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

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

• Student Pilot Pleads Guilty to Lying to Accident Investigators
• Low Accident Rate Maintained as GA Activity Grows
• NTSB launches blog about GA accident investigations
• FAA Changes Night Landing Rules At KSFO
• FAA Reorganization
• Delta Reverses Position on ATC Privatization
• Time running out for FAA reauthorization
• House Working on FAA Extension Bill
• Australian Airservices promises 10 percent cost reduction
• Garmin Receives EASA Approval For New GTN 650/750 Features
• Technology gives legally blind Peoria boy a chance to fly

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

• Student Pilot Pleads Guilty to Lying to Accident Investigators
• Low Accident Rate Maintained as GA Activity Grows
• NTSB launches blog about GA accident investigations
• FAA Changes Night Landing Rules At KSFO
• FAA Reorganization
• Delta Reverses Position on ATC Privatization
• Time running out for FAA reauthorization
• House Working on FAA Extension Bill
• Australian Airservices promises 10 percent cost reduction 
• Garmin Receives EASA Approval For New GTN 650/750 Features
• Technology gives legally blind Peoria boy a chance to fly

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

• NTSB Completes Icon Investigation
• Flaps Up In Fatal Rough Water Takeoff
• Santa Monica Rushes to Shorten SMO Runway
• Privatization would increase the deficit by almost $100 billion
• House Dems ask Inspector General to Investigate DOT's lobbying
• Every Saudi airport will be privatized this year
• First UK 8.33kHz radio grant claims paid by CAA
• Herne Bay air show crash pilot 'trapped by wrong lifejacket
• AOPA quietly introduces flagship content delivery app

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

• NTSB Completes Icon Investigation
• Flaps Up In Fatal Rough Water Takeoff
• Santa Monica Rushes to Shorten SMO Runway
• Privatization would increase the deficit by almost $100 billion
• House Dems ask Inspector General to Investigate DOT's lobbying
• Every Saudi airport will be privatized this year
• First UK 8.33kHz radio grant claims paid by CAA
• Herne Bay air show crash pilot 'trapped by wrong lifejacket
• AOPA quietly introduces flagship content delivery app

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

• Presidential TFR
• TFR Cost to Local Airports
• Solar Eclipse Affects General Aviation
• Vulcanair Single Expected to Battle Cessna 172
• ADS-B deadline won't change, FAA administrator tells Oshkosh crowds
• Chinese company Building Airplane Factory in Washington State
• ADS-B Out to Ease RVSM Compliance
• Flying Magazine is 90 Years Old!

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

• Presidential TFR
• TFR Cost to Local Airports
• Solar Eclipse Affects General Aviation
• Vulcanair Single Expected to Battle Cessna 172
• ADS-B deadline won’t change, FAA administrator tells Oshkosh crowds
• Chinese company Building Airplane Factory in Washington State
• ADS-B Out to Ease RVSM Compliance
• Flying Magazine is 90 Years Old!

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

• New comic book Super hero to promote aviation: Aviore
• Airline Crew Forgets To Raise Gear
• AVIATIONWORKS4U PROVIDES ROAD MAP TO AVIATION CAREER
• German investment group buys Flight Design
• LIGHT SPORT EAGLE VIPER SD4 COSTS LESS THAN $90,000
• uAvionix Rolls Out Low-Cost ADS-B Out

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

• New comic book Super hero to promote aviation: Aviore
• Airline Crew Forgets To Raise Gear
• AVIATIONWORKS4U PROVIDES ROAD MAP TO AVIATION CAREER
• German investment group buys Flight Design
• LIGHT SPORT EAGLE VIPER SD4 COSTS LESS THAN $90,000
• uAvionix Rolls Out Low-Cost ADS-B Out

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.

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.