Instead of keeping their powder dry, the Germanwings crash will undoubtedly prompt politicians to “do something”. That has many pilots — myself included — concerned. Read more →
Tag: FAA
The Unintentional Aerobat
Do you think it’s possible to fly aerobatics without awareness of it? Not only is it possible — it’s quite common. I’ve seen it done in every kind of airplane, from little Cubs to large-cabin Gulfstreams. Read more →
He’s One of Us Now
To run an organization effectively, it must be understand it inside and out by those at the top. Unfortunately, few if any of the executives at the FAA are pilots. But that changed recently and it’s a good thing for general aviation. Read more →
A Self-Evident Solution
While the FAA employs many quality individuals, as a whole, the agency seems to be falling apart on us. Here are several examples of how FAA policies are hurting GA and how the trend can be reversed. Read more →
ADS-B: Now or Later?
Whether you’re flying a Cherokee or a Challenger, the ADS-B equipment mandate is looming larger with every passing month. The question aircraft owners are starting to ask is: should I bite the bullet now, or wait until closer to 2020? I make the case for waiting. Read more →
Trust Us — We’re Professionals
The FAA has seen fit to ban all personal electronic devices from the airline cockpit, as well as strongly recommend a similar prohibition for Part 135 and 91K operators. As one who flies a fair number of overnight, long-haul flights, I think this is a bad idea and one which will hurt rather than help flight safety. Read more →
A Stab in the Back
We put a lot of time and effort into taking care of our flying machines. On a recent trip, I got a rude reminder that our biological machinery needs the same attention. A pulled back muscle turned into a major pain in the neck just as my medical certificate was about to expire. Read more →
The Journey of a Thousand Miles
AOPA and EAA suggested a slight expansion of the sport pilot medical exemption. Congress got a hold of that idea and took it to the next level, and is considering eliminating formal medical certification for most private pilots. Is this too good to be true? How did we get here? And what does it mean for GA’s future? Read more →
Time for a Shakeup
Flying is a considerably safer today than it was when the NTSB was first established. But the Board’s safety recommendations have picked most of the low-hanging fruit over the past ninety years, and the things they suggest nowadays are sometimes divorced from reality because they don’t consider the cost their proposed enhancements place on an overburdened industry. Perhaps it’s time to change that. Read more →
Mandated Spin Training
The stick-and-rudder skill deficiencies in today’s pilots didn’t start today. It began years ago when they were learning how to fly. Fixing it will require a journey into the past. It’s time to get back to basics, and you won’t cover all the bases unless spin training is a central part of the mix. Read more →