Pilot Products

Eavesdropping on radio communications is a good, inexpensive way to improve your confidence about your own skills. And it's fun. You get just as much value out of listening how not to talk on the radio (idle chat on the common traffic advisory frequency comes to mind) as you do listening to exchanges between air traffic control and airline pilots. You'll also learn that occasionally pilots accidentally broadcast on the emergency frequency 121.5, and the sky doesn't fall when that happens.

Web sites such as LiveATC.net let you be a fly on the wall (or in the cockpit) of aircraft operating at the nation's busiest airports. But if you'd rather listen on the go, a portable aviation receiver is what you need. Gleim's KA11AIR Receiver lets you do just that.

The KA11AIR Receiver apparently was designed with the airplane-spotting hobbyist in mind. Gleim sells it as part of an airplane watching online course, but you can also purchase the unit separately from Gleim or other retailers such as Pilotmall.com, which provided our test unit.

When you remove the KA11AIR Receiver from its colorful, airplane-decorated box, you may just flash back to the 1960s. The unit is basically an FM transistor radio (it even sports a wrist strap) that can pick up aviation frequencies between 118.00 and 138.00 MHz, as well as FM frequencies 87.50 to 108.00 MHz.

I tested the receiver in three locations: a cubicle within the concrete walls of AOPA headquarters, where radio signals sometimes go to die; parked on a bench at my home airport, Frederick Municipal; and at home, four miles from the airport.

I liked the unit's portability; it could easily ride in a flight bag without taking up much space or weight.

Inside the AOPA building, the receiver picked up the automatic weather observation system and CTAF at Frederick Municipal Airport-not unsurprising, considering the airport is about 500 yards away-as well as a frequency for Potomac Tracon, which was a little more surprising. The external antenna improved reception slightly.

At the airport, I clearly heard the local frequencies, and the small earphones included with the radio proved a necessity for monitoring radio transmissions in that frequently noisy environment. At the final location, I was able to hear Frederick's AWOS and CTAF as well as Potomac Tracon, but reception wasn't as good.

I wasn't able to pick up frequencies for airports in Hagerstown (24 nautical miles northwest and behind a line of hills), Westminster (21 miles northeast), or Gaithersburg (18 miles southeast), Maryland. The receiver's range is certainly appropriate for hanging out at the airport and listening in on the action. If you want something beefier, look elsewhere.

The KA11Air receiver comes with two AA batteries, the earphones, and the external antenna.

Price: $59.95 (when purchased in a bundle with Gleim's Airplane Watching course); $54.99 (Pilotmall.com)
Contact: www.gleim.com; www.pilotmall.com

Quick hits

Sporty's has added another entry to the universe of flashlights available for pilots. This one features 100 light-emitting diodes (LEDs), has a non-slip handle, and is shock proof and water resistant.

Price: $39.95
Contact: www.sportys.com; 800-SPORTYS

Have a friend who's interested in learning to fly? Max Trescott, 2008 CFI of the Year, has created a free electronic book that you can e-mail that person. The 37-page PDF file looks at case studies of three individuals who learned to fly for different reasons: for pleasure, as a business tool, and as a career. The book can be downloaded from Trescott's Web site (www.sjflight.com/LearntoFlyebook.pdf).

Aviation Supplies and Academics has updated the 2009 Pro Flight Library, a compilation of 1,000 aviation-related books and documents available on a single CD-ROM. The library can be searched and cross-referenced, and you can bookmark pages and make and save electronic notes.

Price: $79.95.
Contact: www.asa2fly.com; 800-ASA2FLY.