Tag Archives: system

"Find airports" bookmarklet

Posted on July 11, 2009 by David Megginson

If you’re a pilot, you probably catch yourself thinking “where’s the nearest airport?” when you’re reading about any place online. I have a web site, OurAirports, that can help to answer that question, but only at the cost of going … Continue reading →

Posted in General | Tagged | 2 Comments

Talking to ATC: "you, me, where, what"

Posted on September 6, 2008 by David Megginson

Talking to ATC makes some pilots nervous — especially if they trained at an uncontrolled airport — but it’s actually pretty simple as long as you take a second to think before you push the PTT button, and compose your … Continue reading →

Posted in General | Tagged , | 8 Comments

Partial panel

Posted on May 24, 2008 by David Megginson

I had my first experience flying partial panel in IMC on Monday, coming home from Boston. It wasn’t the classic partial panel — a vacuum failure — but a failure of the attitude indicator instrument itself, followed by the airspeed … Continue reading →

Posted in General | Tagged , | 3 Comments

It's the runways, stupid

Posted on January 21, 2008 by David Megginson

Here’s a statement from the U.S. Air Transport Association (ATA) — the airlines’ lobby group — about variable landing fees for U.S. airports (e.g. higher at peak times, lower other times): “Unfortunately, [the policy] does nothing to fix the primary … Continue reading →

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Unintended consequences

Posted on October 2, 2007 by David Megginson

In the U.S., in an attempt to avoid user fees for general aviation, AOPA (the main G.A. advocacy group) worked with the FAA to outsource flight services (briefings, VFR flight plans, etc.) to Lockheed-Martin. AOPA didn’t realize that they were … Continue reading →

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The FAA vs. General Aviation

Posted on March 29, 2007 by David Megginson

[Update: Boing Boing bought into the airlines’ side on this and went even further, confusing airport development funds with ATC costs and somehow making it sound like 25% of the cost of each airline ticket subsidizes rich people in bizjets. … Continue reading →

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Wednesday afternoon, 1:36 pm, Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier Airport

Posted on March 16, 2007 by David Megginson

On the way home from Teterboro Airport after a March break family trip to New York City, after 2.6 flying hours mostly in IMC with light to moderate turbulence. My older daughter in the copilot seat whipped out her camera … Continue reading →

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Threats to general aviation

Posted on January 26, 2007 by David Megginson

According to AOPA, the biggest issue facing general aviation in the U.S. is the risk of user fees. I agree with Phil Boyer that user fees could hurt GA, especially if they are per use (as in Australia) rather than … Continue reading →

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UNSAR

Posted on October 23, 2006 by David Megginson

Update: The ELT is back and recertified with a new battery, but the forecast tomorrow calls for cloud and ice from about hilltop level to 9,000 ft, so the Hope Air flight is canceled. UNSAR is the Transport Canada acronym … Continue reading →

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Great flying weather, and a bit of boneheaded flying

Posted on September 13, 2006 by David Megginson

Warm front pushing in, ceilings at 800 ft AGL with occasional 400 ft, light rain, freezing levels above 10,000: it looked like great flying weather to get in some IFR approaches in actual IMC. Recency Pilots have to do a … Continue reading →

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