous generations because noise is the sound of energy being wasted.

The environmental shift is also leading to a change in aircraft design philosophy, although it’s fair to say that most of the futuristic designs on the drawing boards are nothing new. 

The physics of flight are well understood, and the blended bodies and truss-braced wing concepts now being explored are the results of technology catching up to those seemingly radical designs.

In the longer term, there are concepts that seem right out of science fiction that are being seriously studied. One that stands out is using nuclear fusion to power aircraft.

But if that sounds ridiculously far-fetched (and by the way the concept of nuclear-powered aircraft emerged in the late 1950s), imagine telling one of the folks at de Havilland in 1956 building CF-JOS that it would fly on electric power. 

The plane was built at the height of the Beaver’s popularity. Orders were pouring in from all over the world, and its many innovative and performance features for the time made it a state-of-the-art aircraft.

Creativity and big ideas have always driven aviation, and there’s no sign of that letting up. But what’s interesting and different about the industry is that when something is developed that just plain works, its life is practically endless through continuous improvement. Just ask a Harbour Air pilot, or the crew of a B-52, which is about the same age as a Beaver and is forecast to have a service life of 100 years.


This feature first appeared in the Summer 2024 Ultimate Issue print edition.

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ATR 72 Crashes in Brazil https://www.flyingmag.com/news/atr-72-crashes-in-brazil/ Fri, 09 Aug 2024 19:18:11 +0000 https://www.flyingmag.com/?p=213257&preview=1 Voepass airline confirms social media reports that an ATR 72 went down in a residential area of Sao Paulo on Friday.

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An ATR-72-500 regional airliner has crashed in a residential area of Sao Pauolo, Brazil, according to early reports on social media.

The aircraft—registered as PS-VPB—was operated by Brazilian carrier Voepass. The airline confirmed the accident in a statement Friday afternoon.

Per the carrier, the flight was planned to operate from Cascavel to Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (SBGR). The 58 passengers and four crewmembers on board were killed, according to media reports. There was no word of any casualties on the ground.

In a translated Facebook post, Voepass said it has “activated all means to support those involved.”

The aircraft first began service in 2010, joining Voepass’ fleet in 2022.

Videos on social media show the turboprop aircraft, reportedly inbound for landing, involved in what appeared to be a flat spin before crashing. ADS-B data indicates the aircraft dropping by up to 24,000 feet per minute.


This article first appeared on AirlineGeeks.com.

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This 2006 Maule M-4-180V Is a Backcountry-Ready ‘Aircraft For Sale’ Top Pick https://www.flyingmag.com/aircraft-for-sale-top-picks/this-2006-maule-m-4-180v-is-a-backcountry-ready-aircraft-for-sale-top-pick/ Fri, 09 Aug 2024 17:39:10 +0000 https://www.flyingmag.com/?p=213247&preview=1 A modern homage to the company’s earlier designs, the newer M-4 is an economical ticket to adventure flying.

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Each day, the team at Aircraft For Sale picks an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, represents a good deal, or has other interesting qualities. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily.

Today’s Top Pick is a 2006 Maule M-4-180V.

Maule Air, the Moultrie, Georgia-based purveyor of modern taildraggers, has been charting its own unique course for decades.

While its aircraft seem old-fashioned because of their rag-and-tube construction, they remain in production and are ideally suited to their customers’ needs, which include carrying loads into the backcountry and operating from short, rough fields. In light of the growing popularity of STOL and off-airport flying, Maule’s lineup feels completely up to date.

The aircraft for sale here offers an attractive combination of capability and economy. While relatively new by general aviation standards, this M-4 feels like a bargain compared with numerous older taildraggers that are popular among short-field enthusiasts. Even though Maules have been around since the 1940s, they are not necessarily well-known among everyday aircraft shoppers. They tend to attract pilots with a strong sense of adventure and tradition.  

This 2006 Maule M-4 has 925 hours on the airframe and on its 180 hp Lycoming O-360-C1F engine since new. Airframe upgrades include observation doors, vortex generators, Cleveland brakes, 8.50-by-6 tires, an Alaskan Bushwheel 3200 tailwheel, and floatplane reinforcement kit. The aircraft has a maximum takeoff weight of 2,300 pounds and a useful load of 882 pounds.

The panel features a Garmin 250XL GPS/Comm, Aera 660 portable GPS with panel mount that displays ADS-B with weather and traffic, PM1000 intercom, Narco AR850 altitude reporter, Garmin GTX 345 transponder, Electronics International SP-8-A engine analyzer, OAT gauge, and fuel totalizer.

Pilots searching for a traditional 1940s-style taildragger with numerous upgrades that make it better-suited to modern times should consider this 2006 Maule M-4-180V, which is available for $125,900 on AircraftForSale.

If you’re interested in financing, you can do so with FLYING Finance. Use its airplane loan calculator to calculate your estimated monthly payments. Or, to speak with an aviation finance specialist, visit flyingfinance.com.

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Illegal CFI Faces Charge of Involuntary Manslaughter https://www.flyingmag.com/news/illegal-cfi-faces-charge-of-involuntary-manslaughter/ Fri, 09 Aug 2024 17:00:00 +0000 https://www.flyingmag.com/?p=213210&preview=1 Lapsed and noncertificated instructor crashed a Piper in 2022, killing the student aboard.

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Have you checked your CFI’s credentials? How do you know they are legal to provide instruction?

This question is being asked at flight schools across the country as the CFI world and the nonaviation media are sharing the story of 36-year-old Philip Everton McPherson II, from Haddon Township, New Jersey. McPherson faces one count of involuntary manslaughter for the crash of the Piper PA-28-140 on September 28, 2022, that killed student pilot Keith Kozel, 49.

A federal grand jury indicted McPherson on August 1. He was arrested at his home on August 5.

McPherson’s commercial and CFI certificates were surrendered to the FAA more than a year before the accident because he had failed a 44709 ride (reexamination for airman privileges).

FLYING Magazine obtained a copy of the 11-page indictment that said McPherson “acted with gross negligence because he knew that he was not competent to safely fly an aircraft as the pilot in command.” According to the indictment, his commercial pilot and instructor certificates were surrendered to the FAA in October 2021 after he failed a reexamination ride.

McPherson was employed by ProFlite Aero Services in Easton, Pennsylvania. FLYING’s attempts to contact the flight school for comment were unsuccessful. The website for the business is no longer in operation.

According to the indictment, in 2021 the FAA received a hotline complaint about McPherson’s alleged poor airmanship that included going off the runway on two different occasions while flying with a student, resulting in substantial damage to the aircraft.

The first off-runway event was on November 18, 2020, when during the second attempt to land a Cessna 172 in a gusting crosswind the aircraft went off the side of the runway and the nosewheel failed, and the aircraft flipped onto its back. The winds near the site were reported as 13 knots gusting to 25.

The second event was on March 6, 2021, but FLYING was unable to locate the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) accident report for it.

The indictment notes the FAA made several attempts to reach McPherson—first by letter then by telephone—as part of its investigation to set up a reexamination ride. When he finally did the reexamination flight with the agency, he botched a go-around and the FAA safety inspector had to take the controls to prevent a crash, per the indictment.

After surrendering his commercial and CFI tickets, McPherson was granted a temporary certificate that allowed him to fly by himself or with another instructor in order to gain the skills necessary to regain his certifications. The temporary certificate carries the warning: “Carrying of Passengers Prohibited.”

McPherson did not request another reexamination ride, nor did he ask for an extension of the temporary certificate, which expired on November 8, 2021. But he continued to serve as a flight instructor carrying passengers.The indictment includes two pages of the initials of students and dates of flights.

He faces an additional 40 counts of serving as an airman without a certificate as he continued to fly with passengers and as an instructor between October 12, 2021, and September 2022.

The Fatal Flight

According to the NTSB, the fatal flight took off at 1:40 ET. McPherson told the agency the purpose of the flight was to go to a towered airport nearby so Kozel, the student who had 51 hours, could practice towered-airport operations.

McPherson instructed Kozel to perform a soft field takeoff. The aircraft was sluggish during the takeoff roll and had trouble obtaining airspeed. Kozel flew the airplane in ground effect trying to build up airspeed, and at least once the aircraft settled back on to the runway.

McPherson allowed the takeoff to continue, but when the aircraft had trouble climbing above 200 feet, he took the controls. He told NTSB investigators that the engine was not producing full power, and there were trees ahead of them and no open places to land.

The Piper struck the trees and became inverted, coming down hard and catching fire. McPherson told investigators that Kozel was unresponsive after the crash. McPherson claimed he was injured but was able to drag himself away from the burning airplane. He told investigators he saw people approaching him and begged them to get Kozel out of the wreckage, but the fire was consuming the aircraft.

A witness account of the accident differs. The witness said he pulled McPherson from the wreckage and then tried to rescue Kozel, but the flames drove him back.

It should be noted that the Piper Cherokee only has a door on the right side of the fuselage. The instructor traditionally sits on the right side of the aircraft.

The NTSB ruled the cause of the accident to be a “partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.” The investigation noted that the weather conditions at the time were conducive to the “development of serious icing at glide power and was between the range for icing at glide and cruise power and serious icing at cruise power.”

According to the investigative docket, at the time of the accident McPherson reported having 1,350 hours total time of which 700 was in Piper Cherokees, with his last flight review or equivalent happening in March 2021. He also reported having flown 40 hours in the previous 90 days.

McPherson was arrested at his home in Allentown, Pennsylvania, on August 5. He pled not guilty to all the charges and was released the same day after posting a $50,000 bond and surrendering his passport.

If convicted he could face a maximum possible sentence of 128 years in prison and a $10.25 million fine, and a $4,100 special assessment. He has been assigned a public defender. 

According to the Office of the Inspector General, the case is being prosecuted by assistant U.S. attorney Robert Schopf and special assistant U.S. attorney Marie Miller.

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Study Reveals Alaska Leads U.S. Private Jet Departures https://www.flyingmag.com/news/study-reveals-alaska-leads-u-s-private-jet-departures/ Thu, 08 Aug 2024 18:26:44 +0000 https://www.flyingmag.com/?p=213166&preview=1 Student travel company Rustic Pathways analyzed data from Argus International.

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A study conducted by student travel company Rustic Pathways, which analyzed data from Argus International, has revealed that Alaska tops the United States in private jet departures.

According to the study, Alaska had 4,996 private jet departures per 100,000 residents and a total of 36,650 departures in 2023, averaging over 100 flights daily.

Wyoming and South Dakota also ranked high with Wyoming reporting 24,263 jet departures a year and 4,173 registered aircraft, while South Dakota had 26,944 annual departures and 2,961 private jets. Montana, North Dakota and Nevada rounded out the top six, while surprisingly no East Coast states made the top 10.

In fact, despite the significant wealth in New York, Connecticut, and Maryland, these states had the fewest annual private jet departures per 100,000 residents.

“America flies more private jets than any other country in the world, with a grand total of 3,123,007 departures in the U.S. in 2023,” Rustic Pathways CEO Shayne Fitz-Coy said.


This article first appeared on AVweb.com.

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First Day at the Office for New Boeing CEO https://www.flyingmag.com/business/first-day-at-the-office-for-new-boeing-ceo/ Thu, 08 Aug 2024 16:00:00 +0000 https://www.flyingmag.com/?p=213127&preview=1 Kelly Ortberg starts his new role with a message to employees about ‘restoring trust’ with the public.

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Thursday marked the first day on the job for Kelly Ortberg, the new president and CEO of Boeing. Ortberg began role with a message to Boeing employees acknowledging that the company will have to work hard to regain the public’s trust.

“Restoring trust starts with meeting our commitments, whether that’s building high-quality, safe commercial aircraft, delivering on defense and space products that allow our customers to meet their mission, or servicing our products to keep our customers running 24/7,” Ortberg’s message said. “It also means meeting our commitments to each other and working collaboratively across Boeing to meet our goals. People’s lives depend on what we do every day, and we must keep that top of mind with every decision we make.”

Boeing’s reputation took a tumble in the wake of the 2018 and 2019 737 Max crashes that were attributed to a design flaw, resulting in a 20-month FAA grounding of the aircraft and the January 2024 loss of a door plug during an Alaska Airlines flight.

The latter has been the topic of two days of hearings before the National Transportation Safety Board. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy noted that the agency still needs to determine how the jet (Alaska Airlines Flight 1282) left the Boeing factory in Renton, Washington, missing four crucial bolts that held the door in place.

Ortberg will be based in Seattle, stating that it is important to be close to the place where the bulk of Boeing’s aircraft are made. William Boeing, the founder of the company, chose the Puget Sound because the first airplanes were made of spruce, and the area was rife with spruce forests. When aircraft manufacturing turned to metal, Boeing adapted, creating Washington factories in Everett, Renton and Seattle.

Kelly Ortberg started his new role as president and CEO of Boeing on Thursday. [Courtesy: Boeing]

In 2001 when Boeing moved its headquarters to Chicago, and later Virginia, many industry experts suggested the aerospace giant’s focus had shifted from turning out quality products to increasing profit, even if it meant cutting corners. They also predicted that having the headquarters so far from the main factories would result in a degradation of product quality.

Ortberg announced he would be spending his first day on the job on the factory floor in Renton, “talking with employees and learning about challenges we need to overcome, while also reviewing our safety and quality plans.”

Ortberg, who brings more than 30 years of experience to his new role, vowed to be transparent with Boeing employees.

“Soon I’ll be visiting many of our sites and I look forward to meeting with teammates around the world,” his message to employees said. “In speaking with our customers and industry partners leading up to [Thursday], I can tell you that, without exception, everyone wants us to succeed.”

In addition to winning back the trust of the air traveling public, Ortberg will be faced with improving Boeing’s financial situation. The 737 Max crashes and door plug accident have sent the company’s stock prices into a nosedive.

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