tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54455819996422641192011-09-12T08:44:26.260-07:00A flight instructor's ramblings on various topics general aviation airplane pilots need to know.Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00340102791499221054noreply@blogger.comBlogger181100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445581999642264119.post-24505939335349784932011-04-15T11:33:00.000-07:002011-04-15T11:53:57.372-07:00

Talking on the radio for the first time is intimidating for the new pilot. Understanding some basic rules, formats and conventions helps a lot and with a little experience under your belt radio communications become second nature. Here are some pointers meant for the beginner and the experienced GA pilot. First, understand that the full, generic format of all initial calls. What does "initial

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00340102791499221054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445581999642264119.post-60116165811022412842011-01-31T14:42:00.000-08:002011-01-31T14:52:16.349-08:00

A problem I commonly see in landings is that a pilot pulls on the yoke often reaching a proper landing deck angle soon after the round out. Ok so far, but the next segment of the landing is where things go haywire: the pilot does not maintain this deck angle before the wheels touch and this is a mistake. What is deck angle? I use it here as slang for the angle of the longitudinal axis of the

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00340102791499221054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445581999642264119.post-63347132642041266962010-12-15T11:39:00.000-08:002010-12-15T11:42:35.970-08:00

My business website has changed to www.learntoflypaloalto.com. Yes, it's long but what the heck. If you want to learn to fly airplanes, single or multi-engine or learn how to fly in clouds reference my new site. I will likely keep this blog intact, but I may move future blogging to the website - TBD. Have a great holiday break! -Dave

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00340102791499221054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445581999642264119.post-35412613347458517592010-11-20T15:50:00.001-08:002011-03-09T13:59:50.323-08:00

Some time ago, I asked my good friend Henry, a fine wood worker if he would make a projector cabinet for me and I would give him a ride in a "modern" aircraft. I chose the Cirrus Prospective whose avionics and cockpit comfort I love. Henry used to work for Consolidated Aircraft post WWII. We decided to fly from his nearby airport in the Sierra Nevada foothills of California to Castle-Merced (

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00340102791499221054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445581999642264119.post-59818672951241401592010-11-20T13:22:00.001-08:002010-11-20T15:47:40.481-08:00

Let's admit it. VOR navigation isn't the most user friendly way of getting around, but once you understand a few basics and some recipes on how to use the darned system, it's really not that bad.I am writing this blog post with the student pilot in mind, but hopefully the private pilot who never really understood VOR navigation will get something out of this posting.There are two ways to work

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00340102791499221054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445581999642264119.post-16424408922870401252010-11-20T13:22:00.000-08:002010-11-20T14:19:55.227-08:00

Let's admit it. VOR navigation isn't the most user friendly way of getting around, but once you understand a few basics and some recipes on how to use the darned thing, it's really not that bad.I am writing this blog post with the student pilot in mind, but hopefully the private pilot who never really understood VOR navigation will get something out of this posting.There are two ways to work with

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00340102791499221054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445581999642264119.post-84676845610437440252010-09-08T16:37:00.000-07:002010-09-08T16:38:06.764-07:00

For the eyes of aviators only, others enter here at your own risk :-) ....AMDAR (Aircraft Meteorological Data Reports) is really neat. Some airlines participate in putting a small data gathering device on their aircraft. As the aircraft ascends/descends, a broadcast wind direction, gusts, temperature and more (http://amdar.noaa.gov/FAQ.html gives detail) is sent to a data gathering agency. One

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00340102791499221054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445581999642264119.post-65670521766400827772010-04-23T08:13:00.001-07:002010-04-25T19:38:33.363-07:00

I have aways had trouble with recognizing expired timers in the cockpit. Timed approaches, arghhhhh. I have often wondered why we don't see more integration with timers and audio in the cockpit. Just think about that ILS and the audio (male or female) saying your timer has just expired. Or how about "time to switch tanks honey" (voice is opposite sex, of course!). Just think about how many tank

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00340102791499221054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445581999642264119.post-55015104787869332812009-08-02T19:55:00.000-07:002009-08-02T20:11:32.164-07:00

I had a great time. This year I did a lot more socializing with fellow flight instructors whom I know from Palo Alto, CA. In addition, I renewed a lot of OSH-only acquaintances from last year at the house that I stayed at.Lyle was at the house again and we can never seem to cover enough aviation topics fast enough and Karl, the king of curmungeon'ness was there too (it's a lie, he is really a

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00340102791499221054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445581999642264119.post-36756451969696314472009-07-20T14:45:00.001-07:002009-08-02T20:14:50.482-07:00

Summary: airspeed is a critical resource on go-arounds, touch and gos and IFR missed approaches.When leaving the runway environment, airspeed is a critical resource. This is a no brainer when doing take offs from a full stop, but for some reason , many pilots unnecessarily let airspeed decay when conducting a go-around or touch and go by not adding take off power immediately. When deciding to

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00340102791499221054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445581999642264119.post-24564127763529964112009-07-20T14:09:00.000-07:002009-07-20T14:45:00.617-07:00

Wow, was I wrong (this is the first mistake I have ever made :-).Propeller bending as shown in the picture below is an artifact that has something to do with the way digital cameras capture images and is not really due to the prop bending. At least not all the bending you see in the photo is real propeller bending.Thanks Andrew for the education.Some bending does occur, but not as much as my

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00340102791499221054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445581999642264119.post-89166615932839612742008-11-11T16:58:00.000-08:002010-11-20T19:53:15.569-08:00

Prop Bending Forward on Take Off Diversions and lost procedures often cause students grief on the private check ride because they are high work load items. High work load items are not an uncommon occurrence for the pilot. For example, the instrument approach is a high work load item. There is a lot of preparation and situational awareness activity on the pilot's part to make sure that the

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00340102791499221054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445581999642264119.post-18290874558208990862008-03-31T08:25:00.000-07:002008-04-01T10:12:59.714-07:00

Runway 17, Alpine County (M45)Reciprocating engines use petroleum oil to lubricate surfaces. A running engine's critical surfaces are kept apart by a very thin film of oil. A piston pushes on a rod which pushes on a crankshaft bearing surface (called a journal). This is where reciprocating movement is changed into rotational movement. The downward force by the fuel burn on the top of the piston

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00340102791499221054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445581999642264119.post-81814759843503612372008-03-15T11:52:00.000-07:002008-03-15T14:01:36.437-07:00

Cotton Under WingIntroductionI tried to write about the entire landing process. I gave up - it's too much so let's start at the beginning and I will end at the end at some other time.It is said that the good landing starts long before reaching the runway. For your information, I have re-discovered that this is true and I spend a good deal of my time as an instructor convincing others that this is

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00340102791499221054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445581999642264119.post-84003893751733548972008-03-02T09:36:00.000-08:002008-11-14T17:16:09.482-08:00

Another cruddy day over San FranciscoAOPA:You may have to be an AOPA Member to see these, I am not sure. I find the following articles interesting and these and many more can be found here.Your airplane:To download a set of flashcards that you fill in to describe important facts about your airplane click here (1.7MB PDF). Fill in details such as emergency procedures, air speeds, fuel data, etc.,

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00340102791499221054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445581999642264119.post-56608644962770000552008-02-13T09:02:00.000-08:002008-02-27T08:16:47.166-08:00

Final Approach Alpine County (M45)I like to fly for many reasons. Why? It's fun, it presents scientific and artistic challenges. In some cases flying is practical, but it's mostly fun. There's the great view, the challenges of managing myself and an aircraft to have fun and stay safe all at the same time - they go hand in hand. Since I am a flight instructor, I am guilty as charged for getting

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00340102791499221054noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445581999642264119.post-82565823731802047442008-02-03T09:53:00.000-08:002010-11-20T19:58:43.232-08:00

Coming over the ridge into a high final at South Lake Tahoe (KTVL). Runway 36 (Note to readers: the following was inspired by pattern work at Palo Alto, California which is a towered airport with a single runway. Tower manages simultaneous left and right traffic. However, the comments are relevant to all airports.)Pilots, do you want to have a mid-air collision while flying the pattern? It's

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00340102791499221054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445581999642264119.post-81458536437354402452008-01-28T19:44:00.001-08:002008-02-16T15:59:44.844-08:00

Truckee Airport (KTRK) Near Lake TahoeWhen I get some time, I will post little blurbs on aspects of the knowledge a general aviation airplane pilot is expected to possess. Topics will likely cover aerodynamics, airplane systems, etc. I am open for suggestions.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00340102791499221054noreply@blogger.com0