Features

While waiting to enter the taxiway in ONT, (California) an Airbus working for a major parcel carrier came face to face with our corporate 727 and the following conversation ensued: ONT Twr: Airbus 1234, where are you going today, sir? Airbus 1234: Right where that 727 is, and, uh, be advised our tail might be […]

All of us in the Pilot’s Lounge at the virtual airport were affected by Hurricane Katrina in some fashion. As I write this, one visitor is still looking for a cousin who lived in New Orleans but did not own a car and was unable to evacuate. Stan, in Mississippi, is repairing damage to his […]

No aircraft is considered airworthy by the FAA until the weight of its paperwork exceeds its maximum certificated takeoff weight (or so goes the old joke). We in aviation are always complaining about the amount of paperwork that the FAA, in its infinite wisdom, makes us do. Any aircraft owner who has gone through the […]

Retired Airline Pilot Pay Curiously missing from your September 19 NewsWire regarding retired pilots’ pay reduction was the retired pilots of US Airways. Those who retired prior to March 30, 2003, have had their pensions adjusted and re-adjusted; some over age 70 actually got raises. Those of us who took the Early Retirement Incentive Plan […]

The past few weeks and months haven’t exactly been the most enjoyable of my flying career. If we weren’t dealing with hurricanes, destroyed cities and plague, we were worrying about and dealing with airlines declaring bankruptcy and telling their old, sick retirees, “Sorry, pard, I know you’re 85 and have cancer but no soup for […]

In an earlier AVweb opinion piece Anti-Airport Activism,” June 19), I discussed the growing threat to general aviation airports posed by anti-airport activism. I pointed out that general aviation pilots have to get involved in local politics in order to protect our ability to fly freely and safely.That article generated a lot of email, including […]

Heard on the tower frequency at a major Southwest hub… Tower: Southwest 972 Position and hold runway 28 Pilot Reply: You’re 90 degrees off … (pause) … Northwest 972 will position and hold, runway 28

A recent legislative change to the taxation of jet fuel is creating significant concerns for commercial and private aircraft operators as well as fuel vendors. The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) and National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), along with tax experts, FBOs, air charter operators and private aircraft owner-operators are now working on developing industry […]