Pilot Proficiency

NBAA Mobilizes To Help Victims of Sandy

Just about any other week, the sinking of the HMS Bounty and the drowning of one of its crewmembers would be the top news story in the country. This hasn’t been any ordinary week, however, as superstorm Sandy caused unthinkable devastation across much of the Northeast and shut down dozens of airports. I’m from New […]

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Push-to-Talk Patience

Radio communication is a topic that causes stress for many pilots, particularly in busy environments such as areas around and within Class B airspace. But in order to make the system more efficient, we all have to exercise patience when we communicate with air traffic control, just like we have to wait our turn to […]

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Getting Back to Hand-Flying

There’s little debate that the prevalence in today’s airplanes of modern glass cockpit displays, GPS navigators, datalink weather receivers and the host of other high-tech gear that we now take almost for granted has in fact made flying easier and safer. Still, the already-too-high accident rate for light general aviation airplanes hasn’t budged in the […]

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FBO Spotlight: Showalter Flying Service (KORL)

In our FBO Spotlight series, we’re highlighting FBOs around the country that have received rave reviews. This latest Spotlight is brought to you by our Editor-in-Chief, Robert Goyer, who recently flew into Orlando Executive Airport (KORL) in his Cirrus SR22. Here’s what he has to say about one of the airport’s FBOs, Showalter Flying Service. […]

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Why We Need New Certification Rules

This week, Robert Goyer reported on the new certification standards that are currently in the making at the FAA. Our industry is in dire need of this change. We need it to improve our safety record and to attract more people into the wonderful world of flying. I learned to fly in a Cessna 152 […]

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Video: Contaminated Runway Ops, Russian Style

As a former FBO line boy whose job was to wash airplanes, this video makes me cringe. As a pilot, it also makes my palms sweat a little. The airplane is an Antonov An-24. The place is Bodaybo, a gold-mining town in the Russian Far East. The runway is a muddy mess, making the takeoff […]

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Contaminated Runway Considerations

While you’re probably never likely to encounter** runway contamination as bad as this**, with the coming onset of winter weather, it’s a good idea to start thinking about how slush, ice, mud or standing water can affect your airplane’s performance. The main effect of runway surface contamination on takeoff is reduced acceleration. Beyond that, loose […]

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FBO Spotlight: Hangar 10 (KMKC)

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 Steve Bonine, who has nothing but good things to say about the service at Hangar 10 in Kansas City, Missouri. Hangar 10 (KMKC) Kansas City, Missouri “This FBO […]

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Why Hawker Beechcraft’s China Sale Was Dead on Arrival

I’d planned on telling you today all the reasons why I felt Hawker Beechcraft’s planned sale to Superior Aviation Beijing was very likely on the verge of unraveling. I’ll still do that, but the story took on a new dimension when a press release from Hawker Beechcraft arrived in my e-mail inbox at 8:05 this […]

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FBO Spotlight: William T. Piper Memorial Airport (KLHV)

In our FBO Spotlight series, we’re highlighting FBOs around the country that have received rave reviews. This latest Spotlight is brought to you by Allan Cobb, who has nothing but good things to say about the service at Piper Memorial Airport. “I fly into LHV on a regular basis to visit my daughter who’s attending […]

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Pilot in aircraft
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