Search Results for: Lear 45

What started earlier this year as a novel legal interpretation of FAA regulations by a U.S. Court of Appeals has evolved into a full-blown policy dispute between the agency and some of aviation’s alphabet soup. As we explored in our June issue, the court’s interpretation is that FAR 91.315 “does not provide an exemption for […]

The visual approach is by far the most-used method for pilots of IFR aircraft to find their way to the destination. Compared to the typical published approach procedure, a visual approach can save several miles and several minutes, not to mention several pounds/gallons of fuel. When the weather allows, it’s the approach clearance of choice […]

I am of the opinion that thunderstorms are the most challenging weather condition to fly in regularly. Most other hazards have solid mitigation strategies or present such a high level of risk that the flight must be scrapped. Of course, this all vastly depends on your mission. Moderate turbulence, for example, does not typically present hazards […]

It was well after dark when we arrived over the unfamiliar rural airport. We were descending toward that green and white airport beacon, and I thought I could see the headlights of my brother-in-law’s crew-cab pickup truck in the parking lot. “Watch this,” I said to my daughter, and I clicked the push-to-talk switch seven […]

Excessive heat “kills” integrated electrical circuits, the kind found in modern avionics. Unlike many other electronic devices, avionics also may be exposed to sunlight filtered only slightly by a transparency. Combining the two sources—as when on the ground on a hot, sunny day, engine running and with all the electrical equipment active—is fairly common. While […]

A lot of ink and pixels have been spilled over the years to discuss, explore and define what is called aeronautical decision-making, or ADM. The overall topic has its own chapter in the FAA’s Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (PHAK), a rather dated Advisory Circular—AC 60-22, “Aeronautical Decision Making”—and a series of FAA FAASTeam courses […]

With the news during July’s Experimental Aircraft Association’s AirVenture Oshkosh fly-in that the FAA has approved a supplemental type certificate (STC) for an unleaded aviation gasoline, we’ve all transitioned from the early phase of the decades-long effort to rid ourselves of leaded aviation fuels. It wasn’t easy to get this far, and it won’t be […]

When the Inspiration4 mission launches from Kennedy Space Center on September 15, its capsule will be hauling more than just the world’s first all-civilian crew into space. It will also be carrying 70 pounds of hops. The special cargo is the brainchild of billionaire pilot and CEO of payment processor Shift4 Payments, Jared Isaacman. He’s […]

You and two friends are flying to Nashville for a weekend of great music. It will be an IFR flight from Asheville, North Carolina (KAVL), to John C. Tune (KJWN). Your clearance is what you expect: “Cleared to the John C Tune Airport. Asheville Seven Departure, then as filed. Climb via the SID.” You depart […]

Back in the bad old days of VOR navigation you could find your position by tuning in two different VOR’s. Each radial from a VOR was a “line of position” from that VOR. Your position could be anywhere on that line. Where the two lines from two different VORs intersected was your location. For accuracy […]