Flight Safety

Seemingly for generations pilots have argued over which controls speed and which controls altitude: power or pitch. At varying times the FAA contributed support to both sides with publications outlining flying techniques and training information. The very existence of the arguably adolescent-level debates ignores the hard reality: In powered aircraft neither one works alone. To […]

The number of civil aviation accidents fell last year, from 1,539 in 2012 to 1,297 in 2013, the NTSB said on Monday. General aviation accidents showed a decrease in all categories. The total number of GA accidents was 1,222, a decrease of 249 from 2013. The number of fatal accidents (221), fatalities (387), and the […]

While traversing New York/Washington Center air space, we received a frequency change. However, when trying to check in, the frequency was congested with multiple aircraft being worked. This went on for a while. Finally there was a break, and the PM was able to check in:“Good afternoon, New York. NXXXXX — long-time listener, first-time caller; […]

Lockheed Martin Flight Services is introducing a variety of new features that make use of satellite datalink, including a new electronic PIREP and search-and-rescue capability that uses the Iridium communications network. In this video, Aviation Consumer‘s Larry Anglisano gets a tour of the new features from Lockheed’s Jim Derr while at AirVenture 2014 in Oshkosh, […]

Letter of the Week:Buy a Good Pulse Oximeter I am 85 years old and have a lung condition. I had a pulse oximeter for years, and it normally indicated a saturation level of around 92 to 94 percent. It was one of the American-made units and cost about $150. Eventually it quit, and when I […]

Since this seems to be the season for discussing hypoxia and the threat it presents to GA pilots, I was reminded that we published this dramatic audio on AVweb five years ago. I had forgotten about it, which isn’t a good thing given what an incredible lesson it is. The incident occurred in July 2008 […]

Last July, the FAA told a Congressional committee that it would not meet the December 31, 2015 deadline mandated by federal law to simplify and streamline aircraft certification regulations-FAR Part 23. The announcement, causing some members of the committee to unload on the unfortunate FAA messenger, had deeper import than just another report that the […]

AVweb’s weekly sampling of what’s new in aviation this week uncovered a kneeboard of uncommon versatility, a trade-up program from iFlightPlanner, a new line of aircraft circuit breaker lockouts and a talent search for a new, aviation-themed show. Helipad LLC has launched a new pilot kneeboarddesigned by helicopter pilots for helicopter pilots. “Although we specifically […]

Two U.S. Navy F/A-18 Hornets collided over the Western Pacific Friday, resulting in the loss of both jets-one pilot has been rescued. A search is underway for the other pilot. A cruiser, destroyer and helicopters are currently conducting the search for the missing pilot. The aircraft were operating off the carrier USS Carl Vinson, which […]

All three on board walked away with minor injuries after two aircraft — an ultralight and a glider — collided in midair on Sunday afternoon near Rheinland-Pfalz airfield in Winningen, Germany. The two aircraft met at roughly right angles and became wedged together, and the ultralight pilot was able to deploy a ballistic chute that […]