330 Prop Safety, Twin Comanche Crash & IFR Listener Stories – A Friday Mailbag Special

Max reads a number of listeners stories and emails from listeners. Several of the stories are in response to #328, in which we talked about a tragic aviation accident involving a CFI who purchased his dream airplane, a Piper Twin Comanche, and crashed it on the way home.

Bill commented on the FAA reauthorization bill discussed in episode 329. He pointed out that historically, only a small fraction of initiatives from previous reauthorization bills are completed on time, with many never completed at all.

John asked about the proper method for rotating a prop by hand. Max explained that the primary goal is to prevent the prop from accidentally starting, which could happen if the mag key is not in the off position or if a P lead is broken. He emphasized turning the prop in the opposite direction of its normal rotation to avoid generating a spark, which could cause the engine to start.

Sam praised episode 328 but expressed concerns about the insurance checkout the accident pilot received.

Steven shared his experience of buying a Twin Comanche 30 years ago and the benefits of joining the International Comanche Society (ICS). He highlighted how the ICS training and publications helped him handle a gear issue shortly after purchasing his plane. Steven recommended all Comanche owners join the ICS to gain valuable knowledge about their aircraft. He also mentioned an incident where a new Comanche owner misunderstood the gear light dimming at night, underscoring the importance of specific training and publications.

Stefan shared his standard procedure for dealing with gear problems, which includes informing ATC, engaging the autopilot, and then troubleshooting.

John, nearing 61 years old, inquired about starting flight training and the potential hurdles, especially regarding medical certification and medications.

Support the Show by buying a Lightspeed ANR Headsets
Max has been using only Lightspeed headsets for nearly 25 years! I love their tradeup program that let’s you trade in an older Lightspeed headset for a newer model. Start with one of the links below, and Lightspeed will pay a referral fee to support Aviation News Talk.
Lightspeed Delta Zulu Headset $1199
Lightspeed Zulu 3 Headset $899
Lightspeed Sierra Headset $699
My Review on the Lightspeed Delta Zulu

Send us your feedback or comments via email

If you have a question you’d like answered on the show, let listeners hear you ask the question, by recording your listener question using your phone.

Mentioned on the Show
#328 Crash on the way home of newly purchased Piper Twin Comance
International Comanche Society
FAA AME Guide for Medical Examiners

Max’s Books – Order online or call 800-247-6553 to order.
Max Trescott’s G3000 and G5000 Glass Cockpit Handbook
Max Trescott’s G1000 & Perspective Glass Cockpit Handbook

Free Index to the first 282 episodes of Aviation New Talk

So You Want To Learn to Fly or Buy a Cirrus seminars
Online Version of the Seminar Coming Soon – Register for Notification

Check out our recommended ADS-B receivers, and order one for yourselfYes, we’ll make a couple of dollars if you do.

Get the Free Aviation News Talk app for iOS or Android.

Check out Max’s Online Courses: G1000 VFR, G1000 IFR, and Flying WAAS & GPS Approaches. Find them all at: https://www.pilotlearning.com/

Social Media
Like Aviation News Talk podcast on Facebook
Follow Max on Instagram
Follow Max on Twitter
Listen to all Aviation News Talk podcasts on YouTube or YouTube Premium

“Go Around” song used by permission of Ken Dravis; you can buy his music at kendravis.com

If you purchase a product through a link on our site, we may receive compensation.

118 Instrument Flying and IFR Listener Questions + General Aviation News

118 Instrument Flying and IFR Listener Questions + General Aviation News


Your Cirrus Specialist. Call me if you’re thinking of buying a new Cirrus SR20 or SR22. Call 1-650-967-2500 for Cirrus purchase and training assistance, or to take my online seminar: So You Want to Fly or Buy a Cirrus.

Please help support the show with a donation via PayPal or Patreon.

Send us an email

If you have a question you’d like answered on the show, let listeners hear you ask the question, by recording your listener question using your phone.

Summary
118 GA news plus Max answers listeners questions on Instrument Flying and IFR including questions about how to save money on an instrument rating, using a simulator to get an instrument rating, when to switch from GPS to the Nav radio on localizer and VOR approaches, Legally using GPS on the entire VOR approach, whether to train in a round gauge airplane or a glass cockpit like in a Cirrus.

News Stories

Mentioned in the Show
How to Complete an ICAO Flight Plan
Summary of Sen. Inhofe’s Aviation bill
Silver Spitfire Around-the-World Flight Tracker
Max on Plane Talking UK #279 podcast
Icon A5 crash video
Icon A5 Wheeling, IL crash found by pinging cell phone
Icon Workforce Reduced by 40 Percent
NTSB: Pilot Error in Icon Crash in Wheeling, IL
Flying Companion Seminar by 99s in San Jose, CA
Airport Restaurants website

If you love the show and want more, visit my Patreon page to see fun videos, breaking news, and other posts in the Posts section. And if you decide to make a small donation each month,  you can get some goodies!

So You Want To Learn to Fly or Buy a Cirrus seminars
Online Version of the Seminar Coming Soon – Register for Notification

Check out our recommended ADS-B receivers, and order one for yourself. Yes, we’ll make a couple of dollars if you do.

Check out our recommended Aviation Headsets, and order one for yourself!

Get the Free Aviation News Talk app for iOS or Android.

Please Take our 2019 Social Media Survey. I’d love to understand how you use, or don’t use, social media, so I can target social media posts and advertising for Aviation News Talk to other people similar to you.

Social Media
Follow Max on Instagram
Follow Max on Twitter
Follow Max on YouTube
Listen to all Aviation News Talk podcasts on YouTube or YouTube Premium

Max Trescott is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

39 Private Pilot Checkride Prep – How to Fail a Checkride before it Even Starts – Interview with Jason Blair


Your Cirrus Specialist. Call me if you’re thinking of buying a new Cirrus SR20 or SR22. Call 1-650-967-2500 for Cirrus purchase and training assistance.

Send us an email – http://www.sjflight.com/Forms/inquiry.htm

If you have a question you’d like answered on the show, let listeners hear you ask the question, by recording your listener question using your phone.

Jason Blair is a FAA DPE, or Designated Pilot Examiner, who gives checkrides to pilots, and he’s also an active flight instructor. He got an early start in aviation, taking flying lessons at age 15, soloing at 16, and getting his private certificate at 17.

Jason explains that there is a shortage of designated pilot examiners who give checkrides, which is affecting people’s ability to schedule a checkride. He also said that if someone feels that an examiner is not conducting checkrides in accordance with the ACS, they can send comments to this FAA Email address for DPE/Practical Test Concerns.

Then he talks about the important qualification process, which occurs at the beginning of a checkride. If a student doesn’t have all the documents, correct endorsements, or hasn’t met all of the experience requirements, he or she will be going home before the checkride even starts. He explains the most common oversights he sees during the qualification process, and encourages flight instructors to have a second CFI review a pilot’s logbook and endorsements, to ensure that the pilot is qualified for the checkride, and won’t be sent home early.

If you enjoy the Aviation News Talk pocast, please visit my Patreon page, and become a supporting member of the show by contributing as little as $2/month by credit card.

Click here for the listener survey. Tell us what what ADS-B portable receiver you own or plan to buy, and what you like and dislike about it.

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