by Dave Weiman
When fuel prices hit an all-time high in recent years, pilots were flying less, which resulted in reduced fuel sales, aircraft maintenance, aircraft sales, flight training, and airport operations, and the $100.00 hamburger quickly became the $200.00 hamburger. Pilot proficiency suffered as well with pilots thinking more about flying than actually flying, or dropping out of aviation altogether. The lower fuel prices we have been experiencing this winter have already spurred an increase in flight hours, and the industry remains hopeful this trend will continue.
To help you as you fly more often, our contributing editorial staff has put together a series of articles in this issue that will help you fly safer and legal:
CFII Harold Green discusses what it takes to stay current in his “Flight Training” column (page 10).
Attorney Greg Reigel discusses the requirements, benefits and responsibilities of acting as a “safety pilot” in his “Aviation Law – On Your Side” column (page 12).
CFII Mick Kaufman discusses the importance of being proficient at flying approaches outside the approach control radar environment, and why we need to respect icing conditions in his “Instrument Flight” column (page 17).
Continuing the discussion of dealing with icing conditions, guest columnist and CFII Greg Gorak shares some firsthand experiences, and why we should avoid icing conditions, even in aircraft certified for flight into known icing (page 20).
Concerning the possibility that the Federal Aviation Administration will some day eliminate the third class medical, Dr. John Beasley editorializes in his “High On Health” column on why eliminating the third class medical might actually increase safety (page 24).
These topics, and so much more, in this issue of Midwest Flyer Magazine.
