Features

Letter of the Week:A Technological Solution to a Human Problem? I have several thoughts about the sudden concern by the FAA over sleep apnea in pilots and controllers. The NTSB Safety Recommendation was issued August 7, 2009. Why has it taken more than four years for the FAA to jerk its knee in response? Has […]

Choppy conditions prevailed one recent evening along the Florida coast as we progressed toward Miami. We were behind several aircraft headed in the same direction when Miami Center told a Delta flight to slow to 260 knots in the descent. The exchange went something like this: Delta:“260 knots?” Miami Center:“Yes. The regional jet ahead of […]

It wasn’t the first “plastic” airplane, but the composite Cirrus was far enough along the cutting edge to stir up the pilot community. Of course, some loudly asserted that no “real” pilot would want one of those things—it’s got a parachute, for crying out loud. Yet the SR20 and its offspring the SR22 quietly and […]

Every certified glass panel airplane needs backup flight instruments. Aircraft manufacturers and some glass cockpit owners are making the switch from traditional, round-gauge mechanical backups in favor of all-in-one backup EFIS systems. The way we see it, if the primary flight data fails, you might only need backup attitude data to help you keep the […]

Letter of the Week:Investing in GA Regarding the “Question of the Week”: I’m not a person equipped to make financial investments in projects. But I believe in investing in GA and can do that with time and information. I have been going into the local schools to give talks about my 13 years as a […]

Background: In the C-141 at the time, there was a three-position switch on the right side of the yoke. Up was interphone, neutral was off, and down was transmit on the active radio. And in a USAF “crew-served” aircraft, you identify yourself by position when responding to a question or checklist item. (I.e., “Ready for […]

Especially when looking at recent accidents involving scheduled airliners, it occurs that some people are still having problems with their landings. Yes, they can be difficult to master, especially when crosswinds or other factors complicate things and distract us. But this shouldnt be so hard. If youre having trouble, it maybe youre simply out of […]

You have a new glass panel airplane that will surely enhance your IFR flying, but you are not instrument current or proficient using the new equipment. You are planning an important business trip in the new airplane but are concerned you may have to file IFR. Add in some pressure to get there with challenging […]

Letter of the Week:Airline Pilot Training Regarding the new flight training regulations: I flew for the airlines most of my life (retired now) have more than 23,000 hours and several type ratings. When an airline I worked for first got the Canadair CL-65 regional jet, the failure rate for upgrade was more than 70 percent. […]

I was flying from EWR-DFW the week after the Texas-Oklahoma University football game (won by Texas this year). On the center frequency, an aircraft with the call sign “Oklahoma One” checked in, and after each conversation with center, they responded “Oklahoma One.” Finally, someone keyed the mic and said, “No, Texas won.” The silence was […]