Pilot Proficiency

We’ve all heard of deer and even an occasional moose crossing the path of a landing airplane, but it’s not often a whale gets in the way. That’s exactly what happened recently in Angoo, Alaska, when the quick reaction of a floatplane pilot avoided what could have been a calamitous outcome for airplane and the […]

Here’s a time-saving trick for IFR pilots who want to depart their home airport VFR and then have the option of easily picking up an IFR routing midflight. To do it, simply fill out an IFR flight plan form as you normally would, but input a VFR cruising altitude (for example, 8,500 feet) in the […]

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to land on an aircraft carrier? While there is nothing like a real-life experience, this 20-minute video will have you on your toes as it does a terrific job of highlighting the dangers and excitement of landing on a pitching carrier deck. The video provides an intimate glimpse […]

Divers looking for shipwrecks in Lake Ontario came across a historic find when they stumbled upon a C-45 that crashed into the lake more than six decades ago. The C-45, the military version of the Beech Model 18, remained relatively intact after plunging into the lake on Sept. 11, 1952. The airplane was abandoned midflight […]

FlightSafety International has added a level-D Pilatus PC-12/47 simulator to its Dallas Learning Center, making it the only such simulator in the world qualified to the highest approval standard. The simulator is equipped with legacy avionics including a Garmin GMX 200 multifunction display and a pair of Garmin GNS 530W GPS units. It also features […]

It was late January 1962 and my sister Mary and I had been taking flying lessons for about a month, but I don’t think either of us had soloed yet. The Ercoupe — loaned to us by an incredibly generous friend — had sat forlornly in the weeds for some time, so there were issues: […]

To the traveling public, I suspect that airline pilots are all essentially one and the same. We roam the terminals in the same weathered polyester uniforms, towing the same beat-up flight kits festooned with the airplane stickers of our pasts. We’re all pretty clean-shaven and tend to sport the same close-cropped haircut — only some […]

If you enjoyed Disney’s Planes, the movie about Dusty Crophopper’s quest to become a successful air racer that hit theaters last summer, you’ll be able to see the sequel next week. Planes: Fire and Rescue opens on July 18, and with great action scenes and a cast of new endearing characters, the follow-on has all […]

Have you ever wondered how the images on the beautiful posters of the Thunderbirds are made? Well, here’s your chance to find out. In this video U.S. Air Force photojournalist Staff Sergeant Larry Reid Jr. explains how the airplane he flies in follows the team of six F-16s in close trail to allow him to […]

The NTSB has released a preliminary report on an accident that happened on July 1 immediately after a Piper PA-12 departed from Merrill Field Airport in Anchorage, Alaska. According to the report, a witness who saw the accident said the “airplane’s angle of attack was so steep” that he knew “something was not right.” Another […]