Air Facts

APRIL 14, 2025

This idea came from the airline industry, perhaps in the 1990s, with the well-intentioned goal of reducing airliner accidents. However, the text of the SAIB justifies its recommendations by citing transport category aircraft events, such as American Airlines flight 965 and Northwest Airlines 6231.

Final Approach 90

Final Approach General Aviation Approach Wind Shear 90

Plane and Pilot

FEBRUARY 28, 2025

In the airline world, descent planning and execution receives a lot of attention. To cope with these challenges, airline glass flight decks contain a vertical navigation function (VNAV) that keeps the autopilot, and the crew, on the right path to arrive at the final approach fix, or downwind leg, at speed and on altitude.

Descent 54

Descent Approach Final Approach Wind Shear 54

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 11, 2024

In 2022, I jumped to one of the legacy airlines. I quickly realized that despite being the lowest-paying airframe at the airline, it had more than a few redeeming qualities: You can’t do red-eye flights in a short-haul airliner. The others were an abort, a V1 cut, or wind shear.

Wind Shear 94

Wind Shear Flight Deck Pilot Airplanes 94