As a reminder, FAR Part 91.3 is titled “Responsibility and authority of the pilot in command.” Part (a) states, “The pilot in command of an aircraft is directly responsible for, and is the final authority, as to the operation of that aircraft.”
Opinion
Winning through failure
Frankly — and I think it is long past time the following statement should come into common usage — failure isn’t such a bad thing. Accept failure as a periodic occurrence. Welcome it, even. For failure only comes our way when we aim high and fall somewhat short.
Do multigrade oils increase valve sticking in piston airplane engines?
Recently an engine rebuilder called with a question I had not heard before. He asked if multigrade oils would increase the possibility of valve sticking in piston aircraft engines. My first response was “why would you think that?” Then I started to think through the mechanics of the problem.
The Sky and I
Whether you are a many decades pilot or just cracking the FAR/AIM for the first time, this book has something for you.
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.
The value of friendships
As the holidays approach, it’s a good time to put some conscious thought into those things of great value that require no price tag. Friendships don’t come into our lives with an offer of gift cards, discount coupons, store credit, or easy one-day delivery. Yet, they matter.
Modern engines for a modern world
One of the reasons that GA has not grown is that flying today’s aircraft scares the hell out of young people.
The one and only Boeing XB-15
Only one Boeing XB-15 bomber prototype was built, yet it provided the giant aircraft manufacturer with design ideas that shaped the famous B-17 and Model 314 Clipper airplanes.
One pilot’s cautionary tale: The frustration of getting the FAA answers from an unwilling medical community
One pilot runs into a medical nightmare, but this time the bad guy isn’t the FAA. It’s the doctors in his HMO.