Robbing two pieces of luck from my box of experience

Impressive mountains were quite near on both sides, and I noticed that there were at least two separate layers of stratus above me. I could see that the lower level shrouded the glacier ahead, obscuring most of it. I could also see that, if I continued beneath the lowest level, I would soon fly into the face of that glacier right at its moraine. Did I mention that I had only 30 hours under a seat belt at that time?
View from 182

The after symphony

After the winds have been tamed, after the distance traveled; after you have set aside the weather maps and navigational charts and flying’s fears. After you have arrived… it’s a moment so sublime, there is no other feeling like it. Joy and pride and relief and excitement drenched in the smell of hot oil and the sound of happy strangers and friends who know exactly how you feel – because they have felt it, too.

Friday photo: fog and a full moon

Sometimes the weather doesn't cooperate and you end up fogged in. As Steve Ellis found out, though, that doesn't have to mean a trip to the airport is wasted. He took this misty photo of his RV-4 on the ground at on a trip to Vero Beach, Florida, which captures the early morning solitude of an airport - complete with a full moon overhead.

Never stop listening – why it pays to be paranoid in the cockpit

I rolled the airplane out onto the runway after checking that the final approach course was clear and began slowing to a stop. I was praying that the controller would catch his mistake himself and issue us a cancellation of our takeoff clearance. But he did not do so. Knowing that I would probably create some very big waves, I transmitted over the tower frequency a quite simple sentence.

Food fight in the flight levels

I remembered we had boarded 40 pre-adolescents in Dallas, bound for a summer camp near Denver. While several adults had seen to their boarding, and more were to meet them in Denver, there was no adult accompanying them. Apparently my company felt that four flight attendants were more than enough to handle 40 rowdy kids and the 30 or so other paying passengers on our B-727.

Great free resources for learning and practicing communications skills

While not a genuine stick-and-rudder skill, being good at talking on and - equally important - listening to the radio is a crucial ability to have as a pilot. There are many ways to improve your radio procedures, even when not actually in the cockpit. Here are some great free resources to help pilots of all skill levels improve their communications skills.

Friday Photo: a bright spot

Fred Olson was flying from Osceola, Iowa to Harrison, Arkansas on a fairly dreary day when he saw a beautiful shaft of light breaking through the clouds and took this photo. It's a reminder that aviation delivers stunning views even on cloudy days.
CFI with student in Cessna

Teaching flying over the years, part two: dealing with the students

When someone would come to me to learn to fly, the first question I would ask is why they wanted to take to take up flying. You want to guess what response I liked best? Because I always thought I wanted to fly was my hands-down favorite. Folks who came to flying with that thought in mind were always the best (easiest) students.

A frozen brake slide

Suddenly the King Air started to move. But it wasn’t turning left, it was slewing to the right. I mashed both brake pedals as hard as I could, but the airplane kept sliding toward the Falcon and the FBO office building. The lineman started running backward as fast as he could on the icy surface.

No way to become an ace

I could feel the Pawnee yaw slightly left as the glider got airborne, off to the right side as briefed. But as the Pawnee’s tail came up, suddenly, the Cessna began to climb out of the ditch and out onto the runway! I thought, “Certainly he’s going to stop!” But in fact, I saw his prop spin up faster.

Friday Photo: Cub on final at sunset

For Erich Gleckler, views like this are called "Magical Cub Moments." The runway is in sight, the panel is basic, the sun is low - and the weekend is off to a great start. After learning to fly a J-3 from his father, moments like this come often for Erich, where the airplane opens up a view of nature that you just can't find on the ground.
Rusty pilot

Confessions of a rusty pilot

“What kind of a fuel system needs 13 sumps?” I asked myself. Years ago, the Cessna 172 I flew had one in each wing and a t-handle under the belly that shot a stream of fuel onto the pavement when I pulled it. It turns out that this was just the one of many changes that had slipped by me since I last preflighted an airplane.

Glass cockpits – don’t make it harder than it really is

Too many pilots exaggerate the difference between analog instruments and glass cockpits, as if it requires a completely new pilot certificate to make the transition. That’s simply not the case - the basics of flying are the same no matter what avionics you use. Focus on basic attitude flying, which, if anything, is easier on glass cockpits with their full-screen attitude display.
Rain on ramp

Demystifying Special VFR

During pilot training, some aviation procedures are dutifully explained, yet the context around the procedure is lacking. By “context” I mean the reason, possibly historical, that a rule, process, or procedure is in place, typical scenarios of use, and modes or mechanisms of failure. One prominent example is that of “Special Visual Flight Rules.” Few other procedures elicit mystery and wonder from fellow pilots, wondering how or why these secret code words could be used.

Friday Photo: Sedona, Arizona

My wife and I love to explore the Southwest US in search of great hiking. Last year we made an impromptu trip to Sedona from our home base in Los Angeles. Our Mooney cut the 8-hour drive to a beautiful 2-hour flight, allowing us to easily make this trip over a weekend. We were treated to this perfect view on our departure, reminding us that we need to return soon.

Saying no as a pilot

“The pilot in command of the aircraft shall be directly responsible for its operation and shall have final authority as to operation of the aircraft.” Encoded here is that singular autonomy, that point of application of free will, that has not changed through eons despite all of the changes in the architecture of man-machine interface as well as the changes in management theory and even the emphasis on crew resource management.
Formation over Alps

Mornings in Mont Blanc

Today, in formation, we climb out of Annecy and make for the Alps through the Col des Aravis. This kind of flying is like a jam session, a music of angles and relative positions. You know your buddy knows... It’s a kind of magic made possible by experience and trust. The rocks below glide by as though in deep slow motion.

Video tip: staying cool under fire

Have you ever heard a pilot on the radio sound really nervous about flying in bumpy clouds? It's a normal reaction, but it's not a good way to fly IFR. In this video tip, learn some ways to become more comfortable in such conditions, and how to react when everything is bouncing around. With some preparation and the right mindset, you can do it.
Flying W building

From the archives: Flying W Ranch

In this trip through the Air Facts archives, we stop in June, 1963, where Richard Collins reported on a new airport just east of Philadelphia with a unique community atmosphere. The airport is still around, but the idea never caught on. Why not?

Friday Photo: beautiful grass strip

There is absolutely nothing better than a taildragger on a grass strip. In this gorgeous, 2-for-1 Friday Photo, Christine Shumway Mortine shares some pictures from a quick lunch flight to Swank Field and reminds us all of how good the flying can be in fall.