Category Archives: General

Control feedback

Posted on December 20, 2011 by David Megginson

Control feedback is important to pilots. Through the yoke or stick, we can feel what’s happening with the plane; for example, are we pulling or pushing too hard on the stick? Are the controls mushy, indicating that we’re close to … Continue reading →

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The complicated finances of flying

Posted on September 18, 2011 by David Megginson

The original news story was simple: pampered general uses private government jet for personal trip(s) at total cost of more than $1M to taxpayers over three years. The Prime Minister smelled a scandal and tried to nip it in the … Continue reading →

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What happens after you get your private pilot license?

Posted on August 30, 2011 by David Megginson

Yesterday was the 9th anniversary of the day I passed my flight test and got my private pilot’s license (PPL). It was also, coincidentally, the longest straight-line distance I’ve flown in a day, 930 nautical miles (1,722 km) from Winnipeg … Continue reading →

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My new autopilot in instrument conditions

Posted on August 20, 2011 by David Megginson

This week, I gave my new autopilot its first workout in instrument conditions, climbing out through a low cloud layer in Ottawa, bumping through heavy rain clouds over Vermont and New Hampshire, and flying a localizer approach into Beverly Airport … Continue reading →

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Adding an autopilot

Posted on July 27, 2011 by David Megginson

Today I flew my plane home from Waterloo to Ottawa with a brand-new autopilot installed. I’ve flown over 850 hours, about 120 of them in actual instrument conditions, and all by hand. I’m proud that I can do that, but … Continue reading →

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Hiatus and Return

Posted on April 10, 2011 by David Megginson

I took a six month break from flying — basically, work, a long wait for new fuel caps at my annual, and a family vacation in London (UK) got in the way. I also managed to prove the third rule … Continue reading →

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Calls for violence

Posted on March 2, 2011 by David Megginson

At OurAirports, an anonymous visitor has left the same comment for six different Vietnamese airports (including an air force base), encouraging a Libyan-style uprising in Vietnam (the comments should be gone by the time you read this, for reasons that … Continue reading →

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6th anniversary of Land and Hold Short

Posted on October 1, 2010 by David Megginson

I started this blog on 1 October 2004, with a typical welcome-to-my-blog posting. Thanks to everyone who’s been reading over the past six years.

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8 years as a licensed pilot

Posted on August 29, 2010 by David Megginson

Eight years ago today, on 29 August 2002, I passed my flight test and earned my Private Pilot License — Aeroplane (PPL). I had 56.9 hours in my logbook (14.1 solo), and took the flight test late in the afternoon … Continue reading →

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Search and Rescue near Algonquin Park

Posted on August 20, 2010 by David Megginson

I had an unusual experience this morning flying home from Sault Ste. Marie to Ottawa with my dog, Paisley. Three separate high-altitude jets heard an ELT signal at a point along my route about 20 miles south of North Bay. … Continue reading →

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