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?”
Opinion
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?
Disappearing Fuel
Wondering why your aircraft’s fuel quantity seems to be disappearing? Temperature fluctuations and fuel density variations often cause noticeable gauge discrepancies. Learn how evaporation and expansion affect your usable fuel and discover the best time of day to refuel your plane for maximum value.
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?
Thanks and Changes
Perhaps I’m getting sentimental as I age. But is that so bad?
We Need More A&Ps and More Mentors
With 44% of U.S. mechanics nearing or past retirement age, the aviation industry faces a massive maintenance crunch. But as enrollment climbs and new students step up, industry leaders say mentorship is the key to filling the hangar.
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.
A Brief History of the Interstate S-1 Cadet
Interstate introduced its two-place Cadet in 1940, envisioning it as the logical choice for the Civilian Pilot Training Program.
A View of 100LL I Hadn’t Considered
Avgas isn’t pumped continuously around the clock; it’s built in scheduled batches. Discover how shifting refinery economics and profit margins can cause silent supply gaps before anyone notices the tanks running low.