Coms

The Thrill of Flight

Inspiration in a song

Loving sci-fi and Star Trek especially, I really enjoyed Greg Brown’s article (“Flying Carpet: Star Power,” August 2017 Flight Training). I did not consider that others hum those theme songs while flying; they are on my iPod and when one comes on I truly feel the thrill of flight!

Gary Palmer
Ranchos Palos Verdes, California

Thank you for this timely article on use of VOR for navigation (“Viva la VOR,” August 2017 Flight Training). GPS is nice, VOR is great, and pilotage with dead reckoning is absolutely necessary, VFR or IFR. Without going through every nuance of non-visual navigation used since the beginning of aviation, VOR expertise is essential knowledge to navigation by GPS, as the needle-ology is the same, assuming pilots want accuracy, and not just meandering more or less with a moving map’s course line. It is dismaying that the overlords at the FAA want to decommission VORs. It is also dismaying that pilots and their advocacy organizations do less than little to protect this longstanding, efficient, and widely used ground-based navigation system. I suggest some inspirational training on navigation by another never-to-be-supplanted ground-based navigation system: NDB.

Chris Pfaff
Danville, Pennsylvania

Why did you learn to fly?

A family member or other pilot introduced me to aviation: 30%
I wanted to be an airline, corporate or military pilot: 22%
I enjoyed watching airplanes: 23%
It would be useful for my business or job: 6%

AVIATION eBRIEF POLL

Errata

“Jargon” in the August 2017 Flight Training incorrectly includes the term scattered as a type of ceiling. Scattered sky cover is not a ceiling.

In “Viva La VOR” (August 2017 Flight Training) we inadvertently swapped the symbols for VOR/DME and VORTAC.

Flight Training regrets the errors.

We welcome your comments. Please email [email protected]. Letters will be edited for style and space.