Features

Years ago, I was a 727 first officer and was flying with Captain Chester Hector. We were eventually going to cross an intersection called Hector. I couldn’t resist. I got on the radio and asked: “This is United 123. Captain Chester Hector requests a vector direct to Hector.” Of course, the controller came right back […]

It’s been my good fortune to work and socialize with a number of test pilots during my career. There has been a lot of publicity and hype about test pilots ever since the Montgolfier brothers made the first flight of an aircraft in 1783-some of it has even been true. My own perspective is that […]

Unless you operate your aircraft in a warm climate, we think fixed engine heaters are essential accessories. Even if you store the aircraft in a heated hangar, there could be times when you’re faced with an engine-stressing cold start. Not all systems are alike and the one you choose might depend on climate. We took […]

The Weekender’s SocialFlight calendar is filling up with a diverse selection of destinations, whether it’s underground or out-of-doors. Fly in to Luray Caverns Airport in Luray, Virginia, on Saturday for a tour of the famous caves with the Beech Aero Club, followed by lunch at the Heart Pine Cafe. Luray Caverns will send a car […]

Saturday, December 6, approximately 18:00 local time, I am sitting on the ramp at KTMB waiting on an IFR clearance. Here is the conversation I hear: N1234:“Tamiami Ground, N1234 at T hangar, ready for taxi.” KTMB Ground:“N1234, I don’t see you. Taxi up to and hold short of taxiway E.” [pause] KTMB Ground:“N1234, I see […]

Letter of the Week:First Officers on the Ground I’m sure the FOs can work remotely – but why? The airline is still paying the FO’s salary. Additionally, how will the FO get stick time? The incidental expenses the airlines saves by keeping the FO home likely won’t pay the legal settlement the next time a […]

Not surprisingly, as the rate of price increases for new airplanes left the rate of inflation in the dust, the business of giving new life to aging airplanes became a growth industry. The last 20 years has shown that there is a demand for general aviation airplanes, however, that demand has also been shown to […]

Peace and quiet is something that every parent has longed for at some time or another. A lack of chatter is not so great when in the clouds and rain-being vectored for a parallel ILS approach to a major airport like Atlanta. You instantly miss the constant stream of quick-paced banter of the controller. It […]

Coping with January weather — wherever you fly — is first up on Weekender’s SocialFlight calendar. A seminar on winter flying will be held Saturday at the Long Island MacArthur Airport in Ronkonkoma, New York. Bill Korbel, a chief meteorologist at News12, will discuss “the good, the bad, and the ugly.” Hazards, advanced NEXRAD discussions […]

On New Year’s Day 2014, my friends and I were flying to the CA-AZ RV fly-in at Lake Havasu. While crossing a “cold” MOA that was normally used for air refueling tracks, my RV-10 encountered a RV-6 that continued in the 8 o’clock low position; it was obviously going to the fly-in, but I felt […]