Taming the Big Bad Wolf (Crosswind Takeoffs and Landings) By Hank Canterbury Spring is here and that usually means a change in wind patterns and speeds. Are you ready to handle them? Like all flying skills, crosswind skills – and confidence in dealing with them –deteriorate from infrequent use. This month, let’s take a review … Continued
1. Arrange the choices on the right in order of priority with regard to right–of–way over other aircraft. a. Glider b. Airship c. Aircraft in distress d. Airplane or helicopter e. Balloon 2. Aerobatic flight is not allowed: a. Within 5 miles of any airport b. Within 2,000 feet of the surface c. … Continued
Fighting Fatigue By Dr. Leo Hattrup, FAA Medical Officer Over the years, I have talked to numerous pilots who have flown past a fix, missed calls from ATC, or felt startled to wake up after being asleep for seconds to minutes. A colleague relayed an experience as a military co-pilot. He was on a low-level … Continued
It’s All in Your Approach Top Tips to Fine Tune a Final Approach and Landing By Tom Hoffmann, FAA Safety Briefing Magazine Managing Editor You’re almost there. On your culinary quest for the perfect midday meal, you successfully navigated a non-routine taxi clearance, nailed a perfect takeoff, and enjoyed an exciting and happily uneventful cruise … Continued
Frankenstein’s Airplane The Sometimes Tricky Business of Modifying Aircraft By James Williams FAA Safety Briefing Magazine The “Frankenplane” is a concept FAA Safety Briefing first explored in the 2014 article “Beware the Frankenplane!” (See our May/Jun 2014 edition at in our archive.) It alludes to Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus. Shelley’s work tells the story of … Continued
1. Unless ATC authorizes you otherwise, when you’re operating under IFR in controlled airspace, you are required to report all of the following as soon as possible except: a. Confirmation of forecasted weather b. Unforecast weather conditions encountered c. Safety information about the flight 2. You’re enroute to your destination, you listen to … Continued
Fly Like a PRO Professionalism and Flight Discipline in General Aviation By Everette Rochon FAA Training and Certification Group Manager If you’re interested in aviation, it’s a safe bet that you have seen video of the carefully orchestrated operations on board an aircraft carrier flight deck. You’ve seen the pitching deck, the closely-packed jets, … Continued
Read the Room; Take the Hint If Other Pilots Aren’t Flying, Should You Press Ahead? By Jason Blair FAA Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) The aviation community is a small world. In this environment, we each have the opportunity for positive influence on fellow pilots if we choose to use it. We particularly have a duty … Continued
What Is It Doing Now? By Michael J. “Mick” Kaufman Over the last several years, there have been many avionics upgrades. As a result, the avionics shops are six months to a year behind with scheduled work and updates. However, when the update is done, does it work “WRIGHT,” as in those brothers that started … Continued
Control Techniques During A Round Out / Flare By Hank Canterbury During training, I often observe pilots overcontrolling the elevator during the flare process. It is a perfectly natural thing to hunt and peck for the right attitude while searching for the ground. But occasionally, that results in a Pilot-Induced-Oscillation (PIO), which can cause damage … Continued