Flight Safety

Not long ago, an airline began to receive notices that crews flying the RNAV (GPS) RWY 36 approach into Birmingham, Alabama (BHM) were receiving GPWS alerts while descending from the MDA to the runway. Since it wasn’t an isolated incident, the airline suspected that the approach was flawed and notified the FAA, who flight checked […]

A United Airlines flight crew heading for Denver made a U-turn and returned to Dulles Airport, near Washington, D.C., Monday night after passengers subdued a man who had run toward the cockpit in a threatening way. “Declaring an emergency due to a passenger disturbance,” one of the flight crew told ATC. “He ran forward toward […]

A few years ago, when there was a tethered aerostat by Cross City, Florida, I heard the following radio communication: Pilot 1 to Pilot 2, flying in very loose formation:“Watch for the tethered ballon at 10,000 feet.” Pilot 2:“That’s no problem. I’m well below 10,000 feet.” Jim Finley

The family of airshow performer Eddy Andreini, who burned to death at a California show in 2014, is alleging that Air Force firefighters were away from their trucks “taking pictures of aircraft” when Andreini’s modified Stearman crashed on the main runway at Travis Air Force Base. In a lawsuit filed last week in California, the […]

The FAA has released the new medical examination requirements and information documents (PDF) for pilots regarding sleep apnea risk and all U.S. pilots can expect to be asked questions about it and have their bodies measured at their next medical. The guidance follows the American Academy of Sleep Medicine risk criteria for the disorder, which […]

When I was a little kid riding in my Dad’s Oldsmobile across the plains of Texas at night, we would spot the lights of Amarillo in the distance and two hours later, we’d get there. An exaggeration of course, but it reminds me of covering the electric airplane industry. We’ve reported periodically about this company […]

A Jodel airplane struck a woman skiing in the French Alps Thursday, nearly severing her hand with the propeller, Agence France-Presse reported. The airplane, equipped with skis, was departing from a high-altitude runway near the mountain resort at Avoriaz, but something went wrong and the Jodel careened down the ski slope below a chairlift, just […]

Flight planning and chart app FlightPro expects to be back online by Friday with updates for its subscribers after Avilution LLC obtained a court order to resume some operations in the midst of a legal dispute involving its shareholders. Avilution issued a statement (PDF) to AVweb Thursday, saying it plans to execute database updates and […]

The eleventh annual Archie League Medal of Safety Awards, given at a ceremony in Las Vegas on March 4, honored fourteen controllers in nine regions who assisted aircraft to avoid or address emergencies. This year’s stories include diverting airliners on converging courses and helping a VFR pilot descend through IMC to an airport. The Archie […]

A pilot can learn a great deal by stripping his or her flying down to its fundamental roots. Flying an aircraft without an electrical system puts you in touch with the basics of flying by altimeter, whiskey compass, pilotage and pure stick-and-rudder skills. On the mechanical side, it’s a chance to commune with the engine […]