If you have ever wondered how professional pilots keep their skills up-to-date and are evaluated on their skills, Tracy of the Around the Pattern blog has posted two detailed entries (Part 1 and Part 2) on his blog covering his four days of thorough recurrent training that he is required to undergo as a commercial airline pilot.
RNAV approaches
John Ewing of Aviation Mentor has made an observation that many readers who find his blog on the internet are in fact looking for information on RNAV (aRea NAVigation or “random area navigation”) approaches. Since RNAV approaches are a popular but highly complex topic, John has posted a detailed article covering:
Practical information on RNAV approach design, naming conventions, the different approach minima that you might encounter, the types of vertical guidance that may be offered, how ATC will get you established on the approach, and some pre-flight planning considerations.
A Darwin Award for all to share
The Cockpit Conversation blog has posted an interesting and darkly amusing tale about engines being “vulnerable to idiots” and the consequences of this. In 2004, two Pinnacle Airlines pilots were flying without any passengers and decided to “have some fun” with their CRJ200 and fly it to its published performance ceiling of 41,000 feet.
To make a long story short, the aircraft was completely destroyed in the ensuing crash and both pilots were killed – earning them a nomination for a “Darwin Award” (more specific details along with links to the NTSB report and the cockpit voice recording transcript are available on Cockpit Conversation).
However, the story does not end there. According to Cockpit Conversation:
C152 to Jaguar at KHPN
This is a guest post by Jason Schappert from the highly recommended M0A blog.
Having been a pilot all of my young life I find having an aviation story to inject into just about every conversation a cinch.
I’ll never forget the day our school agreed to send myself and a fellow classmate 600 miles west in the schools C-152, all expenses paid. We were the laughing stock of the school leading up to the flight; I at the time was 6’4and my friend was 6’6. Our classmates marveled at the idea that we could possibly last as long as we did crammed in a Cessna 152. [Read more…] about C152 to Jaguar at KHPN
Concorde’s maiden British flight
Nine minutes of nostalgia from the BBC. Concorde’s first British flight from Filton to RAF Fairford on April 9, 1969 with a commentary by Raymond Baxter who was the voice of aviation for me when I was growing up.
Passenger lands plane after pilot dies
Douglas White landed a King Air from the right seat after the pilot died. He had a private pilot’s certificate but had only limited experience on single engine light aircraft. The amazing story is covered on James Fallows’ blog with an interview on AOPA Online. You can listen to a transcript of the ATC communications online too.