http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGHOqX4sHkI I post this as I hope others can learn from my mistakes. Comments here or on the video most appreciated. I kinda got RIGHTFULLY chewed out by ATC today while doing the VOR Alpha approach. I mistook an instruction by the controller as...

I am interested in taking a course every year to improve my piloting skills. I am currenty a low-time (350 hour) private pilot with a recent IFR rating. Can folks recommend good weekend courses (preferrably ones with practical flying experience, not just lectures) that they have taken and really...

OK...What's up with the Flight Service Stations... ? Lately (3-6 months) I have found them to be grumpy and very unhelpful. They come across as condescending and expect you to take what drool they deliver without question or review and be thankful.....please don't even think of asking a...

Hi all. What does it mean when there's an alternate intersection name in brackets in the new AOPA Flight Planner? As an example, there's an intersection just south of the Wash D.C. Class B where V286 and V16 cross. It's called TAPPA but the new AOPA flight planner also has in brackets. It also...

In the back of the A/FD there are special phone numbers published to be used for calling AFSS's to get an IFR clearance. I was completely unaware of this until last Sunday, when I called for a void time leaving Cross City, FL. The specialist said he'd be glad to help me, "...but next time please...

A fine example of the quality results of Tarver Engineering work. As singed off by John Tarver with applicable 8130. http://www.aart-jan.net/images/aart_in_vliegtuigwrak.jpg photograph courtesy of Aart-Jan, (its not tarver in the pic, it's Aart's father inspecting the fine work completed by...

Hi All, I've been snooping the rec.aviation.* groups for a while, and I'm still lost. I want to start studying for my IFR rating. I'm from the US, resident in Japan, and so I reckon on studying on my own then taking the test on some trip back to the states one day. I've seen a variety...

I fly out of an uncontrolled airport on the cut out of Class C airspace. Once airborne beneath 1200 feet I contact Approach. "XXX Approach, Skyhawk 123, departed xyz at 500 feet, enroute to ZZZ request flight following" This is one transmission. Hangar talk tells me that is not necessary to...

Here's a question for the group from a low time ifr pilot... The HASSA4 DP out of Ontario, CA specifies a minimum climb gradient that would take you over the POM vor at 4400ft and then out V197 to the PMD vor. The MCA for the POM vor nw bound on V197 is 8300ft and the MEA for that segment is...

I flew the San Jose (KSJC) ILS 30L approach on Sunday, and noticed that there is no charted FAF, i.e. no Maltese Cross. I use Jepp plates but I just looked at the NOS plate on the AOPA site and it's the same. There's also no OM - although there is an MM. Seems strange - anyone have any idea why? I...

Coming back from Mammoth this past Sunday and flying through a snow cloud West of the Sierras, I had the Pitot freeze over. I realized it was frozen when I tried to correct for altitude gained in turbulence and the airspeed indication didn't increase even as I pushed the nose down and could hear...

Does anyone own this? I was thinking of using it at home as I start my instrument training for help with repetative proceedures. If you own it do you have a recommendation for a Yoke or Joystick? Thanks in advance. Trip

If anyone cares to see a few hundred Oshkosh photo's, I put them on my site.. Great pix, Dennis! Did you get any aerial shots of the North 40 that you didn't post? I'd sure like one of our campsite! -- Jay Honeck Iowa City, IA

I have been having a problem with ASA On Top that has been driving me nuts. A short drive, admittedly... Anyway, the compass dial around the ADF doesn't adjust. That is, you can turn the knob, and the dial will start to move, but it soon snaps back to its original location. Even this would be...

I'm considering taking one of the intensive instrument rating courses, most of which have a prerequisite of having completed the knowledge exam. Accordingly, I've been working on that on my own. Is there a CFII around who is willing to give me an endorsement to take the test, preferably just on my...

(K. Ari Krupnikov) writes: I've never flown a jet airway (and probably never will, except on an airliner), but here's a question. There are fewer J routes than V, and they connect fewer navaids. So it can happen that your destination is quite far from the nearest...

Thinking of getting a Garmin GNC-430 and installing it in my experimental. Is an external CDI required for the GNC-430 like it is for the 300XL? Thanks for your help. Paul Lee ---------------------------------

Do any of the new weather services like WXworx work on a wireless PDA like the Palm Tungsten or the Blackberries? How about plain old downloads from the net to these devices- is it usable or practical? I'm thinking about getting either a Tungsten or color Blackberry primarily for business email,...

Has anyone seen a chart for a new localizer approach into KASE? The localizer data is in the new DAFIF cycle, but neither MyAirplane.com nor AOPA have a chart for it. http://www.airnav.com/airport/ASE/ils/15

I am new to this group, because I recently went through an IFR course. I do have a question. There is an airport close to here called Orlando Sanford (SFB). It has two approaches called NDB-B and NDB-C. Both are similar but they approach the airport from west and east, respectively. Let's...