Letters

I was happy to see “Don’t Just Sit There” by Budd Davisson in the November 2010 issue of Flight Training. You see a lot of warnings to pilots about not letting fundamental skills erode because of too much attention to new equipment and overuse of autopilots. If pilots try Davisson’s simple suggestions in this article, they would probably be pretty surprised at how much it would increase their sensitivity and awareness of how the airplane reacts and

performs. This would help immensely to maintain greater margins of safety throughout any flight.

Warren Webb Jr.
New York, New York

Kudos on a short, but excellent article on going around (see “Technique: Go Around,” November 2010 Flight Training). The one part I appreciate the most as a CFI was your “Making the Call” inset. There are no statistics available, but I believe it’s fair to state that a significant percentage of go-around accidents wouldn’t have occurred if the pilot had focused more on aircraft control while not being distracted by making a radio call that contributed little or nothing to overall safety.

Don Eck
New Castle, Delaware

Yes, it’s worth it

I would like to sincerely thank Wayne Phillips for his piece “Career Pilot: Is It Worth It?” in the November 2010 issue. As a student at a major flight training university, it seems like there are so many people griping about the “terrible” conditions that pilots have to work through.

It was so nice to see an opinion from someone who still liked their job! It reassured me that the many thousands of dollars I’ve spent on my way to an airline pilot career are not going to go to waste. Thank you, Mr. Phillips!

Kevin Greene
Grand Forks, North Dakota

Recreational contradiction

Don’t questions one and five contradict each other in the November 2010 “Final Exam?” If a recreational pilot can carry one passenger, that passenger can’t have expressed an interest in buying an airplane? I suppose if the recreational pilot was employed as an aircraft salesman and is regularly giving demo rides that’s one thing. If I’m the pilot and owner I can’t take a “passenger” on a ride if we discussed his desire to buy it? It seems extreme to have to find a commercially rated pilot just to give that guy a ride.

Tim Pavell
Woodland Hills, California

You bring up a good point, and the answer could probably go either way. The regulations make it clear that a recreational pilot cannot do this if he is acting as an aircraft salesman. But how would the FAA interpret that? It's hard to imagine an owner can't demo his own airplane. So it seems as though "outside the U.S." is another correct answer. The questions are straight from the FAA test bank. AOPA's Pilot Information Center researches the answers. I can see why they went this way.—Ed

Erratum

A supplemental type certificate is a type certificate issued when an applicant has received FAA approval to modify an aircraft from its original design. Typically this will be for new aircraft components or equipment. The definition printed on page 22 of the December 2010 issue wrongly gave the definition of a Form 337. Flight Training regrets the error.