Pilot Proficiency

Think about all of the decisions a pilot makes every moment he or she is in command — choices that must fit together just so to ensure a safe flight. Sometimes the choices are simple, like correcting for a gusty crosswind in a light trainer. Other times they’re considerably more challenging, like successfully controlling an […]

Through the years, I have enjoyed relating to ILAFFT stories in Flying and have even corrected a few bad habits based on what I’ve read. I thought there would come a time when the lessons I personally learned while flying would no longer translate to GA flying, and my window of opportunity to submit to […]

Both UAV novices and experts are invited to enroll in the upcoming Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) online course created to bring students one step closer to better understanding where a drone, as well as the drone operator, can safely fit into the U.S. National Airspace System (NAS). The course begins February 6 and runs through […]

Many instrument procedures, such as ILS approaches, allow you to fly your airplane very close to the ground while in clouds. When the decision altitude or decision height is as low as 100 to 200 feet above the ground, it is particularly critical to know the approach procedure and make sure that your altimeter is […]

I’ll admit it: I’m a fiend for change. I thoroughly agree that variety is the spice of life, and when things get too stagnant, I tend to shake them up whether they really need it or not. Perhaps you sensed this in my September column: My wife and I had a really nice, comfortable life […]

POINTS TO PONDER: The guiding principle of a crossing restriction is that the last ATC clearance has precedence over the previous clearance. When the route or altitude is amended, the controller will restate altitude restriction. “If altitude to maintain is changed or restated, whether prior to departure or while airborne, and previously issued altitude restrictions […]

Cessna 162 Zionsville, Indiana / Injuries: 2 Minor The flight instructor reported that, due to known thunderstorms northwest of the airport, he planned to remain in the traffic pattern during the instructional flight. Automated weather equipment located at the airport also reported lightning in the vicinity of the airport immediately before the flight departed with […]

Cirrus SR22T Xenia, Ohio / Injuries: 1 Fatal The airline transport pilot was repositioning the airplane to its home base after maintenance was completed at a repair station. The pilot filed an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan with a cruise altitude of 9,000 feet mean sea level (msl). The en route portion of the […]

Tamarack Aerospace is in the final stages of FAA certification for the first commercially viable installation of its Active Technology Load Alleviation System (ATLAS), which allows wingtip extensions with winglets to be installed without increasing the load on the wing. The installation includes Tamarack Active Camber Surfaces (TACS) on the outboard portions of the trailing […]

The pilot’s loss of airplane control,” said the ­National Transportation Safety Board, “was due to his diverted ­attention to the canopy opening in flight.” At what point the canopy opened ­completely is not clear, but several witnesses described the airplane rocking sharply from side to side and oscillating sharply in pitch during the takeoff roll, […]