There seems to be some subtle prejudice against flight suits in GA flying. Maybe some pilots don’t feel we’ve earned the right, not flying combat jets and all. Or maybe it’s something else. I’m not sure what it is, because, arguably, flight suits make sense for any kind of pilot.
Human Factors: The second decision
It’s very easy, after making one bad decision, to make another. And following two bad decisions, not only is your reservoir of luck running low, your options have just been significantly narrowed as well. At three bad decisions, you might as well just call the NTSB yourself to save a bystander the trouble.
Questions from the Cockpit: Right vs. Left
Galen, one of our pilot readers, writes: Hello, I have always wondered why the left magneto is to the right on the keyswitch, and the right magneto is to the left.
Human Factors: The wind at your back is for sailors
What can we learn from an accident that occurred when a pilot was landing at the airport in Spruce Pine, N.C. There are several takeaways, from plan bias to tailwinds to understanding how the slope of a runway affects an airplane’s performance.
Human Factors: Whose fault, really?
When a mechanic’s error leads to an accident, does the pilot and aircraft owner share some of the responsibility?
Students flying high — and for free — in Albuquerque
The Southwest Aeronautics, Mathematics and Science Academy, known as the SAMS Academy, at Double Eagle II Airport (KAEG) in Albuquerque, New Mexico, immerses kids in aviation starting in sixth grade, eventually allowing them to earn their private pilot certificate — for free — before they graduate from high school.
Questions from the Cockpit: Where’s the other end of the tape measure?
Where is AGL measured from? As with most things in life — and aviation — it depends.
Human Factors: No one in command
It wouldn’t be until after the crash that either one of them would have any clue that no one was flying the plane.
Questions from the Cockpit: Why are pilot watches so big?
Linda, an FBO employee in California, writes: What can you tell me about pilot’s watches? It seems like all the pilots I see — especially the men — wear HUGE watches. Is this something they actually need? Or is it a style thing? And are they as expensive as they look?
Test flight: The game-changing Delta Zulu headset
Lightspeed Aviation’s newest headset includes a CO detector, as well as HearingEQity, which boost sound levels for sound levels you can’t hear well, a possible game-changer for an aging pilot population.
5 in the Sky
The five members of the Porter family are flying around the world in an AirVan on what dad Ian calls an “Edventure.”
Questions from the Cockpit: I reckon so
Phillip, working on his commercial ticket in Florida, writes: “Settle a bet for us here at the flight school: Why is dead reckoning called dead reckoning? Online, there seems to be a lot of difference of opinion about the origin of the term.”