Features

Why are so many aircraft owners and A&P mechanics “spring-loaded to the overhaul position”? I think the word “overhaul” might be the most overused and misunderstood word in the lexicon of aircraft maintenance.Last week, I was talking to a friend who had just put his airplane in the shop for its annual inspection. I asked […]

Question Of The Week: Are CFI’s Overpaid? Regarding the recent QOTW (July 21)…When one must take into consideration the fact that to be properly insured just for liability, the insurance premium is equal to 125% of the CFI’s salary, they are not at all overpaid to fly with dummies. Then comes life insurance, food, etc.Gary […]

Mo had brought me my second beer and I was well on my way to losing my first ten bucks to the video blackjack machine imbedded in the bar when Janet and Keith showed up to share my Las Vegas layover with me.Probably in accord with the public’s preconceived notions of gender roles, Janet was […]

Sport Pilot Praise and Problems This is just a quick note to say thanks for your prompt and positive coverage of the Sport Pilot/Light-Sport Aircraft rule (NewsWire, July 22).We appreciate your even-handed, yet entertaining style. I check your page daily (or oftener) for the latest and greatest.Stop by for a visit to the Sport Pilot […]

The cost is staggering, isnt it? The price of admission to a professional flight deck wherein you can actually be paid to aviate can be overwhelming to the average Joe or Joan.You were first impressed by those great-looking, four-color display ads in the magazines. But a quick call to the admissions reps at a dozen […]

Recently while flying over central Missouri, I overheard a controller responding to a request for VFR Flight Following… Controller: …And your type aircraft? Pilot: Beech Dutchess, Low wing, twin-engine, white and blue. Controller: You’re all a quarter-inch long and green to me.

*** PREVIOUS RESULTS *** Last week, AVweb asked about the new Sport Pilot rules lurking in our near future.  Most AVweb readers who responded are open to the new rules – 34% of you welcoming Sport Pilot with open arms, while another 33% say that what’s good for the industry is good for the individual […]

Welcome back class. I don’t think there is any other subject that I’ve tried to cover that has created as much confusion as this subject. I know there isn’t another that has been misconstrued as much. It’s been a real eye-opener to see some of the interpretations springing from my articles. Let’s take another whack […]

DC ADIZ and the NCRCC I stayed up well past my bedtime to watch the House Aviation Subcommittee hearing investigating the June 9 incident in the Washington Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) on CSPAN. The subject of this hearing was the incident involving the governor of Kentucky’s aircraft, which was the target of a scramble […]

This will be no surprise to anyone who knows me: I love engines. Just dig ’em. Internal combustion, jet, compression-ignition, Rolls-Royce Trent, Briggs & Stratton, big or small — it really doesn’t matter. If it turns chemical energy into mechanical work, I’m hot to know more about it. Airframes are nice, and useful I suppose […]