Marc Sas submitted this photo and note: “Felts Field Spokane. A bit of nostalgia at Spokane, Washington’s first airline passenger terminal at Felts Field (KSFF). Random visiting aircraft, probably for lunch at the Skyway Cafe. I was working for Western Aviation at the time doing line service.”
Human Factors: The second decision
It’s very easy, after making one bad decision, to make another. And following two bad decisions, not only is your reservoir of luck running low, your options have just been significantly narrowed as well. At three bad decisions, you might as well just call the NTSB yourself to save a bystander the trouble.
AOPA unveils new fly-in strategy
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association has unveiled its new fly-in strategy: Partnering with existing aviation events around the country.
Autopilot mod in the works for Islanders
UK aircraft manufacturer Britten-Norman and US flight control systems developer Genesys Aerosystems are working together to certify the latest S-TEC 3100 autopilot system on Britten-Norman’s range of Islander aircraft.
Wipaire gets FAA nod for change to Caravans with floats
“We did this flight manual supplement to align the Outside Ambient Temperature (OAT) flight and ground limit for a floated Caravan with that of a wheeled Caravan,” explains Brad Kutz, vice president of engineering for Wipaire. “Prior to this, the ground OAT was limited to 42C (107.6F). Now, it has been raised to 47C (116.6F).”
Pilot and mechanic share blame for accident
The pilot’s failure to retract the landing gear on the amphibious airplane prior to a water landing, resulting in a nose over and structural damage to the airframe. The mechanic’s failure to remove electrical tape from the pitot tube, the pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection, and the pilot’s failure to visually confirm the landing gear position prior to touchdown were all factors in the accident.
Picture of the Day: The Chinese Wall
Gary Lanthrum submitted this photo and note: “The Chinese Wall makes up part of the Continental Divide in the Bob Marshall Wilderness of Montana. It is an amazing geologic formation that can only be accessed by flying or by an arduous multi-day hike through the wilderness. This view is from my Maule on the way to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh in 2022.”
The power of a piece of paper
A blank sheet of paper is an invitation and a common starting point for many journeys, including taking flight.
New Year’s resolutions for pilots
How about you? Did you make any aviation-related resolutions for 2023? Share with our readers, as your resolution may inspire other pilots.