The Pilot Factor

Was I daring? – or simply doing my job?… I pondered as I waited for the hangar door to open. I accepted the trip based on our company’s SOPs and my own comfort level, knowing full well that although the ride would be rough, it would none-the-less be safe. Continue reading →

“One in four persons you meet will not get along well with you” my coworker told me one day. Really? I get along well with everybody! Mostly.. “But”, he added “I don’t know why. I just heard it and thought it was an interesting statistics”. Wait, you mean one out of four pilots I work with will cause me grief in the cockpit? Continue reading →

I’ve dreamed of it. I’ve worked all my life for it. I’ve sacrificed for it, I’ve loved it, I’ve WANTED it. And now I have it. Let me introduce myself: J.D.M,  Professional Pilot. Greek mythology tells of a young man who, like you and me, once dreamed of flying – Icarus. His dream was so … Continue reading →

I recently had the “pleasure” to complete my yearly recurrent ride. As it happens, our fleet of PC12NGs is getting a software update, which will eventually allow us to complete LPVs approaches virtually everywhere. Although we (the company) have been able and trained to conduct LNAV approaches where applicable, the introduction of VNAV/LPV technology brings … Continue reading →

How many of us are guilty of conducting a GPS-based approach for it’s convenience, without really understanding the underlying principles or knowing all the pertaining regulations? I, for one… GPS use has become so widespread and easy to acquire (even through dash-mounted modules) that you will meet very few pilots who have not used it … Continue reading →