Pilot Proficiency

One of the stressful things that can happen to you as a pilot is when an air traffic controller tells you to call a facility on the telephone after you land. A tower controller issued me a phone number once, and I have to admit the request made my heart skip a beat. Fortunately, I […]

I flew out of Fairhope, Alabama, the other night in a CJ and was witness to one of the most spectacular displays of cloud and storm I’ve ever seen. If you’re averse to sunset pictures, however dramatic, skip right on by. But if you’re interested in seeing some pretty pictures of some amazing scenery as […]

We all know that a very small temperature/dewpoint spread creates the perfect conditions for low visibility. But did you also know that a very high temperature/dewpoint spread associated with convective activity can be an indication of an imminent danger to light airplanes? When the spread between the air temperature and dewpoint is between 15 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 Eric, who recently flew into Benson Municipal Airport in a Cessna 172RG. Here’s what he has to say about the airport’s FBO, Southwestern Aviation. Southwestern Aviation (E95) Benson, […]

A couple week’s ago I spelled out the reasons why I thought China would probably buy the assets of bankrupt Hawker Beechcraft, and why I also thought it would be a smart move. Now, in the wake of the announcement that a Chinese firm is indeed pulling the trigger on the deal, potentially worth a […]

Whether you’re an instrument rated pilot or not, there are times when you will need to copy down a clearance from air traffic control. And in the interest of time, the controller will give you the clearance quite quickly – faster than you could possibly write down the clearance verbatim. It is therefore critical as […]

Last week, the FAA issued a report on its plan to replace 100LL with an unleaded alternative. The goal of the new Unleaded Avgas Transition Aviation Rulemaking Committee is to develop a entirely new fuel to replace 100LL. After attending a presentation at Santa Monica’s Museum of Flying this weekend, I’m wondering why. The presentation […]

The forward slip can be a useful skill to master since it allows for fine-adjustment of the airplane’s height above the runway on final approach, allowing you to stay on glide path while maintaining your target approach airspeed. Slips are useful when you’re high and need to lose extra altitude in a hurry to make […]

Dissecting the just-released final report submitted by the FAA’s Unleaded Avgas Transition Aviation Rulemaking Committee (UAT ARC), here’s what you need to know about the future of 100LL avgas: • There’s no real financial motive for any of the major fuel suppliers to create an alternative to 100LL aviation gasoline because the market is so […]

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 Gene Marsh, who frequently flies into Napa County Airport in a Cirrus SR22. Here’s what he has to say about the airport’s FBO, Napa Jet Center: Napa Jet […]