Max interviews Jason Blair about the FAA reauthorization bill and its implications for flight training and pilot certification. And Max reads listener stories and emails. Jason highlights a significant change allowing non-collegiate programs to qualify for restricted ATP certificates through enhanced qualification programs developed by airlines or FAA-approved training centers. This opens new pathways for aspiring pilots outside traditional collegiate programs. He also discusses the bill's...

Max and Jason Blair discuss recent changes in the FAA's aviation testing standards, notably the transition from PTS to ACS. Key updates include the conversion of the CFI test to ACS, introducing scenario-driven evaluations. New maneuvers, such as demonstrating flight characteristics under various conditions, have been added for CFIs. Instructors can now use pre-developed lesson plans, easing the preparation burden. Instrument rating changes allow using approaches with decision altitudes...

Max reads a number of listeners stories and emails from listeners. Several of the stories are in response to #328, in which we talked about a tragic aviation accident involving a CFI who purchased his dream airplane, N8924Y, a Piper Twin Comanche, and crashed it on the way home. Listeners share their experience with landing gear problems, Garmin G3000 question, and IFR questions. Support the Show by buying a Lightspeed ANR Headsets Max has been using only Lightspeed headsets for nearly...

In this episode, Max discusses the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 and the dozens of provisions that may impact GA pilots. Here's are a few of the many points covered: Pilots using BasicMed can fly larger and more capable aircraft, and DPEs can fly under BasicMed. CFI certificates will no longer expire, though CFIs will have to meet recent experience requirements. The FAA has to reduce the aircraft registration backlog and shorten the time to respond to Part 135 carrier applications. The FAA...

Max explores a tragic aviation accident involving the crash of a N8924Y, a Piper Twin Comanche shortly after its new owner purchased it. The pilot was flying the aircraft home when he encountered various challenges, including fatigue, pressure to return home quickly, and low experience in the specific aircraft model. The episode delves into the circumstances surrounding the crash, highlighting common factors seen in similar accidents. The pilot attempted to troubleshoot the landing gear...

Max discusses a tragic accident involved a 55-year-old physician who crashed his Beech A36 aircraft, N84R, at Tucker Guthrie Memorial Airport in Harlan, Kentucky, on November 3, 2022. The pilot departed from Knoxville at around 9:32 a.m. with the purpose of attending scheduled appointments at a medical office near the destination airport. Despite low instrument flight conditions at the time of arrival, the pilot did not file a flight plan, communicate with ATC, or receive a weather...

Max talks with Arizona Soaring President and Chief Flight Instructor Jason Stephens and eight time Nation glider aerobatic champion about what it takes to become a glider towplane pilot. Surprisingly, you can tow gliders with just a Private certificate, though most operators will probably want their prospective tow pilots to have a commercial rating. Most new tow pilots will  probably be required to have at least a couple hundred hours of total experience. And since most tow planes are...

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...