Editorials

April 4, 2014

Solo Flow

[sc:Top-of-Post ] Having fond memories of your own solo flight is one of the unique gifts of learning to fly. Like all pilots, it’s a seminal point in your journey. It’s akin to walking through a door into a new world. A world in which you alone control your destiny. You have crossed a threshold;…

February 6, 2014

CURE FOR THE DECLINING PILOT POPULATION

[sc:Top-of-Post ] Would you believe me if I stated I have a cure for the declining pilot population? And would you also believe me if I said YOU have the cure too?    It’s true. We have the power to manage this problem right now. It won’t take cheaper fuel, less government regulations, cheaper airplanes,…

January 10, 2014

ICARUS SERIES #2: THE HUBRIS OF FLIGHT

[sc:Top-of-Post ] This series will draw metaphors from the famous Greek mythological story of Icarus.   If you are unfamiliar; Icarus’ father (Daedalus) was an amazing craftsman who built his son a pair of wings made of wax and feathers. Against his father’s guidance he flew too close to the sun and melted his wings, crashing…

January 3, 2014

My New Year’s Resolutions: #BlogFormation Post

[sc:Top-of-Post ] I have never been much on New Year’s Resolutions. I’m pretty much the kind of person that gets something in his head and goes for it at that moment. Since my buddy Eric logically came up with this month’s Blogging in Formation subject, how could I resist the opportunity to throw down some goals…

December 28, 2013

Icarus Series #1: Innovate or Die

[sc:Top-of-Post ] This series will draw metaphors from the famous Greek mythological story of Icarus.   If you are unfamiliar; Icarus’ father (Daedalus) was an amazing craftsman who built his son a pair of wings made of wax and feathers. Against his father’s guidance he flew too close to the sun and melted his wings, crashing…

December 18, 2013

Pilots vs. Pilots

[sc:Top-of-Post ] In this editorial I will attempt to juxtapose two different genre of aviators. Both are similar, yet different. Let me also say there is no right answer.   Many would think that pilots are a very structured species that goes out to the same kinds of airports and flies similar types of aircraft…

December 9, 2013

Birds of a Feather Flock Together

[sc:Top-of-Post ] There are some interesting phenomena that occur when pilots of similar types of aircraft coalesce into a group. Some of it is really good and some of it is not so good. But let’s examine an often taboo subject and see where it leads us.   I’ll use the term type club because…

December 1, 2013

What I Want Under the Christmas Tree is…Electrifying! #blogformation post

[sc:Top-of-Post ] In the spirit of the Holidays this month’s Blogging in Formation (#blogformation) series will cover What We Want Under our Christmas Tree. Based on the picture above, you might get the impression I want to give up our airplanes for flying saucers, not really.   What I do want is a revolutionary, game-changing, paradigm-shifting,…

November 20, 2013

Drone Pilots or Drone Operators?

[sc:Top-of-Post ] You might note that I have written about UAVs on several occasions, usually in vain. Let me say for the record that UAVs (or Remotely Piloted Aircraft – RPAs) are great use of technology, particularly in the military.  But…   Ok, I was listening to an interview recently and they were talking about…

October 24, 2013

Automation Nation

[sc:Top-of-Post ] Are we letting the computers fly too much? I believe so, I know many of my blogging colleagues would also agree.  We seem to be going backward – better technology, but crappier pilots. I have noticed that training vendors for professional pilots tend to assume that you know how to fly the airplane…