Plane and Pilot

FEBRUARY 28, 2025

In the airline world, descent planning and execution receives a lot of attention. To cope with these challenges, airline glass flight decks contain a vertical navigation function (VNAV) that keeps the autopilot, and the crew, on the right path to arrive at the final approach fix, or downwind leg, at speed and on altitude.

Descent 54

Descent Approach Final Approach Turbulence 54

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 4, 2024

If you learned in a four-seater, chances are most of your flying was with only two people on board, with a nice cushion below max gross weight and with a mid- or forward CG. Then I had occasion to fly with an airline pilot, giving him a ride home in his leaseback before I was to fly it back. He had the altitude nailed.

Crosswind 52

Crosswind Aileron Runway Gross Weight 52

Airspeed Junkie

AUGUST 9, 2024

Its ability to carry both passengers and cargo efficiently has made it a favorite among airlines and passengers alike. With the ongoing growth in passenger and cargo traffic, this aircraft remains a key asset for airlines, aiding them in adapting to the changing commercial aviation landscape.

Payload 52

Payload Cargo Ceiling Cabin Crew 52

Professional Pilot

OCTOBER 10, 2024

Few airlines are willing to pay the cost of training pilots to use synthetic vision systems (SVS) effectively, so airliners are rarely equipped with them. Yet suddenly, neither rain nor snow nor gloom of night would keep professional pilots on the ground – or divert them into it.

Flight Deck 52

Flight Deck Primary Flight Display Approach Runway 52

iPad Pilot News

OCTOBER 31, 2024

The weight and balance tool calculates gross weight and center of gravity for a wide range of airplanes. That’s mostly because ForeFlight serves a huge variety of operators, from student pilots to business jet pilots to airline pilots. Takeaways As you can see, there are a lot of options here.

Weather 52

Weather Approach Pilot Airplanes 52

Air Facts

FEBRUARY 5, 2025

Six Brave Souls Air Facts Journal During the spring of 1977, I was a pilot for Skyway Airlines based at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Skyway was a small commuter airline that operated a fleet of seven airplanes, including one DC-3. Since we were now at our maximum gross weight, a full power takeoff was mandatory.

Gross Weight 89

Gross Weight Airplanes Flight Deck Runway 89

Fear of Landing

SEPTEMBER 27, 2024

On the 9th of July 2024, flight LA8073, operated by the Chilean airline LATAM, departed from Milano Malpensa for a passenger flight to São Paulo, Brazil. The load controller also verifies whether all planned passengers are accounted for and receives the final baggage and cargo weights from the airline staff.

Tail 82

Tail V Speed Knot Runway 82