Adam, an airline pilot based out of Texas, writes: “I recently watched the Japanese cartoon Porco Rosso with my little nephew. Afterward he asked me if there were really seaplane pirates back in the day. I told him that I thought they were probably fictional, but that years ago one of my teachers was ‘William Fly, the Airplane Guy’ and he would know for sure – so I’m asking you!”
Questions from the Cockpit
Questions from the Cockpit: Complicated Characteristics
Trey, a student pilot in Colorado, writes: “I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around the difference between maneuverability and controllability, I don’t think I’m stupid, but…”
Mandatory Reporting: Fact vs. Fiction
Justin, a private pilot in Texas, writes: “There’s a lot of chatter online about Air Traffic Control Towers “having to” report any mechanical issue a pilot has to the FAA and pilots having to follow up on incidents with the FSDO. Is this new? Where does this come from? What rises to the level of being reported? And what should you do if the FAA calls or writes?”
Questions from the Cockpit: Confusion Crossing the Country
Jimmy, a student pilot in Florida, writes: I’m confused about what seem to be overlapping definitions of cross-country flight, especially when it comes to what can or should be logged. I’ve talked to a couple of different CFIs at my school and I’m getting different answers. Can you help me sort this out?
Questions from the Cockpit: A friendly dogfight
High-wing vs. low-wing aircraft: Who wins in this debate?
Questions from the Cockpit: Strength is relative
Staci, a student pilot in Arizona, asks: Why are airplanes less strong when it comes to negative Gs than positive Gs? Our “normal” trainers are said to be OK to 3.8 positive but only 1.52 negative. Even aerobatic airplanes, while stronger on both sides of the scale, are still weaker in the negative G area. It would seem to me you’d just build an airplane to be the same strength all the way around. I’m hoping you can tell me why there is a difference in strength between positive and negative.
Questions from the Cockpit: Reno reboot
Question from pretty much every pilot I know, in pretty much every state: What did you think of the National Championship Air Races in its new location?
Questions from the Cockpit: Night and day
Mack, a student pilot in Florida, writes: I just learned that there are three different definitions of night in the regulations! What’s the deal with all these overlapping definitions? Is the FAA just trying to make it harder on students than it needs to be?
Questions From The Cockpit: The top 10 causes of GA accidents
The list of the top 10 causes of GA accidents is shocking in that all of the items are basic pilot skills. Shouldn’t anyone with a pilot certificate have a handle on all of these?