Features

Overheard in IFR Magazine‘s “On the Air” Heard on the Detroit approach frequency while flying just north of Detroit City Airport one Sunday evening: Approach:“Airliner XXXX, turn left heading 350. Direct Flint when able.” Airliner XXXX:“Left three-fifty, direct Flint.” Approach:“Airliner YYYY, proceed direct Salem when able.” Airliner YYYY:“Direct Salem.” Airliner XXXX:“Airliner YYYY – hey, Dave, […]

This Week’s Question |Previous Week’s Answers PREVIOUS RESULTS *** Last week we reported on a U.S. Air Force program to train UAV pilots who won’t have actual experience in the cockpit of an aircraft and a disagreement between the FAA and unions ove whether tower and radar controllers should be cross-trained. Given the news, we […]

TSA and GA Sometime soon it should become very clear to the officers of GAMA, NBAA and AOPA as to what the true mission and intent of the TSA is really about (Question of the Week, Oct. 16). Their intent — first, last and always — is to control. If security also happens to take […]

While I was on short final into KFHU (Fort Huachuca, Sierra Vista Arizona): Shadow-1:“Shadow-1 at runway 26, ready to take off.” Tower:“Shadow-1, hold short for landing traffic.” I then looked over at the holding aircraft and noticed that it was a Military UAV, an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle. This being the first one I’d ever seen, […]

This Week’s Question |Previous Week’s Answers PREVIOUS RESULTS *** Last week, we asked about the TSA’s proposed Large Aircraft Security Program rule. A full 52% of readers who took time to participate in our poll told us this was the tip of the iceberg for regulations that will kill GA as we know it. At […]

Overheard in IFR Magazine‘s “On the Air” Heard at Gainesville, Florida Airport: Cessna:“Gainesville Tower, Cessna XXXXX, seven west with Tango.” Tower:“Cessna XXXXX, cleared to land, Runway Six.” Cessna:“We’d prefer Runway One Zero. We have some passengers to drop off at the terminal.” Tower:“Cessna XXXXX, you can’t do that. You have to use the general aviation […]

This Week’s Question |Previous Week’s Answers PREVIOUS RESULTS *** There wasn’t much evidence of stress over the dour economy at this year’s NBAA Convention, so last week we asked AVweb readers for their take on the economic downturn and its effect on the general aviation community. The majority of respondents (54% of you) said we’re […]

Transient Hanger Fees On a recent trip from South Dakota to the West coast I was shocked to be charged fees like $65 per night to hanger a small, single-engine experimental in a large hanger belonging to the FBO. A few years ago, the FBOs would charge a minimal fee or no fee if fuel […]

It always fascinates me that general aviation airports somehow become ghost towns about 5:00 on Sunday afternoons, even if the weather is superb. This particular Sunday was no exception: The Pilot’s Lounge at the virtual airport was rapidly emptying. The students had headed home, and the only folks around were some of the flight school […]

On Friday, October 10, Qantas’s first Airbus A380 visited Auckland, marking the first visit of the type to New Zealand. It did a press junket promotional flight across the city and environs, filmed by a news helicopter, ZK-HST. This was heard on Auckland control 124.3: ZK-HST:“Auckland Control, Hotel Sierra Tango. We’ve filmed the takeoff, and […]