Aeronautical Structure and Equipment Fitter Skill

The captain and I were debating the combination of hunches and weak radar returns. View in Browser Three Strikes for 'Captain Sparky' By Jeremy King The captain and I were debating the combination of hunches and weak radar returns, combined with Washington Center's advice. There were more than a few moments where static overpowered our radios, and Saint Elmo's fire danced on the windshield wipers. "We're about ripe for a lightning strike," I muttered, unaware I still had the microphone keyed up for the intercom. Read More   Make New Year's Resolutions Count By Budd Davisson The human race has an insatiable need for self-delusion, so every year we make promises to ourselves. Even though they're made in earnest on December 31st, they usually prove very hard to keep as the year progresses. Hey, when it's July and you're gorging yourself at a picnic, it's hard to remember that six months earlier you pledged to lose weight. Twelv...

My wife and I recently ended the long wait with a flight to the popular summer destination known for View in Browser The Scenic Route By Jonathan Welsh My wife and I recently ended the long wait with a flight to the popular summer destination known for beautiful beaches, great food, hiking trails, and other outdoor activities. We wanted to get a sense of the place before the busy season really gets going. Over the years, we have spent weekends with friends and attended weddings in the Hamptons, of which Montauk is part, but never drove far enough east to see the hamlet. Now, once again, flying has opened the door.   Read More   The Practical Magic of Economical Buys By Dan Johnson Taking a survey of the light sport aircraft and/or experimental segments of the market, I offer seven suggestions. I provide a range of aircraft types, but each that is discussed is only one of the numerous others of a similar type available in the light aviation fleet. The choices you ...

At half-past midnight, we swept the power to idle and let the landing gear settle. View in Browser Words Aloft: Christmas in The Caribbean By Jeremy King At half-past midnight, we swept the power to idle and let the landing gear settle onto the 11,700-foot runway in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. The landing was so-so. When on the backside of the clock, sometimes our finesse wears a little thin. Pulling the thrust levers well into the reverse range and braking moderately, we hoped to avoid a long taxi back to the gate. Aguadilla's runway, while long, lacks turnoffs—if you don't clear the runway at midfield, you're going all the way to the end to turn off.   Read More   Should Budding Pilots Buy Their Own Airplanes? By LeRoy Cook As always, the devil is in the details. When it comes to student ownership, there are definitely cons to offset the pros. While buying instead of renting may look like a logical move—assuming you're doing well enough to pay for your own ...

Now, I was an early adopter of GPS. I had a portable unit about the size of brick, with a grayscale. View in Browser Why We Need VORs in the Age of GPS By LeRoy Cook Now, I was an early adopter of GPS. I had a portable unit about the size of brick, with a grayscale map display. Waypoints needed to be put in one at a time; I think it would hold 99 of them. Some of my stored spots were VOR stations, used for departures and arrivals. It was fascinating to watch the little airplane symbol crawl across the screen. But we always had the VOR's course deviation indicator ready for guidance or orientation.   Read More   Lessons Learned: ADM to the Rescue By David Offitzer "Straight out departure approved, cleared for takeoff 29 Right" is a call I have received thousands of times as a commercial pilot and CFI at my home base of Zamperini Field in Torrance, California (KTOA). The seasonal "May gray" morning had predictably and gradually morphed into an inviti...