Search Results for: Lear 45

Its probably happened to you: Something en route made you consider not continuing to your intended destination. Now youre faced with the myriad choices of why, when, where and how to divert.

The controller is usually a great resource. But sometimes other demands can produce some real challenges.

Ever plan on running an errand on the way home only to arrive home having made no stops? It happens to me all the time. People become conditioned to patterns and trying to do something different leads to mistakes. The same is true when flying. Procedures are developed and implemented to prevent and catch errors. […]

Most pilots I know are lazy. Writing as one who has spent most of his career flying airplanes, thats meant to be a compliment. The lazy pilot tends to accomplish the least work necessary in order to achieve the intended goal. This usually improves workload management and provides a greater reserve of attention. However, sometimes laziness can get you into trouble, such as in determining when to intercept and track a glidepath. …

The successful completion of an Instrument Proficiency Check (IPC) combines the knowledge and personality traits of both the instructor and pilot. As we intercepted the arc, Ken asked how I was going to navigate. I offhandedly said, “Turn 10, twist 10,” which was a knee-jerk response. Ken paused the sim and asked why I would […]

Few situations require quick judgment like deciding to go missed with weather at minimums. Arriving at missed approach point or decision altitude, the pilot must determine if the runway environment is in sight and the required flight visibility is evident. If these conditions are met, is the aircraft in a position to land and is the runway condition suitable? All of this must be accomplished while flying through a sea of obstructions at about 150…

While flying through South Carolina, I overheard the following conversation.Roanoke Approach: Piper 123 you have traffic 12 oclock 3 miles, opposite direction, 500 feet above you.Piper 123: (student pilot after a brief pause) Ah…roger Roanoke approach…this is Piper 123 and…understand that there is (longer pause)…traffic at 12 oclock…500 feet above me…and…and…opposite direction. Right now we cant see traffic but were looking.Roanoke Approach: Piper 123, traffic no longer a factor. They were fast. …

For years, the general-aviation community has worried over how to replace 100LL. Finally, in June the FAA announced that it wants to see proposals for new fuels and will start a process to test them. The traditional leaded fuel is under attack from the Environmental Protection Agency and others worried about the toxins released into the atmosphere when it combusts. Plus, the sources for the fuel are considered uncertain, especially as the demand falls year…

One of the things I see often on IFR stage checks and IPCs is a lack of familiarity with the different kinds of GPS approaches and their respective capabilities and idiosyncrasies. Introduction of Localizer Precision (LP) approaches has made that worse. Given that the U.S. has over 12,000 GPS approaches, it’s time we mastered the […]

When operating near large bodies of water, especially on the west coast of the United States, you might encounter the “Fog Monster” from the excellent article by Tim Vasquez in the May, 2013 IFR. Since I’ve spent over 20 years under the spell of this weather pattern, I’ve learned that fog is only a symptom […]