Having recently read an industry publication discussing complacency in cockpit operations, I took some time to discuss the subject with a few of my counterparts and reflect on how to recognize it and combat it. Thinking I know what complacency means to me, I nonetheless gave consideration to what the...

There is a tipping point. In that moment, when a passenger with a strong financial portfolio makes the decision to buy, charter, join a membership, or fraction of a corporate aircraft, there are factors to push that decision, and they aren't always obvious. When a passenger has the power to...

There is a tipping point. In that moment, when a passenger with a strong financial portfolio makes the decision to buy, charter, join a membership, or fraction of a corporate aircraft, there are factors to push that decision, and they aren’t always obvious. When a passenger has the power to...

There is a tipping point. In that moment, when a passenger with a strong financial portfolio makes the decision to buy, charter, join a membership, or fraction of a corporate aircraft, there are factors to push that decision, and they aren’t always obvious. When a passenger has the power to...

Does your flight department have/want Ops Spec C056 authorization or a Letter of Authorization to conduct Controller Pilot Data Link Communications? Last December, the FAA released Notice 8900.446 stating operators with current authorization for use of CPDLC would be required to apply for a revised A056 authorization by March 29,...

Business Aviation pilots have to wait, a lot. A four-hour flight can be filled with bad weather, ATC, and mechanical challenges, followed by four long, boring days on a layover, waiting for passengers. Back at home base, pilots wait to hear when the MELs will be cleared, wait to hear...

The International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO), aka the Standard, has been streamlined and modernized in 2018. The International Business Aviation Council’s (IBAC) IS-BAO team went on a listening tour to gather feedback from operators and auditors. The IS-BAO Standards Board produced a significant revision based on the feedback...

Security. We say it. We follow procedures for it. We train and test on it. As we pass more than 15 years since the terrorist attacks of 9/11, the sands of time have begun to blur our perceived need for aviation security. I admit I fall into that way of...

Regardless of your vocation, it’s highly likely you must rely on certain tools to accomplish your objectives and get the job done. In a literal sense, a carpenter uses numerous different tools to build and construct a project such as a hammer, saw, drill, etc. In a broader sense, a...

Unlike other industries that require drug and alcohol testing, most pilots rarely go into the office. So, while on a trip, who is the supervisor that will report the appearance, behavior, speech, and smell that are usually associated with drug or alcohol use? The company cannot require testing based on...

The FAA has issued draft Advisory Circular (AC) 90-66B on operating procedures at non-tower airports. This draft is the first revision to the AC since 1993 and contains many changes, including controlled airports when towers are not in operation and drone operation. Drones do not require authorization to operate at...

The initial results are in for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) 10 most frequently cited workplace safety violations for fiscal year 2017. The rankings for OSHA's Top 10 most cited violations vary little (some change in order) from year to year; however, violation number nine Fall Protection, Training...

'Simple' is probably not a word you would associate with a government website, but get ready for a brave new world, at least when it comes to the State Department website and travel information. New improvements at travel.state.gov are in the works to make it easier to find and interpret...

A few days ago, I was finishing an uneventful flight and landing on runway 26L at KLAS (Las Vegas, NV - USA). The weather was VMC around 2200L with wind 080 at 7 knots, so it was a direct tailwind. Due to a lot of operational restrictions, ATC doesn't like...

Currently, the FAA is working with operators, manufacturers, and installers on eliminating several common ADS-B installation errors. The issues most commonly associated with an ADS-B installation are: Missing Barometric Pressure Altitude Air/Ground Determination Issues Flight ID issues including Missing Flight ID 3-letter identifier Duplicate and Wrong ICAOs Invalid Mode 3/A...

Many of our daily activities are aided by the coverage of GPS satellites providing many of our devices with a precise location. It is really convenient when traveling in an unfamiliar city to quickly locate a coffee shop for that morning cup of joe. The inconvenience quickly becomes edgy when...

OSHA issued a final rule that will require employers to electronically submit worker injury and illness data, which then will be made public. The original compliance date of July 1, 2016 was delayed until December 15, 2017 to allow affected employers additional time to become familiar with the electronic reporting system....

I recently went to recurrent simulator training and the instructor had a different scenario planned for one of the practice sessions. Apparently, there have been some recent GPWS "saves" of aircraft going into KLAS (Las Vegas, NV - USA) after being cleared for a visual approach to runway 26L. The...

The freezing temperatures that are sweeping across the Northern parts of the country have captured the attention of the nightly news. The sub-zero temperatures are causing many to rethink how and what can be accomplished outdoors. Some may be fortunate to travel South to warmer locations while others are dealing...

There are many factors involved in the communication process. Of all the factors, the most important may be Phraseology as it equips us to communicate rapidly, with desired results, and reduces circumstances for misunderstanding, all without being affected by differences in language. As indicated in SKYbrary, standard phraseology reduces the...

Number 2 on our Top 10 list to prevent runway excursions is knowing the actual runway conditions. In runway excursions on a contaminated runway, we often find that the runway conditions were worse than anticipated or reported. I suspect this was the case when a Citation Mustang touched down earlier...

The Iridium satellite communications network provides global coverage, including over the polar regions. Through inter-satellite cross links, which allow voice calls to be relayed from one satellite to the next until ground-based Gateway is reached, Iridium Satellite network enables data connectivity, allowing for CPDLC communication in remote coverage areas. Recent...

All operators take notice. It’s time to update our manuals to replace DOT Chart 15 with the updated DOT Chart 16. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has published the latest version of the Hazardous Materials Markings, Labeling, and Placarding Guide as DOT Chart 16. The hot button...

Did you know that the TSA recently released some updated guidance to the Twelve Five Standard Security Program (TFSSP) regarding the Ground Security Coordinator duties and training? As the Security Subject Matter Expert (SME) for Advanced Aircrew Academy, I've reviewed the new changes and have incorporated the new information and...

A few days ago, I was climbing out behind an airliner that had departed about a minute before us. I was the pilot monitoring for a relatively new copilot and, during departure, I told him, "If we get rocked, stay off the rudders." The airplane I fly these days has...