Aviation News Talk podcast

Max talks about how learning how to operate and how to plan an avionics upgrade and about the Garmin GPS 175 and GNX 375 GPS navigators. The Garmin G3X Touch displays and Dynon’s SkyView products can now be used in many certificated aircraft. King/Bendix introduced the AeroCruze 100 and xCruze 100 digital autopilots, and Garmin introduced the GTX 335D and GTX 345D diversity transponders.

On March 5, 2019, two pilots flying a Cirrus SR22 noticed oil pressure dropping rapidly, and soon after, the engine quit. They turned toward land 30 miles away and pulled the airplane’s CAPS parachute. They deployed their raft, which flipped over in eight to ten foot swells. The pilot dived out to right the raft and both men got aboard. But they had no idea who might be coming to rescue them.

Max talks with two pilots who had carbon monoxide in the cockpit. They discuss how they discovered the CO, what they did about it, and what caused it. One pilot, in a Cessna 182RG, had a Sensorcon portable CO detector and measured 40 to 80 ppm of CO. A mechanic found that the C-clamp holding the EGT probe was loose, allowing exhaust gases to leak through the hole the probe is mounted in.

On Sept 30, 2018, a student pilot with 4 hours solo time departed Potomac Airfield on a cross country flight. Within minutes after takeoff, she noticed oil starting to cover the windshield. She immediately requested a vector from Potomac Approach controller Casey Whitaker to return to the airport. Her first attempt to land had her skimming the treetops of the neighborhood next to the airfield.

Max talks Approach Plate Minimums used by Instrument rated pilots. When can you descend below the MDA or DA? What governs whether an aircraft is in Category A, B, C, etc.? Which governs whether you can land, the minimum altitude, or the visibility? How low can you descend when you have the approach lights in sight? Which items do you have to see before you’re allowed to descend to land?

Shockingly, an Air Force test pilot crashed while landing and died in a Cirrus SR22. Max and Rob pull the accident apart and examine how failure to follow procedures caused this crash. The pilot entered the traffic pattern two hundred feet low. But on base he was 12 knots fast with an 18-knot tailwind. Turning to final at just 200 feet above the ground he was pitched up and in a 48 degree bank.

Max talks about pilot communications. Some pilots repeat everything to ATC. This is better than not repeating key items, as ATC will have to say it again and ask you to read it back. The problem is there’s limited bandwidth, and only one person can talk at a time. On quiet frequencies this isn’t a problem. But in time critical situations, ATC can’t talk until you stop talking.

Max talks with Marc Epner, a founder of the Leading Edge Flying Club in Chicago, about best practices for starting a flying club, the tradeoffs in structuring as an equity vs. a non-equity club. Some clubs form to reduce the cost of flying, while others such as Leading Edge focus strongly on social activities. Events include hotdog lunches, monthly breakfasts, seminars, and a Run the Runway event.

The Cirrus SF50 Vision Jet G2 was just announced and Cirrus Product Manager Matt Bergwall tells us what's new with this amazing jet. He talks about the higher speed and service ceiling, product pricing, and options. Also there are changes to the cabin, including noise reduction and new seating configurations. The Vision Jet is unique in that it’s the only jet with a whole airframe parachute.

Max talks about the art of making crosswind landings. There are tradeoffs between the crab and low wing, also called side slip, methods of compensating for crosswinds. The crab method can handle larger crosswinds. The low wing method is harder to set up on final, but is simpler when transitioning to the flare.

Max talks with Master CFI Gary Reeves about tips and tricks for using the ForeFlight electronic flight bag app for pilots on the iPhone or iPad. Gary talks about the best ways to file an IFR flight plan, and some of the newer ForeFlight Features like PDC, Pre-Departure Clearance, D-ATIS, and synthetic Vision.

In addition to discussing GA news, Max talks with Walt Gyger about recent actions by county supervisors that open the door to closing Reid-Hillview Airport. Walt is the founder of CAAPSO, an organization focused on community outreach to build support for the airport. Walt talks about what pilots at any airport can do to help protect their airport from closure.

Max talks with CFI and former research meteorologist Scott Dennstaedt about his new Weather book for student pilots to airline pilots. We talked about things pilots need to know about encountering icing. Later we talked about how to deal with the overwhelming number of online aviation weather sites. Finally, Scott talks about some of the tools that pilots can use to determine cloud tops.

Max talks in detail about IFR Arrival Procedures, also called STARs. These are ATC-coded IFR routes for IFR aircraft flying to a specific airport. There are different kinds of clearances you can get on an Arrival. If you’re cleared to “descend VIA” an arrival, then you can descend at pilot discretion to reach all of the published altitudes for each fix.

Max talks with Mooney pilot Dan Bass who passed out on his third flight of the day due to an exhaust system leak that let CO enter the cockpit. He talks about the symptoms he experienced, the treatment he received, and his belief that all pilots should fly with CO detectors.