Archive for July, 2009

When You Should Use the Autopilot

By | July 28, 2009 | Advanced Flying | 4 Comments

Even after flying for the past thirteen years, I still get a kick out of manually steering the airplane around. But I’ve also come to understand that autopilots can be a life-saver. If you’re like me, you probably hate to relinquish the controls to a machine but there are times when you ought to take full advantage of an autopilot. Read more…

Plan Ahead For the Missed Approach

By | July 23, 2009 | Flight Training | 2 Comments

From the early days of instrument training, we are taught to expect to go missed at the conclusion of an instrument approach. I think we all understand why: the point is not to get too cocky, and to remind yourself that minimums are just that: minimums. Point well taken, but when things get real are you actually prepared to fly the missed approach? Read more…

Four Tips to Protect Your Pilot Logbook

By | July 20, 2009 | Misc | 1 Comment

Our logbooks are the record of our flying lives. For some, they are journals of aerial exploits. Others, a portfolio of on-the-job experience. But for all of us, it is our legal evidence of currency and proficiency. Your training, career, and memories all encapsulated to a single book. With so much riding on your logbook, its important to safeguard it from such disasters as fires, tornadoes, or whatever misfortune hopefully will not befall you. So how can you keep your logbook safe and sound? Read more…

Cabin Depressurization and Structural Failure: a Pilot’s Perspective

By | July 15, 2009 | Advanced Flying | 5 Comments

After a hole opened up in the fuselage of Southwest Airlines flight 2294 from Nashville to Baltimore, there has been a lot of talk about cabin depressurization and structural failure. The jury is still out as to the cause of this failure, but the incident does bring the topic of depressurization and emergency descents to the forefront. So what happens when the airplane loses cabin pressure, and what is a pilot to do? Read more…

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