Lisa, a sport pilot in New Mexico, asked me the other day: “There are all kinds of ways of knowing when a TFR starts, but how do I know when one ends?”
About William E. Dubois
Human Factors: Running on Empty
A midnight emergency landing left a Cessna 340 destroyed and a static display T-33 missing its tail after the pilot ran out of fuel short of the runway. What can other pilots learn from this accident?
Human Factors: A Stake Through the Heart
A pilot’s routine commute in a Bonanza ends on a closed runway. What can we learn from this accident about how mission complacency and pilot fatigue can create a dangerous situation?
Questions from the Cockpit: Reading List
Looking to expand your aviation knowledge beyond the standard flight manuals? Discover our columnist’s list of essential aviation books, covering everything from flight instruction and aerodynamics to weather, history, and engaging new children’s literature that inspires the next generation of aviators.
Questions from the Cockpit: Beware Bias
Christina, a student pilot in Florida, writes: My CFI was telling me about expectation and confirmation bias today, but I couldn’t help wondering: Is this really a thing? I mean, I understand the theory – on paper – but it’s hard for me to get my head around it really happening. Is this truly a serious threat?
Human Factors: A Shakespearean Tragedy
A widow’s final tribute to her late husband over the mountains of Wyoming ended in a tragic crash after spreading his ashes. What can we learn from this fatal accident about flying in the mountains?
Questions from the Cockpit: Catching Some Zs
Amy, a student pilot in Texas, writes: Why is UTC time called Zulu? I’m not wrapping my head around where the “Z” comes from.
Human Factors: One Bad Decision After Another
An uncertificated pilot with no tailwheel or high-performance experience purchased a powerful Yakovlev Yak-55M and immediately crashed it following a string of poor decisions. What can we learn from this accident?
Human Factors: Deadbeats
When a seasoned Malibu pilot experienced a total engine failure, he executed a flawless off-airport landing. However, the real shock came during the ensuing NTSB investigation, when investigators discovered nearly two decades of brazen aviation maintenance fraud.