Pilot Proficiency

(August 2011) When the Brouhaha erupted over air traffic controllers dozing off on duty I couldn’t help wondering if it’s really important to have humans manning control towers at all hours of the day and night, even at places like Reno and Dulles. Do people have any idea how many airports routinely and safely accommodate […]

Cost is definitely a factor when taking flight lessons. But have you ever given any thought to the value of really good flight training that will help keep you from becoming a statistic? My main goal in writing this article is to further aviation safety by addressing the poor standards I used in selecting a […]

It goes without saying that the ultimate goal of any flight is to arrive safely. It’s no secret that certain kinds of accidents typically target certain kinds of pilots flying certain kinds of airplanes. There are always a few accidents every year that involve freak or tough-to-defend-against events, like bird strikes or unforeseeable structural failures. […]

You might have missed it, but the French accident investigation branch, the Bureau d’Enquêtes et d’Analyses, has formally recommended that mandatory “triggered data streaming technology” be installed aboard airliners. The recommendation is contained in the latest BEA accident report investigating the loss of the Air France Flight 447, a document that outlines 10 new safety […]

I was sad to read an article in the Houston Chronicle this week reporting that a pilot died after colliding with another airplane near Lake Conroe outside of Houston, Texas. The report said the two airplanes were flying as part of a formation flight of seven homebuilt airplanes. While I have no knowledge of the […]

Taking a check ride for a new rating is always stressful, whether it is the Private Pilot License or an advanced rating. While there is a little room for error, some components are absolutely essential to get right both in the oral portion of the exam and during the flight test. And you can maximize […]

Gaylord Regional (KGLR) Gaylord, Michigan In our FBO Spotlight series, we’re highlighting FBOs around the country that have received rave reviews from our readers. This Spotlight is brought to you by Beechcraft Baron pilot Mike Woods, who has more than a few good things to say about the service provided by Gaylord Regional (KGLR), in […]

The FAA says that a draft advisory circular that seemed to imply that rank-and-file Part 91 aviators would be held to the same standards as charter providers and the airlines when using EFBs (like the Class 1 Apple iPad) was never intended to change the regulatory lay of the land. The FAA’s Steve Morrison, who […]

Anybody who visited Oshkosh this year and spent more than about five minutes at the ICON Aircraft exhibit surely wasn’t surprised to learn that the would-be manufacturer of the A5 amphibian light sport aircraft – an undeniably cool LSA that looks like a winged Jetski and will sell for around $139,000 – took a ton […]

(August 2011) You don’t have to look very long or very deeply into aviation’s troubles to see that there’s room for improvement pretty much across the board, from student retention to the cost of fuel, from primary flight training ineffectiveness to the accident rate. In fact, identifying the problems isn’t the hard part; figuring out […]