As Americans, we tend to be a bit obsessive about our pets. One survey showed that 70% of people would sacrifice "alone time" with a significant other for their dog, and 73% of pet owners get upset when people tell them how to raise their animals. So, it makes sense...

There are 86,400 seconds in a day. In just one second, a honeybee flaps its wings 200 times and approximately 79 stars will vanish from space. What seems to go by so quickly can often be the most profound part of our day, week, year, and even lives. We find...

Tom Petty sang a great song called "Learning to Fly," which actually wasn't meant to be particularly about aviation, but really a metaphor for achieving goals that you never thought were possible. Still, for some pilots, the song is still a valid anthem that takes us all back to those...

It's proven time and time again that for all airframes, landing is generally the toughest part of flying. More than 60% of aviation accidents occur during landing, and even with the technology we have available to assist, fatal accidents continue to occur due to the inability to employ proper energy...

There's a great comedy skit by Gary Gulman about how the postal service finally settled on its two letter designators for states, but do you know how the three- and four-letter acronyms for airports came about? They basically date as far back as the 1930s when air travel began to...

Safety in aviation is always a top priority. There are many ways to approach this important task, with the first line of defense being a keen and constant personal awareness of one’s habits, health, skill, and environment. But even under the best conditions, sometimes there are still various factors that...

In 1911, John Scott Haldane came up with the idea to use canaries as carbon monoxide detectors for miners. They decided upon that particular sentinel species as it was believed to be more sensitive to the colorless, odorless gas and could, therefore, serve as an early indicator to help save...

Several recent security incidents highlight the need for business aviation and FBOs to properly prepare and follow facility security procedures while aircraft are on the ground. In May 2021, a pilot found a 19-year-old man passed out inside a Citation jet with a rifle. The pilot removed the Ruger AR-15,...

Who do you call when you have an issue when flying? I would wager that most corporate and charter pilots tend to think of the standard CRM team: the other pilot, the Cabin crew (if on board), and Air Traffic Control. After attending the NBAA Schedulers and Dispatchers Conference in...

Jet fuel prices have soared to an all-time high with yet another 0.2 percent increase and the eighth straight increase this year. The latest increase comes on the heels of the steepest hike ever of 18.3 percent effected on March 16 and a 2 percent increase on April 1—and no,...

On December 15, 2021, a Gulfstream GIV with six passengers and three crewmembers took off from Santo Domingo's Isabela airport headed for Orlando. In a matter of 15 minutes, all aboard the aircraft would perish as the jet attempted to make an emergency landing at the nearby Las Americas International...

On April 1, 2022, it certainly was no joke when pilots on a flight from Salt Lake City to Washington, D.C. diverted the flight to Denver after the cockpit windshield shattered above 30,000 feet. Passengers recount the crew explaining the rare occurrence and the need to divert to Denver for...

If you ask anyone outside of the aviation community to define business aviation, you will likely get a variety of answers. Until recently, the general public's perception of business aviation has been simply a mode of transportation for executives, wealthy entrepreneurs, or celebrities from the music, sports, or motion picture...

The 20th Edition of the International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO) brings about some changes, one of which is the new requirement to conduct initial and recurrent Human Factors training for all personnel involved in the safe operation of an aircraft. This training was previously only a recommended practice...

Over the last two years, we've all become accustomed to changing or shifting rules in many aspects of our lives. We've all had to remain flexible and diligent in knowing and following the latest guidance and rules across the board to ensure the safety of not only ourselves, but others...

Even though 9/11 was two over decades ago, the prospect of getting intercepted tends to get some pilots excited. The FAA has multiple sources on its website, and the subject is covered in the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) and is in two Advanced Aircrew Academy eLearning modules. Why all the...

Runway Excursions continue to be the #1 incident type in business aviation with 34 runway excursions in the United States in 2021. This is a 35% increase in excursions over 2020. January and August each had 5 excursions. Light jets (less than 21,000 pounds) continue to have the majority of...

Whether you love it or hate it, social media plays a large part in many of our social and professional lives. Any quick search will reveal numerous stories either hailing success or reporting disastrous backlash from the posts and presence of pilots and aircrew alike. For every feel well-intentioned and...

It's time to update your Operations Manual for US DOT Chart 17 Hazardous Materials Markings, Labeling and Placarding Guide. You can download the chart here. If you use Advanced Aircrew Academy for training, your training has been updated. DOT Chart 17 is a reference aid to help pilots and ground...

Undoubtedly, you've seen the headlines about the ongoing spat between the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) over the effect of 5G Wireless on flight operations. If you were too busy completing your Advanced Aircrew Academy training modules or getting last-minute presents, here's a quick recap....

Advanced Aircrew Academy has received several calls inquiring about the obligation of Part 91 vs Part 135 flight departments to participate in the Pilot Records Database (PRD), so we'll sum up what we know. Part 91 Operators If you have two or more type‑rated aircraft (or two turbine powered rotorcraft),...

Despite COVID, you can't convince me to peel my nose off the passenger window of the airliner as we approach POWDR at FL230 on the arrival to Denver. The awe of the view of the fresh coat of snow on Mount Sherman still shadowing the Leadville airport (KLXV) distracts me...

Sometimes it is what you don't see on an instrument approach chart that tells a story. In previous articles, we have brought up that the absence of the text "Grooved" by a runway description is the indication the runway will be slippery when wet. If rain is in the forecast,...

International Procedures training is a shared international headache for flight departments. Trying to determine what recurrent training topics you need and when is confusing for both new and seasoned flight department training managers, especially since it's not specifically defined by the FAA. If you're operating Part 135, just take a...

The seat belt sign is off and business aviation has been facilitating travel to over 5000 airports around the country in 2021. International travel has been slower to rebound since the global COVID-19 pandemic, but that is changing. In the last month, Advanced Aircrew Academy has seen a significant increase...