Pilot Proficiency

Winter operations involve a lot of adjustments. Just getting to and from the runway becomes more of a factor in our planning, and requires some attention. Taxiways might be icy, leading to reduced steering and braking effectiveness. And just when we have less control where the rubber meets the road, winter winds are often stronger, […]

Humorist (and pilot) Jean Shepherd, of “The Christmas Story” fame, wrote that his family history revolved around which used car “the Old Man” was driving at the time — as in: Aunt Gertie had her gall bladder removed just after we got the Hupmobile. Flying Editor Emeritus Richard Collins similarly records family history in his […]

BLOGBOOK ENTRY 4: To supplement my training during my off weeks, I’m working through the Sporty’s Complete Pilot Course: Private Pilot interactive DVD course, which is part of Sporty’s What You Should Know series. The notebook includes 7 DVDs the first 4 are enough to get you through your recreational pilot training, while the rest […]

Mission: a vacation flight to visit relatives halfway across the country. You’ve updated your navigator’s database; checked weather for winds aloft; carefully planned your fuel stops; double-checked that the FBOs are open; completed a detailed weight-and-balance calculation; etc. ‘Twas the night before flying, and you’re nestled snug in your bed knowing you have all the […]

On a mission over southern Germany during World War II, undisciplined P-51 Mustang ace Ralph Hofer earned his commander’s ire by blurting out over his combat frequency, “Gee! Ain’t the Alps pretty!” The group wasn’t under attack at the time, but the breach of strict radio discipline elicited an immediate rebuke. Unnecessary chatting on the […]

I was really surprised. I was looking at a chart that depicted the number of fatal accidents that occurred in the commercial jet fleet throughout the world between 1999 and 2008 (available at boeing.com/news/techissues/pdf/statsum.pdf). It showed that Loss of Control In-flight (LOC-I), with 22 accidents, easily beat the nearest contender, Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT), […]

Who needs the hassle of shoehorning bags of holiday gifts into the tight luggage compartments found in most general aviation aircraft? And for extended holiday stays with Grandma, the amount of luggage piled up on the ramp can cut into your useful load as well as your cabin space. Why not consider shipping most of […]

With a high pressure system forecast to continue dominating the weather, today looks like good VFR day in the New York City area. Pilots planning to navigate the Hudson River Class B exclusion zone need to be aware of new rules that are in effect. Following the fatal collision this summer between a VFR Piper […]

OK, so it’s been a rough year for me. In May, I broke a small bone in my left hand that put me in a cast for a month. And on Nov. 5, I cracked a rib on the back side – halfway between my spine and my side. I broke the hand playing ice […]

Connie Sue White recently joined Flying‘s editorial team as managing editor. Connie Sue, a University of Florida journalism grad, brings 20 years of magazine publishing experience to Flying, as well as a strong flying heritage (thanks to her father’s passion for aviation). Her first memory of “taking” the controls was during a family trip in […]