Pilot Proficiency

Pilots longing to indulge their inner filmmaker must love the shorthand before-takeoff checklist “Lights – Camera – Action.” If you aren’t familiar with this handy mnemonic, it’s intended to be recited immediately after receiving takeoff clearance and rolling past the hold-short line onto the active runway (or making the call on the common traffic advisory […]

We asked, and you weighed in, on the best Flying cover of 2011. The winner? Our October 2011 cover, featuring FIFI, the only remaining Boeing B-29 Superfortress still flying today. FIFI graced our issue in celebration of this year’s AirVenture, at which she was undoubtedly the star of the show. Check out all of our […]

For those of you who’ve never stepped foot behind the controls of one of the big boys, ever wonder what it’d feel like to land one in some heavy crosswinds? Then check out this video, which captures a close-up shot of a Lufthansa Airbus A340-300 landing in Calgary, Alberta, last month in Chinook winds reportedly […]

The recently implemented FAA rules on pilot fatigue for airline pilots made me ponder the importance of being alert when flying. If you’re not on your game it’s easy to nod off, particularly if you’re flying with an autopilot, and the consequences can be devastating. It’s worth taking an extra step in the prefight process […]

(January 2012) After I had introduced myself to Eric, the number one flight attendant for our Miami turnaround from JFK, he reluctantly conveyed some of the more annoying events from the same trip a day earlier. I told Eric that the copilot and I were commuters and that our primary purpose was to end the […]

What is one thing not commonly taught to primary students that can help them manage the risks associated with flying? John King, along with his wife and business partner, Martha, owns King Schools. John and Martha have been learning about and teaching flying full time since 1975. They both have every FAA category and class […]

As 2011 comes to a close, we’re taking a moment to revisit some of the most popular flying tips of the year. Check out which bits of advice made the cut, and brush up on your flying skills in the process. View the top 10 flying tips of the year here.

Pilot incapacitation contributes to very few accidents. But even if you’re in good health, you can never predict when you will become medically debilitated. If you become one of those unfortunate few, you’ll be very happy knowing there is a backup pilot in the cockpit that can get you down safely. If you fly regularly […]

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 Dan Larson, who recently flew into Wings Field Airport in a Commander AC11. Here’s what he has to say about the service provided by Advanced Wings, the FBO […]

(December 2011) “Anybody who learns to fly these days in an airplane without a Flight Simulator cockpit, an autopilot and a ballistic parachute is living in the last century,” went the opening gambit from a student pilot I flew with recently. Reasonably current and qualified in a variety of singles and light twins, I admit […]