On September 1st, two twin-engine planes, including a Cessna and Diamond DA-42, were flipped due to severe weather, with one fatality and another badly injured passenger. While authorities are still investigating the incident and some pilots are also trying to make sense of the tragedy, it gives us pause to...

With our continued appetite for science fiction, we are often mesmerized by the latest technology mirrored on the movie screen. In fact, kids and adults alike enjoy watching the fast-paced, space-based storylines complete with rocket ships and futuristic weaponry; however, perhaps one downside of this trend for aviation is the...

If you enjoy eating spicy foods, you may remember ordering a particular dish and having the server ask how "hot" you would like it to be. This always creates a dilemma because "hot" is such a relative term and even though you may desire to find the level that is...

We have previously highlighted the challenges (and expense) of seeking the magical 1500 hours of flight time required before pilots may work at a Part 121 airline. However, we should also discuss a unique opportunity for Part 135 pilots to gain required experience through the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Part...

Recently, Sen. Lindsey Graham proposed legislation to raise the mandatory retirement age for commercial airline pilots to 67 from the current 65. The last time the age cap was raised was in 2007 when it jumped from 60 to 65 in an urgent attempt to address pilot shortages. Those shortages...

Some rules are created to save money, and some rules are created to save lives. Other times, rules which don't make complete sense are created because there is a perception that risk is not being properly managed, and it is merely a knee jerk reaction of the risk averse. Quite...

When the first measurable snowfall comes, I avoid driving that first day to keep out of the way of the drivers that have let their winter driving knowledge and skills atrophy over the summer. That first day in the mountains of Colorado was August 16th and will spread to lower...

On December 7, 1787, Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution of the United States, and is since known as The First State. In June 2022, Delaware again achieved a first by becoming the only state in the US without commercial passenger air service. After a couple start...

As Americans, we tend to be a bit obsessive about our pets. One survey showed that 70% of people would sacrifice "alone time" with a significant other for their dog, and 73% of pet owners get upset when people tell them how to raise their animals. So, it makes sense...

There are 86,400 seconds in a day. In just one second, a honeybee flaps its wings 200 times and approximately 79 stars will vanish from space. What seems to go by so quickly can often be the most profound part of our day, week, year, and even lives. We find...

Tom Petty sang a great song called "Learning to Fly," which actually wasn't meant to be particularly about aviation, but really a metaphor for achieving goals that you never thought were possible. Still, for some pilots, the song is still a valid anthem that takes us all back to those...

It's proven time and time again that for all airframes, landing is generally the toughest part of flying. More than 60% of aviation accidents occur during landing, and even with the technology we have available to assist, fatal accidents continue to occur due to the inability to employ proper energy...

There's a great comedy skit by Gary Gulman about how the postal service finally settled on its two letter designators for states, but do you know how the three- and four-letter acronyms for airports came about? They basically date as far back as the 1930s when air travel began to...

Safety in aviation is always a top priority. There are many ways to approach this important task, with the first line of defense being a keen and constant personal awareness of one’s habits, health, skill, and environment. But even under the best conditions, sometimes there are still various factors that...

In 1911, John Scott Haldane came up with the idea to use canaries as carbon monoxide detectors for miners. They decided upon that particular sentinel species as it was believed to be more sensitive to the colorless, odorless gas and could, therefore, serve as an early indicator to help save...

Several recent security incidents highlight the need for business aviation and FBOs to properly prepare and follow facility security procedures while aircraft are on the ground. In May 2021, a pilot found a 19-year-old man passed out inside a Citation jet with a rifle. The pilot removed the Ruger AR-15,...

Who do you call when you have an issue when flying? I would wager that most corporate and charter pilots tend to think of the standard CRM team: the other pilot, the Cabin crew (if on board), and Air Traffic Control. After attending the NBAA Schedulers and Dispatchers Conference in...

Jet fuel prices have soared to an all-time high with yet another 0.2 percent increase and the eighth straight increase this year. The latest increase comes on the heels of the steepest hike ever of 18.3 percent effected on March 16 and a 2 percent increase on April 1—and no,...

On December 15, 2021, a Gulfstream GIV with six passengers and three crewmembers took off from Santo Domingo's Isabela airport headed for Orlando. In a matter of 15 minutes, all aboard the aircraft would perish as the jet attempted to make an emergency landing at the nearby Las Americas International...

On April 1, 2022, it certainly was no joke when pilots on a flight from Salt Lake City to Washington, D.C. diverted the flight to Denver after the cockpit windshield shattered above 30,000 feet. Passengers recount the crew explaining the rare occurrence and the need to divert to Denver for...

If you ask anyone outside of the aviation community to define business aviation, you will likely get a variety of answers. Until recently, the general public's perception of business aviation has been simply a mode of transportation for executives, wealthy entrepreneurs, or celebrities from the music, sports, or motion picture...

The 20th Edition of the International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO) brings about some changes, one of which is the new requirement to conduct initial and recurrent Human Factors training for all personnel involved in the safe operation of an aircraft. This training was previously only a recommended practice...

Over the last two years, we've all become accustomed to changing or shifting rules in many aspects of our lives. We've all had to remain flexible and diligent in knowing and following the latest guidance and rules across the board to ensure the safety of not only ourselves, but others...

Even though 9/11 was two over decades ago, the prospect of getting intercepted tends to get some pilots excited. The FAA has multiple sources on its website, and the subject is covered in the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) and is in two Advanced Aircrew Academy eLearning modules. Why all the...

Runway Excursions continue to be the #1 incident type in business aviation with 34 runway excursions in the United States in 2021. This is a 35% increase in excursions over 2020. January and August each had 5 excursions. Light jets (less than 21,000 pounds) continue to have the majority of...