We used to just fly the airplane. Now, we want air-conditioning, glass panels, noise-cancelling headsets, and cupholders. All good things. All highly attractive to buyers. But they don’t make the airplane fly any better or the pilots any smarter.
Opinion
Don’t Do Anything Stupid
We pay for aircraft insurance to finance the fallout of something bad happening — and very often that comes from our own lack of common sense.
The Negotiation Game
Owning an airplane is a dream for many pilots, but the asking price is often just a suggestion. Through honest negotiation, buyers and sellers can find a mutual win-win, turning the aspiration of flight into an affordable reality.
Why Octane Ratings Don’t Tell the Whole Story for GA Engines
The general aviation industry faces safety and legal hurdles during the transition to 100-octane unleaded fuel. Understanding the discrepancy between test-engine octane ratings and real-world engine performance is vital for maintaining safety and protecting manufacturers from liability.
Questions from the Cockpit: Slow to the Party
Kimberly, the spouse of a pilot-in-training in Arizona, asks: With all the changes in aviation over the last few decades, how has the current training of pilots changed, compared to previous generations?
Maintenance: Is Less More? Or Just Less?
Should the FAA extend annual inspection rules? Explore how changing maintenance intervals could solve mechanic shortages while reducing maintenance-induced risks.
Anyone Can Talk To Anyone — And Probably Should
“Nobody can tell a PIC what to do at a non-towered airport,” is the common refrain from those who treasure their anti-authority stance. Many people believe this, too. Even though it is clearly untrue.
Human Factors: Know Thy Airplane
What can we learn from an accident that happened while taking kids up for their first flights by a pilot who didn’t have full knowledge of the airplane’s systems and a mechanic who missed a clogged fuel line?
Modifications Galore
In aviation the modification fever hit hard. There are few airframes or powerplants that haven’t been tweaked in some way to fit an owner’s preference. From the largest to the smallest we’ve made changes to suit our interests. It would take a whole book to provide even a glimpse of the full spectrum of alterations we’ve made over the years. A series of books. And we’re not done yet.