The Pilot’s Lounge

CEO of the Cockpit #61: There’s No Trying to Reason With the Terrorist Season – (Aug. 27, 2006)Do you want to see the captain of your airline flight walk through security in stocking feet with his “air marshal” government-approved gun in a clear plastic bag? AVweb’s CEO of the Cockpit just wants to keep his […]

A friend of mine, Hal Shevers, stopped in at the Pilot’s Lounge at the virtual airport the other day. Hal seemed a little agitated, which was not unusual because he runs various general aviation businesses, including Sporty’s Pilot Shop, and has done so for many years. With the challenges facing general aviation business people, I’m […]

The Pilot’s Lounge #103: The FAA As Customer — Good Business? – (Aug. 13, 2006)Somebody has to rent planes to FAA personnel so they can maintain currency. And with the government backing them up, you shouldn’t have to worry about collecting the fees, right? AVweb’s Rick Durden has a cautionary tale from the Pilot’s Lounge […]

The virtual airport, home of the Pilot’s Lounge, is much like any other little airport in the country. As with other modest, general aviation airports, we occasionally have the aeronautical version of the fender bender, where someone skitters off the side or end of a runway and comes to a somewhat ignominious halt.One of our […]

As if to make the day perfectly symmetrical, two vans pulling small trailers came scooting down the driveway, crossed the parking lot and, slowing greatly, drove down the centerfield taxiway a short distance and turned into the grass. People spilled from the doors and went swiftly to the respective trailers from which they began unloading […]

Spending time in the Pilot’s Lounge at the virtual airport was once probably merely a vice, but over the years it has become a habit. This time it was a weekday evening. I had flown with a student and stuck around after he headed home because it was quiet and I’d run across something I […]

I was in the Pilot’s Lounge at the virtual airport, a place normally for good friends, good conversation and some support when things were not going well. Yet, Old Hack’s voice was dripping with scorn as he addressed me from about three inches away: “You miserable excuse for a pilot. Now we truly know what […]

Walking out of the doctor’s office, holding the piece of paper on which the duly authorized Aviation Medical Examiner attested that, as of a few moments ago, I met the minimum standards to hold an airman medical certificate, I breathed a sigh of relief and headed out to the Pilot’s Lounge at the virtual airport. […]

As do pilots all over the world, we who gather here in the Pilot’s Lounge at the virtual airport read and discuss aircraft accident reports. Recently we got to perusing a fatal accident involving a relatively new, inexperienced, private pilot flying in the Midwest.While I’m amending the details a bit to preserve anonymity, the gentleman […]

One of the nice things about the Pilot’s Lounge at the virtual airport is that I get to stay in touch with some very interesting pilots. One of my favorite people on the planet is a guy I’ve flown with off and on for over 20 years. Among other things, he is considered to be […]