Recent content by Pilot Nick

I don't remember for sure but I don't think there are any Regs stating you have to fly the pattern at TPA... "The AIM is not regulatory..." I think we are a little too safety conscious in Aviation. If we had to drive cars like we fly planes we wouldn't get anywhere.

https://openairplane.com/ Open Airplane has some in Kissimmee. I have not used them yet but hear great things in the podcasts I listen to...to bad they don't have one around here.

That brings up a good point. I know the PIC cannot have alcohol and I know it's against regs to carry drunk passengers in part 91. I am not sure if anything is preventing a student doing dual to not be drinking alcohol...as long as they are under the limit of drunk.

It sounds like the VOR approach plate identifies the IAF as the VOR. You can not identify, using VOR alone, that you are at the IAF without the F/T indicator flipping over unless the approach plate indicates another method of identifying the IAF (like an intersection or DME). You cannot turn...

Most airplane stabilizers generate a downward lift force to counteract the moment/torque of that heavy engine out front. Could you say that the horizontal component of lift generated by the tail is actually hindering the turn? The elevator increases this downward (away from the level turn)...

Watch out, the over thinking of the dynamics will not help on the FAA written!

I second the GCA headset and not just because I passed their shop at Lakeland today :-) I trained with these and they compare with the best for ANR. A screw fell off and the earmuffs should be traded out for the Gel kind but it has served me well for 2 years.

It's always a good idea just to check in with approach just to let them know you are there. Our class Charlie TRACON sure appreciates being able to talk with folks. You can hear their frustration when they see someone doing something stupid and are not talking to them.

Does anyone use the Radar Summary charts with funky lines or even NDB approaches? Can you identify a microwave approach frequency by its 4 letter morse identifier? Even instructors need to brush up on those elements the FAA of the bygone days has decided is important to know to fly in the...

Some of us have never seen a man walk on the moon, besides for recordings. America has a great space program! There's 2 Americans in Space right now. It's so routine that private companies do it. I would welcome more American space program though. Let the second great space race begin!

My speculation: fuel exhaustion/issue and a situation of stalling above the field rather than flying it all the way to the ground.

Thanks guys but I figured it out. The protection pin had broken off and a part of the plastic was still screwed in. I used a knife to dig into it to unscrew it!

Hey guys, I need help with my Vertex Pilot III. I recently bought a headset adapter but it does not fit. It appears that Vertex shipped my radio with some sort of plug in the aux slot but I don't know how to remove it. Anyone seen this before? Plug appear flush with the outer surface with an...

Truck driver was at fault. We can argue all day about changing laws to prevent this. BUT, The police have direct control of what the police do. A policy to fix this problem could be to limit the amount time things spend in active lanes. I do believe that the police do this to protect the...

Just goes to show why type ratings are needed!