Flight Planning

A commercial 747 was taxiing for take-off when a deer darted in front of the plane and was hit. The captain immediately called his wife to explain he would be arriving late as the plane had hit a deer. His wife asked, “What altitude was that deer at?” Nick Goodrichvia e-mail

Authorities evacuated the Capitol, Library of Congress and Supreme Court buildings in Washington, D.C., for a short time Saturday after a light plane violated restricted airspace around the city and its pilot couldn’t be raised on the radio. Some reports said the aircraft came within four minutes of flying time to downtown Washington, which would […]

AOPA will be raising its standard membership rates to $59 per year, president Mark Baker told AVweb on Thursday, but the organization also will offer more choices for members, including a lower-cost option. “If you choose to get AOPA’s magazine in digital form only, instead of in the mail, the annual dues are just $49,” […]

Our weekly foray into SocialFlight‘s web site for all that’s happening in general aviation uncovered the highest airshow on earth, a World War II-themed airshow, a Civil Air Patrol pancake feed and a potluck fly-in. On Saturday, June 7 from 10:00 a.m. to noon what is billed as the Highest Show on Earth, an airshow […]

I heard this exchange between Boston approach and someone doing an approach into Nashua, New Hampshire. It seems the ground speed of the aircraft was less than Boston expected, and someone finally said: Boston:“62B, are you a helicopter?” 62B:“Errrr, no – but I’m flying one.” Larry Levinvia e-mail

As spring moves towards summer our weekly review of what’s going on in aviation on SocialFlight reveals more and more events, especially pure, grassroots, small airport fly-ins. The first one we ran across, right in the heart of the country, is in Central City, Neb., where there will be a fly-in breakfast and lunch, on […]

I was holding short of runway 9L waiting for an arriving jet to clear the runway. As he was clearing, he asked:“What’s ground control?” The tower answered:“They are the people you talk to when you want to drive around on the airport.” [slight pause] “I always wanted to say that!” The jet pilot replied:“You just […]

Our weekly review of SocialFlight found fly-ins that run the gamut from a night airshow through a fly-in that’s been going on for over half a century, a gathering of classic Meyers aircraft and a fly-in dedicated to gumbo. The nonprofit Discover Aviation Center is holding Discover Aviation Days on Lorain County Airport, Lorain, Ohio, […]

The FAA is urging those who didn’t make it in its latest air traffic control recruitment to try again. In a statement to AVweb (PDF) it also says it plans to make “further improvements” to the controversial new hiring protocol. However, it doesn’t appear to be considering going back to the old system. As we […]

Recently, an airliner checked in with Boston Center at FL340. Pilot:“Boston Center, good morning. Airliner 123 at FL340. Light chop.” ATC:“Airliner 123, good morning. That light chop has been there for the last 29 years.” Luigie Martinezvia e-mail