Pilot Proficiency

The cloud were building beautifully over the ­California coast range. I was back from college for the weekend and itching to fly, so I grabbed my camera and hopped into one of the Fresno Sky Riders Club Cessna 150s. It was a 1963 model with the standard Continental O-200 engine, producing 100 galloping horsepower — […]

By order of FAR Part 91.113, “vigilance shall be maintained by each person operating an aircraft so as to see and avoid other aircraft.” It all starts before you leave the ground. You may be cleared for takeoff or taxi onto the runway to “line up and wait,” but it’s worth taking a final look […]

ATIS “Tango” was advertising 43 degrees C when we landed Sunday afternoon. Although I’m “mathematically challenged” I think that works out to about 110 degrees F, which might explain the eerie quiet on the Lunken tower frequency. David Zombek had just flown an outstanding private pilot check ride in the 172. He’d worked long and […]

In our FBO Spotlight series, we’re highlighting FBOs around the country that have received rave reviews from our readers. This latest Spotlight is brought to you by Frank Himmerich, who recently flew into Fullerton Municipal Airport in Fullerton, California, in N8530N, a Piper Cherokee 235. Here’s what he has to say about one of the […]

The history of the National Aeronautic Association is a long and glorious one. From the organization’s first award to Glenn Curtiss for the development of the floatplane, the NAA has much more often that not hit the nail on the head, recognizing remarkable achievements that have stood the test of time. But there have been […]

Strong surface winds can throw pilots an unexpected curve ball if they’ve planned a flight to a favorite destination and find the conditions at the arrival airport exceed the capabilities of their airplane, themselves or both. An experienced flight instructor I was talking with recently related a story in which he damaged the wing of […]

In our FBO Spotlight series, we’re highlighting FBOs around the country that have received rave reviews from our readers. This latest Spotlight is brought to you by Don Jockwig, who recently flew into Madison County Executive Airport in Huntsville, Alabama in a Piper Comanche 180. Here’s what he has to say about one of the […]

If all goes according to plan, the famed Hawker name will all but cease to exist after bankrupt Hawker Beechcraft emerges from near financial death in the coming days under the Beechcraft name alone. Just how long the storied Hawker brand remains dormant is anybody’s guess, but it’s hard to imagine it going away forever […]

One of the callout items used in crew resource management, and one that many pilots are and should be in the habit of using, is “positive rate of climb.” The process of confirming that an initial climb has been established after the airplane leaves the ground is the signal to retract the gear. Even if […]

Lieutenant Nilofor Rhmani| Islamic Women Take Flight The Taliban has been waging a brutal war against women for two decades, but at least a few women are literally preparing for battle. On September 30th, 2012, Lieutenant Nilofor Rhmani became the first female pilot in the Afghanistan air force to fly solo in a military Cessna […]