Flight Safety

Each month, AVweb publishes about a half-dozen columns on a range of aviation topics. If we do things right, these simply appear on the site, for all to read free of charge. What’s less obvious is the behind-the-scenes work and thought that goes into these columns. That’s another way of saying producing a monthly column […]

Nominate an FBO |Rules |Tips |Questions |Winning FBOs AVweb’s “FBO of the Week” ribbon goes to Bergstrom Aircraft at KPSC in Pasco, Wash. AVweb reader Richard Ciccone says the FBO blends old-fashioned service with modern facilities. “It’s easy to see why Bergstom Aircraft has been Central Washington’s foremost full service FBO for 35 years. They […]

This article originally appeared in Aviation Safety, Feb. 2005. The NTSB has several (too many, actually …) categories it uses to classify aviation incidents and accidents. Among them is the catch-all phrase “improper IFR,” which the Board usually uses to describe a pilot executing procedures you won’t find in the Aeronautical Information Manual. But there […]

This article originally appeared in IFR magazine, Jan. 2005. Gather ’round, boys and girls. It’s time for your annual smug fix, wherein we harvest the perplexing and peculiar from a year’s worth of NTSB accident reports.For the new folks who haven’t trod this well-worn path with us before, a bit of preamble. None of these […]

Nominate an FBO |Rules |Tips |Questions |Winning FBOs AVweb’s “FBO of the Week” ribbon goes to Dillon Flying Service at KDLN in Dillon, Mont. AVweb reader Benjamin Marsh liked the service so much at the FBO that he dreams of going back. “Dennis and Jean, the owners, offer extremely personable service and genuinely care about […]

“I can’t figure it out,” said Sid, my co-pilot. “The airplanes keep getting bigger but the coffee cups keep getting smaller.” He was looking askance at his shot-glass-sized coffee that the flight attendants had just brought up.”I wonder why they are so stingy on coffee. The passengers are just going to bug them for a […]

This article originally appeared in IFR Refresher, Feb. 2006. The Northeast winter weather was normal for February when the pilot of a Rockwell 500S Shrike Commander departed Naples, Fla., for Newport State Airport (KUUU) in Rhode Island. He had flight planned a stop in Wilmington, N.C., and the first leg of the flight went without […]

There seem to be a growing number of people who think that a cylinder head temperature (CHT) of 380 F is a universally good target to use for setting the mixture.Folks, it just ain’t so.It may work some of the time on some engines, but it’s a long way from universal, and I’d like to […]

I‘ve helped many pilots make the transition from four-seat, trainer-type airplanes into high-performance, retractable-gear airplanes and powerful light twins. If you’ve made that transition yourself, you probably remember zooming up through your desired (and perhaps air traffic control-assigned) altitude as you grew used to the new airplane, and the challenge of accurately transitioning to level […]

Nominate an FBO |Rules |Tips |Questions |Winning FBOs AVweb’s “FBO of the Week” ribbon goes to Phazar Flight Support at KFTW in Fort Worth, Texas. AVweb reader James Knox says the facility staff are attuned to customer’s every need. “Phazar is a relatively new FBO, and they are just puppy-dog eager to please. (Or else […]