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Don’t Get Stuck—Avoiding Breakdowns and Delays

Running the battery down by leaving the battery or master switch on is, arguably, the most common reason for a departure delay.  I use a “Parking” or “Shutdown Checklist” before deplaning to avoid this.  Some pilots leave the rotating beacon on after shut down as a clue that the battery switch was left on.  Full service FBOs will have external power available to get you going quickly if the battery is dead.

November 20, 2024 /7 Comments/by

Making a difference – speaking up when it mattered

I lost sight of them before liftoff as they passed behind the fuel island tanks. They had passed over the dam and were following the river drainage to the south. At this point, they still had not climbed above pattern altitude. After what felt like an agonizingly long time, they finally reached their cruise altitude of 9,500′.

April 26, 2023 /7 Comments/by