Features

There are days in the pilots lounge at the virtual airport that I learn by just sitting and listening to my betters. It so happened that I recently had an opportunity to pick up some pointers on dealing with emergencies due to a drama that played itself out over two days. Not surprisingly, Old Hack […]

A Higher Calling Thank you for mentioning the great organizations that have pilots donating their time to kids and others that have medical conditions. My daughter was 6 years old when she was diagnosed with cancer. She always loved to go flying with me, but it was more special now. It would take her away […]

Controller: Cessna 12345, traffic at your 11 o’clock is a National Guard helicopter at 1500 feet. Cessna 12345: Tower, 12345, negative contact. Looking for traffic. Controller: Cessna 12345, guard helicopter is unarmed. Cessna 12345: I would hope so… (pause) Cessna 12345: Tower, 12345, have field in sight. No friendly fire. Request frequency change. Controller: (Laughing) […]

This week, we would like to know your thoughts on annual inspections. For AVweb’s Question of the Week, click here. PREVIOUS RESULTS We received over 700 responses to our question last week on autogas use in GA aircraft. The majority (57 percent) of our respondents indicated they had used autogas in aircraft at one time […]

This week, we would like to know your thoughts on holiday travel. For AVweb’s Question of the Week, click here. PREVIOUS RESULTS We received over 800 responses to our question last week on ground obstructions. The majority (70 percent) of our respondents consider radio towers to be a flight hazard — 5 percent did not. […]

This week, we would like to know your thoughts on ground obstructions. For AVweb’s Question of the Week, click here. PREVIOUS RESULTS We received over 700 responses to our question last week on learning to fly. The majority (54 percent) of our respondents indicated that it took them between 40-60 hours to attain their first […]

Communications between the various crewmembers aboard military airplanesis typically accomplished by means of interconnected electronic devices.The interphone system is a vital part of the equipment required for efficientand coordinated flight crew operations. Pilots communicate with navigatorsfrequently to assure mutual understanding of headings to fly, time to goand estimates to targets or destinations. Pilots and co-pilots […]

In a holding pattern behind several aircraft… Pilot: …your estimate for our clearance for the approach. Controller: Bonanza 1234, is there a problem? Pilot: Do the words, “Daddy, I gotta go potty!” mean anything to you? Controller: Bonanza 1234, cleared for the approach.

A sailplane turned final too low to make the desired runway. Equipped with a hand-held microphone, the pilot radioed his intention to change runways … Glider: Glider ABC can’t make 29 taking 24. Unicom: Glider ABC, are you having control problems? Glider: I can eliminate one if I let go of this microphone.

Betty Darst was born November 11, 1939, in Gomer, Ohio. Like all Buckeyes — your author included — she got a healthy dose of Wright pride growing up. Then, in 1979 she moved to Dayton, just a few blocks from the Hawthorn Hill, the Wright home. She’s a lifelong educator, specializing in teacher training and […]