The Recreational Pilot Certificate: Still an Option
Did you know that you can still get a recreational pilot certificate? This surprises me a little bit. I thought the FAA would've done away with the recreational pilot certificate when the organization...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Foggles or Hood?
Photo © Emilio Labrador iPad or tablet? Stopwatch or timer? Choosing the right pilot supplies can be daunting. It's a dilemma that new pilots face with every new certificate or rating. Experienced...
View ArticlePilot Shortage Leaves Instructor Jobs Open
By now, you've all heard about the impending airline pilot shortage: A combination of a large number of retiring pilots and more strict regulations regarding pilot requirements have left airlines and...
View ArticleWhat's an AC?
No, I'm not talking about an air conditioner. I'm talking about an Advisory Circular. They come out every now and again and some of us pay attention to them, although there are surely some folks out...
View ArticleGulfstream Faulted for 2011 Crash
In a statement on October 10th, the NTSB announced a probably cause for the G650 crash that occurred last year. The details might be unsettling for some: The NTSB has found that Gulfstream is at fault,...
View ArticleDo You Use a FITS Syllabus?
I haven't heard much about FITS lately, so I thought I'd check and see if there were any updates. I didn't find much, unfortunately, so that leads me to believe one of three things is happening:...
View ArticleATSAP Program in Trouble
I did a research project during grad school on the FAA's ATSAP program, which was brand new at the time, and it seemed to be a good program. Modeled after the airline's ASAP program, ATSAP is a...
View ArticleHuerta: LPV Approaches On the Way
An Aviation Week article printed last week states that Michael Huerta, FAA Administrator, urges more aviation managers to implement safety information sharing systems in general and business aviation....
View ArticleOut With the Old?
Every now and then, rumors swirl about the decommissioning of certain NAVAIDS. It usually happens when new equipment or procedures are announced. Ever since the FAA went crazy with announcements of GPS...
View ArticleClik here to view.
57 Years of NORAD Santa-Tracking
NORAD has been tracking Santa Clause every Christmas for 57 years, and this year was no exception. While most people have heard of NORAD's ability to track Santa, many may not know that the program was...
View ArticleAirports Prepare for Winter Storms
I have to admit- I feel a little guilt today, sitting in my nice warm house sipping coffee while others are outside plowing runways and re-routing air traffic. Winter storms are causing significant...
View ArticleMore Growing Pains for Dreamliner
Our favorite airplane -- the Boeing 787 Dreamliner -- is in the news again, this time for mechanical problems. A Japan Airlines 787 just about took off from Boston with a significant fuel leak from the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Boeing 787 Grounded, Investigation Underway
Problems continue for Boeing after all of their 787 Dreamliner aircraft were grounded indefinitely earlier this month. Two separate incidents involving the battery compartment this month led to an...
View ArticleThe Cost of an Airplane: Is it Worth It?
I'm approached a lot about buying an airplane, but haven't personally taken the plunge yet. I've often thought it would make sense to buy one, but then I remember that I don't even own a house...
View ArticleCooperative Ownership: Reducing the Cost of Ownership
People are still attempting to tighten their budgets, even after years of frugality, which means that many pilots have put aircraft ownership on the back burner.But now is a great time to buy an...
View ArticleLife Cycle Cost 2013 Available from Conklin & de Decker
Aviation consultant company Conklin & de Decker have announce the release of a new version of their popular software database, Life Cycle Cost 2013, Volume I.Life Cycle Cost is a total aircraft and...
View ArticleUS Airways to Merge with American
Last Thursday, American Airlines and US Airways agreed to merge, creating the world's largest airline. And while airline executives claim that the merger will benefit customers in the long run, many of...
View ArticleTower Closings and Delays Possible with Sequester
Ray LaHood and Michael Huerta released a letter today detailing the FAA's plan for handling the potential budget cuts. The plan includes shutting down 100 control towers and cutting shifts at 60 more...
View ArticleDispatcher, Maintenance Training Offered at WAI Conference
This year's International Women in Aviation Conference will offer participants new or recurrent training that focuses on one of three different career topics, according to a press release from Women in...
View ArticleERAU Students Will Fly Full-Flight Simulators
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has become the first aviation university to offer full-flight level D simulators to its students for use. According to a university press release, beginning this...
View Article