What's Up
by LeRoy Cook
10-20-2025
Suggested Banner: Big Changes Arrive Today
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 [email protected].
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