Features

No matter where pilots gather, it’s only a matter of time before someone starts a debate over which are the best and worst airplanes. It is no exception in the Pilot’s Lounge at the virtual airport, and the battle was raging one afternoon when I happened to wander in. Old Hack was adamant that the […]

Overheard in IFR Magazine‘s “On the Air” While flying practice approaches at Sioux City, Iowa I heard: Tower:“Skylane Eight Seven Charlie, cleared for the approach; caution, waterfall in the area.” [a short silence, presumably while the Skylane pilot questioned passengers on the transmission] Skylane:“Eight Seven Charlie, say again?” Tower:“Skylane Eight Seven Charlie, cleared for the […]

This Week’s Question |Previous Week’s Answers PREVIOUS RESULTS *** Last week, in the wake of DayJet’s cutbacks, we asked AVweb readers whether air taxi services still have a bright future ahead. A third of you said yes, but in a limited capacity, and nearly as many gave an unequivocal yes as your answer. It seems […]

Overheard in IFR Magazine‘s “On the Air” Heard on 121.5 on December 1, 2001 in the Frederick/Hagerstown, Maryland area (near Camp David or P40): Pilot:“Air Force on 121.5, Cherokee One Two Three.” Air Force (my guess is this was the AWACS controller):“Go ahead.” Pilot:“There are some F-15s near me. They do not answer my calls.” […]

This Week’s Question |Previous Week’s Answers PREVIOUS RESULTS *** Last week, we asked whether you’d ever consider owning an electric-powered airplane. Nearly half of those who responded to our poll (47%) were optimistic but cautious, saying they might climb aboard when the range and power get better – but a full quarter of you were […]

MOAs This [MOA] controversy is stirring up the controllers.While using VFR flight-following on a clear day on my 14-hour Sun ‘n Fun trip home from Florida to New Hampshire, I was about to enter an MOA in South Carolina when the controller indicated it was now hot (no warning, no schedule — he had just […]

A good copilot is a good copilot, no matter what the aircraft. I fancied myself a good copilot back when I was a first officer on various airliners. I considered myself better than the average bear when it came to flight engineering, as well. Being a good copilot is harder, in my estimation, than being […]

On a Qantas flight from Adelaide to Perth last week, our lovely senior air steward announced the following after the doors closed: Over the Speaker:“Ladies and gentleman, please turn off all electronic devices such as laptops, mobile phones, washing machines and hairdryers. However, if they have a flight mode, please switch now.” It made me […]

[AVweb’s reprint of A Pilot’s History began with Chapter 1.] It was not very long after the contact with the Air Force [at the end of Chapter 7] that I was holding a piece of paper saying, “You have been called to active duty.” I took the notice to the airline president. “Don’t worry about […]

This Week’s Question |Previous Week’s Answers PREVIOUS RESULTS *** Last week, we asked if AVweb readers did anything out of the ordinary (aviation-wise) to celebrate Earth Day. 18% of those who answered told us they abstained from flying, while the plurality of you (36% in our poll) felt that aviation is such a minor contributor […]