Indholdsfortegnelse for September 2016 i Flying

Palm Springs has always been known more for its abundant sunshine and palm trees than as an aviation mecca. But that perception is changing. Apart from being a world-class flyin vacation destination with a great airport close to the resorts, restaurants and shops downtown, the city is also home to Flying Aviation Expo, now in its third year and bigger and better than ever thanks to a change of venue that, frankly, is a pretty big deal for us. The aviation-friendly city of Palm Springs and the Palm Springs International Airport have graciously permitted us to relocate the show from the convention center to the airport, a change that will allow you to land, taxi to the designated parking area and step right onto the show site. Hosting Aviation Expo…

From time to time, it’s inevitable that you will come across instrument approaches that, for one reason or another, are unusual. It may be an approach type, such as an RNP SAAAR procedure that requires specialized crew training, or it could be an otherwise plain-vanilla-looking approach with some unusual element that requires extra consideration. Have a look at the VOR Runway 19R approach into Concord, California, above and note the unusual aspects of this particular procedure. COURSE CHANGE The VOR Runway 19R approach to KCCR includes a course change on final at the CCR VOR that necessitates a turn from 191 to 172 degrees while simultaneously initiating a descent from 1,100 feet to the MDA. VNAV DECISION ALTITUDE Authorized users (those with appropriate IFR GPS) may adhere to a VNAV…

Daher’s TBM family of airplanes has attracted a cult following of passionate owners — nearly 800 of them and counting since the original TBM 700 emerged almost 30 years ago — for reasons that should be a mystery to no one. Distilled to their essence, the current production TBM 900 and the brand-new TBM 930 hold the distinction of being the fastest single-engine production airplanes in existence. They can operate from remarkably short runways and have the range to skip intermediate fuel stops required of lesser airplanes. Inside, the 930 is stylish and comfortable with room for six in an elegantly remodeled Elite interior that rivals those of many light jets. It’s not hyperbole to proclaim this is the best TBM yet. The biggest change to the 930, of course,…

SCOTT WILLEMS B-29 RETURNS TO FLIGHT Congratulations to all the people who made this possible [“B-29 Doc Ready to Fly,” July 6, 2016]. We need to keep more of these historic warbirds in the air. JIM BREWER ACS and the Old Guy There have been many column inches dedicated to the new Airman Certification Standards (ACS). Everything I’ve read has been about the effect on check rides. Does ACS have any impact on flight reviews? Do us gray-headed airmen that passed our check rides based on the PTS of many years ago need to be familiar with ACS to be able to pass a flight review? It’s up to your instructor, of course, but nothing he or she throws at you should be any different from the last time you…

Accidents attributed to controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) have decreased significantly over the years thanks to the intro duction of the terrain awareness and warning system (TAWS). The technology provides life-saving information and serves as a vital layer of protection as aircraft navigate changing terrain in various weather conditions. TAWS pulls aircraft position, speed and direction data from GPS and, along with the aircraft’s altitude and configuration information, compares them to a database of Earth’s terrain and man-made obstacles. This highly accurate database is the result of a combination of radar topography imagery taken by the U.S. space shuttle program, DOD info and other data. When the aircraft’s position and tracking information are superimposed on it, TAWS is able to issue a number of different alerts to ensure pilots take…

“I LEARNED ABOUT FLYING FROM THAT” The late afternoon sky was clear and the air crisp. Light spread itself evenly across the landscape in the absence of clouds, and colorful fugitive leaves danced across the runway ahead of a mild, quartering crosswind. The relative calm outside the cockpit of my Cessna trainer dueled in graphic opposition to the inner excitement I felt as I eased the throttle forward, about to embark upon my first cross-country solo flight. My eyes roamed over an instrument panel active with lights, needles and information about the airplane’s airworthy condition. The engine hummed with efficiency. Before the flight, my instructor had given me tips to ensure a safe and successful trip. “If you find yourself in a difficult situation, do your best to stay ahead…

A few years back, my parents bought a beautiful tiled wood stove for their home. The first year, they bought a light truckload of wood. But Dad found buying wood to be a pricey way to feed the stove. Being retired with spare time on his hands and the desire for physical work, he decided to cut his own firewood. At first, he got permission from the local government to clear out wood from a lot close to my parents’ home where trees had been cut down to thin the forest. Then Mom and Dad set out to purchase a small wooded lot. In the end, they purchased an 11-acre property with three buildings and a lake. Why am I telling this story? Perhaps you can relate to a similar…

RELEVANT FAR/AIM DISCUSSION: FAR 91.117, 91.817, 97.3, AIM 3-2-4, 3-2-5, 4-2-11, 4-4-12, 5-3-8, 5-4-7, 5-4-9, 5-5-9, AC 90-66A, CONTROLLER’S HANDBOOK 7110.65) Speeds Limits: • In the United States — Mach 1 • 10,000 feet msl or above — Unrestricted (but not more than Mach 1) • Below 10,000 feet msl — 250 kias • Class B airspace — Unrestricted at or above 10,000 feet msl, 250 kias below 10,000 feet msl • Beneath Class B or in VFR corridor through Class B — 200 kias • Procedure turn — 200 kias • Class C or D airspace (at or below 2,500 feet agl within 4 nm of the primary airport) — 200 kias (unless a higher speed is specifically approved by ATC) • Class E or G airport traffic pattern…

I had just landed at Minneapolis-Saint Paul Airport and was on a quick break in the middle of a busy workday, with just enough time between flights to grab a salad for lunch and check my email. As soon as I turned on my phone, I saw the message from Roy, lead mechanic at Aero Maintenance in Vancouver, Washington. My heart did a little flutter. (Whose wouldn’t when his airplane is in the shop for its annual?) As I began reading, apprehension turned to disbelief. “We found a lot of metal in your oil screen.” These are the words that strike fear into every aircraft owner, and now they’d been said of my 1953 Piper Pacer. Impossible! I had just changed the oil 15 flight hours ago in Southern California,…

“And now for something completely different.” It was a line from that brilliant 1970s British television comedy show, Monty Python’s Flying Circus, but it could just as easily be used to introduce The Airplane Factory’s new, fits-into-its-own-niche airplane, the cheeky Sling 4. A four-place cruiser that carries four adults, several hours’ worth of fuel and a respectable baggage load, and consumes less than 6 gph, the Sling 4 does so in leather-wrapped comfort. It has a wider cabin than a Bonanza, looks sexy on the ramp, and its turbocharged Rotax whisks it along at a decent 125 knots — all for a fraction of the price of a comparable new Part 23 airplane. Something different indeed. What does one do with an airplane that has a 1,000-pound useful load and…

Day six of 10 in Miami Lakes, Florida, didn’t hold much promise for flying, but it did provide a chance to do some laundry. The crew hotel wasn’t five star, to put it kindly, and it wasn’t anywhere near anything to eat or do. It was hot. Armed with a roll of quarters, I loaded the washing machine on the first floor and retreated to my room, where the machinery clank of the air conditioner brought a strange solace. An hour later, I pushed another eight quarters into the dryer and retraced my steps. Yet another hour after that, I went down to collect my fresh clothes, only to find an unknown hotel guest had decided to piggyback on my dryer experience with additional clothes. I separated out the tank…