Features

Brave New World Yesterday, while flying near the Washington ADIZ, Com radio 1 on the local CTAF and 2 on 121.5, I heard the following, in a clearly synthesized voice with an oddly foreign accent: “Aircraft approaching Washington Air Defense Identification Zone! Turn away! Shiply(sic)!” Ah, brave new world! Richard Matlick Airline Training Academy Your […]

More from our “It’s all relative file” … Approach Control: Cessna 123N, say flight conditions. Cessna 123N: I’m not sure … it’s so hazy up here it’s hard to tell.

This week, we would like to know your thoughts on crosswind landing techniques. For AVweb’s Question of the Week, click here. PREVIOUS RESULTS We received over 1000 responses to our question last week on non-towered airport traffic pattern entries. Almost half (48 percent) of those responding fly the traditional 45-degree downwind entry into these airports. […]

With Spring just around the corner I thought we should spend some time talking about VFR operations. I know it’s been a while since we’ve covered the real basic stuff in ATC so if you’d like to review what I’ve already written, you can find everything here, including ATC 101 and ATC 102.Speaking of review, […]

Cirrus Launches Safety Study I’ll bet you dollars to doughnuts that the results of the upcomming Cirrus study will be inconclusive.Having said that, I’ll make the same bet again by stating that the real cause of most if not all of those accidents, is over-confidence caused by color moving map displays and other modern electronic […]

Airline Woes It is often claimed that the airline industry can rightly boast of its safety record. As someone who has worked in this industry for over 20 years, I have seen and have been a part of the system, the procedures and processes that have been responsible for assuring the safety of air travel, […]

First, the usual “housekeeping.” One alert reader pointed out that I had referred to the in-flight mag check, but never explained it. Let me do that in my next column. Some of the excellent “reader responses” (by e-mail and a couple of forums) deserve mention here. Those Skydiving Airplanes First, I don’t think I’ve ever […]

A pilot was sitting in his seat and pulled out a .38 revolver. He placed it on top of the instrument panel, then asked the navigator, “Do you know what I use this for?” The nav replied timidly, “No, what’s it for?” The pilot responded, “I use this on navigators who get me lost!” The […]

This week, we would like to know your thoughts on non-towered airport traffic-pattern entries. For AVweb’s Question of the Week, click here. PREVIOUS RESULTS We received over 1000 responses to our question last week on arming GA pilots. The vast majority of our respondents (76 percent) indicated that GA pilots should arm themselves, as they […]

The Pilot’s Lounge Thank you, Rick Durden! Your article on the Alexis Park Inn was most welcome. Yes, we are tight-fisted SOB’s and, yes, we are self-destructive to our own passion. But maybe continued exposure to nice destinations like this are just what we need. Many pilot mags contain articles on major destinations for major […]