Flight Training

After what felt like an eternity, I finally soloed. I then completed my three supervised solos, flights where I stay in the pattern and John my instructor watches from the ground rather than from the seat beside me. I say that I flew all by myself, but of course I had my imaginary instructor in […]

I have heard that flying at night can be something extraordinary, but I didn’t fully understand the experience until I did it for myself. Like most things beautiful, night flight has more inherent dangers and potential problems, but my goodness it is lovely. Last night was my introduction to flying at night, as I completed […]

During my primary training, I had a fascinating experience. I was allowed to shadow an Air Traffic Controller for an evening. I sidled up, plugged in, watched and listened for over four hours. This may lead some to believe that there is something seriously wrong with me, and they may be right, but that’s not […]

I was scheduled for my private pilot checkride and everything was set. The paperwork was in order, my instructor had signed everything he needed to sign and the cleanest plane on the line had been reserved. I got myself to the airport two hours early just in case, via the most circuitous means imaginable, beginning […]

Sometimes I wonder that if in an earlier incarnation I was a great aviator. Because of that previous life, perhaps some of that superior genetic code lingers on inside of me. That is the only explanation that I can think of for my superior piloting skills. I am superior, you know. A natural-born pilot is […]

Air rage is big news these days, but it seems to apply only to passengers who act up. Sadly, it occurs in cockpits, too. There are a small number of pilots who really do need some counseling in anger management, a lot more who could use some of the techniques, and nearly everyone could benefit […]

It’s a bit disconcerting when it happens. Every once in a great while someone says something that causes your jaw to drop in utter amazement. You stare at the person who just made the statement because you can’t comprehend its magnitude. Meanwhile, your tonsils are attracting flies. It happened to me recently, here in the […]

It’s a cold November Friday evening. I amstanding in the baggage area after deplaning a Boeing 737 at Denver’s InternationalAirport. Could it be that I can actually learn the basics of flying Boeing’s most prolificjet in just two days? I am asking myself why I had abandoned my wife, pregnant with our soon to arrive […]

Radar traffic information service — commonly known as VFR flightfollowing — is a service provided by air traffic control (ATC) and available to all VFRpilots which can enhance your flying safety. While receiving flight following, you’ll bein radio contact with a radar controller at a Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) orAir Route Traffic Control Center […]

The Continental Airlines flight is en routeback to my home outside of Denver. The B-737/300 is climbing through FL 280. Mysix-foot-five frame is packed into seat 5D and there still appears to be blood circulationto the extremities. The ride is going well, but I harbor a secret wish. If only the flightattendant would announce calmly, […]