Coms

Moving target

Renaming a runway

First of all, I love the magazine. A must-read for all pilots new or old.

Reading the December 2017 edition, I had to chuckle a bit as I noticed two related articles. First was “Back to the Beginning” and First Flight Airport. Next was “Old Reliable” and the sidebar “Wandering Poles.” The second article was a very good explanation of the magnetic compass and possible variations in its use, including how poles wander, making runway marking changes needed. Now comes runway markings at First Flight Airport. The article states to use Runway 2/20. Well, we too have wandered, and recently our runway has been remarked 3/21. Just thought it was a hoot that mistake was made while talking about the process of compass readings.

Again, great magazine, continue the great work.

R.J. Mills
Nags Head, North Carolina

I am having issues with the December 2017 “Ace” questions and answers in “Final Exam.”

Question 6 and its answer strike me as a trick question, something I try to avoid in my instruction techniques. The definition of land in the verb form is synonymous with touchdown. You cannot touch down on the displaced threshold. Yes, you can roll out on it, but that is separate from the touchdown.

Question 10 says the correct answer is A.—another trick question in my opinion. The Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge states that icing usually occurs up to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. It also says that it can also occur at temperatures up to 38 degrees Celsius at high humidity. Neither of these are in the answer choices.

I am sure Barry Schiff would agree that trick questions are not the best teaching tool for our pilot community.

Gordon Young
Farmington, New York

Barry Schiff responds: Question 6 is not a trick question at all. To clarify the answer using different verbiage: You may not land (or touch down) on the displaced threshold when at the approach end of the runway in use. You may, however, roll out onto the displaced threshold when at the departure end of the runway in use. As far as Question 10 is concerned, this is a result of a contradiction published by the FAA. Although the Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge says that the maximum ambient temperature at which carburetor icing can occur is 38 degrees C, their magazine, FAA Aviation News (now FAA Safety Briefing), says that it is 107 degrees F (41.7 degrees C), and this was the source of the data I used in my question. Believe me, though, it is not my intent to use trick questions or answers.

In “Approach to Olympia” (January 2018 Flight Training) the writer states “If the airport is 29.89 and you use 30.89, you’ll be 200 feet lower than you should be.” Actually, a one-inch error on your altimeter setting equates to about 1,000 feet. Perhaps this was a typo on your numbers.

Gene Mussler
Mountain Home, Idaho

ERRATUM

Flight Training’s December 2017 College Aviation Directory omitted the aviation program of Polk State College in Lakeland, Florida (www.polk.edu/aerospace). Polk State is a UAA member college that offers bachelor’s and associate’s degrees. Flight Training regrets the error.

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