After over 8000 hours of general-aviation and airline flying, the other day I declared an emergency for the first time outside of training. It wasn’t that serious, but it was real and could eventually have become life threatening. I’d just picked up my airplane from the avionics shop after three and a half months undergoing […]
Back in 2018, the FAA expanded our ability to use training devices to maintain instrument currency. Incomprehensible distinctions between aircraft and various types of simulators were removed. Rated pilots may log currency tasks without an instructor. An increased market for training devices and their increased use—often by pilots who logged little or no device time […]
Robert, my student, called me the other day. He bases his Cirrus SR22T out of Eagle Colorado (KEGE). He wanted to know if I was interested in attempting some of the maneuvers he had found in the Pilot’s Workshop document called the Pilot Exercise Program. It’s in a PDF for $49 or $69 if you […]
New LSA Rules Coming The FAA proposed new rules governing the approval and operation of light sport aircraft. The initiative has been in the works for more than 10 years with a move away from the current specifications-based qualifications. “Changing the limitations of LSAs from an arbitrary weight to performance-based metrics will allow for larger […]
Special VFR (SVFR) is a clearance that pilots can use to fly VFR into an airspace reporting below VMC. SVFR allows pilots to operate in and out of Class B, C, D, or E airspaces below 10,000 feet when the reported weather is below normal VFR. It is a great tool when used correctly, and […]
While I was flying into Boeing Field to pick up my Angel Flight passengers, I was on the ILS for 32L, which is a long (10,000 feet) runway. I was meeting my passengers at an FBO off the north end of 32R, which is a much shorter runway (3700 feet) roughly aligned at the north […]
When conditions are down to 200-½, the search for approaches and alternates with better weather can take some time. Options are few on a day like this, even if you’re comfortable flying down to mins. And even when finally selecting the airport and backup, you’ve gotta check the NOTAMs for the airports, airspace and procedures—and […]
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