Unicom—April 2024

Monday, April 22, 2024 at 06:09 PM ET

Verified

Dallas Mavericks point guard used his team's plane to deliver 40,000 pounds of supplies to his native Puerto Rico in the wake of Maria. Dallas Mavericks

Key Takeaways:

Military flight training can instill valuable disciplined habits, such as on-speed landings, that translate effectively to general aviation and enhance instructional skills.
Aircraft owners frequently bear significant financial burdens due to recurring manufacturing defects in engine components, lacking the consumer protection and recall systems common in other industries like automotive.
Pilots should prioritize methodical and controlled actions in the cockpit, even during emergencies, as rushing can lead to errors and loss of control rather than effectively resolving the situation.

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Military Training vs. GA

Good article by Matt Johnson in the April 2024 issue, “Military vs. GA.” The picture of the A-4 Navy Skyhawk is from my old squadron, VA-172 Bluebolts. I also became a civilian CFI after five years of active duty and three of reserve flying, and 30 years without flying.

In 2001, I took a flight review in a Cessna 150, my first time piloting a civilian aircraft. Three hours of dual and I was signed off. I believe the carrier landing experience ingrained on-speed landings firmly in my mind. The military experience also made me a better CFI.