Training / Education
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February 3, 2012
A Pilot’s Guide to Altitude and Hypoxia
Hypoxia, defined straight from NASA, is “a state of oxygen deficiency in the blood, tissues, and cells sufficient to cause an impairment of mental and physical functions.” Basically, it ain’t good. How does this oxygen deficiency occur in aviation, you ask? Good question. [..]
December 19, 2011
The Engine Option
Last week, I discussed changing the type of fuel we’re burning in our engines in order to save some money. This week, I will discuss changing the type of engine entirely. Gasp. You mean not running a piston reciprocating engine in our general aviation aircraft? [..]
December 11, 2011
Coping With High Fuel Costs
We hear it every day from those who are cursed to tread the pavement their entire lives. “Gas is going up again! I don’t want to pay $4 a gallon for fuel!” I got news for you, my unairworthy friends: according to 100LL.com, the average price of Avgas in the south central United States is $5.64 [..]
December 6, 2011
Putting Holding Into Action
Before we dive into any holding scenarios, I want to address ATC communications within a hold. A lot of pilots have difficulty with what is in an official hold clearance, what needs to be read back, and when and what to report. First, the actual hold clearance. According to the Instrument Flying Handbook, [..]
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November 28, 2011
Holding with the G1000
”November Four Seven Two Mike Charlie, hold as published on the VOR, maintain five thousand, expect further clearance in thirty minutes.” Those dreaded words no IFR pilot wants to hear. In yeoman’s terms, a hold clearance screams “DELAY!” This is when the pilot turns to his passengers and [..]
November 21, 2011
The Direct To Key
The direct to key is an aid to VFR pilots and a must for IFR pilots. On VFR cross countries, I encourage all VFR pilots to still create flight plans for VFR flights, utilizing paper and pencil planning, then plugging it into the G1000 using user defined waypoints and the like. On local VFR flights, [..]
November 20, 2011
Flight Planning & Fuel Calculations
How much fuel does the airplane you are flying hold? This is a very important question that most pilots take for granted. Let’s keep things simple and use a Cessna Skyhawk for example. It holds 53 usable gallons of fuel. At an average cruise power setting, the airplane burns roughly 9 gallons an [..]
November 14, 2011
Flight Plans in the G1000
For you pilots out there, think back to your student pilot days. Think to that point between the first solo and the check ride. That point where you knew how to land safely (sort of), but you still had some more to learn. This is known as the cross country phase. During the cross country phase, every [..]
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November 7, 2011
IFR Flying With the G1000
Flying by reference to instruments is a challenge that, once mastered, can be one of the ultimate pleasures in flying. Whenever a private pilot is in the pattern and, all of a sudden, another pilot comes over the radio with a snappy tone: “November Eight Bravo Bravo, visual, 23,” doesn’t envy [..]
October 31, 2011
Uses of the KAP 140 Autopilot (Part II)
Jeff had just purchased his new Cessna Skylane, complete with a G1000 and a KAP 140 autopilot. Jeff was not completely comfortable with a G1000, but he had decided to splurge and go for the G1000, 182T NAV III model with a KAP 140 autopilot. He had scheduled some lessons for the following week to become [..]
October 24, 2011
An Overview of the KAP 140 Autopilot (Part I)
How many pilots out there have uttered curses under their breath trying to work the KAP 140 autopilot? The KAP 140 is great when it does what a pilot wants it to do, but sometimes, getting it to cooperate is a pain. Even the most experienced pilots still have gripes with this particular autopilot. [..]
October 15, 2011
Unique IFR Approaches From Around the World
There are always those approaches that instrument pilots are proud to have attempted and actually made it through. Theoretically, an instrument pilot should be able to perform any instrument approach, but some are a little tougher than others. Some are also more fun than others. Here are a few below [..]
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October 4, 2011
NACO vs. Jeppesen – The Great Approach Plate Debate
Walk into any pilot’s lounge at any airport, ask a few corporate pilots what the best instrument approach plates are, and you will get a pretty even cut down the middle of who prefers which plates. A lot of times, the Jepp guys are Jepp guys because their bosses pay for it. General aviation pilots, [..]
September 23, 2011
Common G1000 Mistakes, Part II
User defined waypoints are extremely handy, but a lot of G1000 pilots do not even know they exist. All instrument pilots are familiar with waypoints. Waypoints are what make up GPS IFR routes. User defined waypoints can be utilized for any type of pilot, whether IFR or VFR. [..]
September 16, 2011
Common G1000 Mistakes, Part I
We have all been that pilot. Whether it is trying to load an approach or just set the altimeter, when we get in a rush, it seems the wrong button is always pushed. That can be frustrating when a flight plan is all programmed in, then it disappears. In my instructing career, I’ve seen my students [..]
September 3, 2011
Dealing with Display Failures
On the long list of what can go wrong in a G1000 cockpit, a Garmin Display Unit (GDU) failure is less of a Maalox moment than other failures. A non-proficient pilot, though, might be lost when the PFD or MFD goes black. Here’s how to handle the situation. (Note: This article will only deal with [..]
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August 26, 2011
Dealing with AHRS/ADC Failures
I was in hard IFR, 400 foot ceilings and a mile visibility. I had just passed the initial approach fix on the ILS. On this particular ILS approach, I had to follow an arc that led me to the final approach course from the initial approach fix. The approach was briefed and loaded into the G1000 and [..]
June 2, 2011
Technically Advanced Aircraft (TAA) Transition Training
In recent years, general aviation has benefited from many innovations and technological advancements. We have seen glass cockpits become standard equipment on new aircraft. Satellite datalink weather now helps guide our inflight decision-making and diversion planning. Digital autopilots on Skyhawks [..]
April 8, 2011
The Apple iPad as an Electronic Flight Bag
Technology is constantly changing the way that people access information. The same is true of pilots in the cockpit. Modern avionics systems often work with data subscriptions that are capable of providing weather information as well as terminal procedures charts… [..]
January 24, 2011
IFR Direct using GPS
Before the advent of GPS, IFR flight plan routes were fairly limited. Pilots generally had to stay on airways or remain within the standard navaid service volumes if venturing off airway. Now a huge number of pilots are able to file /G on their IFR flight plans, meaning that the airplane has GPS and/or [..]
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November 3, 2010
Colorado Mountain Flying in the Cessna 400 Corvalis TT
High Performance Aviation, LLC travels with client to Colorado for some fun mountain flying in the G1000 equipped Cessna 400 Corvalis TT. Includes Colorado Springs, Leadville Lake County Airport, Aspen Pitkin County Airport, Glenwood Springs, and Telluride. KCOS — KLXV — KASE — KGWS — KTEX — KCOS. [..]
October 31, 2010
IFR Flight Plans on the G1000
The Instrument Flying Handbook states that situational awareness is simply “knowing what is going on” (1-14). The Garmin G1000 is a great tool to help maintain situational awareness on an IFR flight. In order to fully realize the system’s potential, however, the pilot must be able to load an [..]
October 19, 2010
Descent Planning with the G1000
Airplanes are one of only a few types of vehicles that can truly operate in three dimensions. Because of this, the pilot must be able to plan his or her flight in order to arrive in the correct place (lateral navigation) at the appropriate altitude (vertical navigation). Poor descent planning may result [..]
Garmin Articles
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January 26, 2012
The Garmin Perspective in Cirrus Aircraft
New Cirrus aircraft equipped with the Garmin Perspective avionics suite are a pilot’s dream. All parties involved got this one right. Gone are the days when general aviation pilots have to twist knobs to select an airport identifier. In comes the Garmin Control Unit (GCU) with a complete keyboard [..]
November 28, 2011
Holding with the G1000
”November Four Seven Two Mike Charlie, hold as published on the VOR, maintain five thousand, expect further clearance in thirty minutes.” Those dreaded words no IFR pilot wants to hear. In yeoman’s terms, a hold clearance screams “DELAY!” This is when the pilot turns to his passengers and [..]
November 21, 2011
The Direct To Key
The direct to key is an aid to VFR pilots and a must for IFR pilots. On VFR cross countries, I encourage all VFR pilots to still create flight plans for VFR flights, utilizing paper and pencil planning, then plugging it into the G1000 using user defined waypoints and the like. On local VFR flights, [..]
November 20, 2011
Flight Planning & Fuel Calculations
How much fuel does the airplane you are flying hold? This is a very important question that most pilots take for granted. Let’s keep things simple and use a Cessna Skyhawk for example. It holds 53 usable gallons of fuel. At an average cruise power setting, the airplane burns roughly 9 gallons an [..]
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November 14, 2011
Flight Plans in the G1000
For you pilots out there, think back to your student pilot days. Think to that point between the first solo and the check ride. That point where you knew how to land safely (sort of), but you still had some more to learn. This is known as the cross country phase. During the cross country phase, every [..]
November 7, 2011
IFR Flying With the G1000
Flying by reference to instruments is a challenge that, once mastered, can be one of the ultimate pleasures in flying. Whenever a private pilot is in the pattern and, all of a sudden, another pilot comes over the radio with a snappy tone: “November Eight Bravo Bravo, visual, 23,” doesn’t envy [..]
October 31, 2011
Uses of the KAP 140 Autopilot (Part II)
Jeff had just purchased his new Cessna Skylane, complete with a G1000 and a KAP 140 autopilot. Jeff was not completely comfortable with a G1000, but he had decided to splurge and go for the G1000, 182T NAV III model with a KAP 140 autopilot. He had scheduled some lessons for the following week to become [..]
October 24, 2011
An Overview of the KAP 140 Autopilot (Part I)
How many pilots out there have uttered curses under their breath trying to work the KAP 140 autopilot? The KAP 140 is great when it does what a pilot wants it to do, but sometimes, getting it to cooperate is a pain. Even the most experienced pilots still have gripes with this particular autopilot. [..]
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September 23, 2011
Common G1000 Mistakes, Part II
User defined waypoints are extremely handy, but a lot of G1000 pilots do not even know they exist. All instrument pilots are familiar with waypoints. Waypoints are what make up GPS IFR routes. User defined waypoints can be utilized for any type of pilot, whether IFR or VFR. [..]
September 16, 2011
Common G1000 Mistakes, Part I
We have all been that pilot. Whether it is trying to load an approach or just set the altimeter, when we get in a rush, it seems the wrong button is always pushed. That can be frustrating when a flight plan is all programmed in, then it disappears. In my instructing career, I’ve seen my students [..]
September 3, 2011
Dealing with Display Failures
On the long list of what can go wrong in a G1000 cockpit, a Garmin Display Unit (GDU) failure is less of a Maalox moment than other failures. A non-proficient pilot, though, might be lost when the PFD or MFD goes black. Here’s how to handle the situation. (Note: This article will only deal with [..]
August 26, 2011
Dealing with AHRS/ADC Failures
I was in hard IFR, 400 foot ceilings and a mile visibility. I had just passed the initial approach fix on the ILS. On this particular ILS approach, I had to follow an arc that led me to the final approach course from the initial approach fix. The approach was briefed and loaded into the G1000 and [..]
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June 2, 2011
Technically Advanced Aircraft (TAA) Transition Training
In recent years, general aviation has benefited from many innovations and technological advancements. We have seen glass cockpits become standard equipment on new aircraft. Satellite datalink weather now helps guide our inflight decision-making and diversion planning. Digital autopilots on Skyhawks [..]
October 31, 2010
IFR Flight Plans on the G1000
The Instrument Flying Handbook states that situational awareness is simply “knowing what is going on” (1-14). The Garmin G1000 is a great tool to help maintain situational awareness on an IFR flight. In order to fully realize the system’s potential, however, the pilot must be able to load an [..]
October 19, 2010
Descent Planning with the G1000
Airplanes are one of only a few types of vehicles that can truly operate in three dimensions. Because of this, the pilot must be able to plan his or her flight in order to arrive in the correct place (lateral navigation) at the appropriate altitude (vertical navigation). Poor descent planning may result [..]
April 12, 2010
Garmin G300 and G3X Add Synthetic Vision, SVX
Garmin announced that it will soon include synthetic vision, SVX, in the Garmin G300 and G3X avionics platforms. [..]
Cessna Articles
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December 19, 2011
The Engine Option
Last week, I discussed changing the type of fuel we’re burning in our engines in order to save some money. This week, I will discuss changing the type of engine entirely. Gasp. You mean not running a piston reciprocating engine in our general aviation aircraft? [..]
December 11, 2011
Coping With High Fuel Costs
We hear it every day from those who are cursed to tread the pavement their entire lives. “Gas is going up again! I don’t want to pay $4 a gallon for fuel!” I got news for you, my unairworthy friends: according to 100LL.com, the average price of Avgas in the south central United States is $5.64 [..]
November 28, 2011
Holding with the G1000
”November Four Seven Two Mike Charlie, hold as published on the VOR, maintain five thousand, expect further clearance in thirty minutes.” Those dreaded words no IFR pilot wants to hear. In yeoman’s terms, a hold clearance screams “DELAY!” This is when the pilot turns to his passengers and [..]
November 14, 2011
Flight Plans in the G1000
For you pilots out there, think back to your student pilot days. Think to that point between the first solo and the check ride. That point where you knew how to land safely (sort of), but you still had some more to learn. This is known as the cross country phase. During the cross country phase, every [..]
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October 31, 2011
Uses of the KAP 140 Autopilot (Part II)
Jeff had just purchased his new Cessna Skylane, complete with a G1000 and a KAP 140 autopilot. Jeff was not completely comfortable with a G1000, but he had decided to splurge and go for the G1000, 182T NAV III model with a KAP 140 autopilot. He had scheduled some lessons for the following week to become [..]
October 24, 2011
An Overview of the KAP 140 Autopilot (Part I)
How many pilots out there have uttered curses under their breath trying to work the KAP 140 autopilot? The KAP 140 is great when it does what a pilot wants it to do, but sometimes, getting it to cooperate is a pain. Even the most experienced pilots still have gripes with this particular autopilot. [..]
September 23, 2011
Common G1000 Mistakes, Part II
User defined waypoints are extremely handy, but a lot of G1000 pilots do not even know they exist. All instrument pilots are familiar with waypoints. Waypoints are what make up GPS IFR routes. User defined waypoints can be utilized for any type of pilot, whether IFR or VFR. [..]
September 16, 2011
Common G1000 Mistakes, Part I
We have all been that pilot. Whether it is trying to load an approach or just set the altimeter, when we get in a rush, it seems the wrong button is always pushed. That can be frustrating when a flight plan is all programmed in, then it disappears. In my instructing career, I’ve seen my students [..]
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September 3, 2011
Dealing with Display Failures
On the long list of what can go wrong in a G1000 cockpit, a Garmin Display Unit (GDU) failure is less of a Maalox moment than other failures. A non-proficient pilot, though, might be lost when the PFD or MFD goes black. Here’s how to handle the situation. (Note: This article will only deal with [..]
August 26, 2011
Dealing with AHRS/ADC Failures
I was in hard IFR, 400 foot ceilings and a mile visibility. I had just passed the initial approach fix on the ILS. On this particular ILS approach, I had to follow an arc that led me to the final approach course from the initial approach fix. The approach was briefed and loaded into the G1000 and [..]
June 2, 2011
Technically Advanced Aircraft (TAA) Transition Training
In recent years, general aviation has benefited from many innovations and technological advancements. We have seen glass cockpits become standard equipment on new aircraft. Satellite datalink weather now helps guide our inflight decision-making and diversion planning. Digital autopilots on Skyhawks [..]
March 29, 2011
New Cessna Corvalis TTX Announced!
Featuring the new Garmin G2000 Intrinzic flight deck with touchscreen controllers and 14.1″ displays. New leather seats; Garmin GTS-800 Traffic Advisory System; Garmin ESP; L-3 Trilogy backup instruments; ADS-B capability. [..]
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November 3, 2010
Colorado Mountain Flying in the Cessna 400 Corvalis TT
High Performance Aviation, LLC travels with client to Colorado for some fun mountain flying in the G1000 equipped Cessna 400 Corvalis TT. Includes Colorado Springs, Leadville Lake County Airport, Aspen Pitkin County Airport, Glenwood Springs, and Telluride. KCOS — KLXV — KASE — KGWS — KTEX — KCOS. [..]
Cirrus Articles
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February 20, 2012
The Garmin G1000 Inegrated GPS vs. The Avidyne Entegra
Avidyne has done many things well with their venture into the glass cockpit arena (brief side note: I find it humorous that even Avidyne still uses Garmin’s GPS. As usual, I digress). On the PFD, there are eight bezel keys, four on each side, each with it’s own function. On the bottom of the [..]
January 26, 2012
The Garmin Perspective in Cirrus Aircraft
New Cirrus aircraft equipped with the Garmin Perspective avionics suite are a pilot’s dream. All parties involved got this one right. Gone are the days when general aviation pilots have to twist knobs to select an airport identifier. In comes the Garmin Control Unit (GCU) with a complete keyboard [..]
November 28, 2011
Holding with the G1000
”November Four Seven Two Mike Charlie, hold as published on the VOR, maintain five thousand, expect further clearance in thirty minutes.” Those dreaded words no IFR pilot wants to hear. In yeoman’s terms, a hold clearance screams “DELAY!” This is when the pilot turns to his passengers and [..]
November 14, 2011
Flight Plans in the G1000
For you pilots out there, think back to your student pilot days. Think to that point between the first solo and the check ride. That point where you knew how to land safely (sort of), but you still had some more to learn. This is known as the cross country phase. During the cross country phase, every [..]
-
September 23, 2011
Common G1000 Mistakes, Part II
User defined waypoints are extremely handy, but a lot of G1000 pilots do not even know they exist. All instrument pilots are familiar with waypoints. Waypoints are what make up GPS IFR routes. User defined waypoints can be utilized for any type of pilot, whether IFR or VFR. [..]
September 16, 2011
Common G1000 Mistakes, Part I
We have all been that pilot. Whether it is trying to load an approach or just set the altimeter, when we get in a rush, it seems the wrong button is always pushed. That can be frustrating when a flight plan is all programmed in, then it disappears. In my instructing career, I’ve seen my students [..]
September 3, 2011
Dealing with Display Failures
On the long list of what can go wrong in a G1000 cockpit, a Garmin Display Unit (GDU) failure is less of a Maalox moment than other failures. A non-proficient pilot, though, might be lost when the PFD or MFD goes black. Here’s how to handle the situation. (Note: This article will only deal with [..]
August 26, 2011
Dealing with AHRS/ADC Failures
I was in hard IFR, 400 foot ceilings and a mile visibility. I had just passed the initial approach fix on the ILS. On this particular ILS approach, I had to follow an arc that led me to the final approach course from the initial approach fix. The approach was briefed and loaded into the G1000 and [..]
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June 2, 2011
Technically Advanced Aircraft (TAA) Transition Training
In recent years, general aviation has benefited from many innovations and technological advancements. We have seen glass cockpits become standard equipment on new aircraft. Satellite datalink weather now helps guide our inflight decision-making and diversion planning. Digital autopilots on Skyhawks [..]
Product Reviews
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February 20, 2012
The Garmin G1000 Inegrated GPS vs. The Avidyne Entegra
Avidyne has done many things well with their venture into the glass cockpit arena (brief side note: I find it humorous that even Avidyne still uses Garmin’s GPS. As usual, I digress). On the PFD, there are eight bezel keys, four on each side, each with it’s own function. On the bottom of the [..]
January 26, 2012
The Garmin Perspective in Cirrus Aircraft
New Cirrus aircraft equipped with the Garmin Perspective avionics suite are a pilot’s dream. All parties involved got this one right. Gone are the days when general aviation pilots have to twist knobs to select an airport identifier. In comes the Garmin Control Unit (GCU) with a complete keyboard [..]
October 4, 2011
NACO vs. Jeppesen – The Great Approach Plate Debate
Walk into any pilot’s lounge at any airport, ask a few corporate pilots what the best instrument approach plates are, and you will get a pretty even cut down the middle of who prefers which plates. A lot of times, the Jepp guys are Jepp guys because their bosses pay for it. General aviation pilots, [..]
April 8, 2011
The Apple iPad as an Electronic Flight Bag
Technology is constantly changing the way that people access information. The same is true of pilots in the cockpit. Modern avionics systems often work with data subscriptions that are capable of providing weather information as well as terminal procedures charts… [..]
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August 9, 2010
Bose A20 Aviation Headset Review
Have you been considering a new headset? The new Bose A20 Aviation Headset is top-notch quality with several excellent features. Based on the previous Bose Aviation X, Bose took a great headset and made it even better. I just picked mine up at Oshkosh last weekend and have flown with it every day [..]