IFR Magazine

No glidepath, short runway? No problem, at least on paper. Still gotta have skill, not just the numbers, to take on a challenging approach—and always have a Plan B.

How vigilant do you need to be in special use airspace? After touring McGuire Air Force Base tower, radar approach control, and base operations, I’d say, “very.”

Thunderstorm avoidance is important to pilots, sure, but did you know that it’s also a critical activity for air traffic controllers?

The low-hanging fruit of aviation journalism is accident reports. But ATC saves give us as much to learn without the tragic outcome.

Fly the same approach multiple times, with a twist to keep you on your toes. That’s almost as good as different approaches.

Wind Gusts? I am trying to understand wind gusts, in particular those lower-level ones we encounter when we are landing or taking off. What is the actual cause of these? Are they sudden changes in the velocity of the wind (e.g. going rapidly from a 20-knot headwind to a 10-knot headwind and then back)? Or […]

Boulder Launches Airport Closure Constitutional Challenge Civic leaders of Boulder, Colorado, have a new tack to close their airport (in favor of housing), with potentially far-reaching consequences. The city sued the FAA alleging its power over the destiny of the city’s airport is constitutional overreach that impedes the city’s ability to carry out its business. […]

Frequently in this publication we stress flying simulators for proficiency (and often for legality). While we treat sims as an accepted part of any routine training regimen, not everyone is on board with that sentiment. For those of us who are believers, we find it difficult to accept that there are some out there who […]

Ever wondered why some airplanes take off one right after another and you’re still sitting there thinking, “What the heck?” Don’t worry. You (probably) weren’t forgotten.

For many pilots, energy management is an innovative approach to managing certain critical aspects of flight. Understanding and applying it can help reduce your exposure to pilot-induced accidents and incidents.