While airline pilots have to retire at 65, there’s no mandatory retirement age for general aviation pilots. A new story in Air & Space magazine asks the question: Can you be too old to fly? According to the FAA’s Active Civil Airmen Statistics, in 2016 there were about 41,600 pilots over 70 with an active […]
Pilots
Cool story, Bro
By JEB BURNSIDE. Any time two or more pilots get together, no matter the reason, the conversation eventually turns to flying. Even if one of them just got married, they’ll at least ask each other how their flight in went, and where they’re headed next. In fact, the only real exception to this rule is […]
New England Flying Gourmet Challenge takes off
The airport restaurant is to general aviation what the yacht club is to sailing, or the country club is to golf — a gathering spot for friendship and conversation. It is a place for a cup of coffee, a piece of pie or a pancake breakfast with a few fellow pilots to discuss your last landing, or […]
Fly Safe: Developing your personal minimums
As part of an ongoing campaign by the FAA and the GA community’s #FlySafe campaign to prevent Loss of Control accidents and save lives, each month the FAA focuses on best practices for GA pilots. This month’s focus: Personal minimums and how to integrate these safety measures in your flight planning. Aeronautical Decision Making (ADM) is a […]
Lightsport Man overcomes obstacles to take flight
You’ve heard the idiom “the sky’s the limit.” Well, for Johnathan Smith, this phrase has, indeed, been taken literally. Smith, 47, heard all his life that, because of his stuttering, he would never be able to accomplish his dream of becoming a pilot. However, he proved everyone who said that wrong. “I was born with […]
The runway behind me…
Smitty Smith from FunPlacesToFly.com sent us this picture, with this note: “The runway behind me. You know the old saying, don’t you?” (In case you don’t, check below the picture…) Things that do you no good in aviation: Altitude above you. Runway behind you. Fuel in the truck. Half a second ago. Approach plates in the […]
Lounging around
By JEB BURNSIDE. There are three basic types of people you meet in the typical FBO’s pilot lounge. If you’ve read many of my columns for General Aviation News, it will not surprise you to learn I like hanging around FBOs and pilot lounges. My enjoyment of this pastime stems from working as a lineboy at […]
Video on avoiding traffic pattern stalls released
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) Air Safety Institute (ASI) recently released a video on preventing stalls in the traffic pattern. Margins of Safety: Avoiding Traffic Pattern Stalls looks at the various complexities of flying in the pattern, as well as the importance of avoiding distractions and focusing on stick and rudder skills. “Pilots […]
UAS introduces UAS flightevolution at NBAA
An all-in-one trip planning and weather solution, UAS flightevolution from UAS international Trip Support, formally launched at this week’s National Business Aviation Association convention. Created for pilots and dispatchers, it enables advanced global flight planning, weather checking, aircraft performance calculation, and in-flight situational awareness, according to company officials. UAS flightevolution, built with Mobile-First Infrastructure, allows pilots and dispatchers to plan, […]