Originally published in 1998 December 1: The Civil Air Patrol is formed, 1941. December 6: The first flight of the Sikorsky S-61 L Transport helicopter in the U.S, 1960. December 23: First time that an airplane reaches 20,000 ft., 1913. January 13: NASA selects its first group of women astronauts, 1978. January 26: Glenn Curtiss flies the first seaplane, the…

Originally published in 1998 The Historical Eras of Texas For all aviation travelers to the State of Texas, Texas was: Under Indians: years not known, Under Spain: 1519-1685, 1690-1821 – total of 297 years, Under Mexico: 1821-1836 – total of 15 years, A republic: 1836-1845 – total of nine years. In the Confederacy: 1861-1865 –…

Originally published in 1998 THE MOST FREQUENT CAUSE FACTORS OF GENERAL AVIATION ACCIDENTS Inadequate Preflight Preparation and/or Planning Failure to Obtain/Maintain Flying Speed Failure to Maintain Directional Control Improper Level-Off During Landing Flare Failure to See and Avoid Objects or Obstructions Mismanagement of Fuel Improper Inflight Decisions or Planning Misjudgment of Distance and/or Speed Selection…

Originally published in 1998 MIDLAND-The Confederate Air Force’s Airsho ’98, the annual “big show” with non-stop warbird action, was a spectacular event again in October. As many as 44 airplanes simultaneously flew over the field in racetrack patterns. About a dozen Zero, Val and Kate “Tora! Tora! Tora!” replicas buzzed through a smoke-filled sky as…

Originally published in 1998 AUSTIN- Austin Aero Jet Center has signed a 40-year lease for 70 acres on the new Austin Bergstrom International Airport, which is scheduled to open next May. Construction is underway for an FBO and 65,000-square-foot hangar. The terminal will be a two-story building made of glass, limestone and stucco. The interior…

Originally published in 1998 THE OSPREY HAS LANDED. Amarillo, Texas, will become the site of a Bell Helicopter manufacturing facility for the V-22 Osprey tiltrotor. This decision is a major step toward production of the much heralded, dual mode aircraft which has weathered development problems and political attempts to thwart its creation. The site will…

Originally published in 1998 In June, at the beginning of our smoldering summer, Abilene Regional Airport’s new manager drove into town! Richard Crider, the former manager of an Ohio commercial service airport, took over the reins from A.R. “Fal” Falcioni, former airport manager, who plans to retire at the end of this year. Crider’s top…

Originally published in 1998 The Billings, Montana-based Big Sky Airlines has won a $6.3 million federal contract to provide Essential Air Service to cities in Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s essential air service program subsidizes airlines flying to rural communities that do not have enough passenger traffic to pay for their…

Originally published in 1998 We are working actively this year to make the 17th Annual Texas Aviation Conference better than ever. It is time to practice what we preach! In an effort to highlight successful marketing strategies and advertising campaigns, we are holding our first Texas Aviation Marketing Contest to demonstrate to you how marketing…

Originally published in 1998 City officials and members of the community gathered eagerly on a beautiful Saturday morning, Sept. 19, 1998, for the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the newly remodeled Edinburg International Airport. The sneak preview of the $2.2 million dollars worth of work that was recently completed at this facility assured City Manager John Milford…

Originally published in 1998 Seventeen airport officials from Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming have written to members of Congress who represent the northwestern states, expressing concern about the decreasing level of competition in the airline industry. “Over the past three years, our airports/communities have experienced reduction in air service, a decrease in the…

Originally published in 1998 The Women Air Force Service Pilots (WASP) first came to Avenger Field in Sweetwater, Texas during February I 943. The arrival of WASP trainees made Avenger Field the only coeducational flying field in United States history, subsequently, it became the only all-female training base in the world to date. Given only…

Originally published in 1998 We are pleased to announce the following new employees: Tony S. Kraus, Airport Project Manager Tony Krauss, P.E., joined Project Management as our newest engineer and project manager on Oct. I, I 998. Tony was most recently employed by the Center for Transportation Research at the University of Texas, where he was…

Originally published in 1998 Five men were selected to represent the U.S. at the World Glider Aerobatic Championships. Selections were made based on scores at the U.S. National Glider Championships held last July at Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. The seventh biennial contest is scheduled for the summer of 1999 in Niederoblarn, Austria. It is expected…

Originally published in 1998 Congress Re-Authorizes FAA Airport Grant Program Late in October, Congress passed an omnibus spending bill for FY 99 which included funding for FANs Airport Improvement Program. The good news is that funding for the program was increased from $1.7 billion in FY 98 to $1 .95 billion in FY 99. The…

Originally published in 1998 WHAT: A IO-year program to guide development of transportation projects in Texas was approved on Sept. 24, 1998, by the Texas Transportation Commission. WHY: The United Transportation Program is updated each year by the transportation commission to help plan federal and state funded transportation projects. HIGHLIGHTS: The program authorizes approximately $8.9…