Max talks about the accident of N51FM, a Cirrus SR22T at Paso Robles, CA, and emphasizes the importance of understanding approach procedures, particularly when starting an approach from an IF/IAF fix with a racetrack. The accident involved a pilot who failed to follow correct procedures, leading to a crash, though fortunately, all occupants survived. Max breaks down the mistakes made by the pilot and discusses the implications for instrument pilots. If you're getting value from this show,...

Max talks with Rob Mark about thirteen different ways a pilot can build flight time. These jobs may be attractive to weekend pilots who are looking for a fun flying activity, or for pilots who are looking to reach the 1500 hours required for an ATP and an airline job. This is Part 2 of a two episode series. In Part 2, we discuss Part 91 and Corporate flying, Air tours, Banner towing, time building programs, glider towing, working as a CFI, and flying a personal airplane. We also discuss...

Max talks with Rob Mark about thirteen different ways a pilot can build flight time. These jobs may be attractive to weekend pilots who are looking for a fun flying activity, or for pilots who are looking to reach the 1500 hours required for an ATP and an airline job. This is Part 1 of a two episode series. In Part 1, we discuss Part 135 Charter flying, Part 135 Cargo flying, flying skydivers, Pipeline Patrol, working as a Ferry Pilot and working as an Aerial Survey Pilot. We also talked...

Max talks about the details of the crash of a TBM 960, N960LP, at Truckee, California last weekend. He also talks in detail about his factory tour last week of Robinson Helicopter. Weather at the time the pilot flew the approach was ½ mile visibility and snow with clouds scattered at 300 feet and overcast at 700 feet. However the approach minimums were 1 mile visibility and the MDA is 582 feet AGL. The pilot flew the instrument approach more or less successfully, though he descended more...

Max talks about two critical factors, sleep inertia and false glide slopes, which played significant roles in an Air India Express accident. Despite being unrelated phenomena, they converged to contribute to the crash of Flight 812 in 2010. Air India Express, a low-cost airline operating in India, experienced its first fatal crash during this flight. The aircraft, a Boeing 737, was returning from Dubai to Mangalore, India. However, the cockpit voice recorder revealed that the captain had...

There are three secrets to making great landings. Unfortunately, nobody knows what they are. That’s an old joke but fortunately, there is a proven way to make better landings, and that’s by collecting data on your landings. Host Max Trescott talks with Chuck Cali about how you can collect data for your landings and compare it with other pilots. The techniques apply to anyone flying a modern glass cockpit, such as the G1000. Chuck has analyzed 40,000 Cirrus landings and concluded that pilots...

In this episode, Max discusses the crash of N1125A, a 1991 ASTRA/GULFSTREAM 1125 SP business jet at Ingalls Field Airport in Hot Springs, Virgina. It was the third fatal business jet crash in the U.S. in just five weeks. Five people on board were killed.  Several airline pilots send feedback about the United flight 2477 taxiway overrun at Houston. Max also reads listener emails related to the ten fuel-related accidents discussed last week. If you're getting value from this show,...

In this episode, Max discusses the critical issue of fuel-related accidents in aviation, highlighting various incidents and discussing preventive measures. He summarizes ten recent NTSB reports, showing that fuel starvation and exhaustion accidents are more likely in older aircraft. Despite advancements in modern aircraft with low fuel warning systems, older models lack these safety features, making them more susceptible to such accidents. If you're getting value from this show,...

In this episode, Max discusses two Challenger jet crashes involving dual engine failures: one in Naples, FL, in February 2024 and another in Nebraska in 1994. The incidents share some similarities. In the Naples crash, both engines experienced oil pressure warnings within seconds of each other before failing simultaneously. The preliminary report indicates the left landing gear touched down first, followed by the right, before the plane skidded into a concrete barrier. The cabin attendant...

Host Max Trescott recounts his recent trip in the Vision Jet, a G1 version, with a Patreon supporter who is working towards his type rating. He also talks about the VNAV Direct vertical navigation feature that he rarely uses, but found helpful during the trip. The journey involved flying from Oakland, California to Ann Arbor, Michigan and back, with several considerations such as runway lengths, weather patterns, and fuel efficiency. The decision to fly into Ypsilanti Airport instead of...

Host Max Trescott delves into arrival procedures for instrument pilots, focusing on common issues and best practices. The host begins by emphasizing the importance of understanding and properly executing arrival procedures, which are often overlooked, especially for pilots not regularly flying into larger airports. Arrival procedures, also known as Standard Terminal Arrival Routes (STARs), facilitate the transition from enroute structure to the terminal area, streamlining air traffic flow...

Host Max Trescott discusses the fatal crash of a Falcon jet in Georgia with aviation expert Rob Mark. The NTSB final report revealed a series of factors contributing to the accident. These included misreading a NOTAM regarding the ILS glideslope, difficulty entering the initial approach fix into the navigation system, high and fast arrival at the final approach fix, unauthorized use of airbrakes. It’s also possible that they didn’t realize the ILS approach required flying a procedure turn....

Max talks with Seth Lake about Vmc (Minimum Control Speed with the Critical Engine Inoperative) maneuvers, particularly focusing on their importance in multi-engine training. Seth also talks about the challenges and risks associated with VMC demonstrations and offers constructive suggestions for improving training practices in multi-engine aircraft. Seth explains that Vmc is the minimum controllable airspeed of a multi-engine aircraft when the critical engine is inoperative, and the...

On the afternoon of Wednesday, 7 Dec, 2022. The Cincinnati, Ohio area had been IMC all day and a single engine aircraft, based at Hogan Field (KHAO) near Cincinnati was flying instrument approaches in IMC conditions with the help of Cincinnati Approach.    The aircraft departed Hogan field, located under the northern portion of the Cincinnati Class Bravo, and its first two instrument approaches went relatively well. It flew to the southeast at 4000 feet, and was given vectors to the RNAV...

Max talks with Mark Kolber about Flying IFR in and out of Airports with no Instrument Approaches. Mark Kolber traces his expertise in aviation law to his background as a trial lawyer and a CFI. He emphasizes the importance of understanding rules, regulations, and procedures in IFR, highlighting that a significant portion of IFR involves adherence to regulations due to the potential impact on others. The conversation delves into a specific scenario where a listener reports a Homeowners...

This episode explores the advancements in the Cirrus SR22 G7 aircraft, emphasizing avionics and general enhancements over its predecessor, the G6. To learn the features of the new Cirrus G7, you’ll want to purchase a copy of my Max Trescott’s G3000 and G5000 Glass Cockpit Handbook, which covers virtually all of the features you’ll find in the Perspective Touch+,used in the G7 and the SF50 Vision Jet. Key features include automatic fuel tank alternation, borrowed from the Vision Jet,...

Max talks about some recent VFR into IMC accidents and other weather-related loss of control accidents. VFR into IMC accidents continue to be a problem for us as GA pilots. Not only are there too many of them, but they also have the highest lethality rate of any accident type, as 90% of these accidents are fatal. They are unique to general aviation, as they are almost non-existent in airline flying. He also talks about how to calculate the bank angle required to get a standard rate turn. ...

Max talks about why controllers in the U.S. use vectors for approaches far more often than in other countries. He also shares listener feedback on why flying own navigation may be less work than getting vectors to final. He addresses misconceptions about the Activate Approach command and exactly what it does. He also talks about the importance of keeping your GPS navigator synch with your present position. He also talks about how to Activate a Leg of a flight plan and the four common errors...

Max talks about the FAA Controller Handbook rules for vectoring aircraft and how it relates to the crash of N188PC, a Pilatus PC-12 that crashed in Texas last week. He also talks about helpful tools in the Garmin G1000, G3000, Perspective and GTN 650 and 750 that you can use to tell if you might be getting a late turn from a controller that may take you through the final approach course. He also talks about how to use Garmin’s Runway Extensions and Track Vector when flying a traffic pattern,...

Max talks with Jason Blair about the pilot examiner shortage and its impact on checkride delays. We also highlight the importance of proper paperwork and the common reasons for test discontinuation. Next, we delve into the requirements for checkride endorsements and the consequences of missing experience requirements. Jason addresses the misinterpretation of instrument rating requirements and the DPIC requirement for the commercial certificate. Finally, we discuss the qualification process...

Max gives an update on the Shelbyville, Indiana SR22 crash on N17DT. A listener witnessed the crash and described the final moments of the flight before the crash. The witness contacted the NTSB to provide a statement. Max also talks about how three pilots’ failures to follow standard operating procedures resulted in fatal crashes. Support the Show by buying a Lightspeed ANR Headsets Max has been using only Lightspeed headsets for nearly 25 years! I love their tradeup program that let's...

Max talks about when to choose an IAF versus Vectors when Getting Vectors to Final. Like most things in aviation, the answer is “It Depends.” In older GPSs, choosing Vectors drops some waypoints, which is fine over flat terrain, but which can be dangerous when vectored over mountainous terrain. This is why CFIs often encouraged pilots to always load an approach with an IAF and not vectors, even when being vectored for an approach. Newer GPSs have solved this problem, and in most cases, it’s...

Max talks about the fatal crash of a SR22T in Shelbyville, IN and why after an engine, Cirrus pilots are encouraged to use the CAPS parachute rather than glide down to a field. He also talks about why a faster, heavier aircraft has more energy in a crash. He also describes the physics behind why a parachute pull is safer than trying to land in a field. Support the Show by buying a Lightspeed ANR Headsets Max has been using only Lightspeed headsets for nearly 25 years! I love their...

Max talks about the crash this week of a Cessna P210 in San Diego, and why it crashed. The flight originated in Concord, CA and flew for just over 4 hours to Montgomery Field in San Diego. The aircraft first tried to land at French Valley airport, was high on the approach and went missed. It diverted to Montgomery field to fly the ILS 28R, however the pilot flew about a third of a mile south of the airport, missing the runway. Five minutes after the approach, while climbing for another...