Flight Safety

Everybodytakes checkrides. It simply goes with the territory – if you want to fly, anFAA Inspector (Fed) will examine you from time to time or you will be tested bya Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE). In a 17-year career as a DPE, andhaving administered over four thousand flight tests as a DPE, I believe I haveseen […]

There are few things in airplanes as misunderstood and misused as the mixture control. Old Wives’ Tales (OWTs) abound, many of them spread by POHs, the FAA, and even the engine manufacturers! Not much of what you’ve read and heard about mixture management makes sense – much of it is out of context, and most […]

Things have started to quietdown here in the Pilot’s Lounge since the FAA came out with its nutty interpretive rule stating that pilots are perse negligent if they do not hear an air traffic control clearance accurately. There isa deep-seated anger at some portions of the FAA among pilots, but the shouting andarm-waving has stopped […]

This is an expanded version of Dr. Blue’s article that appears in the FAA’s”Federal Air Surgeon’s Bulletin” which is sent to all Aviation MedicalExaminers. Until recently, the only objective guidance available to pilotsconcerning the use of supplemental oxygen in flight came from the Federal AviationRegulations: 91.211 Supplemental oxygen. (a) General. No person may operate a […]

When Isubmitted my original column on the subject of hazardous attitudes,AVweb‘s editor told me that it was my bestcolumn ever. That may or may not be an accurate statement, but in any event my reply wasthat I would be willing to wager that the column would draw less reader response thanothers I have written would. […]

First, a little housekeeping. Inmy previous column, I mentioned a neat little booklet by HamiltonStandard that I said I might get duplicated if there was sufficient interest. Wow, wasthere ever: I received over 50 serious inquiries! I have placed the order for 100 of them.My final cost will be something over $20 each. I’m not […]

If you are an adult and you fly an airplane, there is a decentchance that you will develop hypertension during your flying lifetime. Some 20 percent ofadult Americans are afflicted by this symptomless malady, which has been aptly termed the”silent killer.” Certainly you have a better chance of becoming hypertensivethan you do of flying your […]

Yes, You Do Need To Be Concerned And, No, TheyAren’t Here To Help This Time The Pilot’s Lounge has been jumping all month. On thepropitious date of April Fool’s Day, our Friendly Aviation Administration published itsinterpretation of FAR 91.123 (a) and (b). Those regulations outline the responsibility ofthe pilot to comply with air traffic control […]

Early inmy consulting career, I began to notice certain approaches and traits that were common tosuccessful professionals. On the flip side, while working with struggling professionals, Isaw a commonality in their mistakes. The area where the successful professionals excelledwere often the areas where struggling professionals made their mistakes. All technical experience and expertise being equal, […]

Reader Jerry Kurata requested a column on multiengine flying, and since I just afew minutes ago got home from giving a refresher workout to a very good multiengine pilot,I thought it would be a good time to comply with his request. By the bye, the guy I wasflying with is a much better pilot than […]