Reader Mail

FAA Proposes Rule To Remove Instructor Certificate Expiration Date This proposal has a fatal flaw in it: quoting from the NPRM: “While the flight instructor would not be applying to renew a certificate, the FAA finds it is necessary to maintain Forms 8710–1 and 8710–11 as the collection mechanism because it would allow the FAA […]

Pipistrel Velis Electro: Certified Electric We purchased the Velis purely for R&D, not for use as a trainer, and for that purpose it has exceeded all expectations. As compared to the very limited Electro, the Velis has allowed us to complete a fairly rigorous series of test programs. We’ve operated the plane for more than […]

Sporty’s Launches Learn To Fly Month As a full-time flight instructor for over 20 years and a promoter of New-Starts in aviation, where we have used Sporty’s “Learn to Fly” Online program as a curriculum for the Coachella Valley Youth Education Aviation Program, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to Sporty’s for their outstanding […]

GOES Satellite Imagery Very nice article. The only thing I’d add is that, since this article originally appeared, another GOES-R series satellite, GOES-18, was launched. It is now the operational GOES-West satellite and GOES-16 remains the operational GOES-East satellite. Bob W. When I was 8 in 1960, one of our neighbors who worked with this […]

At Least It Didn’t Blow Up On The Pad Overlooked is the fact that this rocket was built out of welded stainless steel, outdoors, in a field in Texas. Compared to the old way of building rockets, doing it this way means that the decrease in cost to orbit with Starship will be massive. The […]

When Training Isn’t Worth the Risk Another great article, Paul. As I look back at some of my own various instances of close ones, I realize my perspective about them has changed. Soon after the event, I would count myself very lucky, believing that I had just enough skill to apply and a large amount […]

The Risks Of Routine Regarding not paying attention, I was a 23 year skydiver and years ago just as we were getting ready to exit from 7500 feet from a 182 when a small GA plane came flying below us. We waited until he passed before jumping. Could have been tragic if the Jumpmaster hadn’t […]

House Proposes Enabling 529 Funds For Aviation Career Education Options I’m a strong proponent of apprenticeship programs. It’s time we recognize that all careers don’t require a four year degree. Unfortunately our education system is a self perpetuating profit center in which the refrain often is “Without a college degree, how will you succeed?” I’m […]

Blow Your Own Doors Off My Stinson 108-2 flew just fine with the door off to parachute out of, probably needed the STC too, never even thought about it. Jumping out of the J-3 was a bit more of a production, remove the rear stick so you could climb out of that seat, lean out […]

Canadian Investigators Call For Improved Medical Screening For Pilots In response to your March 16 article (“Canadian Investigators Call For Improved Medical Screening For Pilots”), our takeaway is: swing and a miss. The Canadian Transportation Safety Board (equivalent of the U.S. NTSB) wended its way to a costly and cumbersome recommendation for a problem that […]