Pilot Proficiency

If we’d written this story a few decades ago, the list of weather resources for pilots would have been rather short — a flight service station briefing either in person or perhaps by phone, and the evening weather report on TV or the radio. Pilots thought they’d really made progress when the direct user access terminal system […]

Everything You Need to Know about RNAV GPS Approaches

Examining the aftermath of a mysterious, fatal crash of a 1950s Air Force trainer.

Cleveland Burke Lakefront Airport (BKL) now holds the title of “that fantastic little airport by the lake,” a slogan once reserved for the now-defunct Chicago Meigs Field (CGX). BKL gets lots of use by corporate and private aircraft by offering easy access to downtown Cleveland, the football stadium, the aquarium and, of course, the Rock […]

Pilots transitioning to turboprop-powered airplanes or those who want to learn more can get a better understanding of the Pratt & Whitney PT6 engine they operate through FlightSafety International’s PT6 engine familiarization course. “The course includes basic theory, engine to airframe interface, and best practices while operating the engine,” said FlightSafety’s senior vice president of […]

Floats look very much like small boats slung beneath the fuselage of an aircraft in place of the original wheels and landing-gear struts. Adding floats transforms a land-based machine into a multipurpose recreational water vehicle, opening the door to thousands of small bodies of water not accessible by traditional aircraft. Floatplanes also serve as vital […]

Aloud, muffled boom is heard from within the cockpit. The airplane begins to buffet. The two pilots exchange wide-eyed glances. From years of routine and training, they simultaneously turn toward the center instrument panel and begin to focus their attention on the electronic engine displays. The needle of the left engine N1 gauge is gyrating […]

Last summer, I traveled to Scotland on vacation for a week to attend a wedding on the Isle of Skye. I’d hardly consider the first few hours of the trip relaxing. I picked up my rental car in the center of downtown Edinburgh and was instantly tasked with operating a manual transmission from the right […]

Sometimes the urge to fly strikes when I least expect it. It’s always there, mind you, but sometimes it lies dormant while my attention is elsewhere, only to suddenly resurface. Take yesterday morning, for example. I was lounging in Windbird’s cockpit, sipping coffee and enjoying the warm Caribbean breeze while planning an upcoming sail to […]

Not just anybody can join this group. We’ve been meeting for close to 30 years, and we guard admission with diligence. To become a member, you must be a man who looks good on paper, but be a bit of a mess in real life. Turns out, there are a lot of us. In the […]