It was about 1981 or ’82, and I had owned my 1964 Mooney for a couple of years. Keen for any excuse to fly, I volunteered to pick up a couple of workmates at Norfolk International Airport (ORF) and ferry them back for a business meeting in Richmond.
Over the past couple years, there have been several high-profile midair collisions. An airshow accident in Dallas, a traffic pattern crash in Denver, a collision in Arizona, and a Blackhawk and CRJ collision in Washington, D.C., among others. While the average number of these accidents per year hasn’t gone up despite how it may seem, this heightened awareness of midairs is an opportunity to examine how we can avoid them.
Every year, thousands of pilots face a hazard they usually never saw coming: a bird that decided to occupy the same airspace as they did. The consequence of such an impromptu and unintentional meeting in the air can range from a minor inconvenience all the way to a life-threatening emergency.
Whether you're contemplating a first attempt at the Fisk Arrival or only the latest of many flights to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh in July, there's no time like the present to begin preparing for the busiest airspace in the world.
A Cessna T207 Turbo Stationair was destroyed April 28 attempting to land at Nanwalek Airport in Alaska, and the NTSB preliminary report includes details that point to loss of control during a go-around attempt.
A Beechcraft Travel Air never climbed more than 300 feet above the ground after departing Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport in Colorado on May 17, crashing just over a mile from the runway after reporting an open door during takeoff.
The AOPA Foundation is awarding $2.2 million in scholarships—the largest amount in the foundation’s history—to nearly 400 recipients out of more than 6,800 who applied.
The FAA's yearlong series of public meetings seeking input in the modernization of professional flight training continues in June, with a two-day session planned at Bridgewater State University in Massachusetts.
The April 24 accident that killed Rob Holland, the most accomplished U.S. aerobatic pilot of his generation, likely began with a loose screw, based on facts reported by the NTSB on May 2.
In last month’s edition of AOPA Pilot, I highlighted the sobering reminders of our aviation realities and the three highly publicized commercial, military, and general aviation fatal accidents that occurred near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), Philadelphia, and Nome, Alaska (see “Stay the Course,” April 2025 AOPA Pilot). Since then, our country has experienced several more high-profile aviation accidents, further eroding the nonflying public’s confidence in our aviation system.
In “The Spirit of the Maneuver” (February 2025 AOPA Pilot), I lamented hearing from many practical exam candidates that a chandelle would be a go-to maneuver when the pilot needs to reverse course in a confined area.
The ADS-B mandate was made effective in 2020, and AOPA supported it because we were assured that Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast out tracking data would only be used to improve air traffic safety and airspace efficiencies, with benefits such as subscription-free traffic and weather. Well, from the calls and emails I am receiving, that’s not entirely the case.
After running through the preflight checklist, I pulled the Cessna 182 onto the ramp, climbed into the left seat, and sighed. For some reason I felt rushed that morning.
Your aircraft is not a bloodhound: Its nose often doesn’t point in the direction of flight—which is super important when it comes to understanding relative wind, a component of stall theory.
Defensive drivers always keep an eye on the road ahead. We anticipate the actions of other drivers, and changing road conditions, adjusting our speed and course to steer clear of trouble. In much the same way, defensive flying helps us anticipate and avoid dangerous situations in the air.
A continuous stream of stories about aircraft accidents and incidents has been dominating the news and social media. But if you look past the headlines and viral videos, what many nonaviators don’t realize—and what many in the general aviation community may forget—is that GA is still safer than ever.
In aviation, you can know something for decades before—one day—you suddenly “get it.” That happened to me recently with constant-speed propellers, which are variable-pitch props that can be controlled by the pilot.
A HondaJet HA–420 overran an Oregon coast runway and came to rest partially submerged in Coos Bay on April 7, followed by another into the grass in Florida on April 9—the latest of more than two dozen similar incidents. The owners group seeks to arrest that trend with pilot training.
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Get instant access to Flight Training's special issue titled You Can Fly: Your Path to Become a Pilot. This beginning pilots' resource guide explains what you can expect from your introductory flight through initial training—and how to turn your dream of flying into reality. Simply enter your name and email address.