IFR Magazine

was a passenger listening to ATC on the A-319s audio system. We had just landed at a very busy Newark Liberty International Airport. I heard this exchange between Tower and a regional jet:Tower: RJ One One Zero, line up and wait.RJ: (Groaning) Unable. We just had a passenger stand up and go to the lavatory. What do you want us to do?Tower: There are seven aircraft behind you. Try to hurry them up.(30 seconds later)RJ:…

Confusing Chart NotesMany of us at Faribault, Minn (FBL) are confused by the chart notes on the RNAV (GPS) RWY 30 and RWY 12 approaches. What’s up with the restriction about baro-VNAV? And why can’t we fly these approaches at night? The VOR-A has no such restrictions. Surely that circling approach isn’t the only

Careless EditingI was excited to see my submission in OTA of the February issue but a slight change in wording could lead the reader to think that PALS pilots are paid.To clarify, Patient Airlift Services is a volunteer organization that transports sick patients and their families for medical treatment. I wouldn’t want this charitable organization […]

Fly the SimThanks very much for the October 2013 “Simplified Circling” article by Dog Brenneman. He mentioned that “we just don’t get a lot of circling practice.”I’ve been regularly flying the Redbird FMX motion simulator to practice circle-to-land maneuvers. I set the ceiling so that tight altitude control is required and adjust visibility, rain, day/night […]

It’s Really Time for GPSReading “It’s Time for GPS” in November 2013, reminded me of two approaches I recently made in different areas of the country. I was told to expect vectors to the ILS. In both cases the same runway also had GPS approaches. Fly the vector or VOR radial (TO) to the arc […]

The Vietnam War was in full swing when I graduated high school. The economy was in the toilet and airlines were furloughing. There were countless military pilots looking for jobs. It was a terrible time to launch a professional pilot career.

Most of us know that the F in IM SAFE stands for fatigue. Now, fatigue isnt cited as a significant factor in many general aviation accidents, so we must be doing a pretty good job of being properly rested, right?

When I took my first flying lesson at age 18, I knew…nothing. I even thought a stall was killing the engine, like when I let the clutch out too fast in my car. But I learned, and after only a few hours I was performing aerodynamic stalls with aplomb, if not expertise. Years later, still a private pilot, a friend introduced me to a prolonged stall where you didnt recover and just keep the wings level with rudder. We called that the falling leaf after the swaying back and forth that occurred.

According to the FAAs body mass index guidelines, Im not obese but, like many Americans, I should lose some weight. Ive long known that I should retrain myself to reach for an apple-or better yet a carrot-when Im hungry, instead of some chocolate or junk food. Yeah, Im workin on it, um, real soon now. Now, the FAA is, too.

Dave strolls into the FBO carrying a travel bag and a pizza box. I let out a sigh. Well, look who showed up. Dave, youre 45 minutes late.