Features

The first time you start the engine on your airplane, you should be really close to completion. Not 90% done and 90% to-go close, but really, really close. This is because you will be removing the preservative measures that should have been in place all through the construction process, and you will now expose your […]

Family-friendly fun and Midwestern hospitality are on The Weekender’s SocialFlight calendar. Scenic Frankenmuth Airport in Michigan invites all to its seventh annual Grassroots Fly-In/Camp-In starting Saturday. Relax under the shade of the Preferred Pavilion and join in on the flying, food and contests. Stay for the evening bonfire and camping under your airplane. Also Saturday, […]

Letter of the Week:ALPA’s Medical Bombshell I’m a retired Northwest Airlines (now Delta) 747-400 captain. I was a member of ALPA for 38 years. The letter ALPA put out against medical is baseless. Due to the fact many ALPA pilots and those representing pilots at other carriers, retired and active, own GA aircraft, I think […]

During the annual EAA Legal Advisory Council Board Meeting on July 24, 2015, our special guest Reggie Govan, the recently installed FAA Chief Counsel laid out several changes underway at the FAA. First, enforcement (administrative and/or legal action brought against certificate holders for alleged regulatory violations) will no longer be conducted through the nine FAA […]

In May 2008 the FAA published five new SAIBs or Suggested Airworthiness Information Bulletins on propeller maintenance. While these bulletins do not carry the weight of an AD, they do come about as a result of discussions with field organizations such as aircraft type clubs as well as maintenance shops who identify problems they see […]

The Weekender hopes you’ve recovered from Oshkosh, because there’s no rest for the weary on the SocialFlightcalendar. For starters, the July’s Skys airshow invites all to come early and stay late Saturday in Preston, Idaho. Watch aerobatic performers do their stuff and enjoy a glimpse of history as four World War II aircraft take part […]

No doubt about it, Red Sox fans, Boston loves baseball! And here’s a NOTAM to prove it: !FDC 5/2196 BOS STAR GENERAL EDWARD LAWRENCE LOGAN INTL, BOSTON, MAQUABN THREE ARRIVAL…ALL TRANSITIONS, ATC MAY ASSIGN HOLDING AT ONDEC (ON-DECK) AS DEPICTED ON CHART. EXPECT DIRECT UROWT (YOUR-OUT) AND TO RESUME THE QUABN STAR WHEN CLEARED FROM […]

You’re approaching the end of an excellent flight on a lovely day; life is good. Now, on downwind with the speed down into the gear extension range, you move the gear handle to the down position, keeping your hand on it until you get a solid gear down indication—as you’ve done scores of times. Except. […]

For many pilots, the first realization that the bellies of their airplanes are becoming hazardous waste sites is when ATC advises that their transponders are intermittent. Investigation reveals a layer of goo on the belly antennas, doing its best to block the signal. Frequently cleaning the by-products of engine operation—oil, grease, soot and other delicacies—off […]

Here’s a funny exchange I heard on the radio: Cessna Pilot (sounding like a nervous newbie):“Charlotte Approach, Cessna 12345 at 5,000. Would like to descend to 7,000.” Charlotte Approach:“Cessna 12345, I think you mean you’d like to climb to 7,000.” Cessna Pilot:“Uh, sorry. I’m still a new instrument pilot.” Charlotte Approach (chuckling):“Cessna 12345, climb and […]