Earl Lawrence, Experimental Aircraft Association
One of the questions I get asked most from flight instructors is, "Is the FAA going to do anything about the January 2010 deadline for using ELSA's for paid training?" As most people inside and outside the FAA know, there are fewer than expected light sport instructors and of course if it becomes more expensive for them to do their job, even fewer of those sport CFI's will be able to continue teaching. Earl Lawrence has some good news in that department and he updates us. Experimental Aircraft Association (9/29/09)

Doug Fetters, Sport-Link Communications Corp.
Doug Fetters goes to a lot of fly-ins and fields a lot of questions about communications equipment. We talk about matching mics to radios as well as other issues that frustrate pilots. Sport-Link Communications Corp. (9/29/09)

Jim Sweeney, SweeneyCorp
There are still a lot of people who believe that powered parachutes "can not stall." The truth of course is that any airfoil can stall. Jim Sweeney talks about powered parachute stalls; both the benign, self-recovering kind as well as the dangerous metastable stall. SweeneyCorp (9/29/09)

Ronnie Smith, South Mississippi Light Aircraft
Fuel contamination continues to be an issue for pilots and seems to be even more common now than in years past. Ronnie Smith talks about how fuel gets to be contaminated and the things you can do to prevent contamination from causing your engine problems. South Mississippi Light Aircraft (9/29/09)

Roy Beisswenger, UltraFlight Magazine
The challenges of helping edit and put together a monthly magazine are many. This becomes even more challenging when you are learning as you go while doing other work. Roy Beisswenger talks about the transition of UltraFlight Magazine and what goes into getting a high-quality magazine into your hands. UltraFlight Magazine (9/29/09)

Dick Knapinski, Experimental Aircraft Association
Last week general aviation got another taste of poor media reporting, this time from NBC and USA Today. Those two organizations ran with an item generated by the airlines who claim that smaller airports are receiving more than their share of federal funding to upgrade those facilities. The reality is that the aviation fuel taxes we pay supposedly for airport infrastructure never all go to what they were intended. Dick Knapinski gives us the details. Experimental Aircraft Association (9/22/09)

Sean O'Donnell, Philly Sport Pilot, LLC
Sean O'Donnell is a certified flight instructor who happens to be disabled. He instructs for both private pilot and sport pilot ratings and talks about the airplane he flies and possible scholarship opportunities for disabled people who want to learn to fly. Philly Sport Pilot, LLC (9/22/09)

Jim Sweeney, SweeneyCorp
When you are flying your aircraft, you need to be carrying four aircraft related documents on board. Jim Sweeney talks about those documents and the importance of knowing what is in them, particularly your operating limitations if you are flying an experimental aircraft. He talks about that and other things you need to do to make sure your aircraft is legal. SweeneyCorp (9/22/09)

Mike Stratman, California Power Systems, Inc.
The 2010 CPS Catalog is now available and it is a required reference for the sport aviator's hangar. Not only does it have the most complete selection of parts, tools, and accessories for the sport aviator, the articles and other guidance are indispensable when trying to work on or understand your Rotax engine. Mike Stratman joins us to talk about what it takes to produce such a complete guide. California Power Systems, Inc. (9/22/09)

Chris Collins, Midwest LSA Expo
The Midwest LSA Expo is ready for its inaugural showing. Located in the center of the Midwest, the Expo has a lot going for it including a great time of the year and a central US location. Chris Collins joins us to talk about the event and what can be expected there. Midwest LSA Expo (9/22/09)

Earl Lawrence, Experimental Aircraft Association
If things stay on the expected schedule, then this is the eve of the announcement of new 51% amateur built aircraft guidelines. The document is signed and ready to be released and Earl Lawrence tells us what is in it and what the next steps will be. Experimental Aircraft Association (9/15/09)

Jeff Goin, FootFlyer.com
With most categories of aircraft, instruction is pretty straight forward since there are practical test standards produced by the FAA to cover different kinds of flight. If you want to become a powered paraglider pilot, things may be less clear with different instructors offering different kinds training styles and packages. Jeff Goin talks about what you should look for in order to be safe and competent when flying PPG's. FootFlyer.com (9/15/09)

Jim Sweeney, SweeneyCorp
The recent incident in Utah where a powered parachute landed in a crowd of people shows that there is still a basic misunderstanding of density altitude and other problems with low-level midday flying that even some instructors don't seem to get. Jim Sweeney talks about some of the factors you need to keep in mind when flying in the heat of the day. SweeneyCorp (9/15/09)

Hal Bryan, Oshkosh 365
Hal Bryan has been busy creating an internet community for pilots for EAA members. Oshkosh 365 is being designed to be a place where aviators can visit and learn both from each other and from a lot of exclusive content like EAA Sport Aviation Magazine archives. Hal talks about the purpose of the site and how it is designed. Oshkosh 365 (9/15/09)

Dan Johnson, ByDanJohnson.com
Something has happened that I don't believe many people really envisioned: there are now 100 models of Special Light Sport Aircraft that have been approved by the FAA. That gives pilots 100 choices to select from and that milestone has all occurred in little more than four years. Dan Johnson gives us the details. ByDanJohnson.com (9/15/09)

Earl Lawrence, Experimental Aircraft Association
At the same time that there seems to be an awful lot of activity on the regulatory side of aviation, there also seems to be a decline in aviation businesses that are able to actually stay in business. While the economy is also playing a factor with aviation business, people haven't lost their interest in flight. Earl Lawrence talks about the conflicting forces that are impacting sport aviation. Experimental Aircraft Association (9/8/09)

Dennis Demeter, AV/Grafix
If you shop in the Aircraft Spruce, Wicks, or Lockwood catalogs for labels and placards for your ultralight or experimental aircraft, there's a good chance that you are looking at items produced by Dennis Demeter. Dennis joins us to talk about designing instrument panels and some of the alternatives available to you. AV/Grafix (9/8/09)

Jim Sweeney, SweeneyCorp
Jim Sweeney had already planned to talk about certain Aero Decision Making factors for this segment when yesterday afternoon a powered parachute was reported to have hit children in a field during a festival in Utah. We talk about some of the decisions that could have kept this tragedy from happening and what it may mean for sport aviation. SweeneyCorp (9/8/09)

Brian & Carol Carpenter, Rainbow Aviation Services
We visit with Rainbow Aviation while they are visiting Oshkosh, Wisconsin and teaching their 120-Hour Maintenance Repairman Course. We talk about the future of 16-hour courses and the webinars that Brian and Carol have begun presenting. Rainbow Aviation Services (9/8/09)

Galen Geigley, Powrachute
This year's Powrachute Extravaganza looks to be a true extravaganza with the event relocating to a site outside a casino in Claremore, Oklahoma. Galen Geigley visits with us to talk about everything that is happening at this year's event and how pilots can possibly win a powered parachute just for attending. Powrachute (9/8/09)

Earl Lawrence, Experimental Aircraft Association
Recently the FAA proposed a lot of changes to Part 61, the regulations having to do with pilot training and ratings. These are not the ones we've been waiting for regarding updates to the Sport Pilot regulations, but the FAA does now finally talk about things like night vision goggles while flying. Earl Lawrence briefs us on what's going on. Experimental Aircraft Association (9/1/09)

Keith Negal, British Microlight Aircraft Association
The World Microlight Championships for airplanes and trikes just wrapped up in the Czech Republic and Keith Negal was there officiating. We talk with him about the conduct of the competitions and of course the winning pilots and teams. British Microlight Aircraft Association (9/1/09)

Jim Sweeney, SweeneyCorp
Summer is coming to a close, but there is still (hopefully) some summer weather to fly in. Jim Sweeney talks about summer thunderstorms and how to see them coming. SweeneyCorp (9/1/09)

Scott Johnson, U.S. Airborne Sport Aviation LLC
Scott Johnson was out spreading the triking word to the visitors to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally this summer. Scott talks about the rally and everything that went on there. U.S. Airborne Sport Aviation LLC (9/1/09)

James Wiebe, Belite Aircraft
We visit with James Wiebe to get an update on his work with building a composite ultralight. We talk about stress loading composite wings. Belite Aircraft (9/1/09)