Features

I heard this going into Los Angeles International Airport on SoCal approach frequency: Approach:“Airliner 123, turn right, heading 180, for spacing.” Airliner 123:“Right turn, 180. Airliner 123. What’s up?” Approach:“Well, our computers have the ability to suggest a specific vector to help us get the required spacing. So the computer says you gotta go south […]

The FAA thinks you’re holding back on reports of contact with self-propelled FOD – but you can tell us what you’ve hit. Have you had any wildlife encounters with your airplane? (click to answer) Last Week’s Question: Results Want to see the current breakdown of responses? Take a moment to answer the question yourself, and […]

I was flying a particularly noisy pusher seaplane back to KPIE one day. These things have the engine right over your head and between the straight-through exhaust and prop swinging by the fuselage. They are super noisy. On my first radio call to the tower, they came back with:“Transmission unreadable. Just a loud noise.” I […]

The FAA thinks laser pointing is such a serious issue that it’s devoted an online information and reporting page to the topic. Have you ever been hit with a laser from the ground? (click to answer) Last Week’s Question: Results Want to see the current breakdown of responses? Take a moment to answer the question […]

Each week, we run a sampling of the letters received to our editorial inbox here in AVmail. One letter that’s particularly relevant, informative, or otherwise compelling will headline this section as our “Letter of the Week,” and we’ll send the author an official AVweb baseball cap as a “thank you” for interacting with us (and […]

While ferrying an airplane from Michigan to Florida, we heard a friendly exchange between a male controller and a female pilot. The pilot was not having a great day and was not too happy about flying. Controller:“At least you have a nice view. I’m stuck in a dark room just looking at guys.” Pilot:“It’s not […]

This week we learned that iPads have the ability to randomly delete files, including your charts and plates. We’re wondering how dependent you’ve become on tablets, touch screens and other wonder boxes. How much do you rely on high-tech tools in the cockpit? (click to answer) Last Week’s Question: Results Want to see the current […]

Each week, we run a sampling of the letters received to our editorial inbox here in AVmail. One letter that’s particularly relevant, informative, or otherwise compelling will headline this section as our “Letter of the Week,” and we’ll send the author an official AVweb baseball cap as a “thank you” for interacting with us (and […]

My son and I took advantage of a beautiful October day to fly to Blairstown, New Jersey and catch the fall foliage. Sipping a Coke and watching the arrivals and departures, we saw a bright orange Grumman Tiger taxi in. From it emerged a man and a woman; the woman seemed to be carrying a […]

Virgin Galactic celebrated the construction of its spaceport in New Mexico on Monday, and 450 people have signed up for suborbital flights so far. Would you like to go? Will you be a space tourist? (click to answer) Last Week’s Question: Results Want to see the current breakdown of responses? Take a moment to answer […]