• Write for us
    • Email Sign-up
    Air Facts Journal
    • Articles
      • Air Facts Archives
      • Friday Photo
      • Go/No Go
      • History
      • I Can’t Believe I Did That
      • International
      • Interview
      • I was there
      • John’s blog
      • Opinion
      • Technique
      • Weather Geek
      • What I Know About…
      • Young Pilots
    • Podcast
    • Popular
    • Videos
    • Newsletter
    • Write for us
    • What is Air Facts?
    • Search
    • Menu Menu
    • Flight Lessons from Komati to Stegi

    • A First Time for Everything

    • Friday Photo: Glimpse of Gold

    • Introducing IFR Focus: Real-World IFR Tips from Experienced Pilots

    • AirFacts Podcast—Behind the Cockpit Door: Insights from Joel Turpin

    • I Almost Hit the Trees: A Lesson in IFR Vertigo

    PreviousNext
    123456

    I Can’t Believe I Did That

    Learn from the mistakes of others

    I Was There

    Pilot stories from around the world

    Technique

    Improve your flying skills

    Articles by Serrhel Adams

    Articles by Serrhel Adams

    NEW ARTICLES

    OUR MOST RECENT POSTS

    Air Facts was first published in 1938 by Leighton Collins, dedicated to “the development of private air transportation.” It’s a different world now, and it’s a different Air Facts. Relaunched in 2011 as an online journal, Air Facts still champions, educates, informs and entertains pilots worldwide with real-world flying experiences. More…

    I Can’t Believe I Did That – Angel knows best

    I Can't Believe I Did That
    The Angel on my right shoulder whispers, “This is not the time for you to be doing this, look at those clouds!” but the Devil on my left shoulder says, “Aw c’mon! You’re only going for a short flight, you’ve got to be able to fly in this, what’s stopping you?”
    Read more
    2 Comments
    /
    August 18, 2014
    https://media.airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/06173056/AF-Thunderstorm-clouds.jpg 280 520 Adrian Ryan https://media.airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/03140241/AF_Logo_24.png Adrian Ryan2014-08-18 16:19:052017-09-06 12:34:37I Can’t Believe I Did That – Angel knows best

    Remote ATC towers – coming to an airport near you?

    John's blog
    The concept of remote towers, once the stuff of research papers and futurists, is now a reality--and it might be coming to the US sooner than you think. Is that a bad thing?
    Read more
    16 Comments
    /
    August 15, 2014
    https://media.airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/06173101/AF-remote-tower-feature.jpg 280 520 John Zimmerman https://media.airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/03140241/AF_Logo_24.png John Zimmerman2014-08-15 10:41:432015-11-05 16:38:01Remote ATC towers – coming to an airport near you?

    The descent: enjoying the ride down

    I was there
    My pilot buddies and much of what I read tell of the virtues of the more dramatic times: thundering takeoffs, a perfectly executed crosswind landing, the intense concentration requirements of low approaches. While I admit that each of those aspects have their charms, I am smitten beyond relief to the time when the altimeter is slowing unwinding.
    Read more
    15 Comments
    /
    August 12, 2014
    https://media.airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/06173106/AF-Descent-feature.jpg 280 520 Mark Fay https://media.airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/03140241/AF_Logo_24.png Mark Fay2014-08-12 17:23:272014-08-12 17:23:27The descent: enjoying the ride down

    Back to Africa

    My Adventure
    "We never fly too much above 500 feet around here," Michelle said as we began the climbout from the grass strip at the Kosrue Aero Club. "I know it seems low but remember we don't have any mountains to worry about."
    Read more
    3 Comments
    /
    August 11, 2014
    https://media.airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/06173108/AF-Ivory-Coast-feature.jpg 280 520 Larry James https://media.airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/03140241/AF_Logo_24.png Larry James2014-08-11 18:05:412017-09-06 13:47:35Back to Africa

    What? Me panic?

    I was there
    In 1966, two short years after the disbandment of the RCAF Golden Hawks, Canada’s premier formation aerobatic team, the powers-that-be decided that one of the military contributions to the celebration of Canada’s one hundredth birthday would be another formation aerobatic team that would travel across the country during the centennial year and give exactly 100 performances.
    Read more
    4 Comments
    /
    August 8, 2014
    https://media.airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/06173128/AFtutorfeature.jpg 280 520 John Swallow https://media.airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/03140241/AF_Logo_24.png John Swallow2014-08-08 09:32:542014-08-08 09:32:54What? Me panic?

    Logbooks: Concorde adventures

    Logbooks
    Richard Collins made 14 flights on Concorde, both in the cabin and in the cockpit of the supersonic airliner. In this fascinating article, he shares the details of "the most extraordinary airplane ever," from the performance numbers to the complex systems and what it was like to fly the simulators.
    Read more
    30 Comments
    /
    August 5, 2014
    https://media.airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/06173124/AF-Concorde-feature.jpg 280 520 Richard Collins https://media.airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/03140241/AF_Logo_24.png Richard Collins2014-08-05 17:12:002023-02-07 14:12:16Logbooks: Concorde adventures
    Page 366 of 438«‹364365366367368›»

    John’s Blog

    The aviation community is alive and well

    John's blog
    Before the expletive could even leave my mouth, one of the FBO employees offered to lend me the crew car. I assumed the crew car option would be impossible, or at least impossibly bad manners, since the round trip would be nearly two hours and the FBO was closing soon. But he wouldn’t hear it: “take all the time you need and just drop the keys off with the night security guard. We appreciate your business.”
    Read more
    25 Comments
    /
    June 2, 2025
    https://media.airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/27151312/The-aviation-community-is-alive-and-well.png 1000 1250 John Zimmerman https://media.airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/03140241/AF_Logo_24.png John Zimmerman2025-06-02 08:54:432025-05-27 16:38:00The aviation community is alive and well

    The Starlink era is here—will we regret it?

    John's blog
    This promises to be a major advancement in cockpit technology, with benefits for pilots and passengers alike. But before diving headfirst into the Starlink pool, it would be wise to pause for just a moment and contemplate what we might lose. Don’t worry, I’m no Luddite and I’m not here to scare anyone away from an exciting new gadget. I am, however, an observer with enough experience to have seen technological breakthroughs bring unintended consequences. I fear that may happen here.
    Read more
    27 Comments
    /
    April 9, 2025
    https://media.airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/17123837/Copy-of-The-Starlink-era-is-here%E2%80%94will-we-regret-it.png 1000 1300 John Zimmerman https://media.airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/03140241/AF_Logo_24.png John Zimmerman2025-04-09 08:55:152025-04-17 12:38:45The Starlink era is here—will we regret it?

    Pilot’s Bucket List: 11 Must-Do Adventures After Earning Your License

    John's blog
    Everyone's dream list will vary, but let me suggest 11 things that every pilot should do with their license. Call it a bucket list if you want, but I consider it a flight plan for a fulfilling life in the cockpit.
    Read more
    55 Comments
    /
    March 14, 2025
    https://media.airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20101002/11-things-to-do-with-your-license.png 1000 1250 John Zimmerman https://media.airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/03140241/AF_Logo_24.png John Zimmerman2025-03-14 08:55:252025-03-23 14:20:58Pilot’s Bucket List: 11 Must-Do Adventures After Earning Your License
    View John’s Blog

    I Can’t Believe I Did That

    A Quarter Tank and a Prayer

    I Can't Believe I Did That
    I was watching the fuel gauges drop before my eyes. I elected to continue to ECG rather than turn back. I was on a direct course. The Norfolk controller wished me luck—not the most reassuring sign—and handed me off to ECG Tower, who had already been briefed.
    Read more
    13 Comments
    /
    June 20, 2025
    https://media.airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20175441/QUARTER-TANK-AND-A-PRAYER.png 1000 1250 Jeff Minck https://media.airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/03140241/AF_Logo_24.png Jeff Minck2025-06-20 08:55:212025-05-27 15:15:11A Quarter Tank and a Prayer

    Trial by Ice

    I Can't Believe I Did That, I was there
    The most valuable lesson I learned from the “School of Hard Knocks” had nothing to do with weather or instrument flying. The “trial by ice” was a lesson in the awesome responsibility that comes from occupying the left seat of an airplane, regardless of its size. It also taught me to recognize those rare and unusual emergency situations when going by the book is not safe, and when deviating from standard operating procedures or the Federal Air Regulations is not only warranted, but imperative.
    Read more
    31 Comments
    /
    May 5, 2025
    https://media.airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/16113809/trial-by-ice.png 1000 1250 Joel Turpin https://media.airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/03140241/AF_Logo_24.png Joel Turpin2025-05-05 08:10:022025-05-05 08:11:53Trial by Ice

    I Am UNSAFE Checklist—Lessons Learned on a Fateful Night

    I Can't Believe I Did That
    Very soon I was on the approach and thought I could still make 06C.  The ATIS called out the overcast at 800’ AGL, the minimum I needed (mistake #5—not mine, but it counted anyway.)  I held at 800’, assuming I’d see the runway lights below me and then I could continue to 06C.  As I crossed the runway threshold, it was solid IMC and I had to go missed.  I asked the Tower what the current ceiling was, and the response was that the ATIS was old and the ceiling was actually 400’ and you’ll have to go around. 
    Read more
    19 Comments
    /
    February 28, 2025
    https://media.airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/14102325/unsafe-checklist.png 1000 1250 Bob Hamilton https://media.airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/03140241/AF_Logo_24.png Bob Hamilton2025-02-28 08:55:512025-02-14 10:24:30I Am UNSAFE Checklist—Lessons Learned on a Fateful Night
    View ICBIDT

    Opinion

    ADS-Fee?

    Opinion
    Imagine flying out on a perfect CAVOK day to bathe in all that heavenly glory. Now imagine a few weeks later receiving a bill in the mail for a “landing” fee from an airport you, well, never landed at. Welcome to PLANEPASS!
    Read more
    18 Comments
    /
    June 16, 2025
    https://media.airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20091718/ADS-FEE.png 1000 1250 Alexander Sack https://media.airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/03140241/AF_Logo_24.png Alexander Sack2025-06-16 08:55:252025-05-27 10:58:00ADS-Fee?

    A Different Kind of Pilot Decision—Choosing Not to Fly

    I was there, Opinion
    In my airplane, I am the source of reliability—or unreliability. The flight doesn’t leave without me. If I don’t like the weather, I don’t go. If I need to divert, I can. I choose my departure time. I build in margins. And most importantly, I have the authority—and practice—to say “no.”
    Read more
    14 Comments
    /
    May 28, 2025
    https://media.airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/12100549/A-Different-Kind-of-Pilot-Decision%E2%80%94Choosing-Not-to-Fly.png 1000 1250 Serrhel Adams https://media.airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/03140241/AF_Logo_24.png Serrhel Adams2025-05-28 08:55:462025-05-27 15:18:53A Different Kind of Pilot Decision—Choosing Not to Fly

    What the Sky Taught Me

    Opinion
    Small airports hold a peculiar magic—they exist in the present moment while preserving a vision from long ago. For decades, I watched small aircraft come and go from these little strips, until at 49, that pull became a question I couldn't ignore: what was I missing by staying on the ground? What relationships—what dialogue—awaited me in the sky?
    Read more
    14 Comments
    /
    May 19, 2025
    https://media.airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/05164511/What-the-Sky-Taught-Me.png 1000 1250 Brian Siskind https://media.airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/03140241/AF_Logo_24.png Brian Siskind2025-05-19 08:55:402025-05-05 16:45:35What the Sky Taught Me
    View Opinion

    More Articles

    I Can’t Believe I Did That

    Learn from the mistakes of others

    Technique

    Improve your flying skills

    Go Or No Go

    Test your weather decision-making

    Young Pilots

    The next generation writes

    Friday Photo

    Unforgettable cockpit views

    I Was There

    Sharing pilot stories

    Recent Posts

    • Flight Lessons from Komati to Stegi
    • A First Time for Everything
    • Friday Photo: Glimpse of Gold
    • Introducing IFR Focus: Real-World IFR Tips from Experienced Pilots
    • AirFacts Podcast—Behind the Cockpit Door: Insights from Joel Turpin

    Email newsletter

    Write for us!

    Did you know that most of the articles at Air Facts are written by readers like you? You do not have to be Richard Collins or Ernest Gann – simply a GA pilot with a story you’d share with friends sitting in the hangar.

    Here’s how to contribute.

    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    ©COPYRIGHT 2011-2025, SPORTSMAN'S MARKET, INC. All Rights Reserved.
    Scroll to top