Plane and Pilot

FEBRUARY 28, 2025

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. Both of these approaches work with one significant caution.

Descent 55

Descent Approach Final Approach Turbulence 55

Air Facts

APRIL 14, 2025

as it apparently originated from FAA Flight Deck Human Factors. Two More Concept Failures One recent general aviation fad that did not catch on, fortunately, was the continuous turn from downwind to final approach. This makes the approach unstable, but light planes fly successfully through such conditions all the time.

Final Approach 52

Final Approach General Aviation Approach Wind Shear 52

Pilot Institute

MARCH 6, 2025

IFR Instrument Flight Rules IFR is the set of rules that allow pilots to fly by reference to instruments in the flight deck when flying by visual reference is not safe. What this simply means is that the wind speed and/or direction is rapidly changing at a relatively low altitude.

Pilot 52

Pilot Weather Air Traffic Control NOTAMs 52