Features

Tour Flight Restrictions I’m all for safety, but it is apparent that we really aren’t any safer now than in 2001 (NewsWire, Nov. 17). There will always be one looney in the “bin,” but if anyone knew about GA pilots, they would know that most of us are hard-core, true-blue Americans who would do anything […]

Over Philly on a gorgeous CAVU Sunday… Cessna XXX: Philly approach, Cessna XXX with you at 4,500. Philly Approach: Cessna XXX, Roger, Altimeter 30.69 and numerous targets in your vicinity. Cessna XXX: Could you be more specific about the targets? Philly Approach: OK, 12 o’clock, 1 o’clock, 2 o’clock, 3 o’clock, 4 o’clock, 5 o’clock […]

*** PREVIOUS RESULTS *** We received over 200 responses to our question last week on joining in aviation organizations. About 38 percent of those responding were members of AOPA, while only 6 percent belonged to the EAA. A larger group (38 percent) indicated they belonged to more than one of the organizations listed in our […]

The flight to Denver was going well enough. Light chop in the clouds at three-three-oh and only an hour and a half before we got to the front range of the Rockies.Today’s cockpit conversation wasn’t about the ride or the destination, though. It was about next month and our holiday schedules. The line-of-time bid results […]

Aircraft Airworthiness We have the computer databases and knowledge to have all of the current GA aircraft repairs entered (Newswire, Nov. 17).Evey year we are spending thousands for the annual and having a mechanic go through the logs looking to make sure all the AD’s are up to date etc, etc.Every N-number should be entered […]

When I called the Oakland FSS today for a preflight briefing and asked about TFRs in the area I received probably the best explanation so far of what the blanket National Security NOTAM meant in practice: “Just the usual one that’s been in place for a while, you know, don’t be makin’ pylon turns around […]

*** PREVIOUS RESULTS *** We received over 300 responses to our question last week on flying personal jet aircraft. About 14 percent of those responding felt those pilots transitioning to these aircraft should have previous turbine experience, at least 1,000 hours flight time and a Commercial certificate. About 31 percent felt some of these skills […]

ADIZ Incursions Unless you fly regularly near Washington, D.C., you might be unaware — as I was recently — that the ADIZ exists, and that probably accounts for many of the 600+ incursions since it was started (NewsWire, Nov. 13). Also the ADIZ is not tiered like the Class B airspace around DCA, which further […]

*** PREVIOUS RESULTS *** We received over 300 responses to our question last week on our readers preferred aircraft to fly. Over 80 percent of those responding fly certified fixed-wing general aviation aircraft (Piper, Mooney, Cessna etc), while only 6 percent said they fly homebuilts (plans or kits). On a smaller scale, only one percent […]

One of the less pleasant aspects of my job is the fact that I occasionally have to work a midnight shift. The biggest challenge for me (besides staying awake) is finding something useful to do. Fortunately my Area doesn’t have a freighter operation (yet) so I spent the quiet parts of the shift trying to […]