Author Archives: David Megginson

Google Maps Flight-Planning Demo

Posted on July 3, 2005 by David Megginson

I’ve thrown together a quick demo of several segments (almost 400 miles worth) of the V316 low-level airway westbound from the Ottawa VORTAC to the Sault Ste. Marie VOR/DME. The best part, in my opinion, is the ability to switch … Continue reading →

Tagged , | 4 Comments

Fogged in without an ILS

Posted on July 2, 2005 by David Megginson

[Update at bottom.] Halifax airport is fogged in, all ops are shut down, and hundreds of flights are cancelled, stranding people all over the place. After reading the CBC story, I decided to pull up the notams for CYHZ. They … Continue reading →

Tagged , | 1 Comment

Google Maps and Flight Planning

Posted on June 29, 2005 by David Megginson

Google has just made an announcement that could have a profound effect on the resources available for flight planning online: they have created a free API (application programming interface) to Google Maps. The flying geeks who read this blog will … Continue reading →

Tagged , , | 5 Comments

C-FBJO on Google Maps

Posted on June 28, 2005 by David Megginson

This is a pure vanity posting, a link to a Google Maps satellite photo of my plane in its usual parking spot at the Ottawa Flying Club (at CYOW): satellite photo I can date the imagery to within a few … Continue reading →

Tagged | Comments Off on C-FBJO on Google Maps

Canadian Airport Data in a Spreadsheet

Posted on June 23, 2005 by David Megginson

As I’ve mentioned before, I’m often frustrated at the lack of freely-available data for Canadian airports and airspace (and stung by the irony that most of what is available comes from the U.S.). Over the past couple of years, I’ve … Continue reading →

Tagged , , | Comments Off on Canadian Airport Data in a Spreadsheet

North (sort-of) without radar

Posted on June 17, 2005 by David Megginson

I flew back from Timmins yesterday after a Hope Air flight via Toronto (Timmins is the home of singer Shania Twain, as the signs there constantly remind you). The airspace around Timmins is controlled, but there is little or no … Continue reading →

Tagged , , | 4 Comments

"Cleared for an approach"

Posted on June 11, 2005 by David Megginson

Last week I decided to go for a short round-robin IFR flight between Ottawa and Pembroke. While I was still in cloud and on the airway, cruising at 6,000 ft, Montreal Centre gave me missed approach instructions and then said … Continue reading →

Tagged , | 5 Comments

Admin: new category, Canada vs. U.S.

Posted on June 11, 2005 by David Megginson

I’m starting a new category in this weblog, canada-us. Postings added to this category will talk about how flying differs between the two countries, including regulations, culture, and so on. Vive la différence!

Tagged , | 2 Comments

Flying databases

Posted on June 4, 2005 by David Megginson

The U.S. makes most of its aeronautical data available for free in electronic form; other countries hoard the information and charge money (sometimes, a lot of money) for a peek at it. This distinction used to matter mainly to cartographers … Continue reading →

Tagged , | 2 Comments

The DC ADIZ

Posted on May 24, 2005 by David Megginson

This time, it was a Canadian plane’s turn to violate the DC ADIZ, the enormous restricted airspace around Washington, DC (the plane did not go anywhere near the White House or Capitol). In fact, planes violate the ADIZ all the … Continue reading →

Tagged , , | 2 Comments