Flight Planning

On a particularly stormy day in the Green Mountains of Vermont, I heard the following exchange between a flight on approach to BTV (Burlington, Vermont) and approach control. BTV approach:“NXXXAJ, how was the ride down?” NXXXAJ:“Rougher than a stucco bathtub.” Andrew Walker

NY Center:“Jetsetter 123, got time for a quick question?” JS123:“Sure.” NYC:“What’s the service ceiling on that bird?” JS123:“FL 510.” [A moment of silence followed.] Then someone asked:“Does that thing come with astronaut wings?” XY456:“Hey Center, what type of aircraft were you talking to?” NYC:“He’s a G6.” Some other regional jet driver then chimed in:“Man, I […]

Shaesta Waiz will be flying around the world via Afghanistan next year. AVweb’s Russ Niles spoke with her at NBAA 2015. Duration: 3:18 File Size: 3.0 MB download here

40+ years ago, on a busy busy day in the Schenectady County Airport traffic pattern. An older WWII-era pilot owned a Stinson L5 that he used for a little instructing and light aerobatics. In the pattern on downwind, this exchange occurred. Tower:“Stinson N1234, do a 360 for spacing.” N1234:“Vertical or horizontal?” Mark Wielt

A controller on an adjacent position had a VFR pop-up looking for advisories. Due to a familiar sounding call sign, he asked if the aircraft was a Skymaster, obviously thinking it was a Cessna 337. The pilot replied:“Heck, no. I’m a solo student.” Derek Crane & Tim Shea

With sunny skies and calm winds, it’s a surprise to reach cruise altitude and find a bumpy ride. Though computer modeling is beginning to overcome many limitations in turbulence prediction, the products aren’t always accurate and don’t convey the nature of the problem. So, it’s pretty important for pilots to be well versed in what […]

So there you are, flying along, proverbially fat, dumb and happy. Suddenly a cacophony of unusual sounds and vibration, accompanied by a pungent smell that pierces the cockpit, and the windshield is sprayed with oil. Some emergencies are clear cut like this—others more subtle. Some are caused by outside events such as a mechanical engine […]

While flying from Henderson, Nevada to Ontario, California, I was receiving flight following from L.A. Center. In the middle of the desert, just southwest of Primm, Nevada, I heard a pilot initiate a call to Center with, “Excuse Me … .” My ears perked up. The conversation was as follows: Pilot:“Excuse Me. Can you tell […]

Back in the ’60s, at TEB, a student on a cross-country got lost over eastern Pennsylvania and managed to come up on a New York Center frequency asking for help. When the controller asked for the pilot’s name, he responded:“There is no pilot — just me: Carlos.” Ron Krantz

Heard over tower frequency at our local airport recently. Left me crying and difficult to talk on radio. Unknown aircraft:“Err — Tower — altimeter?” Tower:“Go ahead, Altimeter.” Bob