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Welcome to FatBoyz Aviation. This web site created and maintained by
Thad Phillips. Updated All content, logos, pictures and videos are the property of FatBoyz Aviation.
Copyright 2003 - 2006 |
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East Tennessee’s best source for regional General Aviation news, trip
reports and resources Newsletters Photo Gallery GuestBook
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A complete index to
columns of Buz Witherington By Buz
Witherington, CFII Stump the Buz There Got a question for Buz? So do several other fellow FatBoyz. It all started when Scott Peters sent a
question about flying that he thought Buz could not answer. Buz responded and arrogantly asked him
some obscure, esoteric question. Scott proceeded to send his answer (along
with a cc to others).....and the rest is history. Each week, several questions / answers /
opinions get emailed back and forth.
Go There Now... A Tale of Two Departures “It was the best of
times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of
foolishness…….” Right out of Charles
Dickens’ Tale of Two Cities, there we stood on the tarmac of the airport at
Pueblo, Colorado, in light blowing snow, temperature 34o F., ceiling at 1700
overcast and dropping, airplanes loaded with fuel, bags, and family. We
looked at each other and searched for the strength of a decision. Why Two Fans The good Lord saw fit to
place a breast on either side of a woman’s chest instead of a single large
one centrally positioned. And every
one knows that airplanes and ships are feminine. So, airplanes should have
two engines. Advanced Flight Planning 201 If you have your Private
Pilot’s License, then you have taken and passed the Basic Flight Planning 101
course with a local Designated Pilot Examiner near you. Congratulations. Now, let’s talk about the
real world. Island Time, A Fact Finding Trip to the Out Islands Mary and I
have sailed extensively in the Florida Keys back in an earlier life. And, we made the trip to the Bimini Islands
on a couple of occasions. So we knew
that the water of the Bahamas was shallow, warm, and of the most wonderful
pastel colors. The sand was like
powdered sugar, the reefs were filled with stunningly beautiful tropical fish
and succulent lobster, and the sound the sea breeze made in the pines would
put you right into what they call “Island Time.” Approach ABCs There must be a zillion
checklists in aviation. They include
GUMP, CHADS, CRAFTT, 5 T’s. I was not
exposed to a good Instrument Approach Checklist until I tried to teach IFR to
a couple of friends of mine. Aviation Speak -
Part 4
Clearance would say,
“Baron 62PK is cleared to Crossville as filed. Fly heading 080. Maintain 3000, expect 6000 in 10
minutes. Departure frequency is
123.9. Squawk 5144.” Your abbreviated read back of your
clearance would be, “62PK, Crossville as filed, 080, 3000, 6000 in 10, 123.9,
5144.” You will be rewarded with,
“62PK read back is correct. Contact
Ground for taxi.” To which you
respond, “Papa Kilo. Good day.” Aviation Speak -
Part 3
A detailed analysis of
how to communicate with the Air Traffic Control System that encompasses
everything from Clearance Delivery to En Route Traffic Control Center. Aviation Speak -
Part 2
When the
airport is busy with three 172’s doing touch and go landings on runway 8, the
sheriff’s helicopter repositioning to the north sod, a glider on base for
landing in the grass, and a King Air at the outer marker for 26, I cringe
when I hear, “ Downtown Island traffic, this is Skyhawk 649TC. I am about 8.76 nautical miles to the
north-northwest on a heading of 140. I
am at somewhere around 3760 feet descending to pattern altitude of 1800 feet
and will maneuver to make a 45-degree entry into the downwind for runway
8. All traffic please advise, Downtown
Island traffic on 126.6. Skyhawk
649TC.” Aviation Speak -
Part 1
The FAA has
very little to say about how to use the airplane communication radio. The AIM covers some aspects and the Pilot
and Controller Glossary has a long list of definitions, but most advances in
fluency come from pilots, CFI’s, controllers, briefers and other experienced
users. This personal yet professional opinion on aviation radio etiquette and
usage comes from experiences as a pilot, a CFI, a traveler, a student of the
human language, and a long-term ham radio operator. The Colorado Interlude When the
thought of a long distance flight initially surfaces in a pilot’s mind, most
often the response is: “I can’t do
that. It’s too far.” At least for me, after I got my license, I
had a bit of trouble thinking past CSV or GCY. I learned to think of a long trip as a
series of short trips. Each segment
was an adventure in itself because the terrain, destination, fuel requirement
and availability, and possible lodging were all different from any other
segment. He Taught Me How to Fly I never saw John
excited. Perhaps it would be fairer to
say that on the surface, he did not appear excited even when I pulled some
stupid boner that came close to bending metal. His calm voice echoed, “Buz, you might want
to consider putting the landing gear down a little earlier next time.” And then he would end with that low
chuckle, “Heh, heh.” Push to Talk Syndrome A friend
who shall remain anonymous except that he is an OB/Gyn doc and goes by the
moniker of “Pretty Boy,” was in the early portion of his flight training
where he was to encounter the dreaded ATC.
As he stared straight ahead, I noticed his brow furl with
concentration as he found the time and courage to push the transmit
button. Out came his
transmission: “Good Morning, Knoxville
Approach!” And nothing else. Aviation Lessons Learned I’m sure that I read
about it in one of the magazines or newsletters that I was receiving at the
time, and I thought it was a great idea.
Now that I am several years down the road of flying experience, I look
back at those lessons with a smile and a nodding head. The Keys Sojourn Nowadays,
in the Baron, we can be there in less than four hours. We can once again mix the odors of salt
water, Mangrove swamps, and sun tan lotion.
To us, the Keys are laid back America with great food and reasonable
expenses. Rational Strategy for Flight Near Icing Conditions If you use an airplane
enough, you will encounter the decision-making strategy for flight near
conditions that might result in airframe icing. It is a simple fact of life
that if you fly often enough, and you fly in the winter months, you will
encounter some situation whereby you will need to decide how to plan your
flight near conditions that might produce ice. Of course, that decision may
include not going at all. The Dreaded Northeast Corridor - Episode 2 Ground told me to follow
the Cessna Skylane out of the FBO to runway 24 by way of Alpha and Golf, hold
short of taxiway Juliet. I had the airport diagram on my lap properly
oriented, but I didn’t need it because here comes the Skylane right in front
of me. As I power up to turn in behind him, he suddenly stops and I hear him
call Ground. He explains to Ground that there is a danged King Air parked in
the taxiway of the FBO blocking our exit. The Dreaded Northeast Corridor - Episode 1 Flying into and out of
Teterboro, NJ (TEB) presents many challenges to a general aviation pilot
flying a normally aspirated airplane. Even with the addition of a second
engine, weather radar, known ice certification, GPS with moving map, three
axis autopilot with altitude pre-select, and TCAS the trip can still be a
real challenge. LIFR to Grandma’s House Thanksgiving at Grandma’s
house is important to us because Grandma will be 90 years old very soon. She doesn’t get to travel any more, so if
she gets to see her family, they must come to her. |
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FatBoyz Aviation P.O. Box 51621 Knoxville, TN 37950 |