Flight Safety

GCA Approach:“NXXXX, turn right one degree.” NXXXX:“No can do.” CGA Approach:“Well, then — turn left two degrees, then right three degrees.” Jack Dennehey

Investigators in Egypt say they’ve found no evidence that a terrorist bomb brought down a Russian airliner that crashed in the Sinai desert on Oct. 31. That’s the opposite of what Russian investigators claim and what U.S. security experts suspect, according to a CNN report on Monday. Egyptian officials have steadfastly resisted Russian claims that […]

A New Zealand helicopter pilot who flew a successful rescue mission while his medical was suspended has been fined $5,800 NZD in court in Christchurch for three violations of the country’s aviation regulations. In April of 2014, Dave Armstrong flew into rough terrain to help rescue an injured hunter dangling from a cliff near the […]

After features on tailwheel flying here in AVweb in July and November, it’s time to step up to the graduate-level issue for the topic. It’s tailwheel flying’s hot button question—whether three-point or wheel landings are “better” or safer. If you want to stir things up some evening when a bunch of tailwheel pilots are at […]

A medical helicopter crashed Thursday night in California’s Central Valley, killing all four people aboard.The SkyLife air ambulance was found in a field about halfway through a 50-mile route to a hospital, according to aCBS/Associated Press report. Apilot, nurse, paramedic and a patient were on board.The weather was reported to be rainy and foggy at […]

Airlines around the world are banning the high-tech toys known as hoverboards over concerns that their lithium-ion batteries could cause fires. American,Delta and United are among the airlines that announced Thursday they won’t allow the popular toys on board amid reports of their batteries overheating and starting fires in places like shopping malls, according to […]

Third-class medical reform legislation is on its way to the Senate floor after gaining approval from the Commerce, Science and Transportation committee Wednesday. The committee had delayed its vote in November on the Pilot’s Bill of Rights 2 for lack of a quorum, and now its advocates hope for a Senate vote later this month. […]

Registration is now open for Build A Plane’s 2016 design competition, the nonprofit group announced this week. The program, which is co-sponsored by GAMA, aims to promote science, technology, engineering and math education in U.S. high schools. In its first three years, the program has reached more than 150 schools in 38 states and Washington, […]

South African authorities are investigating what appears to be the first fatal crash of an Eclipse light jet. The South African air force was dispatched after radio contact was lost with the EA500 on a flight from Johannesburg to Cape Town. It was being tracked at about 35,000 feet when communication ended. A Gripen fighter […]

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