Features

This Week’s Question |Last Week’s Results PREVIOUS RESULTS *** Last week, AVweb asked how many of our readers wear hearing aids in the cockpit while flying.  (Er, headsets excepted – if we counted those, as a couple of readers pointed out, they’re the one hearing aid we should all be wearing.) A full two-thirds of […]

Hearing Aids Re: Question of the Week, Dec. 28I have hearing aids, but do not wear them when flying. They tend to saturate with the higher background noise in the aircraft, and I get clipping even when wearing a noise canceling headset. On the other hand, the headset alone provides clear reception and no problems.Leonard […]

As the holiday season arrives, the Pilot’s Lounge at the virtual airport acquires what would only charitably be described as an eclectic array of decorations. Untold years ago, the owner of the FBO and flight school started the practice of suspending a small, creatively decorated Christmas tree, inverted, from the ceiling. The original reason has […]

Returning to Republic Airport in Farmingdale, N.Y., on New Year’s Day, I heard the following exchange between the tower controller and the pilot of a Piper Arrow: Arrow: “Republic tower, Arrow Three Four Five, eight miles north, inbound with India.” Tower: “Arrow Three Four Five, report right downwind Runway 32.” Arrow: “Any chance we can […]

Brisk sales, new airplanes, no hurricanes — despite troubles in the towers, some tragic flights, and worries about the future, overall a pretty good year for general aviation. Here’s our year-end review of the news. Editor’s Note: All the links in this story take you to full stories AVweb provided throughout the year. Eclipse — […]

This Week’s Question |Last Week’s Results PREVIOUS RESULTS *** Last week, AVweb asked what type of IFR approach charts our readers prefer to have with them en route. Nearly half of those who responded (47%, to be exact) said they prefer to use the FAA’s NACO paper charts, while only 3% lean toward the FAA’s […]

It’s A Jungle Down There Mr. Deakin is too kind (Pelican’s Perch, Dec. 10).My comments regarding the Latin American ATC system during the ’70s would be unprintable. I filed instruments only when I absolutely had to because the system was so corrupt and inadequate it scared the bejesus out of me. There were a lot […]

Twas the night before Christmas, and out on the ramp,Not an airplane was stirring, not even a Champ.The aircraft were fastened to tiedowns with care,In hopes that come morning, they all would be there.The fuel trucks were nestled, all snug in their spots,With gusts from two-forty at 39 knots.I slumped at the fuel desk, now […]

This Week’s Question |Last Week’s Results PREVIOUS RESULTS *** Last week, AVweb asked readers how they typically pay for their aviation fuel purchases. To no one’s surprise, credit cards are by far the most popular method of payment, accounting for over 90% of the fuel purchases made by those who responded to our question – […]

If you snuggle down deep, a La-Z-Boy recliner can actually begin to feel warm. This is especially true if you cover yourself with an unfolded newspaper as you try and snooze in a cold pilot lounge. We were trying to out-wait a mid-December snowstorm and I was trying, in vain, to nap the time away.It […]