The Skycatcher’s death proves the LSA rule is a failure
John's blogLight Sport Aircraft entered the world with high--probably absurd--expectations. These lighter weight, lower cost airplanes allow pilots to fly without a medical certificate, and were supposed to introduce a new generation to the glories of personal aviation. What happened?
Practice makes perfect–sometimes
John's blogEveryone wants to be a better pilot. The real question is: how do we become better pilots in the most efficient way? Fortunately, the past decade has seen a boom in the science of how people learn and improve their skills. This research has much to offer pilots.
The approach plate olympics – more crazy charts
John's blogEverybody loves a good approach plate. At least Air Facts readers do. After we shared seven bizarre instrument approach charts last year, we had hundreds of positive comments and numerous requests for more. As we like to say here, the readers are PIC, so here we will indulge your desire for more torturous procedures.
Have we won the safety battle?
John's blogHere's a number that should be on the front page of every major newspaper: 224. That's how many people died--worldwide--in airline crashes last year. Around 3 billion people flew on airlines last year, which makes 224 a simply incredible number.
One pilot’s Christmas wish list
John's blogA non-pilot friend recently asked me, "what do pilots want for Christmas this year?" Since he knows I work at Sporty's, I think he was really looking for the hot aviation gadgets of 2013. But as I thought about what would make pilots happy in the year ahead, some much bigger wishes came to mind.
New FAA medical policy – fixing a problem that doesn’t exist
John's blogIn describing a new policy on obstructive sleep apnea that will soon take effect, the FAA basically put pilots on notice that if you're too fat you might lose your medical. There's no other way to read this outrageous proposal.
Have pilots lost their sense of adventure?
John's blogAlmost everyone today, pilots included, is less spontaneous and less accepting of risk. That's probably a good thing overall (we're living longer), but it's less than ideal for getting the most out of a pilot's license.
7 instrument approaches you have to see to believe
John's blogIn spite of what new instrument students might think, not all IFR approaches are straight-in ILSs to 200 and 1/2. Some airports just don't lend themselves to an approach. But one look at the examples in this article shows that where there's a will, there's a way.
Drones: the good, the bad and the ugly
John's blogThere's a lot of talk about drones recently, some of it reasoned but most of it not. Which side is right? Probably both. If we look close enough, there may be a silver lining to this cloud--but the forecast is still cloudy.
Angle of Attack isn’t a miracle cure
John's blogHop on the bandwagon--Angle of Attack (AoA) is the new must-have aviation accessory. This year's Oshkosh fly-in was just the latest evidence, with a number of new product introductions, safety seminars and ad campaigns all proclaiming the life-saving potential of AoA instruments.
FAA wants your data – will you give it to them?
John's blogIn the wake of disturbing stories about pilots being tracked and detained for no reason, the FAA is considering a new data-monitoring program for pilots. "Big data" may help the GA safety record--but only if pilots give up their data. Right now, that's a tough sell.
The new “killer items” for IFR pilots
John's blogMany pilots learn the "killer items" checklist during their flight training--fuel, flaps and trim. But for instrument pilots, GPS receivers and WAAS approaches have brought new traps to be aware of. Here is an IFR "killer items" checklist to consider before shooting your next approach.
5 things general aviation needs right now
John's blogGeneral aviation isn't dying, it's just changing. To successfully navigate this major transition, we need to face up to some critical issues, like avgas, NextGen and certification. We also need to look in the mirror.
A revolution in remanufactured airplanes
John's blogHave we seen the last clean sheet piston airplane? It's a fair question given the current state of new airplane sales. But a handful of new companies may point to an alternative--remanufactured airplanes that are as good as new ones for half the price.
Fly safely – think like a golfer
John's blogAt first glance, flying small airplanes and chasing a tiny white ball around a golf course seem like completely different activities. But while the stakes are certainly higher in aviation--nobody ever died from a bogey--I think there's a lot for pilots to learn from elite golfers.
Safety: our greatest challenge
John's blogPilots spend an awful lot of time talking about safety, and we're no exception here at Air Facts. Some readers have suggested we actually do it too much--quit the morbid talk about crashes and promote the positives in aviation, they say. Are we really overdoing it?
Why do we still run out of gas?
John's blogWe stink at fuel management. The latest evidence? On January 23, a Cirrus SR20 crashed a few miles short of the runway in Danbury, Connecticut and made national headlines for its colorful parachute getting caught in power lines. Surely a plane as advanced as this one couldn't just run out of fuel.
Abandoned airfields: history in our midst
John's blogWe all know that airports are disappearing at a depressing rate. But they are not forgotten, thanks to the heroic efforts of Paul Freeman and his fascinating website: Abandoned and Little-Known Airfields. This hidden gem offers history and pictures for over 1600 airports that are still among us, but no longer on the sectional.
7 good things about general aviation
John's blogPilots are famous for being passionate about flying, but they’re also famous for being pessimistic about flying. Call me hopelessly naive, but I think there is still a lot to be thankful for as pilots. With that in mind, I’d like to offer seven good things about general aviation right now.
The sorry state of weather training
John's blogIt’s become fashionable to complain about the lack of stick and rudder training today--just tune into our long-running debate about stall training if you don't believe me. But before we run off and mandate 100 hours of taildragger training for every pilot, we should look at the numbers.