Unusual Alternate
You should know by now that ground-based navaids and approaches are disappearing. While some associated procedures remain for backup and alternate availability at smaller...
Stupid Pilot Tricks
Pandemonium reigned, but it wasn’t our fault. We’d snuck into the super-secret gathering of the Official Office of Plane Safety, which is made up...
When Plans Unravel
Diversions to an alternate, while achievable in an instant by selecting “Direct To” from the “Nearest” list, might not be so quick when facing...
ATC Pet Peeves
Being both a pilot and air traffic controller, I enjoy learning the dos and don'ts from both sides of the mic. We’re all human...
Which Way Is Up?
Remember when you were a student pilot prepping for the cross-country flights with a sectional chart, using your plotter to calculate the true course...
IFR Departures
You and two friends are flying to Nashville for a weekend of great music. It will be an IFR flight from Asheville, North Carolina...
How GPS Works
Back in the bad old days of VOR navigation you could find your position by tuning in two different VOR’s. Each radial from a...
Lake Crossing IFR
During the summer, many pilots in the Upper Midwest plan half-day flights for vacation, and it's inevitable that we have to contend with theGreat...
Revisiting RAIM
Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring is a mouthful, but it's descriptive. RAIM independently assesses the integrity of positions reported by a GPS receiver.RAIM is essential...
Increased Workload
Since starting in 1984, I’ve logged over 1800 hours in more than 45 aircraft types. As much of this has been in the past...
Unpleasant Surprises
When I was learning to fly, my instructor would say, “A good flight comes from good information.”Surprises in the cockpit aren’t generally good things....
NA At Night
You planned this getaway weekend to Wise County, Virginia months ago. A cabin is ready. A rental car awaits you when you land at...