I find it curious that one critical precept of flight -- one that we are all taught at…
Whenever we fly, we become an integral part of a human-machine system -- we're also the least consistent…
There is a saying about old pilots and bold pilots, which ends with the statement that there are…
When a pilot falls ill (or worse) at the controls of an airplane, it sometimes leaves a frantic…
A recent television documentary discussed the “crisis” in general aviation safety. “600 people die every year in little…
When the engine stops, some numbers are more important than others -- but so are some actions. As…
“Sloshing” is a process where a fuel tank sealant is put into a metal fuel tank, and the…
You would think that our goal-oriented, law-abiding, type-A personalities would more often lose a battle with weather rather…
'Cessna 172 Yankee Alpha, turn left heading 060 degrees, descend and maintain 2000 feet; expect to break out…
...And other sounds an Airplane SHOULDN'T MAKE! When you think about it, most airplanes are incredible pieces of…
On Monday July 1, two large commercial jets -- both flying IFR under ATC control, and both equipped…
In the furor of the Post September 11th attacks, a subject seems to come up again and again…
Terrorists struck at the heart of America with acts against civilian targets...
Stomp hard on the rudder to control the yaw; force the pitch to stay slightly above the horizon,…
Whether scare tactic or sales pitch... or maybe an altruistic safety warning sent to every instrument-rated pilot in…
Very recently, in the dark of night, six persons aboard a piston twin died near Joplin, Missouri.
When you file a flight plan, either VFR or IFR, the procedure begins the same way: by calling…
There's little else quite as ingrained in the minds of pilots, or emblematic of flight itself, as the…
In my years as a pilot, I’ve had some bad days. I’ve been socked in, hundreds of miles…
THUNK! As you rotate and lift off, you hear a healthy noise from the top of the plane,…
If you experience the full or partial loss of your two-way radio communications, you can still land at…
The fuel caps on your airplane keep contaminants out of your fuel tank -- provided they're new.
What is the best thing to do if your engine quits while climbing out after takeoff?
Whether your plane has rubber bladders to hold the fuel, a wet wing, or a metal tank inside…
OK, which is it: Burned valves and detonation -- or better economy, lower maintenance costs, and greater range?
Ah, yes, spring has arrived in all of its beauty and glory -- the bugs are flying, the…
Two-way communication radios can be very frustrating, but there are some reasons that things get worse in the…
Just about every General Aviation airplane flying today does so with the assistance of specifically loaded cables --…
If the engine quits, flying the airplane at a speed greater than stall speed is the number one…
Problem: The Federal Aviation Regulations cover two-way communication failure quite nicely, but a total electrical failure can give…
If your airplane has an electric starter, you have a battery on board and, over time, a number…
Spin accidents don't happen every day, but when they take place they are almost always deadly.
Imagine helplessly watching as your airplane wrenches itself (and you with it) into an unusual attitude, rolls over…
When problems arise in the cockpit there are many levels of concern and, when asking for assistance, your…
On May 12, 2000, a Beech Baron was destroyed when it impacted terrain after takeoff.
They say every accident is the result of an unlikely chain of events: On a Friday afternoon, a…
Partial panel flying isn't hard, but it does take practice -- frequent practice -- and there are a…
Engine failure is rare (and usually the result of poor fuel management), but if you ever find yourself…
Corrosion of your battery terminals can cause real problems in flight, and even on the ground.
Instrument pilots routinely bet their lives on the gauges and even VFR pilots depend on the instruments at…
Getting too close to an obstruction can make for a really bad day.
In recent months, there have been numerous cases of the control wheels breaking off of the control column,…
For all the problems that could result from a drive belt failure in flight, stopping them before they…
Just as having belts that are too tight can cause damage to your engine or the driven components,…
The Cessna 152 was 200 feet above the ground when its engine quit.
In a good number of aircraft in the fleet today, belts drive accessories -- these accessories do various…
Your mechanic should have test-run the engine(s) before signing off the airplane as airworthy, but it’s unlikely that…
The annual is done, repairs are complete, the modification is installed ... whatever the reason your airplane was…