Flight Forum

I just finished Wally Miller's "The Silent Passenger: Don't Let Stress Take You for a Ride" (July AOPA Flight Training), and I'd like to thank you all for once again highlighting the human concerns that are always with us in the pilot's seat.

I'd like to take this opportunity to have another look at the E item in the IMSAFE checklist: eating. It's certainly true that the distractions of hunger pains and the sluggishness of low blood sugar will adversely affect pilot performance and contribute to physiological stress, but other aspects of eating immediately come to mind as well.

The human gastronomic system is very sensitive to the rigors of flight, as we all know, and the process of digestion can easily be (ahem) "interrupted" when things get too turbulent, particularly if you're flying light airplanes. Besides carrying those little "comfort sacks" in his or her kneeboard, every pilot should ask the following question in their preflight briefings: "You didn't just have a big plate of undercooked huevos rancheros for breakfast, did you?"

There's also the other end of the process to consider. For many people, several hours of flight simply are not a practical possibility, because when you've gotta go, you've gotta go. Now there's a distracting source of physiological stress! So, always allow a quick trip to the facilities as part of your own "personal" preflight.

Andy Hammond
Kissimmee, Florida

What Is General Aviation?

General aviation ("Preflight: What Is General Aviation?" July AOPA Flight Training) allows me to play in a world without boundaries, to explore our beautiful Earth from a different perspective, and to discover unexpected hideaways where a chance encounter can lead to scintillating conversations. General aviation focuses the mind. When I'm alone in the sky, I'm inspired to reflect on how I can make a difference in life. The issues troubling me on the ground have no place in the plane.

Throughout the years, I've shared my love of flying with family and friends as they've enjoyed their aerial tours. At midlife, however, I'm becoming an aviator with a purpose. Having flown and done all the fun things I can do in a plane, it's time to give something back.

I am a volunteer pilot with Angel Flight, a national nonprofit organization that flies needy patients to critical medical care. I'm also involved with the California Pilots Association and the San Carlos Airport Pilots Association to help save small GA airports, which are slowly but surely deteriorating and disappearing. Today, small airports facilitate business travel, emergency medical evacuations, law enforcement, fighting forest fires, agriculture, and much more. Tomorrow, they will change the way we travel! With the introduction of a fleet of automobile-size, high-tech, on-demand, jet-powered aerial taxis and various airspace enhancements, travelers could be taking regional trips from a small airport in a nearby community for the price of coach airfare - in half the travel time - by the end of the decade.

But we need our small general aviation airports to make the vision of a new way to travel a reality.

Colleen Turner
San Mateo, California

Pursuing The Dream

I just finished reading cover to cover the July AOPA Flight Training. It brought back some memories. The articles were well written and served to let me know nothing has changed with regard to risk in flying, just how one manages these risks.

I have loved flying for more than 60 years. I got my first chance while I was in the Air Force, but I wasn't an officer so I never "officially" flew aircraft - but I did fly nonetheless. I now am a student pilot. If you want something bad enough you find a way! I shall continue to learn and complete what I started some 40 years ago. My goal is to fly the P-51D Mustang, as it was the aircraft that I never got to work on but like the best.

Thanks, AOPA. Keep up the good work. I am looking forward to the next issue.

Billy Callanan
Via e-mail

Unusual Yaw Control

I just read "Losing Control" by Jeff Pardo (June AOPA Flight Training) and wanted to add a comment to his fine article. One of my instructors demonstrated in a Cessna 152 how the doors can be used to control yaw. It works - try it sometime.

Greg Badum
Via e-mail