Features

Notice to All AMEs: AMCS Internet Access Mandatory October 1 Aeromedical Certification Division Staff Report Because of “Year 2000” complianceissues, we will have a new Aeromedical Certification System (AMCS) Internet softwareprogram in place by October 1, 1999. Aviation medical examiners (AMEs) who are currentlyusing the DOS-based Version 9.5 of AMCS to transmit FAA Form 8500-8 […]

The Federal Air Surgeon’s Column The Vagaries of Budgets Editorial, by Jon L. Jordan, MD, JD My several years as a manager of afederally funded program has taught me the necessity of paying close attention to allmatters related to budget administration. In essence, it has become clear to me that allprograms—productive or nonproductive, good or […]

Aeromedical Certification in 1999 and Beyond Aeromedical Certification Update, by Warren S. Silberman, DO,MPH PROLOGUE: Having just seen the movie Shakespearein Love with the wife and girls, I’m in the mood for writing a short play about howwe conduct the certification business is going to change. Remember, though, that I’m adoctor, and while my vision […]

The manifold pressure (MP) gauge is a very simple instrument, but what it does is a mystery to many pilots. Simply put, if you do not fully understand what that instrument is telling you, you cannot possibly understand the engine, engine management, power settings, or troubleshooting. Quiz Time First, allow me to pose a few […]

Well start this month’s activities at the virtual airport with a classic jet trivia question: Boeing Aircraft Company numbered all of its jetliners with the figure “7” at the beginning and end of a three-digit number. With the purchase of McDonnell Douglas, Boeing is now reusing its designator “717” for what historically was the DC-9/MD-8X […]

NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARDWASHINGTON, D.C. 20594 AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT REPORT Accident occurred JUN-06-97 at TILLAMOOK, ORAircraft: Lockheed P-38L, registration: N7973 Injuries: 1 Fatal. The aircraft (P-38) had been topped off with full reserve & main fuel tanks (44 USgal/engine reserve tanks & 72 gal/engine main tanks). The pilot took off with about 20minutes fuel having been […]

Liz Im partial to Mooneys, I guess I need to admit that straight up. I own a 1966Mooney M20E, one of the short-bodied speedster models. My little bird “Mike”cruises along at a calm-wind 140-plus knots and drinks a mere 10 gallons of avgas perhour. I like Mike. I transitioned to my 200-hp, complex M20E “Super […]

Let’s take a little time off from the hardcore technical stuff, and have a little fun. One of my favorite stories involves a pig, but first, allow me to set the stage, jump up and down on my soapbox, rave a little, then tell the story. From 1963 through 1968, I had the incredible honor […]

Last month, I passed along some cold-weather operatingtechniques put together by the denizens of the pilot’s lounge here at our virtual airport.In the process, I mentioned the father of cold weather flying, Bernt Balchen, and said I’dtell you a little more about him this month. In the interim, I’ve also received somefeedback on cold weather […]

Pitch to Altitudeand Power to Airspeed?… or Power to Altitude and Pitch to Airspeed? Several years ago, a pilot examiner of my acquaintance would askhis private applicants one question and one question only during the oral portion of aflight test. The question was, “Which control makes the airplane go up?” If theapplicant answered, “The throttle […]