Entries by Eric Radtke

Call for Entries: The Fourth Annual Richard Collins Writing Prize for Young Pilots

The Richard Collins family has once again partnered with Sporty’s to offer The Richard Collins Writing Prize for Young Pilots. To qualify, the writer must be a pilot (including student pilot) who is 24 years of age or younger. The article must be original, not previously published, and no longer than 1,500 words. The topic should be “my first time at the controls of an airplane.”

The dangers of automation

Technological advances in situational awareness have dramatically reduced the number of general aviation controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) accidents. However, the General Aviation Joint Steering Committee (GAJSC) has found that reliance on automation is a precursor to CFIT events.

Ask a CFI – traffic pattern departures

The Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) offers two options for departing a non-towered airport traffic pattern – either straight out or a 45 degree ground track in the same direction as the traffic pattern (left if operating in a left-hand traffic pattern or right if operating in a right-hand traffic pattern) after reaching traffic patter altitude (1,000 AGL standard).

Sporty’s launches Tailwheel Checkout Course

All-new course explores the exciting world of taildraggers and bush flying Backcountry flying is one of the hottest segments of general aviation right now, and Sporty’s latest course offers the perfect way to get started. Tailwheel Checkout, hosted by legendary airshow pilot Patty Wagstaff, includes over two hours of practical tips for mastering these demanding airplanes, […]

CFIT and the overreliance on Automation – from the FAASTeam

Technological advances in situational awareness have dramatically reduced the number of general aviation controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) accidents. However, the General Aviation Joint Steering Committee (GAJSC) has found that reliance on automation is a precursor to CFIT events. They found that automation use contributed to visual meteorological condition (VMC) and instrument meteorological condition (IMC) accidents in […]

Pilot Minute video: streamline the medical certification process

In this episode of Pilot Minute, produced by the Civil Aerospace Medical Institute’s Medical Education Division, FAA Federal Air Surgeon Dr. Susan Northrup provides simple tips you can use to streamline the medical certification process. Tips include making sure all pages you submit for a medical are legible and contain a name, date, and any […]

Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) Change 1 published

The FAA recently published Change 1 of the Aeronautical Information Manual effective December 2, 2021. The completed Explanation of Changes Document may be accessed here. The updated AIM may be accessed here. Updates include: 1−1−9. INSTRUMENT LANDING SYSTEM (ILS) – further clarifies the ILS Expanded Service Volume (ESV) and includes a new figure that better […]

NOTAM has a new meaning

If  you’d like to stump your CFI on your next lesson, ask what the acronym NOTAM stands for. Here’s a hint, it just changed. FAA recently published Order 7930.2S, Change 2, effective December 2, 2021 for Notices to Air Missions (NOTAM). Yes, these changes include modifying the acronym NOTAM from Notice to Airmen to Notice […]