Features

I spent all day — it was a Monday — with my plane, poring over each system part and preflight check until I was satisfied the only tests left were those that must be answered in the air. It was late when I got home, and at least 1 a.m. before I finally made it […]

Despite the ongoing silliness of a Transportation Security Administration that continues to treat general aviation pilots as if they were criminals, it’s been a pretty good summer here at the virtual airport. People are learning to fly, a couple new pilots have purchased airplanes and hangared them here, and we’ve enjoyed the conversations that ensue […]

Contract Towers I’m puzzled why you would make a statement or accusation (funny as you may have intended) suggesting that the “10 times the normal participation rate” to the privatization survey was either a “technical problem or union participation,” (Question of the Week: August 20).I have been a professional pilot for 24 years — and […]

Overheard en route out of Morristown, NJ (MMU) to Covington, KY (CVG)… Departure Control: Continental ABC turn left heading 240 degrees and climb to 11,000. Departure Control: Continental ABC, Simon says turn left heading 240 degrees and climb to 11,000. Continental ABC: Roger, left turn 240 and up to 11,000, Continental ABC. Contributions to Short […]

AVweb’s Question Of The Week… *** PREVIOUS RESULTS *** We received over 400 responses to our question last week on AVweb’s online coverage. Just over half (53 percent) of those responding felt we (AVweb) should provide more coverage on homebuilts, lighter than air aircraft, hang gliders and ultralights. About 16 percent said more new products […]

The North American SNJ is the U.S. Navy’s version of the venerable T-6 “Texan,” a big, noisy, radial-engine trainer aircraft from the WWII-era. The T-6 equals “airplane” in the mind’s eye of every kid who dreams of flight, as just about every airplane that every kid has ever drawn looks like one. That’s not to […]

It had been a long day and the last thing I needed when I came back up to my layover motel room after dinner was a long talk with my flight bag. It was still up, though, and had something on its mind.Say what you will about luggage, but when your flight bag of the […]

Presidential Protection Maybe it isn’t newsworthy any more, but we had two single-engine planes forced down by military fighters at our local airport, Crest Air Park (S36) in Kent, Wash., during the presidential visit to the Puget Sound area. I live inside the traffic pattern and heard, saw, and felt the F-15s as they flew […]

Control: Continental XXX give me a good rate please through FL100? Continental XXX: Well sir, we are doing 2000fpm Controller: Could you make it 3000 fpm? Continental XXX: No Sir. Controller: Oh … do you not have a speedbrake? Continental: Yes sir, I do, but that is for MY mistakes, not for YOURS!

AVweb’s Question Of The Week… *** PREVIOUS RESULTS *** Best that we can tell, we received over 4000 responses to our question last week on contract ATC towers. That’s about 10 times our normal response rate (and may suggest a technical error … or union participation.) The overwhelming majority (80 percent) of those responding felt […]