Uniformed or uninformed?

There has been plenty of discussion about the validity of wearing a flying suit whilst burning holes in the sky in a Cessna 150. The pro faction argue that it is a safety issue and that a suite is likely to help in the case of some major conflagration.

Sad

There are times when the rebel needs to sit back, reflect, and take stock of the world. The death of a great aviation character who has contributed to the joy many pilots take from their flying is one such time. The passing of James Gilbert, after

Licenced to death

I learnt to fly rather too many summers ago. It was a time when I felt that getting into the air was a freedom, which was a luxury in the U.K. I didnt understand the regulatory burden placed upon those who assisted me in my objective of gaining a licence.

A flying show - in a shed?

Have I missed something or is someone just taking the urine? I have regularly attended events such as Aerofair in the past and found them to be worthy of a trip every few years to catch new types flying or to look at new kit. OK far too expensive. Food

Broadcasters - no idea

Why is it that broadcasters simply don't seem to have a clue when it comes to covering any form of general aviation?. Inaccurate news reporting is one thing but not being able to get it right in general programming seems to be totally unacceptable. The

NPPL - Not perfect pilots licence

It is unusual for the CAA to try and find ways of increasing the number of private pilots in the UK but this is precisely what they trid to do with the NPPL. Now I havent seen the perfomance criteria but maybe they had some sort of target for the

Mode S - distresS

I have to say I am kicking myself for not seeing this before. It is glaringly clear to me now but it took a sudden glimpse of the blindingly obvious to alert me to the future purpose of Mode S. I had thought that the 'S' had somehow come from a regulator

The Flying Forum Fool

People who choose to fly small aircraft are inherently unstable and slightly removed from the mainstream of human existence but this trait is nothing when compared to the sad existence of the Flying Forum Fool. For them participation in the joys of aviation

Crash pilot narrowly avoids disaster

The headline in the local newspaper says it all. The pilot narrowly avoided death, wiping out a major community, widespread damage to property, and possibly the introduction of some major disease (plane flu perhaps?). Standing in the club house talking

Make us use radio then charge us!

A new report for the government says that civil aviation should pay for the radio spectrum used. Lets us just consider that for a moment.Radio spectrum is presumably utilised to increase safety. We use it to make arrangementsd with Air Traffic units.

Inadequate training

It is with some surprise and consternation that I find myself following the thought processes of Nick Bloom. In a recent article in 'PILOT' he asked about whether we are 'Pilots' or 'Aviators'. I have no doubt at all that I fit into the latter category

'N' registered GA aircraft in the U.K

There has been a trend in recent years of totally irresponsible private pilots improving their flying ability and taking a skills test to enable them to fly in circumstances in which in Instrument Rating is required. At the core of their

The regulatory regime

You might like to celebrate over 100 years of aviation history. Personally I like to think of it as about a 100 years of aviation regulation. Actually it feels as if it may well be more than that if it wasnt for the rather unlikely circumstance

Warbird pleasure flights

Is it not a mystery why warbirds in the U.S are likely to be less dangerous than warbirds in the U.K?. At a recent small scale, small town, air fair in California I had the opportunity to hand over about four hundred of the devils promisory notes in