Features

Back in the late 1970s, I worked in the admissions office for the A&P training program at East Coast Aero Technical School in Lexington, Massachusetts (some of you may have heard of that town). The pilots and aircraft owners on the staff would often take new members of the office staff up for an airplane […]

From IFR Magazine reader Ashok Joshi: Taxiing to depart for our home in New Hampshire after picking my wife up at New York JFK Airport in my Bonanza, I was in line between a pair of Southwest Boeing 737s. As we waited for clearance to cross Runway 13/31, the ground controller said, “Southwest 123 cleared […]

From AVweb reader Adam Broun: I was flying in the Northeast a few days ago, monitoring 121.5. I heard seven clicks on guard, then a couple of comments from anonymous pilots… “I don’t think that’s going to work.”“I think the sun is already switched on.”

During my primary flight training, I hung out a lot at the local airport, getting to know the pilots and their airplanes. One guy in particular, we’ll call him “Tom,” stood out; he was a family friend and employed by a local company to fly his boss around in a Piper Twin Comanche. One day I […]

From an AVweb reader: I conduct airfield vehicle driver training at a large-hub Part 139 airport with a very complex layout. The training for each driver ends with a practical evaluation where the driver has to call ATC to get directions to navigate the field safely and efficiently, so a major part of the evaluation […]

One morning on departure from Peoria International Airport: Peoria Approach: “I bet you didn’t think you were going to get this type of workout when you asked for the clearance into the Class Charlie, did you?” Cessna: “Peoria approach, student pilot here. I enjoy the workout.” Peoria Approach: “Roger that.” Unknown aircraft: “If he’s a […]

I was inbound for landing at Reid‐Hillview airport and had a traffic alert off to my left, 300 feet higher and faster. About a minute after the traffic alert the tower told me I had traffic above and to the left of me. I replied that I did not have traffic in sight. Tower said, […]

Aeroswag, an aircraft merch e-commerce provider, rolls out a new t-shirt product line that includes images of nearly 2,000 aircraft, featuring military, general aviation, business aviation, helicopter, airliner, vintage, and even UAVs.  “As a pilot and avgeek, trying to find high-quality t-shirts, hats, tumblers, golf shirts, and hoodies that feature my favorite aircraft in a […]

Overheard on the airwaves, somewhere, sometime … maybe: Air Traffic Controller: “Cessna 1234X, say position.” Student Pilot [on first solo cross-country]: “I’m, ahhhh, approaching the XYZ VOR.” Air Traffic Controller (after a brief slow burn): “You’ve been approaching the XYZ VOR since you took off. Can you be more specific?”

As a fresh pilot and first-time aircraft owner back in the early 1980s, I was excited to fly my little two-seat Grumman on a midwinter trip from New England to Florida. Knowing all the complications of weather and airspace issues, I had done my research, but I never missed a chance to seek counsel from […]