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I‘m a pilot, but some of my best friends are air traffic controllers. I’vecorresponded extensively with many other controllers in my role as an aviation journalist.I’ve spent dozens of hours at air traffic control facilities around the country,plugged-in and watching controllers ply their craft (usually in awe), and chewing the fatwith them in the lunchroom. […]

Several years ago, a designated pilot examiner was in the habit of asking his private applicants one question to fulfill the oral portion of the practical test, and only one. The question was this: “Which control makes the airplane go up?” If the applicant answered that the throttle makes it go up, he passed, but […]

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I‘m a little nervous writing stuff like this, because I am acutely aware that not all readers are the same. Some will read this column by itself, without reading the material in previous columns that has led up to this point. Some don’t care about the dirty details, and simply want to know what to […]

Of Flight Breakfasts, Air Races and Roll Your Own Fly-Ins It’s August in the Pilot’s Lounge. The heat shimmers off the asphalt, the trainers seem to sag into the air and the regulars in the big, easy chairs are out of sorts. Hack is complaining that he wants to go somewhere in the Super Cruiser […]

April 27, 2000   Mr. Robert HackmanSr. Technical SpecialistAviation Services DepartmentAircraft Owners and Pilots Association421 Aviation WayFrederick, MD  21701-4798 Dear Mr. Hackman: This is a follow-up response to your letter dated April 26, 1999, to the Office of the Chief Counsel, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), regarding the definition of “dual controls” under 14 CFR section […]

U.S. Departmentof TransportationFederal AviationAdministration Memorandum Subject: Dual Controls under 91.109 and 61.45 From: Regional Counsel, AEA-7 To: Manager, RIC FSDOTHRU: Manager, Technical Branch, AEA-230 Date: Mar 17 2000 Reply toAttn. of: SBrice x3268 You have requested our opinion with respect to fully functional aircraft dual controls under 91.109 and 61.45 of the FARs. After further […]

U.S. Departmentof TransportationFederal Aviation Administration FLIGHT STANDARDS DISTRICT OFFICE5707 Huntsman Road, Suite 100Richmond Int’l Airport, VA 23250-2415 March 29, 2000 CERTIFIED MAIL: RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED Mr. Thomas OsinkoskyShanandoah Flight ServicesShenandoah Valley Regional Airport51 Aviation Circle, Suite 112Weyers Cave, VA 24486 Dear Mr. Osinkosky: Last year, personnel from this office had a discussion about the use […]

U.S. Departmentof TransportationFederal AviationAdministration 800 Independence Avenue, S.W.Washington, DC 20591 September 29, 1999 Mr. Kenneth A. MedleyXXXXXXXXXXXXXXArlington, VA 22207 Dear Mr. Medley: This is in response to your letter requesting clarification on whether dual instruction/flight tests may be conducted in airplanes that do not have brakes on the right side. Title 14 Code of Federal […]

U.S. Departmentof TransportationFederal AviationAdministration 800 Independence Avenue, S.W.Washington, DC 20591 July 29, 1999 Mr. Robert Hackman Dear Mr. Hackman: Thank you for your letter dated April 26, 1999, to the Office of the Chief Counsel, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), regarding flight instruction in aircraft with dual controls under 14 CFR section 91.109(a). Specifically, you request […]