Features

Tower controller at Oshkosh 2013:“Attention, all inbound aircraft: The Oshkosh airport closes in ten minutes. Pedal faster.” Brad Kramervia e-mail

Whilst flying back from Belfast to Blackpool in the U.K. several years ago, I heard a GA pilot behind me cleared for take-off by the tower. The tower then reminded him of the local noise regulations. The pilot replied that he understood and added helpfully that he would only be using one engine in this […]

If Continental Motors ever had any doubts about the aerodiesel market, it erased them in the stroke of a pen with the companys acquisition of the bankrupt assets of Thielert aircraft Engines GmbH. Despite a rocky ending for Thielert culminating in the jailing of its founder, Thielert (and Diamond) put aircraft diesels on the map […]

An AA jet landed in ORD in the early morning before the beginning of a typical busy day. Expecting the usual complex taxi instructions, they instead had the following exchange: American 123:“Morning, O’Hare Ground. American 123 clearing 32 left for K8.” O’Hare Ground Control:“American 327, O’Hare Ground. Good morning. Taxi to the gate.” [Long pause.] […]

Automation is a routine part of our lives now, dictated by sweeping new technologies and consumer preferences. Arguably, the trend toward automation began in aviation in the 1970s. It has been debated and resisted by many in the aviation community, but the game has recently changed for both the airlines and general aviation. Yet, our […]

Greetings from South Africa. My story concerns ZS SAJ, a classic jumbo that received a loud and traditional paint job as part of South Africa’s bid for the 2010 Olympic games. Whilst taxiing at JFK, the ground controller asked, “Say, Springbok, did you park in a bad neighborhood last night?” Tod Burnsvia e-mail

Some owners are reluctant to buy avionics warranties, but they might not realize the high cost of component replacement and flat-rate factory repairs. On top of that, there’s expensive shop labor. The going hourly rate at most avionics shops is over $100 and won’t include the shipping costs for sourcing replacement parts. For some glass-cockpit […]

During the ’80s, while with Mugu Approach, a controller asked an aircraft “to state position.” Pilot came back: “Fiscally conservative. Socially, somewhat liberal. Two miles west of Point Dume.” Greg Andrewsvia e-mail

A documentary filmmaker says the NTSB got it wrong (or was told to get it wrong) in its findings in the explosion and crash of a TWA Boeing 747 off Long Island in 1996. The NTSB is standing by its conclusion that a spark from wiring in a fuel tank downed the aircraft, not a […]

I’ve been an avionics tech long enough to remember when the extent of new avionics upgrades included a couple of flip-flop Navcomm radios and an audio panel. Even back then, some owners stumbled with otherwise simple switchology. Worse case was a missed radio call. Things have changed. Today’s avionics upgrades usually involve tightly integrated glass […]