Coms

Letters

Missed Opportunity

What? I can only imagine how confusing this would be to a new IFR student. A VOR can’t have a glideslope and it’s not in the name. In aviation when you stop learning, it’s time to stop flying.

Philip Allen
Seattle, Washington

Ed: What’s confusing is the name. The instrument we’re referring to that contains the omni-bearing selector and course deviation indicator, used to indicate VOR and ILS courses, is sometimes called a VOR navigator, VOR head, navigator head, or omni-bearing selector. VORs don’t have a glideslope, but the VOR navigator does.

This is Heaven

I am a student pilot and have lived in western Washington my whole life. I loved your article on Friday Harbor—it truly hit home for me, as I’ve traveled to the island many times in my life and many of my earliest memories were formed there. However, your article left much unsaid.

For example, just a short taxi or bus ride away is a national historic site, American Camp, where the United States almost went to war with Britain over a pig! The interpretive center is really amazing. Also, you didn’t at all mention Roche Harbor, WA09, on the other side of the island. It may be a private airfield, but it is open to the flying public and situated right above the historic resort. Furthermore, San Juan Island is one of the best places to see the endangered southern resident orca whales—from either airfield you are a short walk away from whale watching.

Joelle Erickson
Mercer Island, Washington

Ed: Please see the full story on the San Juan Islands in AOPA Pilot (“Destinations: Island Hopping,” March 2019).

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