Pilot Proficiency

When you’re flying along a flight plan using your autopilot with the nav source engaged, you may think the heading bug is insignificant since it is not in use by the autopilot. But while the heading bug may not be active, it is worth keeping it centered as you fly along. With the heading bug […]

At first glance, the title of this column might suggest that the subject ­matter involves airline code sharing. The phrase “metal neutral” has been a buzzword used by airline management to indicate passenger revenue obtained through fare agreements with other carriers. The concept implies that it is immaterial whose logo is painted on the aluminum. […]

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 R. Stephen Smith, who has nothing but good things to say about Eagle Aviation, one of the FBOs at Columbia Metropolitan Airport. Eagle Aviation (KCAE) Columbia, South Carolina “This is simply […]

This week, I had an opportunity to learn more about upset recovery training at APS Emergency Maneuvers Training at the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport in the southeastern edge of Mesa, Arizona. With temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit outside, it was nice to step into the air-conditioned CAE full motion Level D ERJ 145 simulator at the […]

We often preach about how important it is to have enough fuel to get to your destination — odd that running out of gas should stubbornly continue to be a cause of accidents — but there’s a flip side to having enough fuel to get where you’re going: having too much fuel too soon. For […]

I spent the last couple of days in Queretaro, Mexico, the flashpoint for the Mexican rebellion against Spain in 1810 and, more recently, the site of a brand new Bombardier factory where composite structural components including fuselages and wings for the Learjet 85 are being manufactured. The biggest surprises on my visit weren’t inside the […]

When we talk about risk management, there is a lot of focus on the preflight and making sure you’re fit to fly. But it is equally as important to make sure your focus is on safety of flight while in the air. Flying requires a combination of many complex tasks and you need to have […]

To the cliché that there are pilots who have landed gear up and those who will, one might add a third category: those who have, and will again. I made my first and, so far, only gear-up landing in a Fournier RF-4 motor glider, N7723, on Jan. 23, 1969, at Yucca Valley, California. The RF-4 […]

****There are a number of different products on the market that can help pilots of all skill levels refine and maintain their skills. Here are a few of the best options out there. Redbird TD If your goal is to maintain instrument proficiency, you can legally do so at home with Redbird’s TD desktop simulator, […]

With the economic downturn and unemployment and underemployment that ensued, many Americans are enjoying less disposable income. As a result, your flying budget may not be what it was a few years ago. And meanwhile, the cost of flying has risen. We all know that staying proficient is equivalent to reducing the risks associated with […]