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For most pilots, flying into AirVenture Oshkosh (KOSH) is very near the top of their bucket list. As a pilot, there is just something amazing about following a railroad track and being asked by a controller to “rock your wings” while on your way to the largest gathering of general aviation enthusiasts in existence. To […]
As student pilots and newly-minted private pilots, we spend most of our time in the traffic pattern or the practice area. It’s all about the process, not enjoying the ride or the destination. But once you earn your license, it’s critical to throw off those shackles, get out and travel!
Perhaps only in aviation could we come up with three different, and sometimes confusing, definitions for the same word, Night. These three definitions are often a source of confusion for new students. The different definitions for night are in reference to the requirements to operate Navigation Lights, when you are able to log night time […]
Airmanship can be defined as the ability of a pilot to properly assess the environment in which the aircraft is operating and properly managing that aircraft taking into account both the aircraft’s and the pilot’s capabilities. Recently, there have been a number of high profile accidents that have focused attention on the airmanship of the […]
Earlier this week I witnessed something not all that common in general aviation – an FAA Ramp Check. If you’ve never heard of a ramp check, that’s not surprising as again, it’s not a common occurrence in general aviation. But at the same time, while not the most pleasant topic related to your flying, it’s […]
Flight school, albeit fun, can be a real drag. I can recall fretting over the next “turns around a point” lesson for the fourth time. Don’t get me wrong, any chance you have to get in the air and burn some 100LL is a great day, but looking at the upcoming lesson outline would often […]
Over the past 3 years pilots have been quickly transitioning to a paperless cockpit, using the iPad as an electronic preflight and in-flight resource. The iPad allows pilots to reliably organize and display sectional charts and airport directories, view GPS moving maps, and organize PDF documents all in one location. Student pilots have found this […]
There’s never a good time for something to break, especially in aviation. But things do break and airplanes do require care and service, so if there were a theoretical “good” time for something to go inoperative, surely it’s after completing a mission when there’s time to consider options and have any squawks dealt with in […]
This summer, my family and I have decided to take a number of mini-vacations centered around our enjoyment of roller coasters and amusement parks.
During the month of June, we have had the opportunity to visit 2 parks outside of our home park.
On one trip, we elected to use a general aviation airplane; on the other, we elected to drive our mini-van. This blog will compare those trips.
I always have a plan B. Typically, when flying, I also prefer to have a plan C and D in case of an emergency or if things don’t go according to plan. This could mean simply taking into account nearby airports along your route in case of emergency, filing an alternate when flying IFR (even […]
