pilot proficency

I’m not planning on being a professional pilot. Why should I get an instrument rating? You may enjoy flying now—but with an instrument rating, you will enjoy it more. Getting an instrument rating is, indeed, a lot of work, but it is mixed with fun. Flying on instruments is like solving a challenging crossword puzzle. […]

The only good thing that comes out of an aviation accident is that sometimes we learn from it and use this knowledge to prevent future accidents. This message was driven home by an accident involving Air Florida Flight 90.  On January 13, 1982, the aircraft took off from Washington National Airport (KDCA) in a snowstorm […]

It must have been about two years after I received my private pilot license in Switzerland. At 28 years of age, I was happily married with two healthy boys, aged 2 and 4, and a promising banking career lying ahead. The world and future looked bright, and I was going to take the opportunity to fly when I […]

Michael Wildes says when pilots gain more experience, some let their guard down—sometimes to chilling effect.

The number of aviation accidents fell for the second year in a row, according to the latest issuance of the Nall Report. The report, compiled biennially by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) Air Safety Institute, studies accident data looking for trends, with the idea that once these trends are identified they can be […]