Flight Safety

AVweb’s Flight Safety section offers in-depth coverage of aviation safety topics, including accident analyses, risk management strategies, regulatory updates, and pilot training insights. Designed for pilots, instructors, and aviation professionals, this section provides timely information to enhance situational awareness and promote best practices in flight operations.

A Bitter Pill To Boost GA

“I hope they shut down the airport and turn it into a toxic waste dump. That’ll really piss off the liberals.”— Overheard at my local airport diner This will come as a surprise if you’ve read AOPA’s lobbying materials, but maybe we’re not such awesome neighbors. I teach at San Carlos and Palo Alto, in […]

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NTSB Report: Pilots, ATC Need To Improve Pirep System

The NTSB has released a special report based on its investigation last year into the effectiveness of pilot weather reports. The report concludes that pilots need better training and procedures, and air traffic controllers need to do more to be sure the pilot weather reporting system enhances aviation safety. One key to a safer system […]

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Short Final

Some years ago I was flying into a very congested London Heathrow Airport when I heard the following exchange with Heathrow Approach. Heathrow: “Speedbird 123, what is your position in the hold at Lambourne?” Speedbird: “We are just turning outbound at flight level 200.” Heathrow: “Roger, Speedbird, could you possibly cross Lambourne inbound at 3000 […]

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Stop-Loss Rejected By Air Force

The Air Force moved quickly last week to quell concerns that it would force pilots to stay in uniform beyond their agreed-to separation dates. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein told an event in Washington last week that’s not currently an option to stem the exodus of pilots to the airlines. “I want […]

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What A Difference A Year Or A Week Makes (Or Doesn’t)

What a difference a year makes. A year ago, almost to the day, we were excoriating Icon for its lopsided buyer contract that made draconian sound like an upgrade. In the midst of a beat down by the press, Icon circled the wagons at Sun ‘n Fun, conducted tight-lipped interviews, if any at all, and […]

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United Pilots React

United Airlines pilots and their families are chiming in on the public relations disaster that befell the airline last week when a Louisville doctor was dragged violently from his seat off a plane after refusing to be bumped. The United Master Executive Council, which represents the airline’s 12,500 pilots, said its members are “infuriated” by […]

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Flying Classics and Antiques

In its March 2017 issue, our sister publication Aviation Consumer ran an article with guidance on the interesting challenges of buying and owning antique and classic airplanes—and will be following it up in the next few months with a similar piece on warbirds. We have been watching the process of old airplanes changing hands and […]

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Detroit Ponders Downtown Airport Future

The City of Detroit is considering closing Coleman A. Young Municipal Airport, saying the financial drain isn’t sustainable. The airport is on Detroit’s east side and has long been eyed for redevelopment. Its current financial status has city officials thinking it might not be a bad idea. The airport will lose about $1.3 million this […]

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Public Benefit Pilots Meet

The Air Care Alliance is holding its annual conference on the East Coast this year and public benefit pilots will meet April 21-22 on Long Island, New York. Patient Airlift Services is hosting the event and there are plenty of topics of interest who donate their time and aircraft to help others. “We cover current […]

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Urgent AD For Super D

A new Airworthiness Directive (AD) for the American Champion Aircraft (ACA) 8KCAB Super Decathlon, effective immediately, will require inspection of the aileron hinge rib and support in accordance with ACA’s Feb. 17 service letter. The service letter and this AD were prompted by an incident in which a Super Decathlon with aileron hinge rib cracks […]

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