Features

Legally, 14 CFR 91.123 says, When a pilot is uncertain of an ATC clearance, that pilot shall immediately request clarification from ATC. Seems easy enough, but under pressure of time, heavy weather and busy controllers we are tempted to assume that ATC knows its intentions and to accept a clearance as given. Egregious errors appear […]

The fragile relationship between avionics shops and aircraft owners is sometimes stressed at the end of a project. Thats partly because some owners have unrealisticexpectations, assuming the aircraft will be released right after a flight test. On the other hand, shops create stress for themselves when they overpromiseand offer the impression that work on the […]

The following takes place at a high-altitude sector with multiple air carrier aircraft: Pilot 1(apparently meaning to talk to the passengers) :“This is the flight deck. Air traffic control has – uhh -” [unkeys] ATC:“Darn. I wanted to hear that.” Pilot 2 (cheerfully) :“Yeah. He was gonna blame you!” Cheryl Bavistervia e-mail

Letter of the Week:Me-Too Mooney? News of the imminent resurgence of Mooney spawned two reactions in me. I’m happy that owners of the breed are likely to have a secure supply of spares to keep their birds flying. I have fond memories of a variety of Mooneys. Most of my M-20 time is in a […]

Vulnerable. Thats essentially how Eric Geisleman and a group of aviation safety researchers described flight crews when it comes to operating transport category flight control systems. Are general aviation pilots just as vulnerable? That’s debatable. One article (Flight Deck Automation: Invaluable Collaborator or Insidious Enabler?)that was published in the July 2013 Ergonomics in Designfocused on […]

Somewhere over Nevada, returning to Utah from San Jose. All the airliners where working hard to find their customers smooth air. There were sigmets for turbulence up to 14,000 feet and above 18,000. A UPS flight checked in on-level at 35,000 feet and asked:“What altitudes are working for smooth rides?” Controller: “There does not seem […]

Letter of the Week:SAFE Recommendations Clarified AVweb’s September 22 article titled “SAFE Wants Pilot Experience Data Collected” misstates the recommendation made by the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE) at the GA and Part 135 Survey stakeholders meeting. The assertion that SAFE believes “the FAA should be looking in pilots’ logbooks to help it […]

On Wednesday, September 11, 2013, while taxiing to show parking for this years Reno Air Races, we overheard another aircraft’s communication with Reno Ground that went something like this: Learjet:“Reno Ground, Lear 12345. Request taxi to Atlantic’s main office ramp.” Ground:“Lear 12345, are you here for the races?” Learjet:“Affirmative.” Ground:“Then you will have to go […]

While stepping up to a glass panel may appear to offer lower maintenance bills and downtime, its just as likely that when the all-in cost of ownership is added up-including data revisions-glass could cost more than a well-kept steam gauge panel. Glass ownership is fraught with unexpected costs that many owners seem unprepared for. Routine […]

A strong case to change your own oil can be made. You certainly can save a fair amount of money, especially if you get your oil by the case, but more importantly, it puts you in touch with your engines lifeblood. You can see how it looks and feels from change to change; smell any […]