Features

Overheard this exchange in Houston Center the week before Halloween 2014: Aircraft N1Q:“Houston, N1Q. 390. Good evening.” Houston Center:“Good evening, N1Q. That sure is a long N-number you got there.” Aircraft N1Q:“Yes. And it’s hard to remember, too.” Doug Fields

At the risk of getting the metaphorical “hook” for expressing the thought, we are about to engage in herding CATs. Most instrument pilots are lucky and only have to deal with one category of ILS approach during their lives. The Category I, or “CAT I”is usually the only kind of instrument landing system approach minima […]

In Brainteaser Quiz #200, we asked readers to forecast where aviation will be when Quiz #400 appears. Doing the math, with a new quiz every month, it works out to roughly a bunch of years from now, but well before Downtown Abbey wraps. A few suggested topics included: Will the FAA finally reform its arcane, […]

Buying or selling a used general aviation airplane is not fun. A root canal is probably more pleasant. Pilot training does not include education on airplane selection and evaluation, there are no regs on sales standards and no consumer watchdog agency to go after unscrupulous sellers. Sellers often spend hours answering telephone calls from tire […]

Fall is a wonderful time of year to get out and explore the country in your airplane, and this weekend offers some great places to go, courtesy of SocialFlight‘s free online website and app. The 20th annual fly-in in Bennettsville, South Carolina, combines two of our favorite fly-in features — barbecue, and the chance to […]

Heard on Columbus Approach Control on Sunday, October 19. This approach controller maintained standard phraseology – twice – then decided to just try plain English, which worked perfectly! Approach:“N1234, Say on-course heading.” Pilot:“N1234. Stay on course heading.” Approach:“N1234, SAY on-course heading.” Pilot:“N1234. Stay on course heading.” Approach:“N1234, what is your current heading?” Pilot:“N1234. Heading: 050.” […]

When looking at the Piper Lance/Saratoga, it’s important to remember that all airplanes are compromises. Since most of us lack an unlimited budget, we’re often forced to choose between going fast in a relatively small cockpit or dragging around a larger cabin more slowly. It’s simple, really: The “go-fast” airplane will get us to our […]

As the fall colors peak nationwide and Halloween approaches, the fly-ins continue at full throttle. Our weekly review of SocialFlight revealed a pumpkin drop at an airport birthday bash, two chili cook-offs and a classic fly-in breakfast. To celebrate its 70th birthday, there will be a full-scale fly-in at the North Omaha, Nebraska Airport Sunday […]

While a young second lieutenant at nav school at Mather Air Force Base in 1983, I was trundling along in a T-37 in the high teens on a training mission. I overheard the following conversation between an Air Force pilot and a controller who was apparently unfamiliar with the Northern California air space and the […]

Fly-ins offer a chance to explore small airports, with their quirky appeal and hidden assets, and this weekend provides plenty of opportunities. SocialFlight makes it easy to find events near and far using their free website and app. This weekend, Benton Airport, in Benton, Pennsylvania, hosts an Open House on Saturday, with a ham roast […]