Flight Training
Aviation Journalist Richard Collins Dead At 84
Richard L. Collins, well-known author of books about aviation and longtime editor-in-chief at Flying magazine, died on Sunday at his home in Maryland. Collins began his journalism career working on Air Facts, a magazine founded by his father, Leighton Collins. He began writing for Flyingin 1968 and became editor-in-chief in 1977. He also worked at […]
FAA: Complex No Longer Required For Commercial/CFI Practical
Last week the FAA released a notice regarding changes in policy regarding testing applicants for a commercial pilot or flight instructor certificate. The notice states that it is no longer required for applicants for a “commercial pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine rating to provide a complex or turbine-powered airplane for the associated practical test […]
Your Instrument Proficiency Check: Nailing It
You’ve had your instrument rating for a couple of years by now. The first year you didn’t have any trouble keeping current to fly IFR—you were out there just about every week “flying in the system” as you called it. The new hadn’t worn off your rating; you knew that you were just a baby […]
The Untimely Demise Of DUATs
Change and I have an uneasy relationship, the former claiming I’m slow to embrace technology, unwilling to “try something new.” Sheesh … Change can be so … you know … and so in your face, too. I submit that ADFs and VORs were working just fine—when you could receive them—and I saw no value to […]
Precautionary Landings
I’ve amended the details a bit to preserve anonymity. The pilot and his family came to grief on a flight that was forecast to be VFR. There was a slow-moving warm front approaching, but it appeared the 150-nm trip could be completed before conditions worsened. Friends of the pilot indicated he had intended to launch […]
NTSB Holds Loss Of Control Roundtable
The NTSB hosted a roundtable discussion to examine available solutions for preventing loss of control accidents in general aviation and to identify a path to improving GA safety on April 24. According to the board, accidents involving loss of control still account for more GA accident deaths than any other single factor. The focus of […]
Record-Breaking Aviator Fran Bera Dead At 93
Fran Bera, who set an unbroken National Aeronautic Association record for highest altitude attained in a twin-engine Piper Aztec—40,154 feet—died in February. Bera caught the flying bug young and worked odd jobs as a teen to save for flight lessons. She earned her first pilot certificate at 16 and became a designated examiner certifying new […]
Van Nuys Offers High School Students Peek At Aviation
More than 1,500 local high school students from 26 schools are set to participate in the 13th annual Aviation Career Day held at Van Nuys Airport. The event is slated for next Friday, April 27, 2018. Clay Lacy Aviation, Van Nuys Airport and The Valley Economic Alliance will host51 exhibitors showcasing interactive exhibits, static aircraft […]