Author Archives: David Megginson

Another TFR in Canadian airspace

Posted on January 27, 2006 by David Megginson

Transport Canada has agreed to extend the U.S. Superbowl TFR into Canadian airspace. Here’s the NOTAM: 060014 CYQG WINDSOR PART 1 OF 2 CYQG DAH IS AMENDED AS FOLLOWS: 1) CYR540, WINDSOR ON, CLASS F RESTRICTED AIRSPACE IS ESTABLISHED WITHIN … Continue reading →

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Buying a first plane

Posted on January 25, 2006 by David Megginson

Niss, who flies out of Barrie Airpark (CNA3), left this comment on my posting Should I buy or rent? (divide all prices by about 1.2 to get US dollars): I am looking to buy a share in an aircraft. Right … Continue reading →

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Comments fixed

Posted on January 23, 2006 by David Megginson

Thanks to Paul Tomblin for pointing out that I managed to break comments with a clumsy attempt at customizing Spam Karma. They should be working again now, if you wanted to say anything about recent postings.

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Certified for Known "Icy"?

Posted on January 22, 2006 by David Megginson

As most of you know, another Canadian Cessna Caravan has crashed, this time with passenger fatalities (including a small child). Here’s what the CBC article has to say about the Caravan’s safety record: American authorities want the model of airplane … Continue reading →

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Flying the DME Arc

Posted on January 22, 2006 by David Megginson

Hamish has a posting that mentions how much easier DME arcs are with an RMI display. Sometimes I feel lucky that I was never taught the official way to a DME arc during my instrument training. We have one nearby, … Continue reading →

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"That was a rough one"

Posted on January 18, 2006 by David Megginson

I flew back from Washington/Dulles to Ottawa this morning as a passenger on an Air Canada CRJ. Things didn’t look promising — when I arrived at the airport after an early-morning drive in pouring rain, the ticket agent told me … Continue reading →

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Web site: Runway Finder

Posted on January 4, 2006 by David Megginson

Thanks to a posting by Paul Tomblin, I just discovered a new aviation Google-maps mashup. Normally, Google maps lets you switch among a map view, a satellite photo, and a satellite photo with map info superimposed (called a hybrid view). … Continue reading →

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Should I buy or rent?

Posted on January 2, 2006 by David Megginson

One of the first questions that occurs to new pilots is this: buy or rent? A lot of people write about this question online and in print, and they mostly try to help you make the decision by opening a … Continue reading →

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Cockpit as campaign prop

Posted on December 19, 2005 by David Megginson

Canada is in the middle of a federal election (with no TFRs, proving to the U.S. that it can be done). This photo shows Stephen Harper, one of the four major party leaders, at my home airport in Ottawa, using … Continue reading →

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Partial panel and fixed gear

Posted on December 18, 2005 by David Megginson

From aviation pundits with deadlines to meet and empty pages to fill, we hear a lot about the dangers of losing a vacuum pump (and consequently, attitude indicator and directional gyro) in IMC, and why IFR pilots need to (a) … Continue reading →

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