mtrescott

iPad and iPhone Aviation Apps for Pilots and Airline Passengers

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After the weekend iPad frenzy, people seem evenly split: 50% of online comments are positive while the other half question the need to carry around yet another electronic device. Yet posts by pilots are all positive if not exuberant. The beauty for pilots is that about 350 aviation iPhone applications already exist. Most of the existing apps will run either in their native iPhone 320 x 480 pixel size, or can be doubled to display larger on the iPad. App developers can rework their applications so that they are optimized to display on the iPad’s larger display. About a half dozen aviation applications have been optimized for the iPad and others are in process.

New NTSB 830 Rules May Increase Reports of Near Mid-Air Collisions

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The pilots of United Flight 889 initiated the report of their near mid-air collision with a Cessna 182 near San Francisco last week. New NTSB rules may make those reports more common, so don’t be surprised if the number of reported near mid-air collisions rises in the coming year. All pilots are required to receive ground instruction on regulations found in NTSB 830. As of March 8, new rules add to the list of reportable events that require immediate notification of the NTSB. This may ultimately lead to more stories in the press about these events and eventually to theories that the number of near mid-air collisions is increasing.

NTSB investigating Near Miss Between United Jet and small airplane near SFO – ATC Audio

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The NTSB emailed a press release about 1 PM PDT today stating “NTSB has launched an investigation to determine why a commercial jetliner and a small light airplane came within an estimated 300 feet of colliding over San Francisco on Saturday.” While much of this event has been made by news media, a review of the San Francisco tower tape shows that both aircraft were in contact with the tower and followed their instructions. Transcripts of the ATC audio suggests that neither aircraft was in danger, though the aircraft may have been a little closer to each other—a loss of separation in FAA parlance—than permitted.

Cessna’s First Lady Rose Pelton Talks about Learning to Fly in Her SkyCatcher

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Rose Pelton, wife of Cessna Aircraft CEO Jack Pelton is effervescent when she talks about getting a pilot certificate in her new Cessna 162 SkyCatcher. As she stood next to what was literally “her” aircraft on display at the Sebring LSA Expo, she explained to me the N450RP registration number on the aircraft. The RP portion was obviously her initials. The “450” she explained was “for my 50th birthday.”
Whether intended or not, Cessna has found the perfect spokeswoman in Rose. I can’t wait to hear more about her progress and I hope she motivates tens of thousands of people to start learning to fly. If you’re interested in learning to fly, download my free Learn to Fly ebook—which has a picture or Rose’s SkyCatcher on the cover—and then call a flight school to schedule your first lesson.

NTSB Glass Cockpit Safety Study Concludes Pilots Need More Training

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On Tuesday March 9, the NTSB held a public Board meeting to consider a study on whether glass cockpit-equipped general aviation aircraft are safer than aircraft with traditional round gauges. The NTSB wanted to identify any difference in operational characteristics of glass and non-glass aircraft and determine how glass has affected safety. To do this, they decided to compare accident information and activity between matched groups of aircraft, specifically glass and non-glass aircraft manufactured between 2002 and 2006. The Board reached the same conclusion as other similar studies. Glass Cockpits have the potential to increase safety. However pilots need additional training, both initially and on a recurrent basis, to reap the benefits of these technologies. Five of the six study recommendations were related to training. Recommendations on developing your own plan for getting the best glass cockpit training.

Aviation Professionalism? Control Tower Unstaffed and Cop Shoots Out Airliner Window

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Last week, the big aviation gaffe was the revelation that a JFK controller allowed his children to speak over the radio. FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt is right to focus on professionalism. While the FAA controller story got worldwide attention, here are two stories this week that have flown under the radar, but which were far more serious. Cops Shoot Out Airliner Window. ATC Tower Left Unstaffed – Plane Diverted.

2010 National CFI of the Year and other GA Awards Recipients Named

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In each of the past 47 years, the General Aviation Awards program and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have recognized a small group of aviation professionals in the fields of flight instruction, aviation maintenance, avionics, and safety for their contributions to aviation, education, and flight safety. I’m proud to count two of the 2010 recipients as friends that I’ve known well for a number of years. Both richly deserve the recognition as I’m sure do all of the recipients. As the 2008 National CFI of the Year, I’m always interested in new GA Awards recipients. Recipients of this year’s national awards are Neil John Nederfield of Lafayette, New Jersey, Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) of the Year; Kirk Harold Peterson of Larimore, North Dakota, Avionics Technician of the Year; MCFI Jeffery Robert “Jeff” Moss of Los Angeles, California, Certificated Flight Instructor (CFI) of the Year; and MCFI Thomas Paul “Tom” Turner of Rose Hill, Kansas, FAA Safety Team Representative of the Year.

Product Review: Garmin Aera 560 Portable GPS

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The entry-level unit, the Aera 500 lists for $799, giving Garmin a product with a price point close to the Bendix/King AV8OR, which also features a touch screen. Users can also switch between aviation and automotive functions with a single touch screen key, a major improvement over older units. The primary differences among the other units are whether they offer XM Weather or include the AOPA Directory and SafeTaxi diagrams. For pilots interested in receiving XM Satellite weather—a service any serious pilot should have in the cockpit—the new Aera line lowers the cost of getting an XM-capable GPS.