Features

I was listening to O’Hare ground one claggy fall night, and several arriving flights were being sent to the penalty box due to delays. One arriving flight protested, saying they were promised their gate would be open. Ground:“Flight 123, proceed to the box.” Flight 123:“But we were promised — !” All of a sudden, several […]

A few years back, Jeff Simons passion for flying caused him to look for a way to do his part to energize general aviation-he wanted to help pilots fly more and more often. As he searched, he noted that his friends who were pilots seemed to always be looking for reasons to fly and he […]

No pilot need go hungry this weekend, as our weekly review of the hundreds of events listed on SocialFlight found a barbecue theme at airport fly-ins around the country. The Cortland County Airport, in Cortland, N.Y., invites pilots to fly in or drive to Saturday’s AirFest, offering breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m., an FAA […]

I fly from a small air field outside Johannesburg, South Africa. When I had less than ten hours experience, I thought it would be a great idea to fly to one of the larger (controlled) air fields closer to Johannesburg to refuel. I requested joining and landing instructions from the tower. Very nervously. Tower requested […]

We get e-mail from readers who have had what they often prefer to call prop incidents as to possibly avoid the term prop-strike, and its frequent need for a recommended or mandatory engine tear down. In our response to readers we quote the latest manufacturer directives and FAA guidance, and add our perspectives and experience […]

Our weekly review of SocialFlight revealed fly-ins ranging from the standard pancake breakfast through one with an omelet bar, a bring-a-dish-to-share social and a Tuskegee Airmen exhibit. EAA Chapter 1252 is hosting a pancake breakfast fly-in on Saturday, July 12 from 9:00 a.m. to noon at the Elyria, Ohio Airport. Just $6 for all the […]

My son an I were departing SNS one evening in a Cessna 182 with my son at the controls and his two-year-old daughter in the back seat. We were cleared for take-off, climbing out, passing through about 1,000 feet when my granddaughter announced she needed to go to the bathroom. My son gave me that […]

Its the Fourth of July-go fly. On a basic level, its summer in the northern hemisphere so enjoy it in the air-if youre in the southern hemisphere, its the dead of winter, you probably havent been flying enough, so go get some of the rust off. On another level, unapologetically, its my countrys Independence Day, […]

Our weekly review of what to do in aviation on SocialFlight uncovered numerous Independence Day fly-ins and events-starting at the top with a fly-in at the nation’s highest airport. Our review was made easier and more encompassing by SocialFlight’s substantial upgrade to its free website which now allows users to customize the events they want […]

Heard on climb-out shortly after taking off behind a Bonanza A36: Bonanza:“Departure, this is Bonanza 12A. Ahh, we just got started here but need to come back.” Departure Control:“Bonanza 12A, understand you want to return to the field.” Bonanza:“Affirmative. 12A.” Departure Control:“Bonanza 12A, do you need any assistance?” Bonanza:“No. We just left the dog in […]