On Thu, 25 Feb 2010 13:20:31 -0800, noel.wade wrote:

1) Check FAA NOTAMs (& TFRs) before every flight. We all check the
weather (or get second-hand reports from others) before we fly... but
how often to we skip the NOTAMs because we tend to fly in uncomplicated
/ unpopulated airspace? The airspace and lack of traffic is a poor
excuse for not doing this. Although its not the official source, the
AOPA has a great webpage for major NOTAMs and TFRs:
http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/notams.html An official FAA page is he
https://pilotweb.nas.faa.gov/PilotWeb/ (easiest thing to do is a "Radius
search" using "AWO" as the location) And www.runwayfinder.com does a
good job of showing current TFRs, too.

Even after filtering out far away NOTAMS its not easy to relate them to
the day's planned task (assuming you do plan an XC). I normally use the
excellent NOTAMplot the previous evening when I'm planning a flight. It
downloads all current NOTAMS, optionally filtering them for the date of
the flight, and plots them on a UK map. I have the BGA turnpoint list
loaded into NOTAMplot so I can plot my intended task as well and change
it if I see conflicts.

Does the FAA, AOPA, etc provide a NOTAM data feed and is there an
equivalent program available for the USA? I've never heard one discussed.

4) Practice landings. Practice them a lot. Practice *precision*
landings (as many people these days preach, but few actually practice).
Don't get lulled into the exact same approach every time. Train yourself
to look at the windsock and check AWOS/ASOS in your approach to landing.
Practice things like slips and S-turns so that you can counteract
crosswinds and adjust your altitude during your approach. The flight
does not end when the aircraft enters the pattern - do not relax or let
your guard down at that point! The flight continues until the aircraft
comes to a complete stop - keep thinking and "flying" all the way until
it stops!

To see what can happen if you don't fly a glider until it stops, take a
look at this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eamnTyfkUBY


--
martin@ | Martin Gregorie
gregorie. | Essex, UK
org |