Becky, a student pilot in Florida, writes: I’m fully caffeinated and working my way through Chapter 10 of the Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge to get my head around this weight and balance stuff. I just encountered “standard weights.” The good book says that standard weights are “established weights” and “should be used if actual weights are not available.” Then the first thing on the list is gasoline at 6 pounds per gallon. Huh? How can the weight of gas be a mystery? It weighs what it weighs…right?
Human Factors: From the frying pan to the fire
What is the takeaway from the Red Bull Plane Swap debacle? While there are many lessons to be learned, a key one is dealing with external pressures.
Questions from the Cockpit: Crash course
Jessica, a CFI in Arizona, writes: Is it possible to crash an airplane on a checkride and still pass the exam?
Human Factors: A change of mind…or two
What can we learn from an accident where a pilot crashed in white-out conditions over a frozen lake in Alaska?
Questions from the Cockpit: Not to be taxing, but…
Fredrick, a private pilot in Wyoming, writes: What are the origins of the words “taxiing” and “taxiways” in aviation?
Human Factors: A watered-down test flight
How could three veteran pilots miss the fact that there were several quarts — yes quarts — of water in the fuel tank?
Questions from the Cockpit: Weighty words
Noah, a student pilot in Arizona, writes: I’m trying to get my head around weight and balance, especially the terms: Moment, arm, station, datum… None of them seem particularly descriptive. Can you help me out?
Human Factors: A host of bad decisions
How do two professional pilots lose control of their flight just nine minutes after takeoff? Among a number of factors, what part did the pilot shortage play in this fatal accident?
Questions from the Cockpit: What’s up with pilots who keep busting TFRs?
Randy, a commercial pilot in Massachusetts, writes: What’s up with these morons who keep busting Presidential TFRs? It seems like I read about this happening way too often. And then it always gets played up in the general media and it makes the rest of us pilots look bad!