Features

Overheard at KLAS, Dec. 19, 2003, 9:30pm… ATC: NABCD, after departure turn left heading 175 climb and maintain at or below 4,000, departure 125.9 and squawk XXXX. Pilot: Any chance of a higher inital altitude? ATC: We give you 4,000 in case of lost com. Pilot: I know thats why I want higher.

*** PREVIOUS RESULTS *** We received over 270 responses to our question last week on winter flying. The majority (56 percent) of those responding indicated they enjoy flying in all four seasons. About 15 percent said smooth air is what makes winter a preferred flying season, while 9 percent claimed engine performance was the major […]

Note: Click on the links to read extended AVweb reports of each subject. For GA Airplane Builders, A Year Of Ups And Downs While some GA manufacturers had a good year — Cirrus Design, for one, kept setting new sales records — others found the going a bit rocky. In January, Commander Aircraft Co. filed […]

Heard on the Ellington Field ATIS on Christmas Eve.: “… on initial contact advise you have Ellington information Rudolph.”

Security Level Orange I for one am irritated with the tone in which “Welcome Back to Level Orange” was written (NewsWire, Dec. 22). Let us not forget that the security restrictions are a direct result of people who would rather wipe all Americans off the face of the planet because we are the only force […]

The 100th anniversary of powered flight was the date for our annual holiday gathering in the pilot’s lounge at the virtual airport. It meant braving blowing snow and icy streets, but the goal was worth the effort. Everyone brought some food and some pretty good booze or wine and after an hour or so the […]

*** PREVIOUS RESULTS *** We received over 200 responses to our question last week in review of the Countdown to Kitty Hawk/Centennial Of Flight celebration. A bit over one third (38 percent) of responding readers felt the series of events were a great way to celebrate the Wrights accomplishments, while 15 percent were disappointed by […]

Airlines … Corporate … Airlines … Corporate … Airlines … Corporate …Enough already!You — you’re the odd one. You joined the aviation fraternity for something entirely different. Hauling 50 RJ passengers crammed into an aluminum tube from “A” to “B” as an air transport driver is not your cup of tea. Catering to the whims […]

Holiday Inn bars really aren’t so bad if you need a place to spend the afternoon on a long layover. I had gotten into Memphis at noon and didn’t have to leave until the next morning, so sometime around four I gave up on cable TV and found myself in my normal corner booth in […]

First Flight Celebration Could Be Better My wife and I had the opportunity to attend the First Flight celebration last weekend, sponsored by the National Parks Service (Newswire, Dec. 15). The event was unfortunately woefully lacking in displays and vendors. The federal government was the major participant, represented by the Air Force, NASA, FAA, Coast […]