Recent content by Handsfield

Thanks, Bruce. As I replied in a follow-up on the AOPA forum, I'm not actually proposing a half-way IFR rating. However, as others have said, most IFR flights don't end in approach in "hard" IMC conditions, and a lot of pilots would be safe departing in VFR conditions, ascending through...

Has there ever been consideration of a middle ground IFR rating that would allow instrument privileges en route but not require them for approach and landing? It seems to me that the skills and experience required for en route, cross-country flying are different (and more forgiving) than...

Thanks to all. Skidoo: There is no course, straight line or otherwise, that doesn't involve high terrain here and there. Of course I am always prepared to alter my route (or do whatever esle is necessary) to stay safe in relation to weather. I'm not cavalier about it, but I am...

Greetings to all, especially those based in or familiar with South Dakota or western Iowa. In a few days I'm flying from Seattle/BFI to east-central Illinois (C16/Frasca). With prevailing westerlies, flight time in my C182 will be 11-12 hr. There will be an overnight stop, and 6-8 hr on day 1...

In fact not. There were 3 fatal accidents involving Angel Flight in a fairly brief period a couple of years ago. Two involved passengers who died and the third was the Angel Flight volunteer pilot alone, flying home after dropping off the passenger(s). To my knowledge, they were the only...

Stacy Vereen, East Point (not far from ATL). Not N/NE, but worth the drive. Senior AME, mostly serves professional pilots but takes the occasional low end GA pilot. He is a pilot, has a good combination of respect for the rules and flexibility borne of experience. He is a curmudgeon but has...

I don't know squat about the controversy, only what I read in these posts, mostly the original one. That suggests that CWB has a giant chip on its shoulder. The last time I went to a fly-in because warbirds would be there (or avoided one because they wouldn't) was never. Sure, I enjoy poking...

Here is a relevant link, to the Canadian magazine McLeans, sort of Canada's Time magazine: http://www.macleans.ca/topstories/world/article.jsp?content=20060828_132152_132152 Here is a quote from the article. The Mark Salter quoted is my son-in-law, by the way. Trying to counter all the ways...

I don't get to either POA or AOPA webboard as much as I used to, but on both forums there seem to be fewer threads than there used to be on recent accidents. That may be good, perhaps a sign of reduced morbid interest. But I have to say I miss the dialog--even speculative comments--about...

The reason Bose is worst of all in passive mode is the same reason it seems better in active mode, but isn't. Bose is such a rip-off. By having crappy performance passively, the difference between passive and active is impressive, and it sells product, perhaps especially in the non-aviation...

Michael, I have been wondering whether the craggy, outcropping group of mountains (last photo) is a recognized landmark. I've been over the canyon and meteor crater before, but I was struck by the unique appearance of that land feature. Hard to tell scale from the photo, but it's large; I...

I got some pretty good photos on my recent trip from Seattle to Atlanta 10 days ago. The weather was bad over the northern Rockies, so I took a roundabout route, south into central CA, then east over Las Vegas and Arizona. It took a few hours more, but the route took me straight over the Grand...

Not to trivialize the event or change the subject. But man, what an ugly airplane! Hunter

I book my exit seats online. No problem on United; and with admittedly limited experience, so far no problem on Delta. Hunter