A couple of things In “Flying the Alphabet” (February 2015 Flight Training) raised my eyebrows. The author said that the Martin State controller said, “Frequency change approved.” He must have either asked for a frequency change or said something like “Leaving your airspace.” The Aeronautical Information Manual is clear on this in 4-3-2: “In the interest of reducing tower frequency congestion, pilots are reminded that it is not necessary to request permission to leave the tower frequency once outside of Class B, Class C, and Class D surface areas.”
It happens like this: a pilot is cruising around in the vicinity of a towered airport, monitoring the tower frequency, and hears, “Tower, Aircraft 1234X leaving your airspace, request frequency change.” The tower controller has two choices. He can say “That report is not necessary. You are congesting my frequency. Change frequencies and sin no more,” or he can say “Frequency change approved.” The pilot files that exchange away in his or her memory and will always request a frequency change in the future.
“Course heading” is a phrase that is not in the Pilot/Controller Glossary. This was your opportunity to tell the reader what it means (what your directional gyro reads when you are on course).
Bob Gardner
Renton, Washington
Cold weather fun
Let me start by thanking you for a quality magazine! I really get something out of every issue, and it always gets me excited about my next flight. I’m writing about something I noticed in “After the Checkride: Cold Weather Fun” (February 2015 Flight Training). You note that to guard against CO poisoning, one should make sure a CO detector or a pulse oximeter is on board.
While pulse oximetry can be very important for detecting low-blood saturation (hypoxemia) from decreased atmospheric oxygen levels (as is the case with cabin depressurization at altitude), it is not reliable for detecting CO poisoning. Pulse oximeters can’t tell the difference between heme molecules bound by O2 and those bound by CO, so with CO poisoning the reading may be falsely normal.
This could give someone in the dangerous situation of potential CO poisoning a false sense of security. Long story short, it’s important to have the CO detector.
Brent Forrest
Valdosta, Georgia
Flying Carpet
I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoy Greg Brown’s column in Flight Training magazine each month. He talks about things that happen to all of us so the stories mean a lot more. I am a helicopter pilot and have been an AOPA member since 1996, but I love Flight Training and continue to get it. There are so many good articles in there that even old crusty pilots can learn something. After all, we should never stop learning.
Paul Goldasich Jr.
Mount Olive, Illinois
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–EJ Lydon, Horsham, Pennsylvania
Q: Which 2015 AOPA Fly-In location is your favorite?
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Frederick, Maryland: 14.9%
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