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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…

Learning to accept the no-go decision

I’ve obviously done something to upset Mother Nature this year. There’s no other explanation for what I can confidently say is my worst streak of canceled flights in 30 years as a pilot. Here are the four most noteworthy examples from a brutal five-month stretch.

JFK

Friday Photo: New York on a Crisp Morning

7,000 feet over the New York City area with Jersey City, Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Hudson River spread out below.

Reading About Aircraft Accidents and My Bag of Clues

So what motivates me to look up a particular accident? I want to learn something, some bit of knowledge, some clue for my clue bag.

Piet and the Passporto

Flying with Old Piet was rarely dull. There were forgotten passports, unusual circuit procedures, angry radio calls, and landings that left rather more of an impression than they should have.

In a Snap

A routine aerobatic flight takes an unexpected turn when a snap roll happens almost instantly. The experience leads Serrhel Adams to reflect on how quickly a loss-of-control event can develop—and whether the deliberate stalls and spins we practice in training really resemble what happens when things go wrong.

Experience Counts

Experience doesn’t stop being valuable with age. Tom Slavonik makes the case for older pilots to stay active, share their knowledge and help guide the next generation of aviators.

John’s Blog

Learning to accept the no-go decision

I’ve obviously done something to upset Mother Nature this year. There’s no other explanation for what I can confidently say is my worst streak of canceled flights in 30 years as a pilot. Here are the four most noteworthy examples from a brutal five-month stretch.

Flying the Pilatus PC-12: does it live up to the hype?

Today we tackle a unique and well-regarded airplane: the Pilatus PC-12. Does it live up to the hype as the “turbine Suburban?” Is a single engine turboprop safe? Can it really take off from short and soft runways? My short answer is yes, yes, and yes, but please read on for a much longer answer.

Is your flight school training you for the wrong job?

To be blunt, some schools are training the next generation of pilots to be excellent systems managers in a multi-crew environment, but are failing the pilots who want to use an airplane as a tool for personal travel. A Bonanza isn't a miniature Boeing; it's a cross-country time machine that requires a completely different set of skills, most of which aren’t found in the ACS or an accelerated syllabus.

View John’s Blog

I Can’t Believe I Did That

New Captain, Dark Runway

I Can't Believe I Did That

It was almost midnight and raining heavily. My first officer and I followed the checklist and thought we had it completed. We were in ground contact and could see some lights on the ground, but NO RUNWAY IN SIGHT as we approached minimums. We were about to initiate a missed approach!

I Need a Donut

I Can't Believe I Did That

I strive to keep my inner Homer Simpson quiet, but sometimes he takes over in the cockpit. From tailwinds at KVBT to snow-filled wheel pants in Evansville, here are a few of my “D’oh!” moments—and what they taught me about staying sharp as a pilot.

Collins Writing Prize Second Place: Livin’ the Dream

I Can't Believe I Did That, Young Pilots

This article received second place in the 2026 Richard Collins Writing Prize for Young Pilots. Grace Eger, who also placed in the contest in 2023, shares a memorable winter lesson in humility—and a reminder of why flying is still the best job in the world.

Opinion

Reading About Aircraft Accidents and My Bag of Clues

So what motivates me to look up a particular accident? I want to learn something, some bit of knowledge, some clue for my clue bag.

In a Snap

A routine aerobatic flight takes an unexpected turn when a snap roll happens almost instantly. The experience leads Serrhel Adams to reflect on how quickly a loss-of-control event can develop—and whether the deliberate stalls and spins we practice in training really resemble what happens when things go wrong.

Experience Counts

Experience doesn’t stop being valuable with age. Tom Slavonik makes the case for older pilots to stay active, share their knowledge and help guide the next generation of aviators.

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