The Most Effective Diet For Pilots
Amber Berlin Every year at Thanksgiving we gather around the table and consume massive amounts of turkey. Then we spend the afternoon napping on the couch in a turkey coma. We know from experience that turkey is a food that promotes a state of sleepiness, and we also know that you wouldn’t want to eat […]
The Dangers of a Falsified Pilot Logbook
Avoid rattlesnakes and falsified flight log books. Each has a nasty disposition and sharp fangs that bite. Vern Weiss In August 2012, a Federal Court in Des Moines, Iowa sentenced a pilot to 4 years probation and fined him for falsifying his pilot logbook hours when going for an FAA instrument rating.1 Federal court! We’re not […]
Do Drones Pose a Threat to Pilots and Aircraft?
Dr. Mary Ann O’Grady The allowance of widespread drone ownership and operation in the United States through the clearance of approximately 60 organizations by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has raised the level of concern for military, commercial, and private pilots alike. As concerns escalated, there were plans to construct six test ranges for these […]
Exploring Avgas Alternatives For General Aviation
Amber Berlin For Part 1 of this discussion, click here. The health hazards, loss of IQ points, and associated costs of lead (Pb) fuel emissions leaves only one option for the General Aviation (GA) fleet: stop using leaded fuel. In order to accomplish this task, GA has several options to consider, including Avgas alternatives such […]
Why General Aviation Needs To Stop Using Leaded Avgas
Amber Berlin The Clean Air Act, last amended in 1990, established a higher standard of environmental responsibility in the United States. In order to meet this standard, several initiatives were undertaken to reduce air emissions deemed harmful to human health. One such initiative was a close examination of the hazards presented by lead (Pb) fuel […]
Rules of Thumb That Make Flying Planes Easier
You can make flying planes a little easier by applying a few different rules of thumb provided below. Vern Weiss There’s a lot of minutia and head work involved in flying planes and sometimes a pilot can get bogged down with the calculations and mental gymnastics required. “East is least and West is best” and […]
Flight To the Past: The George Patton Memorial Museum
Shawn Arena March 1942. Three months following the Pearl Harbor attack which thrust the United States into World War II, (and one month before the daring Doolittle Raid on Tokyo), the War Department ordered the commander of the Army First Corps General George S. Patton to locate, establish, and command a desert training area to […]
A Simple Way For Pilots To Combat Aviation Fatigue
Unsolved Issues: Part V, Amber Berlin To read Part 1, click here, Part 2, click here, Part 3, click here, and Part 4, click here. Are you tired? Maybe you need a nap. Naps decrease the homeostatic drive for sleep by reducing the number of hours continuously awake, which results in a greater ability to focus. […]
Can You Fly For Compensation With a Private Pilot Certificate?
A Private Pilot Certificate doesn’t necessarily preclude earning money in aviation. Vern Weiss “No person who holds a private pilot certificate may act as pilot in command of an aircraft that is carrying passengers or property for compensation or hire, nor may that person, for compensation or hire, act as pilot in command of an […]
When To Declare an In-Flight Emergency
Declaring an in-flight emergency is not something to take lightly. Play this trump card if you need it but only if you need it. Vern Weiss What is an emergency? The FAA defines it as a “distress or urgency condition.” H-m-m-m…so would “I have to get home because the Super Bowl starts in ten minutes” […]
Looking at Stress and Fatigue in Aviation
Unsolved Issues: Part IV, Amber Berlin To read Part 1, click here, Part 2, click here and Part 3, click here. Think you wouldn’t drink and fly a plane? You might be doing something similar without even realizing it. This article reveals the exact hour limit when your long day becomes intoxicating, and why you wouldn’t […]
Adjusting to the High Intensity Schedule of Airline Careers
Airline careers necessitate long hours of crushing boredom punctuated by short periods of intensity. The unique demands placed on airline pilots, crewmembers and mechanics can be met with lifestyle and attitude adjustments. Noah Timmins Aviation distinguishes itself from other industries as one that eschews the traditional “nine to five”, “clock in, clock out” work schedule. […]
