Serving Midwest Aviation Since 1960
Serving Midwest Aviation Since 1960
Sorted by date Results 26 - 48 of 48
Most people are thrilled that spring is just about here. The many super cold weeks of this past December (2017) and January (2018) were, at the least, a test of our resolve to remain as residents in the area! But Minnesotan's are a hearty and determined group of people, and while the thoughts of warmer locations may hold some appeal, here is where we stay. It is a source of personal pride This is where we make our nest. Now, as spring approaches, we can hardly wait to do almost anything that is... Full story
Fatigue, Stress, and Memory Flying, whether as a pilot or a passenger, can be an exhilarating and wonderful event most often. But there are times when environmental factors arise that have a significant impact on that exhilaration and, in fact, may become significant stressors in your day. An example is, you are cruising along with everything on the panel where it should be for optimum flight and speed. Then, suddenly, your engine hiccups, then hiccups again, and then once again as the tach... Full story
How much can frost affect your plane? According to the NTSB: • Frost the size of a grain of salt, distributed as sparsely as one per square centimeter over a wing's surface, can destroy enough lift to prevent your plane from taking off. • Frost can reduce your wing's max lift by 30 percent or more. • It can also reduce the margin of your wing's critical angle-of-attack by several degrees. • Because frost disrupts airflow over your entire aircraft, it can increase drag by up to 40%. The Federal... Full story
Flying in winter can literally be a breath-taking experience. From the air, the vistas of snow covered open land punctuated by the green of pine forests, can be awe inspiring in its simplicity and breathtaking as it stretches to a seemingly endless horizon. Another breath-taking moment of winter is when you walk out of the warmth and comfort of your favorite FBO's flight ops office and step onto a frozen, wind-swept, mostly white expanse of tarmac. Even though it was previously in a heated... Full story
Tourism is a valuable source of revenue for many "mom & pop" shops in many communities throughout the state and nation. From a more local viewpoint, tourism can be a significant source of tax revenues for the cities and counties, as well as the state. An example of tourisms important financial contributions are discussed in an article by Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, written for the publication, Route Fifty. In that article he says, "States that invest in promoting... Full story
In a recent Aeronautics Technical Bulletin article by this author titled; More than 637,000 new opportunities, I said 'there are 637,000 + opportunities for experienced pilots, technicians, or anyone in aviation to talk to young people about the opportunities before them in GA and beyond. You can show them (new potential aviators) what you do in and for aviation. Excite them about the many possibilities and opportunities that are coming available. Help them make a choice, and then be a mentor... Full story
Every aviator who has taken the winter off from flying is now feeling a great excitement to get back into the air. The urge to fly is strong as the renewal of life pushes bright green chutes up through leftover piles of snow, or quickly expanding buds on bushes and tree branches rejuvenates our spirits. Spring is beautiful but its weather is at best, fickle. One may be brushing snow off aircraft wings and windscreens one day, and adjusting flight plans and alternates to avoid towering... Full story
Each spring millions of birds make their way back to and through Minnesota along the Mississippi flyway, on their way to prime nesting grounds. It is also the time when pilots who do not enjoy the cold of winter begin to feel those deep-seated urges to take flight as the days get longer and warmer. It is also the time of year when all pilots must remember they share the skies with birds of a variety of sizes and weights. It is a time that requires pilots' extra vigilance, preparedness and action... Full story
A departing or landing aircraft can experience a condition called hydroplaning when there is moisture on the runway. The moisture can be rain, slush, ice, snow or a combination of moisture types in a thin layer on the runway surface. Simply stated, hydroplaning is an event that occurs when the brakes are applied on landing for example, and the wheels lock, causing the tires to skid on top of the moisture surface, somewhat like water skiing. When taking off, the wheel and tire will initially... Full story
After a warm, bright, sunny day, the still, cool air of the evening sky and the rising moon call you to take flight. For many, night flying is intimidating. Yet, to others, it is a challenge they willingly accept. Their reward is seeing the amazing beauty of villages and towns twinkling in the ocean of blackness below them and the moonlight shimmering on the lakes in a golden champagne color. Good night vision is a key to overcoming those challenges and enjoying night flight. It is much easier... Full story
Aviation as a whole is global in reach and scope, yet it maintains a feel of a tight-knit family. How often have you experienced, or overheard someone say they ran into someone they know at some out-of-the-way airport or destination who is in aviation? What are the chances for an encounter like that? In the community of aviation it is a frequent occurrence for many. That is one part of aviation that is always fun! That begs the question, what are we as aviation individuals, as well as aviation...
There are nearly 5,000 airports around the country that have many things in common regardless of their size, number of based aircraft, or runway length. At nearly every one of these locations there is a coffee shop or lunch counter, an FBO, or hangar that always seems to be inhabited by a cross-section of the pilot and former pilot, community. This is where stories of past adventures, triumphs over adverse situations, and dreams of the future abound. This is where anyone can have "20/20 vision"... Full story
MnDOT Aeronautics Many scientists believe that the human brain receives nearly 80% of the information it processes about the world around it, through vision. Thus only about 20% is derived from touch, taste, smell, and hearing combined. Illusions can occur when our senses misinterpret or receive ambiguous sensory information. Though there are a number of different illusions that can occur, this article will only address a few of them. Many illusions in flight can occur when visual acuity is diminished such as when haze, fog, rainfall, snow, or... Full story
The cool, still air of the evening tempts you like a siren to take flight. Then the rising moon acts like a beacon, adding to the temptation to fly. While flying at night is beautiful to some pilots, it is intimidating to many others. Though it is about the same as daylight flying in many ways, night flying comes with some important differences. One of these differences is night vision and its unique challenges. It is easier to understand night vision and its associated challenges if you first... Full story
As the summer season begins to fade and fall approaches, we are about to enter what is arguably the most beautiful season in Minnesota (and the upper Midwest). Flying during the weeks of fall when the trees turn to spectacular colors, varies from totally magnificent to quite simply awe-inspiring! The lakes shimmer and sparkle like jewels while reflecting the brilliant blue sky, and even the color of the leaves turning on their shores! How fortunate we are to have the opportunity to see these won... Full story
With the advent of summer and all its beauty there is also the greatly increased potential for thunderstorms that produce tornadoes. It is vitally important that everyone knows of the potentials and has a plan ready in case tornadic activity begins at or near your location. To help you understand more about tornadoes, read the rest of this brief article. The information presented here was taken directly from the NOAA Severe Weather Safety Guide. You can obtain a free copy of the complete guide at: http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/resources/t... Full story
Minnesota's airports have a tremendous value not only to the cities and towns they are in, but also to the surrounding communities, the state and the nation. There are many factors involved that demonstrate the value of an airport to a community. Two very important ones are the economic and social impacts. First look at the social impact of an airport, then the economic impact, and their impact on the state and the nation. By definition, general aviation is considered to be all flying in the U.S... Full story
The beauty of spring comes in a vast array of sights, sounds, and aromas. Once the snow is all gone and the earth has felt a few days of the suns warmth, dozens of different types of vegetation will spring forth. Many will grace our eyes and noses with beautiful flowers and sweet smells that invite us to come closer and enjoy. Even the simple blades of grass exude a sweetness that draws us to lie down for a few minutes and breathe-in the fresh sweetness as we watch the clouds quickly changing... Full story
Every summer for the past 22 years in Minnesota, students from around the State have had an opportunity to attend a fabulous summer program called ACE (Aviation Career Education) Camp. This unique camp held each June and July, opens doors to students that many people, even people in the industry have not walked through. It is nearly seven very full days of total immersion in all-things aviation! The ACE camps for 2014 will be held June 22-28 and July 20-26. Each camp will accommodate a maximum...
Approximately 25 %* of all fatal General Aviation accidents are caused by non-instrument qualified pilots who make the decision to continue flying by Visual Flight Rules (VFR), into adverse weather,. When the visual horizon is lost, a pilot’s senses can be distorted and deceptive to the point that they can lose their sense of direction and become unable to determine the difference in up or down. Minimum values of ceiling and visibility determine Visual Flight Rules. Visibility is how far the pilot can see, while ceiling refers to the maximum he... Full story
For those that fly, the beauty and pleasure that can be found in flying is often so great that it is easy to overlook or even forget the basics. But every good pilot knows it is very important to remember and review the basics regularly. Too often in accident and incident investigations, it is found that the error made by the pilot was a very basic one. Dynamic stall is a phenomenon that occurs when excessively steep banks are entered. It can also occur when very rapid maneuvers or sudden gusts... Full story
Dan McDowell When the warm(ish) days and cool crisp nights of fall are present, many things begin to change. The kids are back in school, football season is on again and hockey season isn’t that far away either! The colors of the leaves and the damp, musky smells of fallen leaves on the ground begin to stir thoughts of the coming holidays and celebrations with family and friends. But for pilots, there is another very important thing that begins again. That thing is frost, specifically Hoar frost that is sometimes referred to as “Fret Fro... Full story
In the still, cool, clear mornings of autumn when the damp earthy smell is almost a sweet scent, it reminds us of why we choose to live here. The beauty that autumn brings is almost beyond comparison. The skies are often a brilliant blue and the quickly moving puffs of cumulous are often a stark white. But with all that beauty there is another element of autumn that while fine to look at when sitting on the ground, can be serious and sometimes deadly for unaware or unprepared pilots. That element is fog. Fog, in its simplest definition is like... Full story
