It’s been decades since I took that first flight lesson, but my desire to test myself, to better myself, to experience something new and exciting has not dwindled one bit. There’s a new add-on rating in my future. There’s a new challenge to accept and a standard to meet.
Real Pilot Story: Trapped in the Hills
“In this real pilot story, a father explains how a routine flight with his son turned fatal. The pilots’ familiarity with the terrain gave them an illusion of security, and they succumbed to the allure of complacency,” said AOPA Air Safety Institute Vice President of Operations Paul Deres.
Cascade Warbirds looking for volunteers to become aircraft marshallers
Marshallers direct the safe movement of airplanes on the ground and maintain safety for the general public during air shows, officials explained.
New tool helps pilots make the Go/No Go decision
By evaluating a wide array of factors including weather conditions, aircraft readiness, pilot experience, and airport characteristics, the digital Flight Risk Assessment Tool helps make informed decisions that prioritize safety prior to takeoff, company officials explained.
C172 crashes after pilot fails to use carb heat
The pilot’s failure to use carburetor heat during the approach and his unsuitable flight profile for an upsloping runway, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power and an impact with terrain during an attempted go-around.
Picture of the Day: Cockpit panel in the setting sun
John Schmidt submitted this photo and note: “Pietenpol builder/pilot Greg Cardinal noticed the sun coming through his hangar windows at just the right time to illuminate the wood instrument panel of his airplane and caught this view. The panel, fabricated with the help of Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame inductee Dale Johnson, was purposely cut for the wood grain symmetry, and finished with a minimum of instruments.”
What should I do with an engine that’s making metal?
Our engines expert helps troubleshoot a Piper Pacer’s engine, which just starting making metal.
Hidden danger: Dust devils
Dust devils present significant hazards to general aviation pilots and have been present in more than 170 accidents the National Transportation Safety Board has investigated since 1982.
Museum expands high school plane-building program
The Aviation Museum of N.H. recently expanded its high school student aircraft-building program to two new schools: Lebanon High School and Farmington High School.