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Can You Read the New TAF and METAR Reports?
 With new ICAO METARs and TAF formats appearing, you may find some you haven't seen before. For example, military airports such as Miramar (KNKX) that we often use in San Diego, has unique codes for visibility, icing and turbulence. For the uninitiated you see some very strange numbers. If you get your TAF from a military airport, click here to learn how to read them |
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Great Video of
US Air 1549
Ditching in the Hudson
Check out this Youtube video of the famous bird strike incident and Captain Sullenberger's heroic emergency response. Real ATC audio. Click here for the video.
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Next Ground Schools
Instrument Ground School
Sept 25th and 26th
Click for Details
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Hey Look Mom - I'm Blogging!
 A friend recently told me I should create a blog. I guess he thought I had just the right nerd factor for it. Turns out he was right because I now have a blog. To get there just add a /blog to the end of my web address. But only you can make it interesting and informative. Ask a question or make a comment on what's there. I get an e-mail when you make a post, so if you have a question, I will do my best to answer it. If I don't know, I promise to do the research and post an answer. Or other people who do know the answer can weigh in. I hope it will become a forum for news and views about the vast amount of aviation topics out there. Like why you shouldn't reduce mixture in your climb or exactly why reducing RPM before MP at high power settings isn't good either. OK, I haven't written about that yet but one of these days I will unless one of you does it first. Post something or ask a question at www.takeflightsandiego.com/blog
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Clarence McAllister Earns 4 Day Finish Up Instrument Rating
 Clarence had the usual issues in obtaining his instrument rating - office distractions, instructor issues, family demands, etc. Then he decided to get serious and get it done as quickly as possible. He came to San Diego from Phoenix and four days later he was the proud owner of an instrument rating and flew back to Phoenix under IFR for the first time. Clarance had this to say:
"I highly recommend Dave's 4 Day Finish up IFR program. As a busy
executive, I spent almost a year on and off preparing for my IFR rating
in my hometown. By getting away from the office and focusing on my
training, I was able to obtain my IFR rating with the help of Dave. In
the process, I was able to log a significant number of hours in actual
instrument conditions.
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Can GPS Substitute for DME?
 For several years, the legal use of GPS to substitute for DME has been an unresolved question due to conflicting guidance in the AIM. In section 1-1-19, table 1-1-6 says it's approved but the previous page states the requirement of "alternate navigation" capability for GPS (non WAAS) navigation. So if you interpret alternate means to apply to an approach, the use of GPS for DME information would require some other means of getting DME information besides the GPS. So what's up here? Fortunately, the FAA resolved this issue recently. Both the current Instrument Flying Handbook on page 7-29 and the 2010 AIM 1-2-3 (c) contain specific language which clearly permits the use of an approach certified GPS receiver to substitute for DME. In addition I have asked at least two local examiners and consulted with Richie Lengel, the author of "Everything Explained for the Professional Pilot", and they both agree that GPS is a legal substitute for DME. |
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So What Makes an Airplane Fly?
 You fly airplanes right? So when your neighbor asks "what what makes an airplane fly?" - you reply "well it's money of course". In case he's looking for a bit more detail, checkout this article written by Dave Ison for the National Association of Flight Instructors Magazine. In it he explains lift in simple to understand terms. An excellent addition to your aviation library. Download the file titled "Explaining Lift" from my website here. |
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Contact Information
Dave Simpson
Take Flight San Diego
858-254-7504
dave@takeflightsandiego.com
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