General

In more than 30 years of flying I have flown only a handful of ILS approaches with the weather right at minimums. The same is true for most pilots. I think the reason is that the weather seldom cooperates. Fog frequently drops the visibility well below the required minimums, but mist, drizzle and rain usually […]

“Hey, Dick, whatever happened to your Mustang purchase?” I hear this all the time. And, after reporting in the January issue that I’d plunked down $10,000 at the NBAA Convention as a down payment on Cessna’s new jet, I got a burst of mail, not all of it supportive. So I thought I’d tell you […]

Maybe I’m being paranoid, but I think the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is out to get us. Somehow, the powers that be at the TSA have become convinced that, although small airplanes were not involved in the horrific attacks on the World Trade Center, they pose a serious risk to the country’s security. The evidence […]

I have done my share of carping about the many new airspace and operational regulations imposed by the FAA and TSA since the terrorist attacks on September 11th. But now that I have taken my head out of the overheated atmosphere of New York and Washington, I realize that we pilots who fly for personal […]

On several occasions after the breakup of the Space Shuttle Columbia on February 1st, I found myself in conversations about the safety of the space program. Actually, my knowledge is limited to much lower altitudes and speeds and much more prosaic equipment. On a few occasions, nevertheless, I felt obliged to put in my two […]

The private pilot license has outlived its usefulness, and it’s time to create a new pilot certification system that addresses more specifically the way people choose to fly today. The one-size-fits-all training progression through the private, commercial and instrument rating certificates just doesn’t serve today’s needs for safety and airplane utility. There are really two […]

It was a disparate group of musicians, artists, pilots and friends attending Craig Peyton’s art exhibit called “Environmental Forms.” As diverse as the members of the group were, they had one thing in common-their enthusiasm. It was contagious. The multimedia exhibit combined three of Craig’s loves-music, photography and aviation-and was composed of six video segments […]

My copilot had begun the “Before Starting Engines” checklist. “Rudder pedals and seats?” he challenged. “Adjusted and locked,” I responded without emotion. “Oxygen masks, interphone and goggles?” my copilot continued. “Set and checked,” I mumbled. “Weapon?” “Safetied and secured,” I answered while patting the leather holster on my left side. Okay, let’s stop the checklist. […]

My copilot had begun the “Before Starting Engines” checklist. “Rudder pedals and seats?” he challenged. “Adjusted and locked,” I responded without emotion. “Oxygen masks, interphone and goggles?” my copilot continued. “Set and checked,” I mumbled. “Weapon?” “Safetied and secured,” I answered while patting the leather holster on my left side. Okay, let’s stop the checklist. […]

Piston twins are demonized by insurance companies and most general aviation pilots, and Flying magazine is responsible for the situation. Well, we are to blame for calling attention to the potential safety problems with twins, but our information has been misunderstood and certainly misapplied by many involved in general aviation. We have it right, and […]