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I consider myself very lucky to be able to go into the pilot’s lounge, here at the virtual airport, and talk with or exchange e-mails with some very perceptive, knowledgeable pilots. I deeply appreciate the time they take to educate me so that I can write this column. In the last five months I sent […]

Flight Schools I’m happy for those companies that have made through these tough times, but all in all, general aviation, flight schools, and A&P schools have suffered a 50 to 60% decrease in business. The small mom & pop operations continue to suffer and are closing at an alarming rate. The media tends to ignore […]

Two Poles, One Pilot, One Engine The idea of flying single engined across both poles doesn’t sound nearly dangerous enough to catch my attention. Let’s disconnect one of the magnetos and use some contaminated fuel just to keep things interesting.Who gets to search the polar ice caps when she goes missing?Sylvia Else Deadheading Pilots Want […]

The office of my Flight Surgeon was littered with the usual magazines, health books, drug interaction guides, free pens with medical supply house names on them, and of course, the ubiquitous television in the corner of the room talking about how you should take care of yourself and strive not to smoke, drink, inhale radon […]

As the Beacon Turns: The Silence of the Lambs Mr. Maya Charles:I found your story very interesting. I’m an A&P/IA professionally, and a glider pilot for fun (not at the moment — I work in the Central Pacific for the U.S. Army, but that’s another story).I did think that perhaps you might have focused on […]

We all want to get through training as quickly and efficiently as possible. Yet some student pilots fly through training (no pun intended), and others end up spending a great deal more effort, money, and time to reach the same levels as our peers. What’s the difference? Though frequency of training and personal learning styles […]

This article originally appeared in the February 2001 issue of Light Plane Maintenance, and is reprinted here by permission. The day has come. It’s finally time to overhaul that engine. Or maybe it’s just a top overhaul. Either way, it’s a not-so-often event and there’s slight fear and a little anxiety.There is no shortage of […]

On March 29th, 2001, about 1902 Mountain Standard Time (MST) [1], a Gulfstream III, N303GA, operated by Avjet Corporation, crashed into sloping terrain about 2400 feet short of runway 15 at Aspen-Pitkin County Airport Sardy Field (ASE), Aspen, Colorado. The three crewmembers and all 15 passengers were killed, and the airplane was destroyed. The flight […]

On March 29, 2001, about 1902 Mountain Standard Time (MST), a Gulfstream III, N303GA, operated by Avjet Corporation, crashed into sloping terrain about 2400 feet short of Runway 15 at Aspen-Pitkin County Airport Sardy Field (ASE), Aspen, Colo. The three crewmembers and all 15 passengers were killed, and the airplane was destroyed. The flight was […]

Chicago Lakeshore VFR Corridor The closure (temporarily, we hope) of Meigs tower greatly increases the danger of mid-air collision, as single-engine aircraft flying VFR — almost all between 2,000 and 3,000 MSL — prefer to fly within a mile or so of the shoreline.Why doesn’t the FAA NOTAM a CTAF (121.3) for all aircraft between […]