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!
Human Factors: Feeling trapped
If you are flying with someone else, allowing yourself to be swayed outside your comfort zone is a trap. That’s the lesson from this 2021 accident that claimed the life of the pilot in the lead airplane.
Questions from the Cockpit: Plane sharing
Mac, a private pilot in California asks: With the cost of airplane rentals so high, do you have any tips on the best way to maximize hours to keep current? Absolutely, says our expert: Plane sharing.
Human Factors: Stoned and stupefied
What can we learn from a fatal accident that involves an uncertificated pilot with methamphetamine and THC in his system? Believe it or not, there is a lesson here for all pilots.
Sock it to me
After reading a magazine article back in 2016 on the risk of “hangar rash” damage to the thin, trailing edges of composite propeller blades, David Ortero decided — “before even closing the magazine” — to buy covers to protect his new Whirlwind GA200L. The only problem was, that in scouring the internet, it appeared that nobody made such a thing. So Ortero simply went to his workshop and made his own.