An age-old component of aviation has been the pilot-in-the-loop. A pilot brings sophisticated human faculties to bear in solving problems of flight and making judgments on proper actions. But sometimes, the presence of a pilot can be detrimental — to the pilot. If an aircraft is to be subjected to dangers ranging from gun and […]
Video: Fourth birthday, first aerobatic flight
PlaneJunkies posted the video on Dec. 14, 2017, taken on his daughter’s fourth birthday and her first aerobatic flight in a Christen Eagle. “She has been flying in the Eagle since the age of two riding along, but was just to small to put on a parachute until now,” dad reports. Her first request: A four-point […]
NTSB releases summary of 2015 accidents
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released its summary of US civil aviation accidents for calendar year 2015. The summary includes details of all civil aviation accidents that occurred in 2015. Also available is accident trend data from 2006-2015, including: General Aviation Accidents, 2006-2015; General Aviation Accident Rates, 2006-2015; Purpose of Flight and Aircraft […]
FAA publishes Super Bowl NOTAM
Pilots flying in the Minneapolis area Jan. 31-Feb. 5, 2018, should familiarize themselves with the FAA’s air traffic procedures NOTAM for the area on those dates. Super Bowl LII takes place on Sunday, Feb. 4, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, with kick-off set for 5:30 p.m. (CST). Reservations will be required for arrivals and departures […]
Liberators Over the Atlantic published
Just published is “Liberators over the Atlantic,” by Jack Colman and Richard Colman, which chronicles a young man’s flying experiences during World War II, including insight into flying the iconic B-24 Liberator. Growing up in York, England, Jack Colman achieved his long-held desire to become a pilot by joining the Royal Air Force in October […]
Pilot crashes after failing to remove parachute locking pin
The private pilot was departing in the Golden Circle Air T-Bird experimental light-sport airplane. Onboard video footage from a wingtip-mounted camera provided a view of the cockpit. The pilot could be seen with his left hand on the control yoke, but his right hand, which was near the engine throttle, was obscured. The airplane took […]
Picture of the day: Greeting the sun
Joshua Boyd of Greenville, S.C., sent in this photo, explaining: “My Piper Arrow at Greenville Downtown Airport (KGMU) right before a morning flight.”
Dads for a Day help Young Eagles take flight
Several young people got their first chance to take to the skies at a Young Eagles event hosted by Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 534 at Leesburg International Airport in Florida on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017. Dads for a Day, a mentoring group of adults for young people based in the Villages, Florida, brought several kids […]
Video: Tips to flying with a nervous passenger
Lyle Townsend posted this video Dec. 15, 2017, of his flight with his new friend Crystal, who is a self-admitted nervous flyer. She reached out to Lyle on Instagram and asked if pilots are willing to take “scaredy cats” up flying in small airplanes. “The only correct answer to this question is “ABSOLUTELY!” Lyle says. […]