Forget the rent being too damn high. What really twerks me is when the checklist is too damn long! It’s enough to make at least one professional pilot question whether we should use them at all. Read more →
Tag: Aviation
SR22 Delivery Flight
A select few among us still have the opportunity to hop a miserable flight in the aluminum tube and take delivery of a brand new airplane just as it rolls off the final assembly line. I made just such a trip recently, and that “new airplane” smell really is intoxicating. Read more →
New Phraseology During Runway Construction
Hold short, short approach, short runway. The word “short” can mean many things. The FAA has recognized this and made a much-needed change to the way they tell pilots about runway construction at an airport. Read more →
The Emergency You Get
Experience shows that the emergency you get isn’t always the one you’ve trained for. It’s worth thinking about no matter what you fly. Read more →
An Accident Waiting to Happen. Again.
Pilots are human and everyone understand we make mistakes. But I encountered one recently who seems content to use the same poor airmanship that almost killed him before and expect a different result. Isn’t that the definition of “insanity”? Read more →
Who’s the Boss?
It’s odd when politicians don’t seem to understand how government works. The latest example involves the L.A. County Board of Supervisors and their vote urging the FAA to do exactly what it already does every day. Perhaps the politicos should pay more attention to their own job and leave airspace management to the pros. Read more →
In Defense of Business Jets
Business aviation has been the scapegoat long enough. The facts are more than sufficient to turn the tables on politicians and talking heads who challenge the use of corporate jets to maintain a competitive edge. Read more →
Selective Attention
It’s vital for pilots to be aware of what’s happening on the radio, out the window, on the instrument panel, and elsewhere. We call this “situational awareness”. But when something unexpected happens, how often do we really see it? Read more →
A Joyous 9/11
The 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attack had most folks on edge when it comes to flying, but for me it gained a happy twist when a friend soloed for the first time. Read more →
Back to Basics
Further analysis of comments coming in from the blogosphere about the pros and cons of cockpit automation. My take? In the end, it’s all about the beginning. Read more →