Not long ago the FAA had visions of shutting down all ground based NAVAID's (ILS/VOR/TACAN/DME) and going to the sexy Satellite navigation only. I always thought that "Vision" was myopic. Just one Chinese hack or software glitch or terrorist jammer or Sun fart from being a bad choice.

(Written on 2019/06/10)(Permalink)

If any terrain is in the departure path of an aircraft the ATC system should automatically warn ATC if an aircraft is on a collision course with terrain. The mountain never moves. It is always the same on the radar a fixed location. Moving target toward fixed location should trigger automatic warning to ATC. What is that maybe 1950's technology? Come on FAA what gives? (even if this is an old story)

(Written on 2019/05/23)(Permalink)

GPS and RNAV cross check. If PIREP indicates fluctuating or unreliable ILS signal issue NOTAM and use GPS and RNAV. My next question is the FAA has significant ground based monitors that will shut off the ILS if the signal is compromised. In a CAT 3 ILS that shutoff is measured in milliseconds. If the spoof also impacts the ground based monitors it will shut off the ILS signal. Lesson Learned? Don't put all your ILS eggs in one basket REDUNDANCY REDUNDANCY REDUNDANCY !!

(Written on 2019/05/16)(Permalink)

I found the limited amount of times that I have flown flew Allegiant to be on time and a very good experience into their Sanford Hub. I wish they flew into our local airport every day instead of two days a week.

(Written on 2019/04/29)(Permalink)

"Changes coming" "oversight approach needs to evolve" translated is people died so we need to CYA. We (The FAA) can't be proactive and look around corners and catch issues of this magnitude before they happen. We must live up to our reputation as the "Tombstone" agency and wait for people to DIE then we will issue feel good empty statements like "Change is coming" and 'We need to evolve" You don't fool anyone you are just covering your rumps. Look up the word "Proactive" A word you need to learn FAA. If you are in the safety business you must think of worst case scenarios ahead of time not wait for people to die or airframes to be lost.

(Written on 2019/03/28)(Permalink)

In a nutshell the profit over safety and the "In bed with corporations" and symbiotic relationship the FAA a.k.a the "Tombstone agency" has with the airlines and aircraft manufactures is glaring and obvious. We should have a independent watchdog formed to just watch over the FAA. Don't trust the Tombstone agency one bit with Air Safety. Form the watchdog agency using just pilots and technicians and aeronautical engineers who have no political history or bias with the FAA or Congress. Writing on the MarketWatch website for the commentary series Barron’s Group Experts, Sullenberger says both Boeing and the FAA “have been found wanting” in an “ugly saga that began years ago but has come home to roost with two terrible fatal crashes.”

(Written on 2019/03/22)(Permalink)

The FAA has a long history of waiting until there are a lot of dead people before they act or ground aircraft. There is a reason they call it the "Tombstone" Agency. "Let the FAA do their job" translated means lets see how we can mitigate corporate damage and protect the cash flow of the airline and airline manufacture business before we do anything. Air safety and the flying public have always been secondary over political and corporate interests at the FAA.

(Written on 2019/03/13)(Permalink)

The lawsuits will stack up like cord wood. Drink your booze. Pop your pills. But God forbid you smoke that devil lettuce on your off duty time and it is in your piss. Impairment and Marijuana in your piss is an apple and a bowling ball. Banning a legal substance (Marijuana)in off duty time while allowing you to have a beer or pop pills with a prescription will not stand legal scrutiny. It will fail in court. It is hypocritical discrimination. Reefer madness ignorance is still alive and well. Test for impairment. Not piss left overs. The employers will lose this battle.

(Written on 2018/10/19)(Permalink)

Interesting the time I read this article 0749 CDT 7/2/2018 Airbus occupied the top three out of the four aircraft airframes being tracked live. They are doing something right. 1881 Airbus A320 1815 Boeing 737-800 665 Airbus A321 516 Airbus A319

(Written on 2018/07/02)(Permalink)

Sad news. This aircraft looks like a P-51 Mustang on Steroids

(Written on 2018/06/27)(Permalink)