Pia Bergqvist

Nexrad radar is a wonderful tool for picking through areas of precipitation or diverting around thunderstorms. But like anything related to flying, good judgment is key. The information on the screen, whether you’re displaying it on panel-mounted avionics or a handheld unit, is not necessarily updated enough to be trusted to navigate through or skirt […]

Airplane tires are durable things that will last for many years if taken care of properly. But just one bad landing can burn off a thick layer of rubber in one small area of the tire. Many flight schools and flying clubs have it as a policy that pilots who damage tires pay for their […]

FreeFlight has received a supplemental type certificate (STC) for the installation of its RANGR FDL-978TX universal access transceiver (UAT) into AgustaWestland’s AW139 helicopter. According to FreeFlight, this is the first rule-compliant ADS-B out UAT available for Gulf of Mexico (GOMEX) helicopter operators. GOMEX presents a complex area to fly with thousands of daily helicopter flights, […]

This week, pilots and business owners gathered to celebrate the beginning of a new chapter at Van Nuys Airport (VNY), one of the busiest general aviation airports in the world. A 32-acre section of the airport is being specifically dedicated to propeller airplanes in an area called Propeller Park. The area will house flight schools, […]

The FAA recently published updated practical test standards (PTS) for several certificates, including the private and commercial pilot certificates. While the FAA published these documents last fall, they just came into effect on June 1st. This is significant if you’re a flight instructor or a student working on a rating since the examiners are bound […]

Last week, three small airplanes were intercepted by F-16s in the Los Angeles area as a result of busting temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) during President Obama’s visit to the area. These types of incidents remind me of why it’s so important to get the latest information available for each flight. I always call flight service […]

Ray Bradbury, a writer whose science fiction novels were loved by many aviators, has died at the age of 91. Bradbury received many awards during his long writing career, including the National Medal of Arts in 2004 and the Pulitzer Prize Special Citation in 2007. Bradbury published nearly 50 books, hundreds of short stories and […]

The FAA has issued a document clarifying the rules regarding the use of seat belts for part 91 operations. It is still permissible under 14 CFR 91.107 (a)(3) to share seat belts and to allow children under the age of two to be held on the lap of an adult without any restraining system. But […]

One maneuver that has been added to the practical test standards since I earned my commercial and instructor certificates at the beginning of the millennium is the power-off 180-degree accuracy approach and landing. While this maneuver is not a part of the private or sport pilot curricula, it is a maneuver that is worthwhile for […]

The Nova Southeastern University (NSU) has teamed up with American Flyers to provide flight training for NSU’s new Bachelor of Science degree in Human Services Administration, which concentrates on human factors in aviation. The program begins Aug. 20. Academic classes will be held online, but students can also opt to take some courses at NSU’s […]