Private Pilot Tips, Flight Training Listener Question, ATC Privatization Update + GA News


Please take the Aviation News Talk podcast July 2017 Listener survey! 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.

In this podcast, I pass along over 20 tips for student pilots and private pilots that CFIs thought would be so obvious that they didn’t need to tell their students. Of course they were all obvious in hindsight!  For example, for a first solo, the CFI hops out, the student taxies away, and then flies the around the pattern. You’d think it would be obvious that they need to lock the door after the CFI hops out. But it wasn’t obvious to one student, who had the door open in flight….on his first solo.

Plus listener email: We talk about how to prevent a jet-fuel aircraft, like the DA42 from being accidentally fueled with Avgas, which would destroy the engines. And, someone asks via Twitter, do people usually do flight training in only one type of aircraft when going for a private pilot certificate?

Links

Can You Be A Pilot With Diabetes?

Teterboro Circling Conundrum

News Stories

Air Traffic Control (ATC) Government Privatization Explained – Call to Action for General Aviation Private and Instrument Pilots and People Planning to Learn to Fly to Contact Congress


ATC Privatization
On June 22, 2017, the U.S. House of Representatives released H.R. 2997, the AIRR Act, calling for the privatization of Air Traffic Control in the U.S. Later, both EAA, the Experimental Aircraft Association, and NBAA, the National Business Aviation Association, issued an urgent call for members to contact their representatives in Congress to oppose ATC privatization. AOPA, the Aircraft Owner and Pilots Association, also sent a call for their members to contact their representations just before we published this show, which is why we weren’t able to mention them in the podcast. Please take action by going to govt.eaa.org to generate a letter to your representatives in Congress.

Please support my show by checking out my new Patreon Page. You will ultimately find lots of free posts on the page. To kick things off, I just posted a pdf of the Delta Airlines study on privatization, which you can download and read for free now. I’ve also posted results of an ATC Privatization survey of US pilots conducted of Airplane Geeks podcast listeners in February 2017.

Please consider supporting my show with contributions of as little as $2 per month, also at my Patreon page.

Today, I’m devoting this entire episode to privatization. I’ll be playing audio clips from the President, members of Congress, Airline CEOs, EAA CEO Jack Pelton, and from pilots in other countries that have privatized their air traffic control system. I’ll also share results of a survey of pilot podcast listeners on privatizing ATC. And to help me, I’m joined by Senior Editor of Flying Magazine, Rob Mark.

You can Dictate a listener question from your phone and I’ll try to answer it on a future show, or send an email.

Audio Clip sources

  • Review of Air Traffic Control Reform Proposals – Hearing Before the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure House of Representatives. February 10, 2016. Video   Hearing Transcript
  • Building a 21st Century Infrastructure for America: Federal Aviation Administration Authorization – Hearing Before the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure House of Representatives June 8, 2017. Video
  • Full Committee Markup –  Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure House of Representatives. June 27, 2017. Video

Hot Weather Flying Tips, Use of GPS on VOR Approach, ATC Privatization + GA News


Please take the Aviation News Talk podcast 2017 Listener survey! Click here for the survey.

In this podcast, I explain the effects of hot weather on the general aviation airplanes and pilots. We talk about how to calculated density altitude, which is altitude compensated for non-standard pressure and temperature. We also talk about how humidity can also affect density altitude by as much as 32%, especially at lower altitudes. We also discuss the effects on human physiology and give tips for what pilots can do to minimize the effects of heat on themselves while preflighting and flying general aviation aircraft.

Plus listener email: we also discuss the new rules under which you can use an IFR-certified GPS when flying a VOR instrument approach, and how fuel pumps meters are certified by local counties to assure that you get the exact amount of fuel that you pay for.

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

Shutdown Mag Checks, ADS-B solution alternatives, static wicks +GA News


Please take the Aviation News Talk podcast 2017 Listener survey! Click here for the survey.

In this podcast, I explain how to properly do a magneto ground check before engine shutdown, to assure you won’t have a hot prop if you move the propeller by hand. This is a followup to a much longer discussion on magneto and hot props in episode 13.

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

  • Diesel Cessna Skyhawk JT-A Awarded FAA Certification
  • Saturday’s Beechjet Flameout Marks Fifth in Type
  • Alternative bill to ATC Privatization introduced
  • NTSB Pilot shuts off one engine before fatal plane crash near Haines
  • New cataract-correcting replacement lens approved
  • Paris Airshow Preview
  • Lancair Brings Back Mako
  • Merlin PSA Quick-Build Kit Earns FAA 51% Approval
  • Navajo Strikes Gator In Orlando

    Plus listener email: We explain static electricity and how static wicks work to dissipate it from an aircraft, a listener asks why flying in IMC seems so different from flying under a hood, two pilots asks about which ADS-B alternative to install in their aircraft, a pilot asks how to stay current flying in four different airplanes, and a listener from Belgium ask why in the U.S. the FAA refers to pilot certificates instead of pilot licenses and flyers are called airmen and not pilots.

    In Flight Problems
    If an engine becomes rough during flight, it could be because one magneto has developed a timing problem. In that case, switch to the L and R positions to see if the engine runs better in one of those positions. If it does, leave the magneto switches or key in that position for the rest of the flight and report the problem to your mechanic.

    Shutdown Mag Check
    Some checklists say to switch the mag switches or key very briefly to the Off position, so you can hear if the engine is stopping. If it is, that verifies that both mags are properly grounded. Then before the engine quits, switch back to the Both position and shut down the engine properly by pulling the mixture to idle. If there’s a mag key, it’s important that you do this check by turning all the way to the Off position, and not just turn to the L and R positions, as some CFIs insist. Turning to the L and R positions checks part of the grounding system, but it doesn’t check whether the switch itself works in the Off position! It’s not unusual for an older switch to become corroded and fail to work in one position, so definitely do the shutdown mag check by switching briefly to the Off position. Do the mag checks and engine shutdown procedures properly, and you will greatly enhance your safety when you move a prop.

Low Cost, Garmin G5 Electronic Flight Instrument for certificated, experimental and LSA Aircraft – Garmin Interview – EP14


Garmin recently announced that their low-cost, G5 Electronic Flight Instrument will now be available for use in certificated aircraft. It fits directly into a standard 3 1/8 inch hole used for instruments in most aircraft, which reduces installation time and cost. In this Newsmakers episode of the Aviation News Talk podcast, we interview Garmin software engineer Joe Gepner, who helped design the G5.

The Garmin G5 is a direct replacement for a round-gauge attitude indicator, and it was originally introduced for experimental and LSA aircraft in July 2016. Pricing of that version starts at $1199. Later, Garmin introduced a second page in the G5 that displays a HSI, so that it can also be used as a direct replacement for a DG, heading indicator, or HSI. If a pilot has two of these instruments in an aircraft and the one displaying the attitude indicator fails, the G5 displaying an HSI can be switched in flight to display the attitude indicator.

In May 2017, Garmin announced a version of the G5 Electronic Flight Instrument that can be used to retrofit attitude indicators and DG/heading indicators in over 600 models of the most common certificated aircraft. That makes it easy for Cessna, Piper, Beechcraft and other aircraft owners to easily retrofit their aircraft with a low cost glass panel display. A single Garmin G5 for certificated aircraft sells for about $2500, and includes an installation kit, magnetometer and 4-hour backup battery.

When configured as a attitude indicator replacement, the Garmin G5 looks like a miniature version of a Garmin G1000 PFD (primary flight display). Like the G1000, it displays the six primary flight instruments: airspeed, altitude, vertical speed, an attitude indicator, HSI, and turn coordinator with slip/skid indicator. It also displays ground speed and ground track from a built-in GPS.

The experimental/LSA version of the Garmin G5 also has a built-in autopilot. To use it, two optional servo motors need to be installed.

Listen to episode 14 of the Aviation News Talk podcast now to learn more about how owners can retrofit older aircraft with the Garmin G5 to add glass cockpit features and reliability to these planes.

Please take the Aviation News Talk podcast 2017 Listener survey! Click here for the survey.

You can Dictate a listener question from your phone and I’ll try to answer it on a future show, or send an email.

Hot prop dangers, how Magnetos Work, and Best Way to do a Mag check + GA News – EP 13


Please take the Aviation News Talk podcast 2017 Listener survey! Click here for the survey.

In this podcast, we talk about hot props, magnetos, and how moving a propeller can result in your death. I had never seen a video of a propeller starting accidentally, but while researching this episode I found one, and I’ve included a link to it here. You’ll see that pilot was shocked when the engine started and that he barely escaped serious injury.

We also talk about magnetos, which are the culprits that can lead to a hot prop. We’ll discuss the mag check that most pilots do during their runup before takeoff, and how to use it to make sure you don’t have a hot prop. I wanted to talk about this because I run into many experienced pilots who are not aware of how to determine whether they have a hot prop, or of safe ways to move a propeller by hand.

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

Overview of Traffic systems, how TIS traffic works & limitations, Avoiding Unstable Approaches + GA News – EP12


Please take the Aviation News Talk podcast 2017 Listener survey! Click here for the survey.

News Stories

Plus an overview of traffic systems and details on TIS (traffic information service), how it works, and its limitations, and listener email on avoiding unstable approaches by planning your descent.

You can also Dictate a listener question from your phone and I’ll try to answer it on a future show, or send an email.

Portable ADS-B receiver limitations, Cutting flying costs, BasicMed for safety pilots, CFI arrested, Aztec loses landing gear + GA News – EP10


News Stories

Plus discussion on the limitations of portable ADS-B receivers, and listener questions on BasicMed and reducing the cost of flight training.

You can also Dictate a listener question from your phone and I’ll try to answer it on a future show, or send an email.

Cirrus SF50 Vision Jet Review & Visit to Cirrus Aircraft Customer Experience Vision Center in Knoxville, TN – EP11


The Cirrus SF50 Vision Jet is a single-engine jet priced just under $2 million. In this episode, we review the Cirrus jet during a trip to the Cirrus Customer Experience Vision Center in Knoxville, TN.

If you are trying to decide between buying a new Cirrus SR20, SR22, or a slightly used one, or if you’re considering buying a SF50 Vision Jet, please contact me early in the process so I can help you with that evaluation. I specialize in the Cirrus and work with people around country.

If you enjoyed this show, please support it by telling your aviation friends, or leaving a review in the Apple podcast app, or by signing up for my courses at PilotLearning.com.

You can also Dictate a listener question from your phone and I’ll try to answer it on a future show, or send an email.

Icon A-5 seaplane crash, Diamond DA42 trip report, Airline Pilot use of pitch and power to control airspeed+GA news – EP9


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News stories
Icon A-5 Crash
ForeFlight and Jeppesen collaboration
FAA Spending Bill Signed into Law
Pilots flock to BasicMed
Decline in number of ATPs issues
Court Orders Review of FAA Deal To Close Santa Monica Airport
FAA issues warning on using commercial checklists
First commercial two-seater solar plane flies
General aviation in China could amount to $40 billion
Skydiver in Denmark dangles from C182 for an hour