Features

Sport Pilot Sport Pilot, though convoluted and confusing, has some meritorious features. A simpler approach would have been to liberalize part 103, the ultralight regulations, particularly as regards the weight limitation of 204 pounds.Robin Nichols FAA Designee GAO Report The GAO report highlights a couple of things (NewsWire, Nov. 18:1. The number of FAA Designees […]

The lights were on late in the Pilot’s Lounge at the virtual airport and the place was packed when I arrived. The big, old recliners had been claimed early by the more senior, or perhaps the lazy; some six-packs of soda and beer were being decimated steadily as the regulars dissected the stunning events of […]

(Translated from French) Heard on 126.7… Pilot No. 1: Cheerokee 140, C-1234, 2 miles south of Rougemont at 2000 feet in direction of Quebec. For any conflict contact GBBM on 126.7. Pilot No. 2: Thank you… (pause) … Can we talk about Palestine?

Ah, autumn — birds on the wing, a crisp snap to the air, and pumpkins falling from Cubs. For those seeking the true meaning of flight you need only look to southern Iowa, where at an undisclosed location, close to the Maharishi TM University, unfettered by TFRs, the Annual Great Pumpkin Bombing and Chili Shootout […]

Digital ELTs Required By 2009 All of the new 409 units have a 121.5 transmitter just like the current ELT’s and that is what is used for the fine tuning of the search (NewsWire, Nov. 11). So interference with TV’s DVD’s etc will still be with us. On Civil Air Patrol missions I have personally […]

Many thanks to those who wrote and said they missed my column, some even asking if everything was OK. I’m happy to be back, and things are more than OK, they’re great! For the personal, non-column stuff, please see the sidebar below on the right.On rare occasions in my career I’ve been in a small […]

One of the many responsibilities that come with the title “Renaissance Man” is helping our little crumb crunchers learn about aviation. Remember, “Children are our future” is more than a platitude — it is a frightening reality.So, this aging airline captain finds himself at least twice a month at the local aviation museum trying to […]

On an a typical IFR day on the East coast of Florida, I heard a Piper Cherokee check in with Miami Center… Cherokee N123: Miami Center, Cherokee N123 at 4000, ATIS for Palm Beach.Miami Center: Cherokee N123, maintian 4000.Cherokee: Center, I’ll need to get lower to land at Palm Beach.Center: Cherokee N123, let me see […]

Pelican’s Perch #80: Gear-Up Landing In A 747? – (Articles – Nov. 21, 2004) You know the cliche: There are two kinds of retractable-gear pilots in the world – those who have landed gear-up, and those who will. AVweb’s John Deakin is back with his Pelican’s Perch column, and relates his own heavy-jet gear-up story. […]