Features

ATC Privatization After the “performance” of the FAA controllers handling traffic for the AOPA Convention in Philadelphia last week, maybe we do need a change to privatization. Aircraft circling over ill-defined points, at an altitude and heading of their individual choice, along with no indication of the expected holding time was a recipe for disaster. […]

Overheard recently — while I was literally on short final, in fact: Tower: Cessna XXX, you said you were at taxiway Alpha One? Alpha Two? Cessna XXX: Uh… We’re holding at Alpha Three. Tower: Right. One plus Two equals Three.

*** PREVIOUS RESULTS *** We received over 300 responses to our question last week on panel-mounted GPS units. The vast majority (72 percent) of respondents welcome a higher level of standardization between brands, especially of the basic GPS functions needed for VFR and IFR navigation. About 10 percent of those responding normally use only the […]

There is a nearly unanimous sentiment among those who frequent the pilot’s lounge here at the virtual airport that one of the best things a pilot can do when not flying is to spend time at a good aviation museum. For many of us, a good aviation museum, no matter what size, is something to […]

Poor GA Piston Sales The numbers showing low deliveries of piston aircraft (NewsWire, Oct. 27)do not tell the whole story. Cessna planned the size of their production run long before the economy began to recover, so the entire production line was sold out by May of this year. Cessna’s deliveries were low because Cessna refused […]

Overheard October 19, near Las Vegas: United XXX: LA Center, say again the frequency for United XXX. No answer on 133.4. Center: United XXX, 133.4 is correct. Try again. If there’s still no answer, come back up this frequency … and I’ll send somebody over there to smack the dirt out of their ears.

*** PREVIOUS RESULTS *** We received over 300 responses to our question last week on the Concordes retirement. About one third (34 percent) felt the Concorde was never economically viable and never should have entered service in the first place, while 37 percent agreed its caused many financial difficulties but they also felt the supersonic […]

The warm, carefree days of summer appear to be over as I sit in my 757 pondering the outside conditions as we prepare to yet again to voyage to Schwarzenegger’s lair — Los Angeles Intergalactic Jet Port.”Information Juliet is current,” began Todd, my co-pilot for this four-day hostage crisis. “One thousand overcast, two miles in […]

A controller I know has his personal aircraft hangered at the local Muni airport. Facing his hangar is another that houses a Green Cessna 210. One day that Cessna came into his sector. My controller friend recognized the N number and the exchange follows… Controller: N123, is that airplane painted green? Pilot: Uh, yes. …Why? […]

Unusual Attitudes Training I did spins during primary training, and now fly commercial aerobatics in light aircraft and IFR in commercial heavy aircraft. I feel that unusual attitude training is important for all pilots, but aerobatics in light planes has limited unusual attitude value for pilots of heavier aircraft.Chas Kelly Concorde Viability Most Americans seem […]