Features

Overheard while waiting for takeoff on Runway 29 at Oakland California: Airliner 123: Airliner 123, waiting in sequence. Oakland Tower: A little too much information, 123 … but I’ll bet you look adorable in sequins.

Part-Time Control Tower Operations and Airliners I am a Boeing 727 captain based out of Memphis, Tenn., flying for a very large, overnight-express delivery service. I also fly a small general aviation airplane. I am writing to express my concern and utter disbelief with regards to the current status of part-time control tower operations and […]

After my last column on how to pass a checkride, one of you wrote in and asked for a column on how pilot examiners are chosen by the FAA and what kind of training and experience is required to be a pilot examiner. I thought that was a really good idea, and so here we […]

Military Airspace Revised In response to a recent Question of the Week (QOTW, Mar. 3): “Should the military be allowed to take over any more airspace without giving up an equivalent amount? What’s fair when it comes to MOAs?” As a past member of an airspace-design team at Minneapolis Center (ZMP) I have experienced many […]

It was a normal weekend morning in the Pilot’s Lounge at the virtual airport; students were either exulting or bemoaning flights they had just completed, a few pilots were debating where they should go for their high-dollar hamburgers and a couple of airplane owners were deep in discussion over the operating costs of their steeds. […]

Caution: Greenhorn on the runway… As I taxied into the number two position (holding short of the runway behind one of the local flightschool aircraft) I switched to tower frequency — just in time to hear the following transmission between the tower and student pilot: Tower: Skyhawk 123 taxi into position and hold. (pause) Skyhawk […]

My last column (The Annual Inspection Trap) triggered some fascinating responses from several readers who are career A&P/IAs.One such reader — who oversees a GA maintenance facility — chastised me severely for my assertion that FAR 43.11 calls for an IA who is asked to sign off an annual inspection with discrepancies to document those […]

Sharing Military Airspace The excessive impact of military airspaces (Question of the Week, Mar. 3) could be mitigated by providing general aviation safe corridors. Similar corridors work in Class B airspace.The military should provide safe flight-following for civilian flights. If this is considered burdensome, it shows the impact of the airspace restriction is excessive.Chuck Forsberg […]