Features

Check out the PIREP in the image above. Ken Fullett Naperville, IL

AVweb’s General Aviation Accident Bulletin is taken from the pages of our sister publication, Aviation Safety magazine. All the reports listed here are preliminary and include only initial factual findings about crashes. You can learn more about the final probable cause on the NTSB’s website at www.ntsb.gov. Final reports appear about a year after the […]

Altitude Changes Cut Contrail Effects This article riles me up! Based upon six weeks of study in Japan, a UK civil engineer is pontificating to the aviation industry (sic). I dug through my files and reminded myself of an interesting book, “Lukewarming: The New Climate Science that Changes Everything.” “When it comes to global warming, […]

Most of my articles for Aviation Safety focus on managing the risk of flying piston-powered general aviation aircraft, with examples of good and poor risk management. But risk management is at least equally critical in the world of operating airliners and turbine-powered transport category aircraft. Recent air carrier accidents provide illustration and lessons relevant to […]

By Ron Wanttaja This story originally appeared in our sister publication KITPLANES. There’s only one thing wrong with “homebuilt” (Experimental/Amateur-Built) aircraft: They take so gosh-darn long to build. But a lot of people have found the ultimate “quickbuild” alternative: They buy homebuilts that are already flying. No rivets to pound, no burned clothing from welding […]

Air Traffic Controllers can be very diplomatic in nudging us toward use of proper phraseology. I overheard this recently transiting NorCal airspace: Controller: “Coast Guard 123, traffic 11 o’clock, westbound, altitude indicates 3500 feet.” Coast Guard 123: “NorCal, Coast Guard 123, we have eyeballs on traffic.” (Pause) Controller: “Sorry, Coast Guard 123, I missed that. […]

AVweb’s General Aviation Accident Bulletin is taken from the pages of our sister publication, Aviation Safety magazine. All the reports listed here are preliminary and include only initial factual findings about crashes. You can learn more about the final probable cause on the NTSB’s website at www.ntsb.gov. Final reports appear about a year after the […]

Of Mice And Men Who Hate Them My solution to the rodent problem: 1. Own taildraggers only for personal airplanes, 2. Store the airplane with the tailwheel on top of a 2-foot-tall overturned plastic bucket, 3. Fly the airplane regularly. If 1 and 2 don’t keep mice away, 1 will at least give you a […]

The idea behind the light sport aircraft rule was to stimulate new designs at affordable prices. “Affordable” is arguable, but the new designs are out there in such volume that few models have been able to rise above the noise as standouts. The latest effort comes from a new company called Texas Aircraft with a […]

I recently heard this exchange between ATC and a Southwest flight. SWA: “Any shortcuts today would be appreciated.” ATC: “Unless you want a personal escort by the U.S. Air Force, I will be unable.” Stephen P. Bobko‑Hillenaar Alpine, WY