Aviation Blog
About Our Blog
This blog is written by retired Designated Pilot Examiner and long time CFI Alan Malone. Alan has written over 350 essays and many are available on LaAviator.com. If you haven't read them all, this would be a good time to go to the archives, pick some titles that look interesting to you and read them. Our old website had access to all of them but when I had to build a new site I only listed links to those published back through 2017. The rest will be coming and are still out there in cyberland. If there is one that isn’t there yet that you want to read, just shoot me an email and I will send you the link to read it.
If you would like to contact Alan Malone to thank him and comment on his essays he can be reached at alanm1@cox.net.them and will learn something beneficial as well.
Alan's Novel
Alan has also graciously agreed to share his novel… The Quotidian Time Traveler….. with us. Here are the links to all of the chapters:
To read Chapter 1 just click HERE.
To read Chapter 2 just click HERE
To read Chapter 3 just click HERE
To read Chapter 4 just click HERE
To read Chapter 5 just click HERE
To read Chapter 6 just click HERE
To read Chapter 7 just click HERE
To read Chapter 8, Part 1 click HERE
To read Chapter 8, Part 2 click HERE
To read Chapter 8, Part 3 click HERE
To read Chapter 9 click HERE
To read Chapter 10 click HERE
To read Chapter 11 click HERE
To read Chapter 12 click HERE
To read Chapter 13 click HERE
To read Chapter 14 click HERE
To read Chapter 15 click HERE
To read Chapter 16 click HERE
To read Chapter 17 click HERE
To read Chapters 18 & 19 click HERE
To read Chapters 20 & 21 click HERE
To read Chapter 22 click HERE
To read Chapter 23 click HERE
To read Chapters 24, 25 & 26 click HERE
To read Chapter 27 click HERE
To read Chapters 28 & 29 click HERE
To read Chapters 30 & 31 click HERE
To read Chapter 32 click HERE
To read Chapter 33 click HERE
To read Chapters 34 & 35 click HERE
To read Chapter 36 click HERE
To read Chapter 37 click HERE
To read Chapter 38 & 39 click HERE
To read Chapter 40 & 41 click HERE
To read Chapter 42 click HERE
To read Chapter 43 & 44 click HERE
To read Chapter 45 & 46 click HERE
To read Chapter 47 click HERE
To read Chapter 48 click HERE
To read Chapter 49 & 50 click HERE
To read Chapter 51 & 52 click HERE
To read Chapter 53 & 54 click HERE
To read Chapter 55 & 56 click HERE
To read Chapter 57 click HERE
To read Chapter 58 & 59 click HERE
To read Chapter 60 & 61 click HERE
To read Chapter 62 click HERE
To read Chapter 63 click HERE
To read Chapter 64, 65 & 66 click HERE
To read Chapter 67 & 68 click HERE
To read Chapter 69 & 70 click HERE
To read Chapter 71 & 72 click HERE
To read Chapter 73 & 74 click HERE
I hope you enjoy it.
Let’s Go Bowling
Alan continues discussing his very rough year…. and a few miscellaneous subjects. He calls this one Let’s Go Bowling (Essay #623).
To read the essay click….HERE
Good-bye To A Good Friend
Alan reflects on his friendship with long time fellow DPE Sammy Whatley. This week’s essay is called Good-bye To A Good Friend (Essay #622).
To read the essay click…. HERE
On Not Letting the Perfect Be the Enemy of the Good Enough
Alan has a family member that is planning to learn how to fly. Alan talks about how he might be able to help and what he needs to avoid that might be detrimental to that effort. He calls this one On Not Letting the Perfect Be the Enemy of the Good Enough (Essay #621).
To read the essay click….HERE
What’s Fun?
We’ve all heard the words, “Have fun!”, when we’re leaving to pursue something enjoyable. Those two simple words can mean so many things to different people. Alan shares his thoughts on what those words mean to him and others in this week’s essay - What’s Fun? (Essay #619).
To read the essay click….HERE.
A Horrible Year in the Life of Alan Malone
This year has not been good to Alan and he definitely wants an opportunity to vent. So do him a favor and read this week’s essay, A Horrible Year in the Life of Alan Malone (Essay #618).
To read the essay click….HERE.
The Accidental Essayist
Alan talks about the several interesting careers that he has enjoyed over the years…. that have led to him writing essays for us. I’m so glad that it has. It’s called The Accidental Essayist (Essay #617).
To read the essay click….HERE.
Gone With the Wind
This week Alan writes about something that those of us that live in South Louisiana are unfortunately way too familiar with….. running from hurricanes. He calls it Gone With the Wind (Essay #616).
To read the essay click….HERE.
The Joy of Tracking
In this week’s essay, Alan is giving you some valuable teaching on one of the very basic and necessary instrument piloting skills. Does the phrase “magic number” mean anything to you? Anyway, he calls this one The Joy of Tracking (Essay #624).
I Used to Know What Infinity Was, But Then I Got Hung Up in Limitation and I Forgot
Suppose you’re taking off on a runway that is infinitely long. Well, we know that isn’t really possible and what does that have to do with anything? You’ll have to read this week’s essay to find out. It’s called I Used to Know What Infinity Was, But Then I Got Hung Up in Limitation and I Forgot (Essay #615)
To read the essay click…. HERE.
Getting Current
Alan talks about flying the Big Engine Luscombe with his friend Emmet Bartholomew after a long break from the cockpit. He calls this week’s essay…. Getting Current (Essay #614).
To read the essay click….HERE.
On Flying to California
Do you consider a single-engine, four-seater aircraft with horsepower in the mid-100s to be a perfectly respectable traveling machine? You can see how Alan would answer that question by reading this week’s essay…. On Flying to California (Essay #613)
To read the essay click HERE.
I Think I Can Teach ALMOST Anyone to Fly
I’m sure that I can’t be taught how to pole vault…. and a lot of other things as well. How about flying? Can everyone be taught how to fly? Alan talks about the subject in this week’s essay….. I Think I Can Teach ALMOST Anyone to Fly (Essay #612)
To read the essay click….HERE.
The Good Old Days
Regardless of the subject of a conversation, usually someone will get around to talking about “the good old days”. When it comes to aviation, were they really that good? Alan gives his view of that in this week’s essay….. The Good Old Days (Essay #611).
To read the essay click…. HERE.
Adventures Behind Round Engines
Hopefully you’ve been fortunate enough to be around some airplanes with a round engine (see what I did there). Even better, you've actually flown behind some of those wonderful powerplants. Alan’s going to tell you all about them in this week’s essay…. Adventures Behind Round Engines (Essay #610)
To read the essay click….HERE.
Busy In A Beaver
We went on a tour of the Canadian Rockies back in June and took a flight in an Otter floatplane with a turbine conversion. It was wonderful. Then when we were in Oshkosh last week we saw a Beaver floatplane that was powered by an electric motor. Then I read Alan’s essay for this week and he rode in a Beaver floatplane powered by the original Pratt and Whitney radial engine. I think Alan had the best experience. The essay is called Busy In A Beaver (Essay #609) and you can read it by clicking HERE
On Getting Briefed
At one time you got briefed for a flight by going to a building and talking to a real live human being. Now you just pick up your smartphone or iPad. How will you get briefed in the future? Alan talks about this in this week’s essay….. On Getting Briefed (Essay #608).
To read the essay click…. HERE.
Out of Practice
The FAA has some rules that you have to follow to officially be “Current” to exercise the privileges of your airman certificate. If you haven’t flown for a while, is meeting those rules good enough to competently fly in your aircraft? Alan gives us his thoughts in….. Out of Practice (Essay #607).
To read the essay click….HERE.
All Take Offs Are Voluntary, All Landings Are Mandatory
The fact is that there is some amount of risk every time we climb into an airplane. Alan talks about how to manage that risk in today’s essay…. All Take Offs Are Voluntary, All Landings Are Mandatory (Essay # 606). To read the essay click…. HERE.
Sergeant GUMPS Can Help You Remember
“There are those that have and those that will.” With that statement as a hint I’m guessing that you now know exactly what this week’s essay is all about. You can confirm that by reading it. It’s called Sergeant GUMPS Can Help You Remember (Essay #605).
To read the essay click…. HERE
What Really Happens Out There?
What is the decision that keeps a Flight Instructor awake at night? Alan tells us what he thinks it is in this week’s essay….. What Really Happens Out There? (#604).
To read the essay click….HERE.
Should I Should or Should I Shouldn’t?
As you would expect, Alan has been approached by a lot of folks over the years to help them accomplish their aviation dreams. What should he do if he thinks their dream is more like a nightmare? Alan talks about that in this week’s essay….. Should I Should or Should I Shouldn’t? (Essay #603).
To read the essay click….HERE.
Dealing With the Unexpected
Flight training has to prepare you to automatically handle every emergency. Alan tells us his approach for doing just that in Dealing With the Unexpected (Essay #602).
To read the essay click….HERE
My Best Man
Alan shares the story of his lifelong friendship with Harry Shannon, an aircraft mechanic from Houma that now lives in Florida and maintains Lake Amphibians. Harry recently visited Louisiana and I fortunately got to meet him for a few minutes at the Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Monroe. It is a fascinating story that I thoroughly enjoyed and I think you will enjoy it, too. It’s called My Best Man (Essay #601).
To read the essay click…. HERE
Back in the Saddle Again
I’m very glad to be sharing one of Alan’s essays again. He’s been through a very serious series of medical issues but is now healing and improving every day. So, I want to be the first to welcome our Staff Writer back to the word processor. He tells us all of the details of his medical episode in this week’s essay…. Back In The Saddle Again (Essay #600).
To read the essay click….HERE
Ability Authority Integrity
I plan to occasionally publish aviation essays written by guest authors. I found a Blog post from the organizer of the Gulf South Aviation Maintenance Seminar, Jeffery Howard, that I think you will enjoy. It's called Ability Authority Integrity. To read it click HERE.
Glider Wave Flying 2024 in Marion, NC.
Glider pilot Glenn Mcgovern has written another essay for us about soaring. This one is called Glider Wave Flying 2024 in Marion, NC. To read it click HERE.
A Logbook Review
A Pilot’s Logbooks can tell a lot about a pilot’s flying career. Alan analyzes what his are telling him about his many hours of flight time. This week’s essay is called A Logbook Review (Essay #527).
To read the essay click….HERE
On Retirement
Alan has had a variety of careers in his life and in this week’s essay he explains why he made the decision to retire from all of them but the current one. It’s called On Retirement (Essay #526).
To read the essay click….HERE
The Instrument Syllabus
If you are a student training to receive your Instrument Rating or a CFI training Instrument students, then you need to read Alan’s essay this week. It’s called The Instrument Syllabus (Essay #525).
To read the essay click….HERE
Worst Case Scenario
It’s never a good thing to lose power in an airplane when you’re low and slow. Alan talks about that in this week’s essay, the Worst Case Scenario (Essay # 524).
To read the essay click…. HERE.
Fit To Fly? Says Who?
Flying an airplane can be very challenging at times and you have to be performing at your best to do it. In most cases, you are the one making the decision about whether you are fit to fly. Are you being honest with yourself when you make that decision? Alan writes about that in this week’s essay…. Fit To Fly? Says Who? (Essay #523)
To read the essay click….HERE.
Alternates
The FAA rule says you have to carry enough fuel to fly to your point of first intended landing, then fly from there to your alternate and then have an additional forty-five minutes of fuel, predicated on normal fuel consumption at cruise speed. Alan talks about whether that is a good enough in Alternates (Essay #522).
To read the essay click…. HERE
In-Groups and Out-Groups
Alan gives us a chance to enjoy one of his older essays again. It discusses that even though we are all aviators, we are divided into groups and it would probably be better if we all talked more. It’s called In-Groups and Out-Groups (Essay #521).
To read the essay click….HERE.
The Key to the Operation
When you go flying there are a lot of keys that you need to know about….. and I’m not talking about the keys for the ignition switch. Alan talks about several other keys in this week’s essay…. The Key to the Operation (Essay #520)
To read the essay click…. HERE.
Happy Surprises and Anxious Anticipations
Alan talks about his several “solos” and why being surprised for them is better than knowing that they are coming. This week’s essay is Happy Surprises and Anxious Anticipations (Essay #519)
To read the essay click….HERE
The Most Important Skill
Alan has some questions for you this week. What’s the most important thing you’ve ever learned about flying? And, for any instructors out there, what do you consider the most important things you have to teach your students?
He gives you his answers in this week’s essay…. The Most Important Skill (Essay #518).
To read the essay click….HERE
Where Do You Want Dese Wings, Lady?
Alan finally settles the perennial debate that has been going on since airplanes have been invented….. Is it better for the wings to be on the top or the bottom? Well, at least he discusses it in this week’s essay…. Where Do You Want Dese Wings, Lady? (Essay #517)
To read the essay click….HERE.
Some Celebrity Contacts
Alan has met some “celebrities” that have made an impact on his life….and sometimes the lives of others. To find out who they are you’ll have to read this week’s essay….Some Celebrity Contacts (Essay #516).
To read the essay click…. HERE.
The Santa Bust
Alan appropriately shares an essay with a Christmas theme this week. It’s called The Santa Bust (Essay #515). To read the essay click….HERE.
In the Beginning…. Part 3
If you have been following Alan’s Essays, the one two weeks ago described the right way to conduct a first flying lesson. Last week’s essay described the second flying lesson. Would you like to guess what this one is about? Right, the description of the third flying lesson. This one is called In the Beginning…. Part 3 (Essay #513).
To read the essay click….HERE.
In the Beginning… (Part 2)
In last week’s essay, Alan defined what a first flying lesson should look like and the reasons behind it. In this week’s essay, he describes the second lesson and also tells the instructors some problems to look for as the student progresses. It’s called In the Beginning… (Part 2) (Essay #512)
To read the essay click…. HERE.
Another Glenn McGovern Soaring Article
Louisiana Glider Pilot Glenn McGovern has graciously volunteered to write a series of articles about soaring. Here’s his fourth article called Flying the Carolina Wave Project Marion, N.C. or Ten Things I learned about Wave Flying in a 1-26. Thanks to Glenn for sharing it with us. I hope you'll enjoy it. To read the article click: HERE.
The First Small Steps Toward Wisdom, Grasshopper (Part One)
When someone who very successfully taught a lot of people to fly provides some advice, you would be very wise to listen. You can read this week’s essay to get Alan’s advice about how to conduct the first flying lesson for a new student. It’s called…..
The First Small Steps Toward Wisdom, Grasshopper (Part One) (Essay #511)
To read the essay click….HERE.
The “C” and Me
Alan discusses owning and flying a Mooney M-20C in this week’s essay, The “C” and Me (Essay #510). To read the essay click….HERE.
Here Comes the Foggy Season
With the current weather conditions we’ve been dealing with, it’s a good time to talk about how to handle making a go/no go decision. Alan discusses his personal approach in this week’s essay…. Here Comes the Foggy Season (Essay #509).
To read the essay click….HERE
FBOs: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
As you would expect, not all FBOs are created equal. Alan talks about some of his FBO visits in this week’s essay….FBOs: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly (Essay #508)
To read the essay click….HERE
My Next Step in Gliders - Why I Decided to Enter Glider Contests
Louisiana Glider Pilot Glenn McGovern has graciously volunteered to write a series of articles about soaring. Here’s his third article called My Next Step in Gliders - Why I Decided to Enter Glider Contests. Thanks to Glenn for sharing it with us. I hope you'll enjoy it.
To read the article click: HERE
Performance Figures
Every airplane you fly is supposed to have an Owners Manual on board and you're supposed to be familiar with how to use it. Alan talks about that in this week’s essay…..Performance Figures (Essay #507).
To read the essay click….HERE.
Decisions, Decisions
Flying is all about making decisions. Sometimes we have the luxury of having a lot of time to make them. Other times, they have to be made and acted upon almost instantly. Alan gives his take on that in this week’s essay….Decisions, Decisions (Essay #506)
To read the essay click…. HERE.
There Are No Obstacles, Only Challenges in Gliding
Louisiana Glider Pilot Glenn McGovern has graciously volunteered to write a series of articles about soaring. Here’s his second article called There Are No Obstacles, Only Challenges in Gliding - My Attempts to Master Cross Country Gliding. Thanks to Glenn for sharing it with us. I hope you'll enjoy it.
To read the article click: HERE
Memorable Moments
Alan says, “Intense experiences tend to stimulate our memories better than routine
sensory inputs.” The official name for that is the Law of Intensity. Alan talks about a couple of his “intense experiences” in this week’s essay….Memorable Moments (Essay #505).
To read the essay click….HERE.
Why I Became Passionate About Soaring in Gliders
Louisiana Glider Pilot Glenn McGovern has graciously volunteered to write a series of articles about soaring. Here’s his first article called Why I Became Passionate About Soaring in Gliders. Thanks to Glenn for sharing it with us. I hope you will enjoy it.
To read the article click: HERE
I Learned About…. From That
A lot of what we’ve learned has come from what we’ve experienced. Alan talks about that this week in I Learned About…. From That (Essay #504).
To read the essay click….HERE
Living Near Lift
An engine? We don’t need no stinking engine? Alan talks about that in this week’s essay…. Living Near Lift (Essay #503).
To read the essay click….HERE
To Go Around or Not To Go Around
There is a critical decision that all pilots have to occasionally make. Alan talks about it in this week’s essay…. To Go Around or Not To Go Around (Essay #502).
To read the essay click…. HERE.
It Must Be Nice
Alan starts his second 500 essays this week with #501. If you’re like me, and most of you are…. then you've seen someone living in an idyllic aviation community or flying that gorgeous airplane that you’ve always wanted and been a bit envious. Alan writes about that in this week’s essay… It Must Be Nice (Essay #501).
To read the essay click….HERE
Opus 500
Congratulations to Alan! Here is his 500th aviation essay. When Alan asked me if I would like to publish one of his essays, I had no idea that it would result in so many and for so long. Neither did he. The oldest one I can find is dated July of 2011. It looks like they started coming on a regular basis on January 27th of 2013. So the math essentially works out…… roughly 50 essays a year for a little over 10 years equals 500 of them. If you scroll down on this Blog page you can still read every one of them.
I’ve read them all and enjoyed it. Depending on the subject they will entertain, educate and inform. If you apply them to your flying, I’m confident that you will become a safer pilot. Hopefully you’ve read some of them, too. Whenever you get the opportunity just come to this blog page, scroll down until you see a title that looks interesting and click on it. I think you’ll enjoy it.
Oh, that brings up something else I wanted to mention. When someone gives you a gift you thank them but they usually don’t thank you. Every time I’ve thanked Alan for doing this over the years he thanked me. I had a tough time understanding that until I read #500 but I think I finally got it.
Here is an excerpt from his 500th essay… “I’d like to comment that learning by doing is a hallmark of the teaching/learning process. We learn to fly by flying. We learn to drive by driving. We learn to paint by painting. Maybe it’s possible to learn to write essays by writing essays.”
Once you write it, you need someone to read it. You get that by finding a platform that gets your writing to the readers. I provided that to Alan through LaAviator.com and became his Enabler-In-Chief as he calls me.
Thank you, Alan. Your dedication to your craft and perfecting your writing skills are exemplary. I hope you’re satisfied with the salary you receive ($0) and I’ll do what I can to continue to double it every year as promised.
To read Opus 500 click….HERE
Honorable Mention
Alan begins this week’s essay with the words, “So. Here I stand, on the threshold of having done something that few people have done before.” What is he getting ready to do? Publish his 500th aviation essay and I hope you have been enjoying them all. This week he thanks those who have helped him reach that incredible milestone. He also added a beautiful tribute to a dear pilot friend who has passed away. This week’s essay is called Honorable Mention (#499).
To read the essay click….HERE.
Killing Time, Waiting on Mother Nature
You know the old saying….. “If you have time to spare, go by air.” Alan talks about several examples of that in this week’s essay….Killing Time, Waiting on Mother Nature (Essay #498)
To read the essay click….HERE.
A Blast From the Past
Alan pulls out one of his old logbooks and finds some interesting things to share with us. This weeks essay is A Blast From the Past (Essay #497)
To read the essay click….HERE
Let’s Get ‘Er Did
There are two types of flight instructors - time builders and skill builders. To find out what that means you need to read this week’s essay - Let’s Get ‘Er Did (Essay #496).
To read the essay click….HERE.
Gone But Not Forgotten
You have probably seen in some earlier newsletters that the Fly By Knight Flight School in Hammond is for sale. Alan talks about them and other past/present Louisiana flight schools in this week’s essay….. Gone But Not Forgotten (Essay #495).
To read the essay click….HERE.
Traveling During Mid-Summer Heat
You’ve probably noticed that it has been a little hot lately. Besides being really uncomfortable for us, what does that heat due to the performance of your airplane? Alan talks about that this week in Traveling During Mid-Summer Heat (Essay #494).
To read the essay click…. HERE
The Wreck of a Body You See Before You
Do you think that what you do when you’re young can impact how you feel when you reach your golden years? Alan gives us his opinion in this week’s essay…. The Wreck of a Body You See Before You (Essay #493)
To read the essay click….HERE
The Perfect Trainer
Is there an optimum aircraft and training syllabus to use to learn to fly? Alan provides his opinion in this week’s essay…. The Perfect Trainer (Essay # 492)
To read the essay click…. HERE
Memorable Returns to Earth
To say that all landings are different is an understatement. Which means there are always some we will never forget. Alan talks about some of his in Memorable Returns to Earth (Essay #491).
To read the essay click…. HERE
Updated Advice to the Superannuated
Alan explains why he has taken the last couple of weeks off in this week’s essay. It’s called Updated Advice to the Superannuated (#490)
To read the essay click….HERE
Roots
We’ve all visited a lot of hangars over the years and in many of them we’ve seen model airplanes hanging from the walls or ceiling. If you have the opportunity to ask those hangar owners about those models, you’ll probably get to hear the story about how they have something to do with their early interest in aviation.
Alan’s essay this week is about his early beginnings in Roots (Essay #489).
To read the essay click…. HERE.
Need Some Therapy? Here’s A Suggestion
Going to see a therapist can be a very good thing if your life seems to be spinning out of control. Alan has another suggestion that works for him. This week’s essay is….Need Some Therapy? Here’s A Suggestion (Essay #487)
To read the essay click….HERE.
Pay Me Now or Pay Me Later
Should you own your own airplane or rent one? Well, that depends on a lot of things. Alan discusses that in Pay Me Now or Pay Me Later (Essay #486).
To read the essay click….HERE.
Stand By For The Singularity
Alan talks about the amazing technology changes that he’s lived through and the even more amazing changes that some folks predict will be in our future. Is it a good or a bad thing? This week’s essay is Stand By For The Singularity (Essay #485).
To read the essay click….HERE
A Decade of Dopamine and Norepinephrine
All of you regular readers know that when Alan was young he routinely threw himself out of perfectly good airplanes. He tells us more about that in….
A Decade of Dopamine and Norepinephrine (Essay #483).
To read the essay click….HERE
Aviate, Navigate, and, What’s That Other One?
I’ll leave it to you this week to read the title of Alan’s essay and guess what it’s all about. I’m betting you will get it right. It’s called…. Aviate, Navigate, and, What’s That Other One? (Essay #481)
To read the essay click…. HERE.
The Stress of Flight
For some folks, flying is so stressful they just can’t bear to do it. For others, it is a genuine source of stress relief. That is the subject of Alan’s essay for this week…..The Stress of Flight (Essay #480)
To read the essay click…. HERE
How Much Fuel is Enough?
There are a lot of things to consider when planning a flight to make sure you don’t arrive somewhere near your destination with nothing but air in your fuel tanks. Alan gives you some valuable guidance on that subject in this week’s essay…. How Much Fuel is Enough? (Essay #479).
To read the essay click….HERE
Know Your Systems
If you fly a lot of different airplanes, then you have to deal with a lot of different systems. And there is little to no standardization in most of those systems. Alan has some advice to help you deal with that in this week’s essay….. Know Your Systems (Essay #478).
To read the essay click….HERE
The Making of a Tailwheel Specialist
Alan started out learning to fly in a typical Cessna 150 as many of us “old” pilots did. So how did he end up becoming a “tailwheel specialist”? He tells us in this week’s essay…. The Making of a Tailwheel Specialist (Essay #477)
To read the essay click….HERE
Flying With Class “A” Explosives In the Universe in Which I Didn’t Get Killed
I think I’ll just let the title explain what this week’s essay is all about. It’s called
Flying With Class “A” Explosives In the Universe in Which I Didn’t Get Killed (Essay #476). To read the essay click….HERE.
When’s The Last TIme….?
Long time pilots approach an airplane expecting their skills to be there, fresh as daisies, regardless of how long it has been since they have been at the controls. They sometimes don’t stop to consider the fact that their skills might have acquired some decay as a result of a lack of use. Alan discusses that in this week’s essay….. When’s The Last TIme….? (Essay #475)
To read the essay click….HERE
On Performance-Based Navigation
Alan reviews all of the electronic navigation aids that he has used during his flying career. He calls this essay…. On Performance-Based Navigation (Essay #474)
To read the essay click….HERE
Fixing What’s Wrong
I’m pretty confident that most of us were not perfect students and that we’ve had one or more imperfect flight instructors who taught us along the way. That means we ended up with problems that needed “fixin” in some way or another! Alan talks about doing just that in….. Fixing What’s Wrong (Essay #473).
To read the essay click….HERE
A Day in the Life
Alan talks about how he spent his days as a flight instructor in his 20’s at Lakefront Airport. He calls this week’s essay….A Day in the Life (Essay #472)
To read the essay click….HERE
Time Flies When You’re Having Fun
Sometimes Alan peruses his logbooks to get ideas for writing his weekly essays. This week the logbook helped him relive his career transition path. He calls it Time Flies When You’re Having Fun (Essay #471).
To read the essay click….HERE
Time Out, Time In, or What?
As the saying goes…. “It’s about time!” And that is what Alan writes all about this week in Time Out, Time In, or What? (Essay #470)
To read the essay click…. HERE
A Privileged View From Spaceland
When we fly, we get to see things that folks on the ground will never see. Alan talks about that in this week’s essay…. A Privileged View From Spaceland (Essay #469).
To read the essay click….HERE
Odds and Ends From COVID Confinement
Like most of us, Alan recently had a bout with a bit of COVID. That gave him some time to round up a few thoughts in this week’s essay…. Odds and Ends From COVID Confinement (Essay #468)
To read the essay click….HERE
OK, I’ve Got My Ticket Now What?
So you wanted to learn to fly and you did… and then what did you do with that ability? Al talks about a whole bunch of different answers to that question in OK, I’ve Got My Ticket Now What? (Essay #467)
To read the essay click….HERE
Adventures Aloft in the Middle and Late Winter
Alan discusses some of his airplane trips during cold weather in this week’s essay…..Adventures Aloft in the Middle and Late Winter (Essay #466)
To read the essay click….HERE
Aviate, Navigate, Communicate
When you have an issue in the cockpit, there is a very specific order of tasks that you need to make to ensure the best outcome. Alan expounds on that in this week’s essay….. Aviate, Navigate, Communicate (Essay #465).
To read the essay click…. HERE
When The Rubber Band Breaks Or Doesn’t
How concerned should we be about having an engine failure in a modern general aviation aircraft? Alan talks about that in this week’s essay… When The Rubber Band Breaks Or Doesn’t (Essay #464).
To read the essay click…. HERE
The Area of Reverse Command
You are flying along and you slow down while maintaining altitude….and then you continue slowing down. Alan explains what is happening during that process in this week’s essay…. The Area of Reverse Command (Essay #463).
To read the essay click…. HERE
A Few Frontal Considerations
You can never learn too much about weather…. Especially when it just might save your life one day. Alan gives you his basic weather info in A Few Frontal Considerations (Essay #462).
To read the essay click….HERE
We Learn By Doing
Flight hours are not always a good indication of what a pilot might know. Alan explains why in this week’s essay….. We Learn By Doing (Essay #460)
To read the essay click….HERE
Blowing Smoke
This week Alan finishes the story about his eyes and his Drivers License and helps us with the metric system in this week’s essay…… Blowing Smoke (Essay #459).
To read the essay click….HERE
The Eyes Have It (or Don’t)
Alan writes about his lifetime of vision problems and how they have impacted his aviation career in this week’s essay called….The Eyes Have It (or Don’t) (Essay #458).
To read the essay click…. HERE
Road Trip
Alan discusses his recent vacation by car and compares it to when he used to travel by private aircraft. He calls this one Road Trip (Essay #457).
To read the essay click….HERE.
On Robotic Flying
Were you taught to do power-off, no-flap landings pre-solo or to land like you were flying a high-performance aircraft? Alan talks about both approaches in this weeks essay….. On Robotic Flying (Essay #456).
To read the essay click….HERE
Precision and Accuracy
Are you a pilot or an airplane driver? To find out you will have to read this week’s essay - Precision and Accuracy (Essay #455).
To read the essay click….HERE
Living With The Laws of Learning
To teach anyone anything, for example how to fly, you need to know how folks learn. Alan talks about that in this week’s essay, Living With The Laws of Learning (Essay #454).
To read the essay click….HERE
Who’s That Knocking At My Door?
Alan has always been fascinated by the wide variety of students who came to him to learn to fly. He talks about several of the more notable examples in…..Who’s That Knocking At My Door? (Essay #453).
To read the essay click….HERE
Free Flying
Alan talks about his “karate kid” form of flight instruction in this week’s essay….Free Flying (#452).
To read the essay click….HERE
Passages
Alan wanted to get us caught up on a couple of topics so he called this week’s essay Passages (Essay #451)
To read the essay click…. HERE.
Opus 450
If you have been reading Alan’s essays, you may have noticed that he makes it a
practice to commemorate each time he completes another fifty essays. This week’s essay, Opus 450 (Essay #450) marks nine years he has performed this, more or less, weekly task. Thanks Alan, for sharing them for us to enjoy and help us fly safer.
In this essay he shares 5 of his favorite previous essays:
- How Do You Climb?
- It’s A Good Thing for People Like Me That There are People Like You
- Sine, Cosine and Ear Wax
- Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics
- Hazardous Attitudes That Affect Aeronautical Decision-Making
To read the essay click….HERE
Aviation Museums I’ve Recently Visited or Not
There are some really interesting aviation museums all over the world. You need to take the opportunity to visit them whenever you happen to be in their neighborhood or incorporate them into the plans for every vacation. And don’t forget that there are several good ones right here in Louisiana that you all need to see. You can find them on our Links page by clicking: https://laaviator.com/links
Alan talks about some he has enjoyed in this week’s essay …. Aviation Museums I’ve Recently Visited or Not (Essay #449)
To read the essay click….HERE
BLOG ARCHIVE
2022 Blogs
The Ideal Instructor or Not (Essay #448) To read the essay click…. HERE
The Gone, The Unlamented ADF (Essay #447) To read the essay click….HERE
Decisions, Decisions (Essay #446) To read the essay click….HERE
About Flight Plans (Essay #445) To read the essay click….HERE.
Summer Rerun #2 (Essay #444) To read the essay click…. HERE
Summer Rerun (Essay #443) To read the essay click…. HERE.
When Full of Surprises (Essay #441) To read the essay click….HERE
On Controllability (Essay #440). To read the essay click….HERE.
One Turning and One Burning (Essay #439) To read the essay click….HERE.
From Humble Beginnings (Essay #438) To read the essay click….HERE
Flyover Country (Essay #437). To read the essay click….HERE
The Magic Number (Essay #436) To read the essay click….HERESome Problems on Solo Cross-country Flights (Essay #435) To read the essay click….HERE
On Dual Cross-country Flights (Essay #434) To read the essay click HERE.
The First Solo Flight (Essay #433) To read the essay click….HERE
Getting Linked Up (Essay #432). To read the essay click HERE.
On Turning Back (Essay #431). To read it click…HERE.
Immersed In History (Essay #430) To read the essay click….HERE
Back In The Saddle Again (Essay #429) To read the essay click….HERE
How Would You Design It? (Essay #428) To read the essay click…. HERE.
Everything Has a Price (Essay #427) To read the essay click….HERE.
Getting Ahead (Essay #426) To read the essay click… .HERE
About Checklists (Essay #425) To read the essay click….HERE
About Awards (Essay #424) To read the essay click….HERE
That’s My Gal (Essay #423) To read the essay click….HERE
Attitude Plus Power Yields Performance (Essay #422) To read the essay click….HERE
About Blind Landings (Essay #421) To read the essay click….HERE
A Job - What’s That? (Essay #420) To read the essay click….HERE
Manage Your Risks (Essay #419) To read the essay click….HERE 1/13/22
2017 Blogs
THIRTY SECONDS OVER NEW IBERIA 12/28/17
GETTING STARTED 12/22/17
PILOT PRODIGY 12/21/17
FIRST THINGS FIRST 12/14/17
THE PERIPATETIC SEPTUAGENARIAN RETURNS 12/10/17
A FEW MORE WORDS ON RISK MANAGEMENT 11/21/17
KNOCKING ANOTHER ONE OFF BUCKET LIST 11/18/17
AIRSHOWS 11/5/17
TIMES FLIES WHEN YOU’RE HAVING FUN 11/5/17
FLIGHT TRAINING, TAKE FIRST THINGS FIRST 10/24/17
ANOTHER ALMOST-PERFECT FLIGHT 10/24/17
A CLEARANCE CHALLENGE FROM OKC 10/6/17
BACKGROUND, MOTIVATION AND ABILITY 9/30/17
DON’T PREFLIGHT IT LOVER 9/30/17
THE THINK METHOD 9/15/17
ON ACCURACY AND PRECISION 9/6/17
ECLIPSE TRIPS 8/26/17
A DATE TO REMEMBER 8/19/17
A DAY IN THE LIFE 8/12/17
AN OUT OF BODY EXPERIENCE 8/6/17
THE PERFECT LEARNING ENVIRONMENT 7/20/17
A FLIGHT TO REMEMBER 7/5/17
ON THE FREEDOM OF FLYING 7/5/17
WHERE YOUR AIRPLANE LIVES 6/24/17
LIES, DAMN LIES, AND STATISTICS 6/16/17
SOMETIMES YOU WANT A BRIEFER BRIEFER 6/9/17
ANOTHER IN SAGA OF GOING DIGITAL 6/7/17
THE SYLLABUS 5/21/17
ADVENTURES WITH JOSH 5/21/17
HOBKNOBBING WITH THE BIG BOYS 5/21/17
AN UNEXPECTED TRIP BACK IN TIME 4/28/17
INSTRUCTOR LIABILITY 4/24/17
THE FEEL OF AN AIRPLANE 4/15/17
SCHWEINHUNDT - ENCHUN FAILURE! 4/11/17
MEMORABLE INSTRUCTORS I HAVE KNOWN 4/1/17
OPUS 200 - ALAN’S 200TH ESSAY 4/1/17
200 Opus 200 - 3/23/17
199 RULES FOR SEASONED TRAVELERS - 2/20/17
198 OVERHAULIN’ BLUES - 2/13/17
197 FREQUENTLY MISSED QUESTIONS - 1/30/17
196 THE PERFECT TEST - 1/23/17
195 FANTASY AIRPLANES - 1/16/17
2016 Blogs
148 DIFFERENT PLANES – LUSCOMBE 8A (1/4/16)
149 SOME ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS ABOUT RISK MANAGEMENT (1/11/16)
150 OPUS 150 (1/18/16)
151 MY LATEST PLANE (12/25/16)
152 THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS (2/1/16)
153 THE SAVANNAH MILK RUN (2/8/16)
154 TAILWHEEL SPECIALIST (2/15/16)
155 THE FLYING DONAHUES (2/22/16)
156 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR (3/14/16)
157 UP, UP, AND AWAY (3/21/16)
158 REMEMBERING DARRELL (3/28/16)
159 SOME FURTHER THOUGHTS ON RISK MANAGEMENT (4/4/16)
160 BEHIND EVERY JOURNEY IS A REASON (4/11/16)
161 A LAS BAS (4/18/16)
162 ON STAYING CURRENT (4/25/16)
163 AN AFTERNOON AT THE AIRPORT OFFICE (5/2/16)
164 THE PLACEBO EFFECT (5/9/16)
165 WHEN THE RUBBER BAND BREAKS (5/16/16)
166 ON STATING THE OBVIOUS (5/23/16)
167 SINES, COSINES, AND EAR WAX (5/30/16)
168 IMPROVING THE PRACTICAL TEST (6/6/16)
169 ON BACKACHES, BUDGETING, AND RESTRICTED AIRSPACE (6/13/16)
170 THE FIRST LESSON PART 1 – The Blank Slate (6/13/16)
171 THE FIRST LESSON PART 2 – (6/20/16)
172 WHERE DOES YOUR AIRPLANE LIVE? (6/27/16)
173 TRIBALISM IN THE COCKPIT (7/11/16)
174 NORMALIZATION OF DEVIANCE (7/18/16)
175 A FICTIONAL FLIGHT FROM LAKEFRONT TO JACK EDWARDS (7/25/16)
176 THE MILLENIUM FALCONS (8/1/16)
177 ON FLYING BIPLANES (8/8/16)
178 ON FLYING DIRECT WITHOUT RADIO AIDS (8/15/16)
179 ON EMERGENCIES, REAL AND IMAGINED (8/22/16)
180 THE WORLD’S OLDEST LIVING AMERICAN (8/29/16)
181 THE 2016 BOULDER MILK RUN (9/5/16)
182 LOSING COMMUNICATION IN THE COLORADO ROCKIES (9/12/16)
183 SOME MORE ODDS AND ENDS (10/3/16)
184 AN UNFORTUNATE STORY, SELECTED AT RANDOM (10/10/16)
185 THOUGHTS THAT COME WHILE BORING A HOLE IN THE SKY (10/24/16)
186 THE CURSE OF MONTGOMERY (10/31/16)
187 ON PROFESSIONALISM (11/7/16)
188 FROM THE BLACK HOLE OF CALCUTTA (11/14/16)
189 A COUPLE OF THANKSGIVING TRIPS WITH ICE (11/28/16)
190 THE ODD COUPLE (12/6/16)
191 ON FLYING BY THE SEAT OF OUR PANTS OR THE SKIN OF OUR TEETH (12/13/16)
192 I WON’T TELL IF YOU WON’T TELL (12/20/16)
193 AN AVIATION CHRISTMAS MEMORY (12/27/16)
2013 Blogs
1 ON TAKING OFF IN A MULTIENGINE AIRPLANE
4 OUTMODED AVIATION PRACTICES (2/6/13)
5 ON DECLARING EMERGENCIES (2/13/13)
6 ON DEALING WITH SYSTEMS (2/20/13)
7 USING PERSONAL MINIMA TO KEEP YOU ALIVE (2/27/13)
8 ON VMC (3/4/13)
9 ON SPINNING (3/13/13)
10 ON ZERO-ZERO TAKEOFFS (3/18/13)
11 ON ZERO-ZERO LANDINGS (3/25/13)
12 LUSCOMBE REPORT #6 (4/1/13)
13 ON NOT RUNNING OUT OF GAS (4/8/13)
14 MY FOUR SOLOS (4/15/13)
15 ON MANEUVERING SPEED (4/22/13)
16 THE STORY OF MY LIFE (4/25/13)
17 HOW MUCH TIME YA GOT? (4/29/13)
18 ON FLYING SOLO (5/6/13)
19 ON BEING IN A HURRY (5/12/13)
20 LUSCOMBE REPORT #4 (5/20/13)
21 ON PRETEST JITTERS (5/28/13)
22 A MEMORABLE DEMO JUMP (6/3/13)
23 THE MAGIC NUMBER (6/10/13)
24 THE GLOOM FEAR (6/17/13)
25 FLYING FLOATS (6/23/13)
26 THE HOMEBUILT FROM HEAVEN (7/1/13)
27 THE HOMEBUILT FROM HELL (7/8/13)
28 CHARLENE (7/22/13)
29 AIRCRAFT OWNERS I HAVE KNOWN (7/29/13)
30 TAKIN’ CARE OF BUSINESS (8/5/13)
31 WHY IS THERE AIR? (8/18/13)
32 ABOUT MAPS AND MODERNITY (8/26/13)
33 ON SEVERAL YEARS AS A DESIGNATED EXAMINER (8/31/13)
34 ON CHECKING ONE’S OWN WORK (9/9/13)
35 ON EXAMINER INTEGRITY (9/16/13)
36 ON PREPARING A HOWGOZIT (9/23/13)
37 ON CLEARANCES (9/30/13)
38 THE OLFACTORY ALPHA APPROACH (10/7/13)
39 MY FIRST TWO HUNDRED AND A HALF APPROACH (10/14/13)
40 A FLIGHT FROM NEW ORLEANS TO SAN DIEGO AND BACK (10/21/13)
41 THE LEARNING CURVE (10/18/13)
42 GOING VISUAL (11/4/13)
43 THE CLIPPER (11/11/13)
44 EPISODE FROM THE QUOTIDIAN TIME TRAVELER (11/18/13) (flight to Jack Edwards)
45 SITTING ON THE GROUND, WAITING FOR THE WEATHER (11/25/13)
46 HOW LOW SHOULD YOU GO? (12/2/13)
47 ON FRAMES OF REFERENCE (12/9/13)
48 EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT TURBOCHARGING (12/16/13)
49 MALONE’S FANTASY FLYING SCHOOL (12/23/13)
50 OPUS 50 (12/30/13)