IFR Magazine

FAA Rejects 750-Hour FO Exemption The FAA has denied Republic Airways’ request that graduates of its in-house training program called Leadership in Flight Training (LIFT) be allowed to become first officers with 750 hours of flight experience rather than the mandatory 1500 hours for most candidates. The agency allows military or ex-military pilots to take […]

Searching For Nine I just finished reading Bob Teter’s “Future Automation” in the July issue. Then, I went to the airport and twisted the knob on my transponder to squawk 0395, as Bob suggested in the article. For some reason, it wouldn’t let me. Oh, I get it; transponder codes are in octal! Ya know, […]

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Annual recurrent simulator training takes multiple forms. For more advanced aircraft, typically turboprops and jet aircraft, that training takes place at a large formal facility such as Flight Safety, CAE, SIMCOM, or Recurrent Training Center (RTC). These facilities typically employ custom simulators that are aircraft-specific Flight Training Devices (FTDs) all the way up to airline-style […]

Recently on a long cross country, when I was given a frequency change and I switched to the new frequency, I overheard the tail end of what sounded like an instrument training flight asking for some practice approaches: ATC: “Trainer 999, say approach request.” Trainer 999: “Oh, we’re gonna let you have the fun. You […]

Special Use Airspace often must be avoided, but what if you need to cross military airways, or even fly into a Military Operations Area? Lots of GA destinations exist in such airspaces, and it’s certainly legal to fly within most, even when active. So when fuel’s tight and weather’s chasing you to an unknown destination, […]

When your instrument ticket was brand new your skills were ultra-sharp. But over time, winter doldrums, aircraft maintenance, etc. that proficiency atrophied. Indeed, research backs up the “use it or lose it” proficiency adage—see the sidebar. Flying in IMC is unforgiving, with the chance of an occupant perishing in an accident nine times higher than […]

Aspen is home to the rich and famous—senators, movie stars, and industry titans all have second homes here. Aspen is the home of the $10 cup of coffee. And aside from the high prices, what’s not to like? Aspen is the ultimate cute little mountain town that progress has not spoiled. There is fresh air […]