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As pilots we all “know” that oxygen is important to aviation safety and comfort.Our FAA written exams contain questions on the subject: the physiologic effects ofinadequate oxygen; the regulations pertaining to oxygen use. But how does oxygen really”work?” How does the oxygen we breathe get to where it’s going, what does it doon arrival, and […]

Doctor Warren Silberman took on a big job last year when heassumed the reins of the Civil Aeromedical Institute (CAMI), which is responsible forall FAA Airman Medical Certification. The place was a mess of paperwork with over 50,000medical certificate applications caught up in the quagmire. Silberman quickly reduced thatbacklog to 10,000 medicals, and began to […]

Whenthe FAA first experimented with the Accident Prevention Program, an Aviation SafetyInspector in each of two district offices was assigned the duty of establishing a programto prevent accidents. After a one-year trial period in those two offices, the program wasdeemed a success and it went national. Apparently, the FAA is in love with words. Why […]

It was one of those goodevenings in the Pilot’s Lounge. Lots of flying during the day, the weather let us knowspring was truly coming and quite a few folks stuck around for coffee as the day wounddown. The conversation worked its way around to volunteer flying as we have a few pilotswho volunteer their time […]

I‘ve had several people call oremail me lately with a “fresh” approach to buying a used aircraft. Because thegood ones are getting harder to find why not take an old dog and refurbish it into ayoung-looking, pristine aircraft? To those who have this “idea” it is just that.They have yet to look into the actual […]

Recognition F light schools and flight instructors are doing itall wrong. We are teaching our students how to make a stall and recover from it when whatwe should be teaching is stall recognition. Ask 100 pilots what makes an airplane stalland at least 70 of them will tell you it got too slow. The majority […]

ORDER: 8700.1 APPENDIX: 4 BULLETIN TYPE: Flight Standards Information Bulletin (FSIB) for General Aviation (FSGA) BULLETIN NUMBER: FSGA 99-02 BULLETIN TITLE: General Aviation 14 CFR Parts 91 and 125 Land and Hold Short Operations (LAHSO) EFFECTIVE DATE: 03-30-99 TRACKING: N/A 1. PURPOSE. This bulletin provides operational policies, procedures, andtraining requirements for Land and Hold Short […]

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 […]