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Charts & Plates

Just a Little Different

While no two approaches or departures are alike, most fit a template. Others need just a little more review and planning to be on...

Chart Subtleties

Grider Field (KPBF), Pine Bluff Regional Airport, Arkansas, is located approximately 36 NM southeast of Little Rock Airport (KLIT). The airport is named after...

Flight Plan Route

Per reader request; we’ll jump straight to the question. “Who changes—or how does the system change—the IFR flight plans I file?” When filing IFR,...

Drilling Down

It’s not exactly a bad time of year to fly from Texas to New Mexico, but spring can bring fluctuating ceilings and local winds...

The Airport Diagram

For “land” aircraft, all flights start and end at an airport or airstrip, and an important aspect in planning an IFR flight to an...

Paradoxical Minimums

Rocky Mountain Metro (KBJC, “Metro”) is an active general aviation airport located about 21 NM west of Denver International Airport (KDEN) and just outside...

Tale of Two Approaches

According to recent FAA statistics, there are approximately 1292 “plain vanilla” ILS approaches that are designed to Cat I minimums—usually a DH of 200...

Anchorage (PANC)

Runway 7R approaches at Ted Stevens Anchorage International airport (including the missed approach portions) overfly Cook Inlet. The inlet stretches about 180 miles...

Close Look at Joint Use

Upon first glance, the ILS or LOC RWY 23 approach  at Westover Air Reserve Base/Metropolitan (KCEF) appears to be a typical ILS approach. But...

Wrong Way First

The rumble of tire rubber on asphalt suddenly ceases. Runway 9 falls away as you climb straight ahead, assigned runway heading up to 3000...

No Plan For That

Departures into low clouds might not be your thing, and that's fine. Staying on the ground is the ultimate risk mitigation for absolutely any...

Tracking Changes

Before EFBs and apps displaying electronic terminal and en-route charts, we went through a monthly update ritual with paper charts. Every 28 days Jeppesen...