Short Final

Short Final: Reading Level

We were at 7,000 feet, in and out of clouds, destination a VFR-only airport. Thinking it might be hard to get below the clouds...

Short Final: Giving Way

Our local airport has one strip, one departure, and a mix of general aviation and airliner traffic. Airliners often have a fixed wheels-up time...

Short Final: Switching To Guns

I heard the following around my home airport: Cessna 1234M: “Cessna N1234M, four miles northeast for landing with Echo. Full stop.” Tower: “34M turn right base....

Short Final: What’s In A Name?

Traveling southwest to New Orleans through southern Mississippi, our IFR clearance always includes a pair of VORs, EWA and LBY, to steer clear of...

Short Final: Tappan Zee Bridge

As a new pilot I was nervous about ATC communications … until I heard this exchange. Now I know they are human after all. As...

Short Final: Properly Performed Maneuvers

On a recent trip, I came across the NOTAM shown above and had to chuckle a bit. Well, at least they’re not planning any...

Short Final: Waypoint

On one of my first IFR flights, my filed route ended JFK‑COL‑KBLM but Clearance told me to drop the Colts Neck VOR (COL) and...

Short Final: IDENT

I’m originally from eastern North Carolina, and have family in Greenville, North Carolina. My office has a business in Pinehurst, North Carolina, and several...

Short Final: Ready For A Push

My brother‑in‑law told me of an incident at a Class C airport where he parked for a day or so. Upon returning to his...

Short Final: Vectors

On a recent LightHawk flight, we were approaching Willow Run, Michigan, just before sunset. The weather was clear enough for a visual approach to...
Are authorities moving to a more collaborative and permissive environment for flight medicals?

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How New England Air Museum Restores Aircraft

Most people only see the public areas of flight museums and wonder how all that historic beauty and precision is created and maintained. Aviation...