Features

Last fall, while I was in the circuit to land at Toronto Buttonville (CYKZ) airport, I was listening to the tower controller who was giving a running commentary and warning to pilots on final to watch for Canada geese that were flying back and forth over the threshold of the active runway, creating a very […]

The FAA now says an airline first officer should have a minimum of 700 hours, up from 250 but far less than the 1,500 that was originally proposed. Does the number of hours really matter? How many hours should a first officer have? (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 […]

In Brainteaser Quiz #163, I asked, “What is the dumbest phraseology you routinely hear on CTAF?” CTAF means Common Traffic Advisory Frequency, the unsupervised, pilot-to-pilot, radio forum used when operating at airports without control towers. I asked the question because, as a flight instructor, I spend hours listening to all sorts of garbage on the […]

While flying southbound IFR in good VMC conditions to Sun ‘n Fun two years ago, we overheard the following conversation: Cessna 1234 (sounding like a student pilot) :“Approach, request flight following.” Approach:“Cessna 1234, what is your location — altitude and destination?” Cessna 1234:“We just departed Salisbury. 1,500 feet.” Approach:“What is your destination?” Cessna 1234:[A few […]

EAA and AOPA will propose to the FAA that the driver’s license medical that now applies to Sport Pilot certificate holders be expanded, and their initial suggestion is that it be limited to the ability to fly four-place aircraft (with one passenger) having 180 horsepower or less, fixed gear, day VFR. What do you think? […]

Inbound to Kennedy in the early ’60s. Canarsie approach. Aircraft lined up on the inbound radial to keep 210 knots. Controler:“American 123, what’s your speed?” American 123:“210.” Controller:“Scandinavian 456, what’s your speed?” Scandinavian 456:“210.” Controller:“Air France 789, what’s your speed?” Air France 789:“210.” [Silence for a while. Then …] Controller:“One of you is a #*@! […]

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 […]

Witnessed by me as an FAA controller at Waterloo (Iowa) in the mid-’80s. The G.A. ramp is next to the terminal ramp, so these two aircraft were parked in close proximity to each other. Here is how the exchange went: Tomahawk 86B:“Waterloo ground: Tomahawk 86 Bravo, ready to taxi.” ATC:“Tomahawk 86 Bravo: Roger, taxi to […]

It’s AOPA Summit next week. What should be the organization’s main priority? Where should AOPA place its priorities? (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 then you can view real-time results. What’s On Your Mind? Have an idea […]