AOPA President Craig Fuller is urging the public and policy-makers to remain thoughtful and well-reasoned regarding the recent suicide crash of a Piper Dakota into a U.S. Internal Revenue Service building in Austin, Texas.

“[T]he fact is that pilots are a remarkably healthy group of individuals, both physically and psychologically,” Fuller writes.

Of the thousands of suicides each year, fewer than two each year involve aircraft, he said.

“It seems evident that the aviation community contributes little to this national problem,” he says.

Read the entire AOPA statement »

Photo illustration courtesy of pbs.org

PBS airs a powerful, new interactive online documentary on what it means to fly for a U.S. regional airline.

The Frontline package exposes some of the issues confronting flight safety, and includes interviews with regional pilots and a place where you can join in an online discussion.

Don’t miss this incredible online presentation at pbs.org »

News 22/WWLP.com captured this image shortly after the forced landing.

Two people aboard are uninjured. Landing was precautionary due to a low oil-pressure reading, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

More »

If you are a pilot, how would you have handled this situation? Let’s discuss this.

New rules on commercial pilot rest periods, NextGen technology, and increased attention on flight safety issues are expected to dominate the Federal Aviation Administration’s agenda in 2010, FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt tells the Wall Street Journal.

Story »

My former student, Scott Okland, got the ride of his life a couple days ago in a Beechcraft T-34A Model A45 in the aerobatic box northwest of DVT.

“Did you see the plane below us, we were at 5k feet between the aerobatic box and lake pleasant,” Scott said.  “We did loops, cork screws (2 turns), spins, and hammer heads in the aerobatic box. Even turned on the smoke once.  That plane is so rock solid you wouldn’t believe it. We only did 3 g’s but it was a blast.  Al is fearless, unrocked by the twisting.  Every student should go up with him.”

“Al” turns out to be Alan Trabilcy of SpiritRotorcraft, LLC, a CFII specializing in all kinds of complex and high-performance training out of both DVT and SDL.

You can see more of the T-34A here »