Features

This is a nice one from a few years back. I know the captain of the aircraft, so I’m sure it’s authentic. A South African Airways B747 just off LHR had a problem and said they were returning and would need to dump fuel for landing. London Departure:“You are approaching Windsor Castle, and the Queen […]

This Week’s Question |Previous Week’s Answers PREVIOUS RESULTS *** Last week, we asked if the TSA’s interest in repair stations as a potential security threat is warranted. An overwhelming majority of readers who responded (62% of you) said it’s just more paperwork and expense for businesses who are already barely making it. For a complete […]

Its always interesting to contemplate general aviations boom-and-bust cycles. While exceptions certainly abound, it seems every other decade since the 1930s has included introduction of new aircraft or new technologies that further advance the state of the art. The 1970s were an upswing, avocado-green vinyl upholstery and Continentals Tiara engine notwithstanding. In addition to the […]

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 […]

Overheard over the Florida panhandle this week. Jax Center:“Airliner 123, Jacksonville Center. Climb and maintain FL 320.” [20 seconds later] Jax Center:“Airliner 123, Jacksonville Center. Climb and maintain FL 320.” [30 seconds later] Jax Center:“Airliner 123, do you copy Jacksonville Center?” Airliner 123:“Airliner 123. Climb and maintain 320. Sorry – we were on our laptops.” […]

This Week’s Question |Previous Week’s Answers PREVIOUS RESULTS *** Last week, we asked if historic aircraft should be flown by groups like the Commemorative Air Force – or if some one-of-a-kind birds are just too rare for the air. Most of the readers who took a moment to answer thought historic aircraft should be flown […]

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 […]

On a recent trip in my Cirrus from KSAV to KPDK, I had this exchange with Atlanta Approach. (This was right after the FL-GA football game where the Gators won … again.) ATL:“N267CP, you are cleared to PDK via the TRBOW8 arrival. Proceed direct from present position to TRBOW.” N267CP (me) :“N267CP cleared direct TRBOW […]

This Week’s Question |Previous Week’s Answers PREVIOUS RESULTS *** Last week, hot on the heels of the news that the pilots of Northwest Flight 188 may have been using laptop computers when they overshot their destination, we asked what you thought of a proposed federal ban on such personal electronic devices in the cockpit. Several […]

Yellowknife Tower:“British Airways, this is Yellowknife Control.” [No response.] [Long pause.] Yellowknife Tower:“Cherokee XYZ, this is Yellowknife Control.” Cherokee XYZ:“Yellowknife, this is XYZ.” Yellowknife Tower:“We gave you the wrong transponder code on takeoff; please change to 1234.” [Pause.] Yellowknife Tower:“We mistook you for British Airways.” Cherokee XYZ:“Easy mistake.” Chris Hollowayvia e-mail