Of all the gadgetry in airplane cockpits, the magnetic compass is probably the least regarded, least used, and least understood. And yet, it deserves understanding and respect, because it is often the most steadily reliable navigational reference we have. Often referred...
The FAA has awarded Tecnam full type certification under Part 23 regulations for its P-Mentor trainer, the manufacturer announced. According to Tecnam, the company is now on track to begin deliveries to U.S. flight schools. “The FAA certification of the P-Mentor...
“What the —!” the learner cried out as we rolled out from landing. Ahead of us some 1,000 feet down the runway there was a bald eagle standing on the centerline, scarfing down the carcass of what looked like a large...
Ray Andrews, my flight instructor, turned to me and asked, “So, you think you’re ready to solo in front of your friends?” After my half-hour flight lesson of three takeoffs and landings, with my childhood friends Larry Leonard and Michael Rafferty...
When we talk about flying solo, we’re usually speaking of doing so as the only occupant of an aircraft. And when we talk in a capitalized quote of “My First Solo,” we generally mean the first time we were ever aloft...
Etiquette is defined as a “customary code of polite behavior among members of a particular profession or group.” Pilots understand that adherence to professional standards is nowhere more critical than during approach to the airport and landing. Fighter pilots instinctively understand...
Assembling flight training providers, industry members, and numerous federal agency representatives, the Flight School Association of North America (FSANA) conducted the 15th annual Flight School Operators Conference in Las Vegas on February 21-22. More than 300 attendees shared best practices, resources,...
Tecnam has marked a milestone with the delivery of the 400th Tecnam P2006T Twin to Bartolini Air, Poland’s top flight training organization. The exchange took place at the Pilot Expo in Berlin. Since its design in 2006, the P2006T has become...
The comment period for the FAA’s notice of proposed rulemaking, Modernization Of Special Airworthiness Certification (MOSAIC), ended as of January 22, and aviation associations drew my attention—along with others—this month with their lengthy and considerable comment submissions. The General Aviation Manufacturers...
Redbird Flight, a prominent player in aviation technology, has initiated its fourth annual State of Flight Training survey, accessible via the company’s website. This survey, targeting various stakeholders from flight training organizations to pilots, seeks to provide comprehensive insights into the...
