AV Web

APRIL 8, 2025

I n 1997 the worst runway incursion in aviation history occurred in foggy weather on the island of Tenerife when a KLM 747 began a takeoff with a lost Pan American 747 on the runway. More recently, runway incursions remain in the news. The real question is how well-trained controllers and pilots can make such grievous mistakes.

Runway 52

Runway Clearance Approach Pilot 52

Plane and Pilot

NOVEMBER 9, 2024

With a tip of the hat to Stephen Covey, just what are some of the habits and characteristics that define the highly effective pilot? For the record, the one-size-fits-all, larger-than-life image that the movies and TV paint of pilots is not always accurate. As the saying goes, “A good pilot is always learning.”

Pilot 105

Pilot Flight Deck Approach Weather 105

Simple Flying

APRIL 7, 2025

A typical takeoff on an airliner looks something like this - the pilot-flying (PF) lines up their jet on a runway, and the pilot-monitoring (PM) receives clearance from the tower controller to depart. The PF advances the throttles slowly and checks the engine gauges to ensure that both motors are stable.

Clearance 108

Clearance Runway Pilot Jet 108

AV Web

MARCH 19, 2025

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has posted its Preliminary Report on the runway incursion and near-collision involving a Flexjet Challenger 350 and a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-800 at Chicago Midway Airport (KMDW). Further confusing the issue, what used to be Runway 31R is now Taxiway H, so there is no longer a Runway 31R.

Runway 80

Runway Clearance Final Approach Approach 80

Plane and Pilot

MAY 26, 2025

One of the biggest misconceptions about professional pilots is that we do everything fast. Know Your Route When at a towered field, be consistent in copying your taxi clearances. I generally know what runway Im headed to before calling for taxi, so I go ahead and write that down. Set the Brake Plans change.

Runway 72

Runway Clearance Pilot Flight Deck 72

Flight Training Central

MAY 5, 2025

Most of the issues student pilots run into are both common and easily corrected. For example, if ATC has assigned an aircraft a heading or altitude, you should expect the pilot to respond. The fix: Always read back runway assignments, hold short instructions, and clearances verbatim. The good news?

Air Traffic Control 94

Air Traffic Control Runway Clearance Pilot 94

Aerotime

NOVEMBER 22, 2024

At this point, the pilots will contact ATC for push and start clearance , allowing the plane to be pushed back from its parking position (if applicable, depending on the airport) and to start its engines in sequence. Once this message is conveyed to the pilots, they disengage the aircraft’s parking brake, hence the ‘ wobble ’.

Cabin Crew 271

Cabin Crew Runway Clearance Knot 271

Aerotime

JUNE 10, 2024

Two planes narrowly avoided a collision on a runway at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM). The incident occurred on June 8, 2024, when an IndiGo flight landed on the runway while an Air India flight was taking off. Both planes were A320neos.

Air Traffic Control 260

Air Traffic Control Pilot in Command Lift Runway 260

One Mile at a Time

OCTOBER 18, 2024

This isn’t good… air traffic controllers cleared two Southwest jets to use the same runway at the same time. Southwest 1478: “Runway 27, line up and wait, Southwest 1478.” San Diego Ground: “Southwest 785, cross runway 27 at B6, continue taxiing via C.” Southwest 1478: “Runway 27, cleared for takeoff, Southwest 1478.”

Runway 114

Runway Clearance Air Traffic Control Knot 114

AV Web

SEPTEMBER 13, 2024

The NTSB and FAA are investigating a runway incursion at Nashville International Airport on Thursday in which an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX crew rejected its takeoff at about 130 knots when a Southwest 737-700 crossed the far end of the runway it was using.

Runway 111

Runway Air Traffic Control Clearance Knot 111

Flying Magazine

JUNE 12, 2025

Having recently reviewed how to call for a clearance, I filed my first IFR flight plan, received my clearance from the VATSIM controller, and soon I was following the Logan Four departure out of the Class Bravo and on my way. I had prepped for an ILS to Runway 11 at KPWM as the wind from the METAR in-sim supported that decision.

Air Traffic Control 96

Air Traffic Control Approach Weather Descent 96

One Mile at a Time

AUGUST 27, 2024

The channel has just uploaded a video involving an interaction between an air traffic controller at New York Kennedy Airport (JFK) and an Aeromexico pilot. Pilot: “Okay, cross runway 13R on echo, and follow the heavy on charlie, Aeromexico 401.” Pilot: You said 13R, but it’s 13L, okay.” Pilot: “No, thank you very much.”

Air Traffic Control 125

Air Traffic Control Pilot Clearance Runway 125

Plane and Pilot

MARCH 25, 2025

I dont exactly fit the standard pilot profile of Game Aerospaces GB1 GameBird But theres always been something about the GameBird that has piqued my interest. Its first-class team, led by Ian Waghorn, ensures that pilots leave the training program feeling confident, competent, and safe in their new or new-to-them GameBird.

Knot 111

Knot Airplanes Runway Rudder 111

One Mile at a Time

MARCH 21, 2025

A Southwest Airlines jet attempted to take off from a taxiway yesterday, somehow mistaking it for a runway in broad daylight. At Orlando Airport, Southwest departs from airside 2, and the plane was supposed to take off from runway 17R, a very short distance away. The taxiway runs parallel to the runway.

Air Traffic Control 78

Air Traffic Control Runway Knot Pilot 78

One Mile at a Time

JUNE 4, 2025

The pilots seemingly made great time, and the plane began its approach to runway 8R in Munich. The landing gear was dropped in preparation for landing only for the pilots to discontinue their approach. To give you a sense of how close this was, below is the aircrafts position at 12:30AM, also when it was at its lowest altitude.

Approach 108

Approach Final Approach Clearance Jet 108

AV Web

MAY 6, 2025

Most approaches, even non-GPS approaches, have a waypoint placed exactly at the threshold of the runway. In addition to required visibility, the runway environment must be distinctly visible and identifiable. I think I have the runway lights in sight, is not good enough. And what exactly is the runway environment anyway?

Runway 94

Runway Approach Threshold True Airspeed 94

Fear of Landing

DECEMBER 13, 2024

The airport has a single north-south asphalt runway (01/19) of 2,515 metres (8,250 feet). The runway elevation is 646 feet above mean sea level. One pilot was killed in the crash, the other three suffered serious injuries. QNH one zero two zero, ILS approach runway one nine, information Uniform.

Runway 104

Runway Approach UTC Knot 104

Fear of Landing

NOVEMBER 29, 2024

Clear weather, everything as usual, and the airfield quiet – just ourselves following a BA 747 to the runway. The controller anticipated a late landing clearance due to this aircraft in front. Experienced co-pilot Tony Heald was flying. ‘We Jumbo on the runway, be down in a few minutes.” He was not completely wrong.

Runway 104

Runway Air Traffic Control Approach Weather 104

Pilot Institute

FEBRUARY 15, 2025

Area Navigation (RNAV) is a way for pilots to know where they’re going without needing help from the ground. Before RNAV, pilots had to rely on radios (NAVAIDs) and antennas on the ground such as VORs (Very High-Frequency Omnidirectional Range) and NDBs (Non-Directional Beacons). What Are RNAV Approaches? How Does RNAV Work?

Approach 52

Approach Pilot Descent Airplanes 52

Flying Magazine

MAY 30, 2025

For VFR pilots beginning instrument training, the cockpit gets crowded fast. You likely became introduced to an EFB as a student pilot and probably use one for basic flight planning tasks as a VFR pilot, but using one in instrument flight is different. A typical IFR flight might begin with a clearance to copy prior to takeoff.

Pilot 106

Pilot NOTAMs Clearance Approach 106

One Mile at a Time

OCTOBER 9, 2024

The clip doesn’t fully pick up the communications from the pilots, since the radio receiver can’t pick up transmissions from too far away. Basically, there’s one pilot, flying the aircraft with the registration code N234WL, that’s clearly giving the air traffic controller a hard time. You can watch the video for yourself below.

Air Traffic Control 122

Air Traffic Control Pilot Clearance General Aviation 122

Pilot Institute

JUNE 12, 2025

When pilots talk about engaging reverse thrust, they don’t mean spinning the engines or propellers the opposite way. If the runway is contaminated with water, ice, or oil, the wheel may simply skid over the surface instead of gripping it. The extra stopping power is useful for landing on short runways and in adverse conditions.

Thrust 52

Thrust Blade Angle Runway Pilot 52

Plane and Pilot

FEBRUARY 28, 2025

These tools help the pilots deal with this busy section of the flight replete with numerous checklists, changing clearances, and traffic. We have some of the same checklists, clearances, and traffic, and we have one less pilot to get them all done. Back down here is GA land, we have many of the same concerns. It depends.

Descent 56

Descent Approach Final Approach Wind Shear 56

One Mile at a Time

MAY 30, 2025

There was an uncomfortably close call at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) a couple of weeks ago, as two jets departing on parallel runways ended up dangerously close to one another on their climb out. Fortunately the SkyWest pilots received a traffic alert, and they ended up turning to avoid a collision.

Jet 86

Jet Air Traffic Control Clearance Runway 86

Air Facts

APRIL 28, 2025

Wayne and I had flown in combat together in Vietnam during the summer of 1967 as F105 Thunderchief strike pilots. We made a nice two ship formation landing on runway 8L and were directed to taxi to Deltas (TOC) ramp which is located mid-field. Vic is also a Vietnam vet, and we fly a lot of formation together.

Clearance 78

Clearance Air Traffic Control Runway Hangar 78

iPad Pilot News

MARCH 11, 2025

Heads-up, hands-free: How to use iPad audio alerts for safer flights iPad Pilot News The iPad is an engaging visual tool, but many pilots forget about its many audio uses. These alerts include runway proximity, traffic, cabin altitude, destination weather, terrain, airspace and TFRs, carbon monoxide and more.

AGL 52

AGL Runway Groundspeed Descent 52

One Mile at a Time

JULY 29, 2024

So the pilot of the first Delta jet advised air traffic control they’d need a minute to crunch the numbers on takeoff performance: Delta 1304 pilot: “Right now, for Delta 1304, we got four knots too much on the tailwind. Delta 2046 pilot: “We can get in there, Delta 2046.” We’re just running the numbers, so stand by.”

Air Traffic Control 120

Air Traffic Control Clearance Runway Jet 120

One Mile at a Time

JULY 20, 2024

Around 2hr50min after departure, the plane was on approach to runway 10 at Tampa Airport. As the plane was coming in over Tampa Bay, while around four miles from the runway, it descended as low as 150 feet, according to ADS-B data. Worst of all, the pilots didn’t even seem to realize what was going on.

Air Traffic Control 141

Air Traffic Control Altimeter Weather Runway 141

Flight Training Central

SEPTEMBER 18, 2024

From Sporty’s VFR Communications online course Flying to and from an airport in Class D airspace is one of the more common communication scenarios a pilot will encounter. This means you need to contact the tower on the appropriate frequency and receive clearance to enter. This helps prevent miscommunication.

Clearance 97

Clearance Runway Weather Approach 97

Flight Training Central

MAY 28, 2024

The numbers 4 and 22 on the approach ends of the runway indicate that the runway is orientated approximately 004° and 022° true. If the wind is as shown by the landing direction indicator, the pilot should land on Runway 9 and expect a crosswind from the right. Runway 31 directly into the wind. Pilot in command.

Crosswind 98

Crosswind Runway Clearance Air Traffic Control 98

One Mile at a Time

MARCH 28, 2025

Air traffic controllers in New York have the reputation for sometimes having a bit of an attitude with pilots, and losing their cool. So heres an interesting interaction, where the opposite is true the pilot loses his cool, while the air traffic controller keeps his calm. That being said, was the pilots frustration justified?

Air Traffic Control 80

Air Traffic Control Pilot Runway Clearance 80

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 29, 2024

I filed IFR , mostly so that I could get the altitude I wanted without having to worry about cloud clearances, and so if some little squirt cumulus popped up, I could blast through it or just nick the side of it. Kentland has a 4,000-foot runway, east/west, with a crosswind straight out of the north. What the…? No complaints.

Weather 82

Weather Runway Knot Rudder 82

Flying Magazine

MAY 13, 2024

It has long been said that the private pilot certificate is a “license to learn” as it is the foundation of a person’s flying career. Subscribe Now Featured I am not a DPE, but for several years I have been a check pilot providing mock check rides for applicants at the request of their CFIs.

Pilot 116

Pilot Knot Annual Inspection VOR 116

Flight Training Central

FEBRUARY 23, 2024

For an instrument pilot, though, there is one key difference between a smaller, non-towered airport and a larger one with an air traffic control tower: obtaining an IFR clearance. Call for your IFR clearance, including route, altitude, and transponder code. Here are three ways to get a clearance at a non-towered airport.

Clearance 52

Clearance Air Traffic Control Airplanes Transponder 52

Air Facts

MAY 7, 2025

One of the companies that had acquired surplus Beech 18s had secured a long term contract to carry auto parts from Oshawa to Detroit for General Motors and almost every night around 9 pm, one of those flights would head west full of parts and usually with only the one pilot on board. Such it was in those days.

Weight-Shift-Control 52

Weight-Shift-Control VOR Runway Distance Measuring Equipment 52

Air Facts

DECEMBER 18, 2024

In those years, I never missed a trip as a commuter, never scratched the paint on one of our airplanes, never got an FAA violation, never injured a passenger, and never had a less than cordial conversation with the chief pilot. After my rude dismissal from United, I fell into the most beautiful retirement job an old pilot could ever find.

Clearance 96

Clearance Airplanes Annual Inspection Pilot 96

Pilot's Life Blog

JANUARY 5, 2025

One of the most reliable aircraft for training is the Piper Seminole, a twin-engine plane that offers hands-on experience for future pilots. Section 1: Getting to Know the Piper Seminole The Piper Seminole is a versatile twin-engine aircraft frequently used for flight training, particularly for pilots advancing to multi-engine ratings.

Descent 52

Descent Final Approach Approach Runway 52