When I was young I got my license the week I turned 18. I left flying when I left my first wife. I would like to resume flying, but want to focus on IFR simulation (most cost effective) at home training before beginning actual flight training. Any advice would be appreciated to help me develop a...

I know I can find them at various web sites, please don't bother to respond to tell me about them. Here's what I'd like: given an airport identifier, say "KLHZ", I'd like an programmatic, algorithmic way or a table lookup to find all the NACO approach chart URLs,...

Anyone give me a clue of the approach configuration of R172K? For instance, now I use 100kts, 15inch, 2500RPM with no flaps for the precision approach (ILS) for the training but it is not stable and too fast for landing after DA. I insist 90kts is good speed for the approach level and the...

Can one do the six approaches and holding in VFR to maintain currency without a view-limiting device or a safety pilot?

Given the recent changes in the regs, do us folks with certified Garmin 430's and 530's file slant R now? I heard there's a write-up by AOPA. Can someone point me to that article please? Thanks, Marco Leon

Does anybody know the typical range of the DME signal when DME is installed in conjunction with a localizer or ILS? I shot an ILS yesterday that had it's compass locator decommissioned some time ago, so now the approach requires a VOR or DME, which is fine, because we've got both in addition to...

I've been away from flying for a while. I stopped flying at around the time the government plates were rumored to be changing to a new format. I used to use Jepps. I picked up flying again recently. The pilot's store I went to was out of the Jepp express packs, so I decided to give the...

Hi all. My currency just ran out last month and I was wondering within the next six months Im allowed to have a safty pilot with me or do I need a instructor to perform the six approches holds and tracking? I looked through the FARS and it really says nothing about who can be with you during the...

I know the aim para 5.4.7 says that aircraft approach categories are based on 1.3 times the stall speed in the landing config at max certificated gross landing weight (comes from far 97.3 (b). However I know I have read somewhere, perhaps the aim or a far, something along the lines that where the...

A few days ago there was a thread here discussing how to make use of digital NACO approach plates on a PDA. The context was that a pilot could download and print fresh current charts for the primary airport(s) and alternate(s), and have charts for other airports available on a PDA for use in the...

I fly out of Palo Alto, CA, and I have never heard an IFR clearance read over ground whose route section did not start "when able, right turn to 060 with 1 mi of the airport, radar vectors san jose, v334 sunol ..." My clearance starts out this way whether I file a flight plan to the east, north, or...

Saw on AvWeb that the preliminary file on the Hendricks King Air crash that spawned much discussion here has been posted: http://ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20041104X01760&key=1 For reference, here is the approach plate: http://204.108.4.16/d-tpp/0411/05648L30.PDF My take-away:

Okay, I've been watching the transition to glass cockpits in GA aircraft. Clearly, the cost savings and simplification that comes from integration is neat, and the reliability of an all-electrical system is (probably) going to mean more safety for all of us. But one thing bugs me -- the tapes. I...

Flew my first GPS approaches this morning... Wow!!! Easy and precise! I was flying a 1997 C182S with King KLN 94 GPS and UPSAT MX 20 moving map display. The moving map has a lot of lag during a turn, but fly the OBS and you go right where you are supposed to.

I was just reviewing the new Elmira One departure procedure. I think the government has let GPS go to their heads. Unless I'm reading it incorrectly, it specifies the initial heading out to TWO decimal places! The procedure is pretty trivial as it basically says to fly runway heading to 4000...

I have seen some GPS Notams about likely unreliability in certain areas over certain very narrowly-defined periods of time. Can anyone tell me what sort of known activities create these conditions? -Robert Scott Ypsilanti, Michigan

I've recently earned my instrument ticket, and feel that I still need to learn more about weather. I've been looking at several resources for study and would like recommendations on which ones are good/bad, which ones are best, other suggestions. Jepp Aviation Weather Buck Weather Flying Sportys...

Out here in the Rocky Mountain states, those of us who are instrument rated rarely get a chance to practice our skills in real IMC since "real IMC" usually implies either thunderstorms (summer) or severe icing condiditions and blowing snow (winter). However, today I was given a real treat by the...

Hey, I don't post many of my adventures due to the flaming so no one tell me I am crazy cuz I already know I am for accepting the flight...to the location!! Hears the deal Maine to Beirut, Lebanon or Riyadh, Saudi Arabia!!! Still not 100% sure on the exact destination but may be even Cyprus...

My youngest daughter is graduating high school this May, and is looking to do a GWBush by joining the Air National Guard. The job she's most interested in is Air Traffic Controller. She's also contemplating doing AFROTC at the same time (don't think she can do ROTC while being in ANG). I _assume_...