Flight Safety

Legislation designed to waive the third-class medical for private pilots flying light aircraft has turned into a plan to require one-time medicals for new pilots or those who haven’t had one for more than 10 years, according to remarks made Thursday on the Senate floor by Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla. Inhofe, who introduced the Pilot’s […]

A couple of weeks ago, the local paper ran a headline on the front of the inside section: Plane Lands on 301 … Safely. I look at such a head on two levels; one as a pilot and a second as an editor. In some ways, it’s the equivalent of a headline that says: No […]

I’ve really only had one landing-gear-related situation in many years of flying retractables. In that event, a brand-new gear motor—installed at annual—failed to extend the gear while airborne after several successful tests on jacks. After an uneventful landing, the motor was repaired and there were no further issues with that airplane or its landing gear […]

A vehicle dashcam in Irvine, California, captured a Piper Cherokee rolling down a city street after making a forced landing last week. The unidentified vehicle was sitting at a rush-hour red light when motorists saw the airplane speed by them through the intersection, luckily with a green light that helped clear the way. A male […]

Bill Moyle, a veteran aviation educator, will be the next executive director for the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators, the group announced on Monday, after a six-month search. Moyle, of Waxahachie, Texas, succeeds former director and co-founder Doug Stewart. “We’re fortunate to have found a leader with Bill’s aviation and education background,” said Donna […]

Call came in for a fuel order:“Can you send the fuel truck for ship 1 and ship 2?” The reply came back:“I am sorry sir we don”t do boats.” Basilio

The FAA is investigating and the NTSB is reportedly about to get involved after an incident in which a Qatar Airlines Boeing 777 hit approach lights while taking off from Miami International Airport last week. The aircraft apparently took off from an intersection with a midfield taxiway, leaving less than two-thirds the normal runway length […]

The successful completion of an Instrument Proficiency Check (IPC) combines the knowledge and personality traits of both the instructor and pilot. Contributing editor Joe Shelton undertook the challenge of obtaining an IPC while both he and instructor Ken Maples share their thoughts and observations about the process. This point/counterpoint presentation should help us more fully […]

AOPA released the first of a new series of weather videos Friday, offering pilots “real world” methods to gather and analyze weather with emphasis on preflight planning and en route decision making. The first video, “Weather Wise: Gathering Information,” is just over eight minutes long and reviews aspects of preflight planning while using Flight Service […]

An Air Canada jet on an international flight diverted to Germany Sunday to save a dog in the cargo hold from freezing to death. The flight, en route from Tel Aviv to Toronto, had 232 passengers along with Simba, a seven-year-old French bulldog, according to a report by CityNews of Toronto. Over Europe, the captain […]