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General

Packing Heat in an Airline Cockpit

My copilot had begun the “Before Starting Engines” checklist. “Rudder pedals and seats?” he challenged. “Adjusted and locked,” I responded without emotion. “Oxygen masks, interphone and goggles?” my copilot continued. “Set and checked,” I mumbled. “Weapon?” “Safetied and secured,” I answered while patting the leather holster on my left side. Okay, let’s stop the checklist. […]

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General

Packing Heat in an Airline Cockpit

My copilot had begun the “Before Starting Engines” checklist. “Rudder pedals and seats?” he challenged. “Adjusted and locked,” I responded without emotion. “Oxygen masks, interphone and goggles?” my copilot continued. “Set and checked,” I mumbled. “Weapon?” “Safetied and secured,” I answered while patting the leather holster on my left side. Okay, let’s stop the checklist. […]

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Features

Emergency Pilot

Though it seldom happens, a passed-out pilot may be passengers greatest fear. For frequent passengers, just a little training can make for a happy ending

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Learning Experiences

Night Fright

After a 20-year hiatus, I returned to flying a couple of years ago and try to fly as often as I am able.

I filed for a 2:00 p.m. departure from New Orleans Lakefront to St Louis Downtown Airport but, as I drove to the airport, it was apparent that I would be delayed by some heavy thunderstorms that moved into the New Orleans area and seemed intent on staying for awhile.

I spent the time at the airport watching the radar and talking with some Navy pilots who were on a training mission and planning their return to Texas.

At about 5:30 p.m., the storms were clearing from west to east and, after discussing it with a briefer, I decided to depart toward the northwest with a turn to the n…

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Unicom

Beauty and the Beast

All right, you finally scared me. After years of reading your excellent articles as a low time pilot and thinking Ill never do that, you sent me one on spatial disorientation that I probably would have done: launch into a dark, moonless, featureless night without anything even remotely resembling an instrument rating [What If?, February].

Perhaps Ive been lulled into a false sense of confidence by instructors who tell me my instrument skills are pretty good for a non-rated pilot. Perhaps its because there are almost always lights around to provide a ground reference in Northeastern New Jersey. Maybe because most of my 12 hours per year are flown at night and that I periodically spen…

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Pilot in aircraft
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