General Aviation News

For clarity’s sake

by 11 Comments

“Communication takes place when one person transmits ideas or feelings to another person or group of people. The effectiveness of the communication is measured by the similarity between the idea transmitted and the idea received.”

That quote comes straight from the FAA’s Aviation Instructor’s Handbook. Some might think that, because of its origins in an aeronautically oriented book, it’s an aviation specific theme. But it’s not.

Clarity and responsiveness of communication is essential to performing well in the airspace system, surely. But it’s also central to our ability to live well and succeed in many other aspects of life.

Let me give you an example. Perhaps you’ve experienced something similar. [Read more…]

Music on the wind

by 4 Comments

For most of us who fly there is a memory or two burned into our minds that involves someone in a position of authority telling us that flying is not a practical pursuit.

It’s happened to me. It’s happened to my kids. Most of the people I know and work with have had a similar experience.

That being the case, it’s not particularly surprising that many would-be pilots never make it through the FBO’s front door.

Conversely, there’s hardly a parent in America who hasn’t urged their child to take up a musical instrument at some point. Maybe it’s because they had a good experience as a cheerleader or a member of the marching band when they were a teenager. Perhaps it’s because they thrill to the idea of seeing their little one up on stage playing a recognizable tune. It’s even possible they see a future of wealth and privilege because their child becomes popular enough to make millions of dollars playing that instrument.

Anything can happen. [Read more…]

The ability to fly is priceless

by 5 Comments

A thin wisp of fog clung to the surface of Runway 9 at Jack Edwards National Airport in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Only waist high, it didn’t present a significant issue for departing aircraft. The thermometer inched up to 49° as I completed my pre-flight. By the time I made it to the hold short line, it warmed to 50.

I advanced the throttle, checked my tach, and enjoyed the gentle acceleration typical of the charming but somewhat anemic Lycoming powerplant pulling my Cessna 152 forward. Rotating briskly, the airplane departed, leaving Gulf Shores behind.

The unfolding of that simple chain of events, a series of actions and reactions that are so familiar to pilots all over the world, would have been mind-boggling to the pioneers pursuing powered flight just 115 years ago. They could dream it, but as of Oct. 31, 1903, nobody had actually done it. Not once. Not anywhere.

A century later the challenges that seem insurmountable to potential pilots may be the cost, or the complexity of the machines, or the time required to earn a pilot certificate, or an unclear vision of how they’ll use their certificate should they be fortunate enough to earn one.

How can I say this, politely? None of those concerns are valid. [Read more…]

The last of the fly-ins (for now)

by Leave a Comment

There’s an excellent chance that as you’re reading this, I’ll be at the controls of a beautifully restored Cessna 152, half a mile above the surface of the Earth, headed in the general direction of Jack Edwards National Airport in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Pilot types may refer to it as KJKA.

This is the site of the fourth and last Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) Fly-In of the year. I couldn’t be more excited. [Read more…]

Something old, something new, something fantastic

by 7 Comments

One of the great truths of aviation is that innovation always continues. The basics of the airframe, powerplant, and propeller have been modified, tweaked, and improved on a continuing basis. What was once wood became steel, then aluminum, then composite.

The instrument panel of even the most humble homebuilt experimental aircraft bears no resemblance to the panel of the finest certified aircraft of just a couple decades ago. The information available to the pilot is better than ever, and it’s getting less and less expensive to buy and use that better quality equipment.

But what of the pilot? [Read more…]

Part-time work. Full-time satisfaction.

by 3 Comments

Regular readers know that my wife and I bought a new house recently. Not new, exactly. It’s almost 70 years old. But new to us. And it’s fantastic. Although the repairs and upgrades are costing a bit more than I’d anticipated.

Surprise!

The idea of getting a part-time job has occurred to me, frankly. Sure, I’ve got my regular gig with the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), which keeps me busy. I love it too. This is some of the most satisfying work I’ve done in my life.

I’m also lucky enough to get to write for General Aviation News, a couple of local lifestyle publications based on central Florida, and a handful of novels, novellas, and short stories that sell enough units on Amazon and Audible that I’m glad I wrote them.

Still, like most Americans I can always use a few extra bucks. So I began thinking about that. [Read more…]

A serious question of mortality

by 34 Comments

I’m troubled this week and I’d like to talk about it. Please comment below if you wish. I’d be interested in your thoughts.

It comes as no surprise that one day in the future there will be absolute proof of my mortality. That’s not a great worry, frankly. It’s an inevitability. And I’ve had a good life. Very good. There’s no point in fretting over it ending one day.

But there is a good reason to make an effort to remain healthy, active, vibrant, and functional for as long as I can. Especially so if I wish to continue flying into my golden years, which I do. [Read more…]

There is joy in doing nothing

by 1 Comment

Every now and then I get to do something I really enjoy. I ride along in the right seat of an airplane. More often than not it’s not even my airplane.

I fly with old friends for the most part, although sometimes a new friend sits to my left. I make a suggestion here and there, but I don’t fly the airplane myself. Not unless I have to.

I get to be a CFI. [Read more…]

Buyer beware

by 8 Comments

My wife and I recently bought a house. It’s an old, wood-frame place that sags a bit, has more than a few cracks in the elderly plaster walls, and creaks louder than my own knees. But we love it.

One of the early changes we knew we’d have to make was to the windows. They’re at least 60 years old. Single pane, aluminum frame windows were all the rage in Florida during the middle of the last century.

But that was a long time ago. Before the glass was cracked. Back when the mechanisms actually allowed our windows to open and close. A few of ours are slightly open now and can’t be closed no matter how hard I try. That’s not the ideal condition when trying to contain air-conditioning costs in the sub-tropics.

The window provider we chose sent a salesman. His pitch was ruled by tunnel vision, as he only showed us a single window replacement. I would have liked a wider range of options, but the window he recommended is undeniably of better quality and more efficient than those we have now. We signed on the dotted line and prepared for our first major upgrade to the new/old place.

A gentleman showed up a few weeks later to measure the windows. They’re all custom sizes. He pulled into the driveway and I stepped out onto the porch to greet him. Before we made it to the front door he announced with a grimace, “This is going to cost more.” [Read more…]

Thank you to our online partners