Archive for the ‘Flight Training’ Category

Dassault Falcon 7x certified for steep Approaches

Tuesday, August 11th, 2009

The Dassault Falcon can now get into to more international airports in London and Switzerland just to name a few now that it has certification for steep approaches or approaches with slopes of more than 6 degrees. This furthers the utility and convenience of general aviation travel for the business executive or personal traveler.

Link to Press Release

Photo below from Manufacturer

Advertising for Private Jets brought to you by Oprah!

Thursday, May 14th, 2009

Well this may be the one and only time you will ever see me blogging about Oprah Winfrey, much less giving her props.  That is not to say I don’t like harpO, but hey I am a male so generally speaking I am not her demographic so I guess it is okay huh?

Well Miss harpO did give a nice speech to the listeners at Duke University Commencement about the ‘American Dream’ and benefits of owning a corporate jet.  I think as a non pilot, but certainly as an avid aviation user and beneficiary Oprah conveyed what all we pilot types know.  Aviation, specifically general aviation and plane ownership, provides not only and incredible freedom and control of travel, but also can be a great business tool and an object of reward and pleasure from the fruits of your labor.

Thanks again Oprah for the ‘boost for GA’ although I wish my wings were a Bombardier Global Express, I will settle for just being able to get a Cherokee or Bonanza to get me there for now.

See to News Reference to her speech

Listen to an interesting story on the “American Dream” from national public radio here is the link, I listened to the broadcast on NPR

There is FAME in your jet fuel

Friday, May 1st, 2009

Okay so this is classic!  Newest SAIB from the FAA is regarding FAME, yeah FAME (Fatty Acid Methyl Ester) in jet fuel.

Yeah a SAIB Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin, that means what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger right?

No it means that thank the Lord it is not an AD to cause you more billable hours at the mechanic, but according to the FAA it is “the airworthiness concern is not an unsafe condition that would warrant airworthiness directive (AD) action under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 39″ so now that we cleared that up if you use Jet A, you might oughta read this one…

NE-09-25 – e Air – All/ All Models
NE-09-25 – lane – All/ All Models
NE-09-25 – lane – All/ All Models

Look out below High vs Low Wing…

Friday, May 16th, 2008

It is a small strip not too wide and not too long (Northwest Regional Airport, Roanoke, TX) and yes you are supposed to look, announce and keep your freaking radio’s on…you know who you are!

There really is no excuse. 

 Look Out Below!

Picture from nbc5i.com 

The reality is currency and staying ahead of the airplane usually prevents these kind of mistakes, legal to fly vs proficient is quite different.  I am glad no one was hurt for a bone head mistake.  We all as pilots have done dumb things, but this really puts into perspective runway incursions and being aware of your surrondings. 

I would like to hear the pilots versions once the FAA gets done with them.  Hope you have AOPA legal service plan, I would be more worried about the FAA repercussions than the insurance claims. On a lighter note, this is a great little airport, with a great resturant on the field, just be aware it is uncontrolled airspace and lot of weekend warriors are flying on the sunny days…case in point I do believe.

Article about runway incursions

SID’s, STAR’s Airspace Redesign & You

Wednesday, May 14th, 2008

How well do you know your SID’s & your STARS?  Leave it to the FAA to change that!  Do you use a couple of different airports on those common business or personal trips?  Are you used to depart using the runway heading and then at x thousand feet turn left…well you get the picture.  You know them in your sleep, right?  Even if you didn’t have your approach plate in hand you could do it right?  Enter the FAA…

Might be better to not only have that approach plate handy, but write down the departure or approach procedure on your kneeboard.  The FAA is redsigning some airspace in different parts of the country and in a “Brilliant Move” refusing to publish the new procedures until the become final.  Yeah they are taking 40+ year old procedures, the term ‘old habits die hard’ ring any bells, changing them a refusing to publish them until they are final.  Hopefully the change which will be great when finished, won’t be a disaster in the short term!

NOTE TO SELF:  My SID & STAR may be wrong I better write down the whole thing and graph it prior to departure…extra confusion brought to you by the FAA.  Read related story