Features

From IFR Magazine reader Chris Wells: I just obtained my private certificate and was on the ground at Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport (KVPS) in Florida. I called Ground Control and requested flight following back to Pensacola. I forgot to request an en-route altitude, so the controller asked, “What altitude do you want?” I had a […]

There’s scant support among respondents for ATC privatization.

Four backcountry airstrips in Idaho’s Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness known as the “Big Creek Four” have been deemed emergency use only as outlined by a recent legal settlement. The ruling stems from a lawsuit between environmental groups and the U.S. Forest Service, with the State of Idaho intervening on behalf of recreational […]

(This story originally appeared in Aviation Safety Magazine.) “Everyone talks about the weather, but no one ever does anything about it.” Stop me if you’ve heard that before. The same could be said about managing the risk of general aviation. We—both FLYING and the industry as a whole—spend a lot of time preaching to pilots […]

From IFR Magazine reader Daniel Spitzer: I heard the following at Orange County Airport in New York: Instructor: “Diamond taking Runway 04 for departure,” followed immediately by ”Diamond aborting, groundhog crossing the runway veeeerrrrry sloooooowly.” Wise guy on frequency: “Did the groundhog call Ground for clearance?” followed immediately by ”Well, groundhogs don’t have a lot […]

Most respondents dismissed the drone sightings on the East Coast as hype.

This story originally appeared in Aviation Consumer Magazine For many, turbosupercharging is a must, while pricey upkeep is the price to pay for high-flying efficiency and safety. But even the best-maintained turbos have little tolerance for careless operation, although these days, advanced electronic engine monitors are a welcomed backstop. But no matter how gently you […]

On my AirVenture pilgrimage from New Jersey to Oshkosh many summers ago, I was watching a couple of small but darkening red splotches showing up ahead on the Nexrad screen of my handheld GPS navigator. This was in the early days of having weather radar displays available on portables, and I was glad I had […]

Most respondents believe the planemaker is on the mend.

The one time I suffered an engine failure, it was partial, not total. One cylinder’s intake valve spontaneously disassembled itself—a neat trick for a one-piece component—leaving the other five jugs to continue merrily along, albeit with some major vibration and a distinct power loss. I had plenty of altitude and enough engine power to reach […]