Aviation News Talk – Pilot Stories, Safety Tips & General Aviation News

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Latest Episodes:

29 Best Aviation Jokes and Pilot Jokes – M&R Joke Hour Sep 04, 2017

Show notes

We asked listeners to the Aviation News Talk podcast to send us their favorite aviation joke or pilot joke. What we learned is this: pilots have a good sense of humor! Most people are involved in aviation to have fun, and nothing lightens up an airplane cockpit like a good aviation joke! We found some great jokes and this show is a compilation of the best aviation jokes we could find. So sit back, relax and have fun listening to the show. And if you like the jokes, feel free to share with others, or post your own favorite jokes for me on Google+ or Twitter. And remember, have fun and keep the blue side up! Click here for the listener survey. Tell us what flight planning tools you use when planning a longer flight. Please visit my new Patreon page and make a contribution to help me with my goal of improving the AviationNewsTalk.com website. You can Dictate a listener question from your phone and I'll try to answer it on a future show, or send an email.

General Aviation Accident: How Glynn Falcon Survived a Crash in a Piper Arrow with its Ailerons Connected in Reverse Aug 30, 2017

Show notes

In July 2017, Glynn Falcon had a crash while taking off in his Piper Arrow at the Reid-Hillview Airport in San Jose, CA. His plane was there for maintenance, and he was planning to fly it back to his home airport in Marina, CA. Immediately after rotation, he observed that the aircraft made an uncommanded roll to the left. Realizing he was unable to control the aircraft, he pulled the power, and the plane was destroyed in the crash. Glynn survived with minor injuries. In this episode, he describes the factors that led to the crash, and what he learned from his first flight instructor that helped him avoid what is often a fatal accident type. Here's what I teach my students from day one. When you're checking the controls, take ahold of the yoke and stick and stick your thumb straight up. Then when you move the yoke or stick, your thumb will be pointing at the aileron that is supposed to be up. If you do that religiously, every time you do a run up, you'll avoid ever taking off with the controls connected backwards. And this is a mistake that even test pilots make. In 2006, the sole prototype of the Spectrum 33, which was a $3.6 million business jet, crashed on takeoff, killing both pilots. Witnesses reported that the plane entered a right roll and immediately cartwheeled when the right wing hit the ground. According to the NTSB, the ailerons were linked in a manner that reversed the roll control, such that the left roll input from the stick would have deflected the ailerons to produce right roll of the airplane, and vice versa. Prior to the accident, the aircraft had undergone extensive maintenance, including removal of the main landing gear, which required disconnection of a portion of the linkage control systems. Click here for the listener survey. Tell us what flight planning tools you use when planning a longer flight. Please visit my new Patreon page and make a contribution to help me with my goal of improving the AviationNewsTalk.com website. You can Dictate a listener question from your phone and I'll try to answer it on a future show, or send an email.

Unstable Approach Definition and Private Pilot Tips for How to Fly a Stable Approach + GA News Aug 26, 2017

Show notes

You've undoubtedly heard of a stabilized approach and know it's helpful to have one prior to landing. But many pilots don't know all of the elements of a stabilized approach, or the potential expense of an unstable approach. Last year, two pilots I know dug deep into their wallets to pay for damage resulting from landings that followed unstable approaches. Both considered going around, but didn't. The pilots of an IFR charter fight into Akron, Ohio in November 2015 weren't so lucky; everyone died after their unstable approach. So what is a stabilized approach, and why does it matter? Cirrus Aircraft's Flight Operations Manual gives a good description. It says: "A stabilized approach is characterized by a constant angle and constant rate of descent approach profile ending near the touch-down point. Stabilized approach criteria apply to all approaches including practice power-off approaches." It goes on to say that for VFR landings, an "approach is considered stabilized when all of the following criteria are achieved by 500' AGL:

Proper airspeed,
Correct flight path,
Correct aircraft configuration for phase of flight,
Appropriate power setting for aircraft configuration,
Normal angle and rate of descent,
Only minor corrections are required to correct deviations.

A go-around must be executed if the above conditions are not met, and the aircraft is not stabilized by 500' AGL." This episode contains lots of tips to help you consistently fly stable approaches every time you fly the traffic pattern, including tips for long, straight-in approaches, which often lead to unstable approaches. Click here for the listener survey. Tell us what flight planning tools you use when planning a longer flight. Please visit my new Patreon page and make a contribution to help me with my goal of improving the AviationNewsTalk.com website. You can Dictate a listener question from your phone and I'll try to answer it on a future show, or send an email. News Stories

13 Fun Ideas for National Aviation Day + GA News Aug 17, 2017

Show notes

National Aviation Day has been around for more than 75 years, But it probably doesn't get as much attention as it deserves. Here are 13 fun ideas for celebrating on national aviation Day, which is August 19. Franklin D. Roosevelt created National Aviation Day in 1939 by presidential proclamation. Originally it was to celebrate the growth and advancements made in aviation. But one can't help wonder whether it was also a way to start getting more people interested in aviation got a time when Europe was just beginning to enter World War II. Today we face a different challenge, which is how to attract more people to aviation at a time when pilots are in high demand, but new student pilot starts are declining. Here are 13 ways that you can celebrate today, or help get other people more connected to aviation. 1. Get someone else involved in aviation. 2. If you are a rusty pilot, get back into flying! 3. Fly in a new airplane type. 4. Watch an aviation themed movie. 5. Fly a flight simulator! 6. If you are a licensed pilot, fly somewhere new! 7. Visit an Aviation Museum 8. Fly a radio controlled airplane 9. Volunteer to help an aviation-related organization 10. Download and read an aviation book from your local library or from NASA 11. Go Plane Spotting 12. Thank someone who works in the aviation industry 13. Take an aviation course Click here for the listener survey. Tell us what flight planning tools you use when planning a longer flight. Please visit my new Patreon page and make a contribution to help me with my goal of improving the AviationNewsTalk.com website. You can Dictate a listener question from your phone and I'll try to answer it on a future show, or send an email. News Stories

Turbocharger emergencies, TAWS Terrain Awareness Systems, Activating a Leg of an Instrument Approach + GA News Aug 09, 2017

Show notes

Many pilots think that if a turbocharger fails, it's no big deal and just represents a slight loss of power, which may be inconvenient, but is in no way an emergency. They are dead wrong! All turbocharger failures must be treated as an emergency requiring an immediate landing. We'll talk about a pilot who didn't know this and as a result destroyed an airplane. And we had more feedback on entering the traffic at non-Towered Airports. Not everyone likes the FAA preferred entry for crossing over the field at 500 feet above pattern altitude and then turning to enter on the 45. As one listener writes, "just because 'it takes longer' is not an emergency. Short of a true emergency there really is no good reason to deviate from the standard procedure in my book." Plus listener questions. A listener asks about TAWS, the Terrain Awareness Warning System and how it works. We explain the different TAWS functions, and how they help keep you safe. And an instrument pilots asks about how to activate an instrument approach on his Garmin GPS. Click here for the survey. Tell us what flight planning tools you use when planning a longer flight. Please visit my new Patreon page and help me with my goal of funding the creation of two apps for my show, one for Apple and one for Google Play, so that non-techie pilots can find the show in the app store. You can Dictate a listener question from your phone and I'll try to answer it on a future show, or send an email. News Stories

FAA WINGS program, Marvel Comics, Non-towered airport pattern entry, More ADS-B products, Flight Design Sold + GA News Aug 03, 2017

Show notes

We talk about the benefits of participating in the FAA WINGS program in lieu of doing a Flight Review (formerly called a BFR), which pilots in the U.S. must do every two years. Instead of spending an hour on the ground reviewing Part 91 rules and regulations, the FAA WINGS program lets you can take free online courses instead, which may be a better use of your time, if you choose courses that help keep you safer when you fly.

We had lots of feedback on entering the traffic at non-Towered Airports. Not everyone likes the FAA preferred entry for crossing over the field at 500 feet above pattern altitude and then turning to enter on the 45. But we don't get to pick which rules to follow and not follow, just because we don't like them!

Plus an Air Canada flight 759 near miss update. Oddly, that aircraft was not visible on SFO's surface radar for 12 seconds, and we explain why. Plus listener questions. An instrument pilots asks about how to activate an instrument approach on his Garmin GPS.

Click here for the survey. Tell us what flight planning tools you use when planning a longer flight. Please visit my new Patreon page and help me with my goal of funding the creation of two apps for my show, one for Apple and one for Google Play, so that non-techie pilots can find the show in the app store.

You can Dictate a listener question from your phone and I'll try to answer it on a future show, or send an email.

News Stories

Cirrus Embark – Free Training for Buyers of Used Cirrus Aircraft – Ivy McIver Interview Jul 31, 2017

Show notes

Cirrus Aircraft announced a ground breaking new program called Cirrus Embark that provides free, yes absolutely free flight training to buyers of pre-owned Cirrus Aircraft. So if you were to buy a ten-year old Cirrus from someone, you can get up to 3 days of free flight training, paid for by Cirrus! It's called the Cirrus Embark program, and we interview Ivy McIver, SR Product Line Manager at Cirrus Aircraft to talk about the Embark program. If you are thinking about buying a new, or late model Cirrus, please contact me now, so that I can give you some tips to help you with your decision process. You can contact me here. Click here for the survey. Tell us which plane you fly most often. Please visit my new Patreon page and help me with my goal of funding the creation of two apps for my show, one for Apple and one for Google Play, so that non-techie pilots can find the show in the app store. You can Dictate a listener question from your phone and I'll try to answer it on a future show, or send an email.

Private Pilot Tips for Non-Towered Airports, Free Cirrus Training, ATC Privatization, and Air Canada Near Miss Update + GA News Jul 28, 2017

Show notes

We talk about flying at non-Towered Airports, including how to enter on the 45, when on the opposite side of the airport. The preferred method of entry from the opposite side of the pattern is to announce your intentions and cross over midfield at least 500 feet above pattern altitude; here in Northern California, pilot examiners look for pilots on checkrides to cross at 1,000 feet above the traffic pattern altitude. When well clear of the pattern—approximately 2 miles—scan carefully for traffic, descend to pattern altitude, then turn right to enter at 45° to the downwind leg at midfield. Air Canada flight 759 had a near miss last week, and a retired Air Canada captain told me that their procedures require pilots to back up visual approaches with electronic navigation. But apparently this pilot didn't follow that procedure, and he nearly landed on top of several airliners on a taxiway. Plus listener questions how to legally exit an airport under a TFR, and an instrument pilots asks about whether to load an instrument approach with vectors or an IAF. Click here for the survey. Tell us which plane you fly most often. Please visit my new Patreon page and help me with my goal of funding the creation of two apps for my show, one for Apple and one for Google Play, so that non-techie pilots can find the show in the app store. You can Dictate a listener question from your phone and I'll try to answer it on a future show, or send an email. News Stories

Private Pilot Tips for Traffic Patterns, Cirrus Crash, ATC Privatization, and Air Canada Near Miss Update + GA News Jul 20, 2017

Show notes

We talk about flying the traffic pattern, and talk in detail about flying a Cessna 172 in the traffic pattern. For example, many people don't know the exact meaning of "Make Right Traffic." It means, fly to a position where you can enter the traffic pattern on the 45, then turn to downwind and fly the traffic pattern. It doesn't mean to enter on the downwind. And of course you should be at pattern altitude when you're on the 45. We also talk about doing a forward slip in a Cessna 172 and use of flaps during crosswind landings. Air Canada flight 759 had a near miss last week, when it inadvertently lined up to land on a taxiway instead of on the runway. We talk about how confirmation bias may have contributed to the lack of awareness that the Air Canada pilots had about their situation. We also talk about a recent fatal Cirrus SR22 crash in Sonoma, California, and the importance of never pulling the parachute below 400 feet, as it will most likely make things worse! I give details about a recent flight I took from El Paso, Texas to Concord, CA with the new owner of a Cessna 206. We postponed the trip because of a heat wave 3 weeks ago. Plus listener questions about using flaps during crosswind landings and whether you can fly if you're legally using medical marijuana. Click here for the survey. Tell us which plane you fly most often. Please visit my new Patreon page and help me with my goal of funding the creation of two apps for my show, one for Apple and one for Google Play, so that non-techie pilots can find the show in the app store. You can Dictate a listener question from your phone and I'll try to answer it on a future show, or send an email. News Stories

Beechcraft Bonanza and the American Bonanza Society - Tom Turner Interview Jul 14, 2017

Show notes

When pilots think about stepping up to a high performance aircraft, the Beechcraft Bonanza, is often on their short list. And for most pilots who rent or own a complex aircraft, such as the Bonanza that one of the best ways to remain safe in these aircraft is to become a member of an aircraft type club, like the American Bonanza Society, which is in the news because it's celebrating its 50th anniversary.

We sit down with down with Tom Turner, Executive Director of the American Bonanza Society's Air Safety Foundation, and ask him to talk in general about the many the services and benefits pilots typically get when they join a Aircraft Type Clubs, of which there are more than 100, and then we drill down and talk about the specifics of the American Bonanza Society and the services they provide for Beechcraft Bonanza owners and pilots.

Click here for the listener survey. Tell us which plane you fly most often. Please visit my new Patreon page and help me with my goal of funding the creation of two apps for my show, one for Apple and one for Google Play, so that non-techie pilots can find the show in the app store. You can Dictate a listener question from your phone and I'll try to answer it on a future show, or send an email.

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