Over the last few months, I’ve been working with a friend, Tom, who’s looking to expand his aeronautical horizons. His comfort zone is getting in the way of accomplishing his objective. As I considered this conclusion, I realized that it’s a fine line indeed. “You can’t expand your comfort zone from inside it,” I keep […]
With full RNAV equipment, the occasional ILS might seem quaint, but it’s still a useful procedure. It even requires RNAV in some updated versions. Meanwhile, there are still plenty of ground-based navaids to accommodate the full spectrum of aircraft capabilities, all the way down to “legacy” avionics, of which, yes, there really are lots. Some […]
You recently got the upholstery redone in your new-to-you Bonanza BE33. It’s a nice cream color with blue accents, and now with a nice gash in the seat thanks to an errant screwdriver. You’ve made the 45-minute flight from Asheville, North Carolina (KAVL) back to Rock Hill, South Carolina (KUZA) to have the seat cushion […]
In this reintroduction of a past series of articles, we’ll fully dissect a particular chart or procedure. While many of the points we’ll make should be uncovered in a normal briefing, our analysis will extend far beyond. Our hope is that by exploring the edge cases of available procedures, you’ll better understand how to handle […]
You’re feeling pretty good as you descend towards your destination airport. Under Center’s watch, you’ve just checked the latest ATIS, briefed the advertised approach to Runway 27, and you’ve got your avionics all set accordingly. Center switches you to Approach. Your check in with Approach ends with, “…and I’ve got information Charlie.” Approach responds, “Expect […]
I was cruising along one day when I heard the following: Center: “1JT turn right heading 120.” 1JL: “120 1JL.” 1JT: “Center I think another aircraft responded to the heading for 1JT.” Center: “OK heading is 120 for 1JT only.” Loud squealing Center: “Alright 1 uh Justin Timberlake, you fly heading 120.” 1JT: “120 1 […]
NA at Night Workarounds? An instrument approach procedure states “Procedure not authorized at night.” Can this approach be flown at night in VMC on an IFR flight plan? Can it be flown at night VMC on a VFR flight? In addition, getting into the minutiae— that’s the fun part—what constitutes the “procedure”? Is it the […]
TERRAFUGIA LEAVES U.S. FOR CHINA Flying car maker Terrafugia laid off most of its staff at its U.S. headquarters and will move to China. The company, which makes a folding-wing vehicle designed to drive to the airport and take off and land on conventional runways, recently received Special Light Sport Aircraft airworthiness certificate from the […]
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