Tag Archives: system
Another contact approach
I’m writing this posting from the courtesy computer at the Esso FBO in Toronto City Centre airport (CYTZ). I just finished a Hope Air flight from Sault Ste. Marie (CYAM), my fourth consecutive day of flying. Fortunately, I was able … Continue reading
Separation (not the Quebec kind)
There’s really only one thing that air traffic controllers spend a lot of time worrying about, and that’s separation. Separation means that each aircraft has an invisible bubble around it. When a controller is required to separate aircraft, she has … Continue reading
Tagged system
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Response to NAV CANADA Notice of New and Revised Service Charges
NAV CANADA is proposing additional fees for small aircraft using Canada’s eight largest airports — these will be per-departure/day fees (i.e. a fee for each day that an aircraft departs from the airport). Here is NAV CANADA’s proposal, and here … Continue reading
Tagged news, system
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Flying the DME Arc
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
Tagged system
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Mind reading and ATC
I’ll guess that 80% of my flying is done in continuous radio contact with ATC, either IFR, VFR in class B/C/D airspace, or VFR with flight following in class E/G airspace. This kind of flying has its own challenges, but … Continue reading
A low approach, and the lights
[Update: after a night’s rest, I’ve gone back to the approach plate to get the threshold elevation, and have tried to remember the exact reports I gave North Bay radio; as a result, I’ve revised all altitudes up a little.] … Continue reading
Tagged places, regulations, system
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Surface temperature and the TAF
When you’re looking at the weather around a specific Canadian or U.S. airport, the METAR (current observations) includes surface temperature and dewpoint, while the TAF (forecast) does not. Why? It’s true that pilots have to worry about more than just … Continue reading
You can't, always
The weather might be marginal somewhere along your route. You’re instrument rated, but you’re concerned that filing IFR will result in a much longer trip, or maybe you’re worried that you’ll hit ice at the required IFR altitudes. Assuming that … Continue reading
Look for rain or lightning?
Michael Oxner has a posting about the weather capabilities of Canadian ATC radar, and mentions that many pilots do not have weather radar on board. That’s true — weather radar is pretty expensive — but a lot of us do … Continue reading
Land and Hold Short 