First of all, don’t call them crop dusters.
In defense of flight suits for general aviation pilots
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.