Features

Quite a lot has been written (and vlogged) about the crash of a Cessna 140 in a spot landing competition in May 2022. Most accounts point out—correctly—how decisions about spacing and glide path management, and even whether it was wise to hold the “pick-up game” contest in winds that caused cancellation of a larger, planned […]

Overheard on a Unicom frequency: In a busy traffic pattern, one aircraft turns base to final with arguably excessive altitude. A couple of other aircraft in the pattern chime in: Aircraft No. 1 – “That looks awfully high. How is he going to get down from up there?” Aircraft No. 2 – “I usually use […]

Yep, no-brainer. Battery backup and longer recording.

Get an eye-watering proposal for the installation of a new IFR navigator and thoughts might turn to sourcing a used one. For some, that isn’t necessarily a bad idea, but it isn’t exactly easy, either. That’s because there aren’t a lot of choices that we think make sense, mainly because of support—or lack of. The […]

From IFR Magazine reader David Brown: In 1994, my wife and I flew from Virginia to Daytona, Florida. This was our first flight together in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). Several times, the controller called out traffic for us, and on most occasions, I responded with “16 Romeo is IMC.” When we landed at Daytona Beach, […]

A total of 61% of respondents have resolved to fly more.

2024 marked a milestone for U.S. skydiving safety, as civilian skydiving fatalities dropped to an annual record low of nine deaths. According to the United States Parachute Association (USPA), this was the first single-digit year since the organization began keeping records in 1961. In a press release, the USPA said the sport saw significantly higher […]

My flight school required us students to fill out a TOLD (takeoff and landing data) card with weight and balance, and fuel planning prior to each flight. Most of the time, our flight training was consistent: 1.0-1.5 hours of block time, full fuel, two passengers, a couple of flight bags. Plan it once and it’s […]

From IFR Magazine reader Rick Sanders I heard this pilot report recently over the plains when turbulence was affecting everyone in the sector. A flight descended to a lower altitude to find a better ride, and ATC asked how the ride was at the original altitude. “The ride up there was as rough as Third […]

Only about 25% of respondents regularly fly with AoA.