Hey all... just figured I'd try to gather some opinions on the feasiblity of a cross-country flight (VA-WI-VA) this time of year. I'm primarily concerned with the longevity of icing conditions. For those who fly in the area, how long would one expect to get stuck for this problem in a typical...

I have a fairly new Instrument Rating and need to fly my (non-turbo) Arrow from Chicago to Binghamton NY. The most efficient dry route appears to be V6 via Dryer, but that takes me right through the middle of the Cleveland Class B. Is this likely to be accepted as filed, or am I likely to get...

I had an interesting little experience last night. We were inbound to MMK (Meriden CT) for a practice GPS-36, talking to Bradley Approach. MMK is right on the edge between Bradley and NY Approach's airspace, and radio coverage tends to be spotty there. Conditions were night, IFR, but VMC with...

I'm trying to improve my database generators for CoPilot and other programs (see http://navaid.com/ and http://xcski.com/~ptomblin/CoPilot/ for details). The problem I'm trying to deal with is that the FAA is totally inconsistent on how they name waypoints, DAFIF isn't any better, and there are...

Does anyone know if the old (circa 98) IFT-Pro instru sim will run on xp. It does not accept "pge dn to install" input from the DOS install appl. -- Thanks Greg Burgh

Checkride in about three weeks & I am trying to figure out cruise clearance. Simple enough, cleared between the MEA and the altitude limit, but I also read somewhere that it is also used to clear you for descent into a non-ifr airport. Right? How does this work & is it something you request or...

Has anyone had any experience using the Garmin GDL 49 weather datalink system? What's the performance like?

I tried something with my Garmin 430 yesterday that worked out well so I thought I would pass it along. I was doing a series of practice approaches to the area airports that are 10 miles or so apart. The problem was setting up for the next approach while climbing out from the last. With only a...

I want to help my worrywart wife with a subscription to one of those web-based IFR flight tracker services. Free would nice, but as far as I can tell, the free ones cover commercial flights and not GA. What's a decent one that is cheap that works with GA? I don't want to spend a meaningful amount...

from NATAC website: http://www.natca.org/currentissues/default.msp Contract Tower Program The FAA's Contract Tower Program takes air safety and sells it to the lowest bidder. It is about reducing staff and cutting all possible corners in the name of saving a buck or two. This unsafe and...

Aviation Consumers in their review said that CNX-80 could be certified with its built-in CDI. Is it true? If it is true, does its built-in CDI provide G/S or VNAV indication? Robin

I have the Jeppesen chip updating via the web for my 430. I just updated and installed the new data which is Dec 25 to Jan 22. Then I got to wondering if that chip is legal to use before the start date. Anybody know? Chuck

I know this may pertain to a private pilot question so I apoligize. The Discovery Wings Channel had a show on following a female student through her training for her private ticket. I had moved and was not able to follow the show anymore, does anyone know if she got her ticket? Thanks. Oh, and...

Anyone have a tip as to the best way to enter the LOC DME source on the KLN94? The NRST function won't always pick it up, if there are a lot of intersections around. I've tried loading the fix into an alternate flight plan, and then do a DIRECT operation later, but I couldn't get that to work.

Knowing what Part 21 Type Certificate you have matters because that is how the other Parts of CFR 14 are tied together. Say one doesn't know they have an experimental type certificate, then how can they know that Part 23 and 43 are not applicable? Additional regulatory requirements are made for...

Tuesday's forecast for my neck of NJ was for a high of 63, light rain, and 1500 overcast. The perfect day to get some actual IMC. My instructor and I had planned on going to Hartford, CT to fly the LDA Rwy 2 approach. However, by the time I made it to the airport the layers were mostly scattered...

How do you update the GPS database? Does it have a portable uploader with a CD-ROM? How long does it take? I have to keep a fleet of King Air arcraft updated. They have an obsolete Interstate GPS system. The portable uploader is floppy-disk based. You have to feed in a set of floppies, and the...

Hey... have been flying instrument practice in the Bay Area for the past couple of months and have been flying NDB approaches without any trouble, but yesterday I was setup for the OAK NDB 27R and could not get the station. Needle didn't point and could not get the identifier. Tuning the ADF to...

I need help. Jepp charts sometimes uses the word (Conditional) on their charts. For instance, Hot Springs, AR (KHOT) ILS Rwy 5, under the ILS DA(H) is the (Conditional) word. The government chart does not have this. What does it mean? I cannot find the definition in the Jepp introduction. It is...

Flying one of the kids on an IFR flight plan with decent VMC, she asked to circle some landmarks in Minneapolis/St. Paul Class B. I found myself saying "cancel IFR, request clearance to remain in class B with traffic advisories for some sightseeing". No problem, I remained on same squawk with the...