Taxiing – One of the First Skills You Learned By Kim Skipper, CPCU, Aviation Underwriting Manager, Avemco Insurance Company Why do many high-time pilots get into trouble when executing such a routine step as crawling along a taxiway? Part of the answer is revealed in the statistics we have examined.1  The most dangerous … Continued

Photo courtesy of AOPA NTSB Vice Chairman and Bonanza Pilot Bruce Landsberg to Speak Friday, November 5 at BPT Norfolk [KORF] Dinner   BPT is honored to announce that NTSB Vice Chairman and Beechcraft Bonanza pilot Bruce Landsberg is the keynote speaker on Friday evening, November 5 at the BPT Norfolk Clinic in “Welcome Dinner.” … Continued

Ron Zasadzinski, CFII SEL & MEL 8,000+ total time BPT: Ron, how did you get your start in aviation? RZ:  Growing up, my dad worked for Eastern Airlines as a gate agent out of Newark Airport. I was exposed to aviation as an infant and we regularly flew Eastern for family vacations. Aviation is in … Continued

“Using the E-Word” By Michael “Mick” Kaufman   I started a new instrument student this morning – and the first chapter in the textbook I use deals with flight instruments. What happens when those instruments fail? Even with the great detail we put on redundancy, they can still fail. Do we declare an emergency? Two … Continued

A Climate for Change Embracing the Environment By Rick Domingo, FAA Flight Standards Service Executive Director     It’s a common human characteristic to avoid choices that require us to change. We tend to put our activities on autopilot and turn our attention to other things, often not noticing the changing circumstances that would compel … Continued

Stabilized Approach and Landing   FAA Aviation Safety Safety Enhancement Topic   Focusing on establishing and maintaining a stabilized approach and landing is a great way to avoid experiencing a loss of control. A stabilized approach is one in which the pilot establishes and maintains a constant angle glidepath towards a predetermined point on the … Continued

Ready to test your knowledge of the Federal Aviation Administration [FAA] Regulations? Step right up and be our guest!   1. From the following list, select the terms that pertain to “category” with respect to aircraft certification. A. Utility B. Balloon C. Acrobatic D. Multiengine E. Transport F. Landplane   2. Which document(s) is / are … Continued

Ron Timmermans honored at EAA AirVenture 2021 Ron Timmermans, the 2021 FAA General Aviation Award [GAA] CFI of the Year, receives his award from Steve Dickson, Administrator of the FAA. The ceremony was held on Thursday, July 29 during the “Meet the Administrator” Forum at the annual Experimental Aircraft Association [EAA] AirVenture in Oshkosh, WI. … Continued

Gregory F. Ricca, MD, FAANS, FACS CFI; MEI; CFII; SES; AME [retired] 5,000 hours   BPT: Greg, what first attracted you to aviation – and why? GR: The ultimate freedom of flight is what first attracted me to aviation.  The science of flight, the vast amount of aircraft, airspace and human information keeps it exciting. … Continued

“Managing Distractions”   Distractions and interruptions can severely compromise flight safety if they occur during critical phases of flight. To help prevent this, the General Aviation Joint Steering Committee (GAJSC) recommends awareness training on how to properly cope with interruptions and distractions while flying. General aviation pilots are particularly at risk because they usually do … Continued