AVweb Insider

AVweb Insider offers a curated collection of opinion pieces, personal narratives, and expert analyses that delve into the nuances of aviation. From firsthand pilot experiences to in-depth discussions on industry trends and safety considerations, this section provides readers with thoughtful perspectives that go beyond standard news reporting. Ideal for aviation professionals and enthusiasts seeking deeper insights into the flying world.

Futility Defined: Teaching Judgment

Did you know theres a multi-billion dollar industry devoted entirely to sleep disorders? If only they knew that the rock-solid way to bring on the deepest of sleeps is to enroll in a Flight Instructor Refresher Course. Let the serious snoring begin. I know this because Im now in the midst of my tenth or […]

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Redbird’s Fuel Fest: Y’all Behave Now

In early 1945, when it finally looked like the fruit of the Manhattan Project would actually yield a workable weapon, none of his fellow scientists appreciated Enrico Fermis humor in running a betting pool on whether the bomb would ignite the entire atmosphere. Most of the scientists thought it wouldnt, but no one knew. What […]

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Do Refurbished Airplanes Hurt the OEMs?

When I was researching last weeks story on aircraft refurb business, I heard all kinds of comments, but everyone-well, almost everyone-agreed that new aircraft prices have made flying unreachable for all but the very wealthy. When someone of the stature of Jack Pelton flatout calls airplane prices exorbitant, you have a five-alarm fire. And by […]

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Guest Blog: Seventeen Years Later, TWA 800 Still Teaches Lessons

Every year the National Transportation Safety Board allows organizations outside the federal government to enroll students in aircraft accident investigation school. This is not a watered-down version; rather, its the same course provided to new investigators. The vast majority of students are representatives of entities whose employees, products, or services are likely to be involved […]

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The Enduring Allure Of Adventure

What drives a person to attempt something no-one has done before, something that maybe is not even do-able, risking your life and your time and your money, for an uncertain end? It takes a romantic disposition, for sure, to even imagine that it would be a good idea to fly across the ocean in a […]

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Cessna Builds a Fighter

The moment I saw the conceptual art on Cessnas new proposed twin-engine jet tactical aircraft-the Scorpion–three questions came immediately to mind. Is that thing stealthy? Can it be pilot optional? And last, huh? The answer to the first two questions might be mooted by the answer to the third: Since the Pentagon biting on this […]

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I Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Electrical System

When Im shopping for an engine overhaul-which Ive done a half dozen times, I guess-I tend not to dwell on the details. Days of handwringing over which shop to use, fussing over accessories and generally just worrying the decision to death will make you crazy. So I just gather up the available data, sort through […]

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AOPA Ditches Summit: The Right Move at the Right Time

AOPAs surprise announcement that its abandoning the annual fall Summit show came as quite a surprise, although anyone whos been paying attention could have seen it coming eventually. From my point of view, its a welcome development and newly installed AOPA president Mark Baker deserves some props for making a decisive move barely days into […]

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Airline Travel as GA’s Savior

A staple of the aviation magazine business used to be stories about how a general aviation airplane could be used to fly faster and cheaper than the airlines. The evergreen headline was, We Beat the Airlines. Right. You dont see those stories much anymore and I neednt explain why. But could they come back? Could […]

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Does the Cost of Avgas Really Matter?

Its an article of faith that one reason flying activity is in the crapper is because avgas costs, on average, about $6 a gallon. Maybe thats true, maybe it isnt, but like many of us in the aviation business, I suspect the high price of fuel is just one reason for declining flight activity and […]

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