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William E. Dubois

Questions from the Cockpit: Fire starter

By William E. Dubois · May 16, 2021 ·

Is it true you can break a whiskey compass and use the liquid to start a fire in a survival situation? And why are they called “whiskey compasses” any way?

Questions from the Cockpit: Are non-towered airports more dangerous?

By William E. Dubois · April 22, 2021 ·

Are non-towered airports really like the wild, wild west? And should there be more laws governing them?

Questions from the Cockpit: Doing a barrel roll on ADM

By William E. Dubois · March 21, 2021 ·

The FAA tells us that learning effective aeronautical decision making (ADM) is critical. But how can CFIs do that? William E. Dubois suggests CFIs do a half barrel roll and look at things differently.

Questions from the Cockpit: The lower the better?

By William E. Dubois · February 17, 2021 ·

What’s the lowest density altitude ever recorded? And just how well would a plane perform in those conditions?

Questions from the Cockpit: Break glass in case of emergency

By William E. Dubois · January 21, 2021 ·

Is there any truth to the story that if your static port gets blocked you can break the glass on the vertical speed indicator to restore the system?

Questions from the Cockpit: Better names for the airplane’s occupant

By William E. Dubois · December 20, 2020 ·

Through the years, we were variously labeled as Aeronauts, Aviators and Aviatrixes; Birdmen and Birdwomen; Eagles; Fliers; Pilots; and sometimes Operator or Occupant.

Questions from the Cockpit: When you’re hot, you’re hot

By William E. Dubois · November 15, 2020 ·

There are 635 Hot Spots at airports across the United States right now.

Questions from the Cockpit: A question of color

By William E. Dubois · October 14, 2020 ·

While I don’t know where the term black box comes from, I’m pretty sure I know why it won’t go away: It sounds cool.

Why is the cockpit called the cockpit?

By William E. Dubois · September 21, 2020 ·

There are three competing theories to explain the use of the word “cockpit” as the name for the nerve center of an airplane.

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