Readback: October 2018

Many pilots want to fly IFR more often but dont quite remember how. If you addressed more of the basics and less of the quirky and obscure perhaps more pilots would actually benefit. One example would be to have a product published for particular regions or states of the country and present examples each month of airports and approaches for that particular area. This would give the local pilot community more opportunity to fly their local approaches and visit our local airports more often.

Editorial Staff

Sunday, September 16, 2018 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

A subscriber suggested the magazine offer regionalized content and more basic instrument flight instruction; the publisher responded that regionalization is not feasible due to a shrinking subscriber base and the magazine targets "accomplished pilots."
A reader clarified that personal minimums should guide pre-flight decision-making and early diversions, not be used to intentionally miss an approach above published minimums once initiated, stressing the importance of flying to the lowest available minima for safety.
An airline pilot inquired about the legality of leaving the final approach course early for a circling maneuver to achieve a stabilized landing; an expert replied that while no specific regulation governs this, using higher altitudes when ceilings allow is encouraged for safer maneuvering and fitting into VFR traffic patterns.

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I Like It, But…

I have been a subscriber for several years and enjoy each issue. My flying is mostly VFR throughout Florida, and I teach at a local flight school. I’d like to suggest that you offer regionalized versions of your magazine instead of the general issue each month.

While your content is interesting to both general aviation and the professional, it would be beneficial to offer more information for the instrument student as well. I feel the publication would better serve the readers and GA pilots if you addressed the real everyday local geography issues affecting airports and approaches.