Flight Safety

As far as I can recall, no one has ever accused the FAA of beingeither logical or consistent in the interpretation of its regulations.The recent changes in Part 61 of the regulations provide severalglaring examples of the inconsistent and illogical manner in whichthe regulations are interpreted by the FAA. Of course, from thattime beyond which […]

It’s possible — no, likely — that pilots think too much aboutthe weather. We can move a lot of aluminum and a buncha SOBs and their golf clubs hundredsof miles without doing much more than filing IFR and asking the briefer for departure anddestination weather. We do it everyday. And it’s okay. Furthermore, it’s just […]

Can’t do it? Rubbish! Yeah, I know, the handheld is notFAA-Approved, or TSO-129 compliant. Well, neither is a #2 pencil,but that doesn’t mean you need an FAA-approved pencil (yet) towrite down a clearance, and you don’t need an IFR-approved GPSto use one while IFR, either. I wouldn’t be so hot on this subject,except for the […]

After you’ve looked at the weather maps and read the observationsand forecasts for a flight, a quick glance at the latest satellite images can help bringeven the cloudiest weather picture into focus. Knowing how to interpret the images canalso help keep you away from dangerous weather.

Following a driving vacation with the husband and kids last summer, Judy scheduled flying lessons. She has been aggressively going after her private pilot certificate. After one of her lessons, someone in the lounge asked her what caused her sudden desire to learn to fly. What Judy said reminded me of how very clearly new […]

Reader Jerry McKissack sent me an email requestingthat I do a column on the subject of carb ice. He wrote, “Couldyou do an article on carburetor ice and when to use the carburetorheat. What planes are more susceptible and why? I’ve heard the150 is notorious for carb ice-why? Can you do anything to reduceit or […]

So, last July, Kal says to me: “Ohhh-kay.” (Honest,he’s straight from the cast of Fargo – maybe that comes from growin’ up inNorth Dakota.) “You’ve done pretty well on the practice IFR patterns with me playin’ATC. Now it’s time for you to do the real thing.” Two weeks earlier I had passed my first flight […]

A story currently unfolding on a maillist that I subscribe to isreason to review preparations for winter flying. It seems that a group of people headedout on a flight a few days ago and has not reported in. They disappeared from radarsomewhere in the Sierras. It has been cold up there and the chances of […]

If you haven’t figured it out by now, I like to use a provocative “headline” to grab your attention, and sucker you into clicking that button to read my column. The headline will generally be related to the content, but in ways you might not expect. If you’re reading this, you fell for it! Seriously, […]

NTSB Identification: SEA98FA047. Accident occurred MAR-19-98 at PORTLAND, OR Aircraft: Aerospatiale SN-601, registration: N600RA Injuries: 4 Uninjured. History of Flight On March 19, 1998, at 0918 Pacific standard time, an Aerospatiale SN-601 Corvette,N600RA, owned by R. L. Riemenschneider Enterprises of Redmond, Oregon, and operated byRedmond Flight Center of Redmond, Oregon under contract to the aircraft […]