Features

Chicago Lakeshore VFR Corridor The closure (temporarily, we hope) of Meigs tower greatly increases the danger of mid-air collision, as single-engine aircraft flying VFR — almost all between 2,000 and 3,000 MSL — prefer to fly within a mile or so of the shoreline.Why doesn’t the FAA NOTAM a CTAF (121.3) for all aircraft between […]

Guns In The Cockpit (Yet Again) Up until now I have tried to keep my opinion on this issue to myself. But, after reading Mr. Shaw’s April 28 letter on the subject I feel compelled to comment.I mean no disrespect to Mr. Shaw, but please, please, please do not drag what is, in my opinion, […]

While flying between Ft Worth TX and Baton Rouge, LA I had to make a fuel stop as the Yak has only a 31 gallon tank to keep wayward Russian trainees close to home. I chose Many,La for a quick turn around and then on to BTR. After landing in Many, I taxied up to […]

This week, we would like to know your thoughts on STOL kits. For AVweb’s Question of the Week, click here. PREVIOUS RESULTS We received over 400 responses to our question last week on arming airline pilots. The majority (55 percent) of our respondents felt armed pilots should have been introduced a long time ago. The […]

You are resolute in your pursuit of a flying career. Despite what the pundits have stated in their gloomy predictions about the state of the economy, no matter that there are still many qualified aviators on furlough from their airline jobs, regardless of forecasts that predict a soft job market and a slow recovery for […]

Here it is the first day of May. It’s hard to believe it’s here already. The daffodils are done. The azaleas are blooming and it’s time to put the tomato seedlings in the ground. What? You wanted me to write an article about emergencies? You meant “MAYDAY!” huh? It just goes to show you how […]

Pentagon Cold Shoulder As long as the DOD is expressing its right to boycott, can someone ask them to also boycott the 2003 Chicago Airshow? I think Mayor Daley can make the connection. Mitch Aldrich Meigs Field The purpose of this letter is to express my dissatisfaction with the City of Chicago’s recent closing of […]

Guns in the Cockpit While reader Boney’s hypothesis [AVmail April 20] can’t be disproven (that’s the neat thing about hypotheses), the U.S. score at this point in the terrorist war is Suicidal Terrorists 19, Suicidal Pilots 0 for fatal cockpit insurrections. In the case of a single, armed pilot, the probability is at least 50% […]

I just had a colonoscopy, my fourth.Folks, if you have read and enjoyed any of my writings, I would beg you to read this column. Even if you haven’t. For some of you, it may the most important column I’ve ever written, or that you’ll ever read.I have a very personal interest in this, for […]

Today after arriving in SLC we checked in with the ground controller whose radio wasn’t the clearest. As we were taxiing to the ramp another aircraft asked the controller “Has anyone else told you you’re communications are garbled?” Without a moments hesitation ground replied “My Wife!”