Features

I was on Salt Lake Center frequency at FL380 when ATC told us to do something odd: Salt Lake Center:“Piaggio 123 [this is not our call sign or flight number], turn right, heading 3-7-0; maintain FL 380.” Me:“Umm, say again for Piaggio 123?” Salt Lake Center:“Piaggio 123, turn right heading 3-7-0, maintain FL380.” Me:“Sir, my […]

This Week’s Question |Previous Week’s Answers PREVIOUS RESULTS *** Your answers to last week’s poll question left us with seriously long faces. We asked if flying has become too much of a hassle (what with the badges and the passenger manifests and the customs check horror stories), and an incredible 65% of those who took […]

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 departing Oakland while taxiing over to 29 in my Eclipse Jet: Ground Control:What is your true airspeed at altitude? Me:370 knots. Ground Control:What kind of engines? Me:Pratt and Whitney 610 fan jet. Ground Control:How much thrust? Me:900 lbs. per side. Ground Control:[Silence.] Me:We’re part of their hair dryer division. John Wrightvia […]

This Week’s Question |Previous Week’s Answers PREVIOUS RESULTS *** Last week, we asked AVweb readers to rate the health of their local airport and its perceived value in the community at large. We were happy to see so many of you (17% of the total number who took our informal poll) say your airport is […]

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 in IFR Magazine‘s “On the Air” A pilot tried to fly non-stop from Utica, New York to Columbus, Ohio in a Warrior with 50-knot headwinds. This was from a May 16, 2002 preliminary NTSB report: N12345:“I’m, ah, out of fuel.” Tower:“Roger, sir. Which airport do you want to try for?” N12345:“I set up a […]

This Week’s Question |Previous Week’s Answers PREVIOUS RESULTS *** Last week, we asked about “personal aerial vehicles” and whether they will cause trouble for the GA community. From the looks of our unscientific survey, AVweb readers are ready for them. A sizable portion of you (38% of those who answered our poll) said We need […]

Overheard in IFR Magazine‘s “On the Air” A few years back, when I only had my VFR ticket with only a few night flights under my belt, I was departing Austin, Texas for Lufkin on a perfectly clear, still night. When getting clearance, I asked the controller for flight following. She told me to talk […]

This Week’s Question |Previous Week’s Answers PREVIOUS RESULTS *** Last week, we asked how the TSA’s proposal for security badges at GA airports might affect our readers. We could have predicted that the most popular response would be it’s nonsense and is another nail in the coffin of GA – but we have to admit, […]