Doesn't apprenticeship mean you have to go to school at some point? For my automotive apprenticeship, it was 2 months/year unless you challenged the exams. While at school you can collect EI. While collecting EI there was still a certain number of hours you could work P/T while doing the school thi...

OK CS, newbie question time based on your last note. With one mag sending spark to the top of one bank, and the bottom plugs of the other, does that make it a "waste spark" system like older cars where it fires 2 cylinders at the same time? (one cyl would be at the top of compression, and the other ...

Good to know about the "any conflicting traffic" dialogue. I have always been taught to use this, and was taught by multiple instructors to boot.

Can I bug one of you gents for the breakdown on what EFATO, EFOTO means? (is that engine fire after takeoff, and on takeoff?)
What does TSB or SLAM translate to?

I find when studying for tests, you need to learn what type of person you are. For me, for the most part I have difficulty sitting down and reading blank text and absorbing the details. I am a fairly hands-on and visual learner. I take notes based on what I read from textbooks, and the actions of ph...

The police get paid for overtime when working on holidays, or when their shift is forced to go longer than planned. They also get paid extra for court days (court days often get scheduled on the officers days off which means they really cash in when going to them). There are a pile of extras that ge...

Would it be unreasonable to wear survival suits over the larger bodies of water? I used to have to wear one when on the helicopter rides to the platform when I was in offshore oil/gas. They offered the buoyancy without the bulk of an inflated life jacket....and also equipped with an ELT. I am a real...

The article references "..the mechanic at your local gas station.." Have you seen any "mechanics" at your local gas station lately? What era is the author living in? (Goober died without a pension, but Sheriff Andy of Mayberry retired in Florida). The average gross hourly rate of a Canadian automot...

The homebuilts that really scare me are the ones that use GMs Vortec 4.3L engine. That thing was a turd on the best of days. It is very rare to see one make it to 200,000 kms before spinning a rod bearing.....most of the ones I've seen die in the 150-170,000 km range. Intake gaskets leak coolant int...

I think comparing modern auto engines to aircraft engines is a bad comparison. Modern automotive engines run on much tighter monitored systems than what any piston powered aircraft down at the flight school will run with. I would say an aircraft engine from the 70s is much safer overall than any mod...

Must've been something serious to blow a gasket like that. I sure hope the pilot is okay and recovers from whatever happened.

scavers wrote:A big +1 for the "Aviation Weather" published by Jeppesen!

This is the one I'm reading now, and so far seems very good!

Wow, this thread is a real eye opener for anyone considering becoming an AME. I was enrolled to be an AME at SAIT back in 2004 but after talking to several people I decided to go a different route instead and withdrew. Now, I'm a licensed automotive technician and I just find it crazy that it pays m...

I was landing to the left all the time for a while too. I figured I was sort of conditioned to visualize ending up there from driving a car (you don't drive on the centerline in a car, right?). What I found helpful was to always make sure you look as far down the runway as you can. (will help judge ...

Wow, thanks for the excellent replies. With so many of you having experienced plugged vent issues, it's really amazing that instructors don't drill this check home during pre-flight inspections. I know I will definitely be adding it to my check. Your question is a very good one. Please spend more ti...

Here's a newbie question, but how do fuel tank vents work on small aircraft? Lets use something common like a C172 or a Piper Warrior as an example. Is there a risk of the vents plugging up in the right climate (freezing up) or becoming plugged by dirt or bugs? I've never actually been told anything...

My training frequency has been ridiculously low. I have just under 50 Hrs TT since 2008 (yikes!).....but that was because I had dozens of cancellations (spent 4 months booking my dual cross-country every Saturday and was cancelled every time for weather or mechanical snags), and then I moved cities ...

If any of the performers or owners of the static display aircraft are on here I just want to say thanks for another great show. I was really pumped to see the P-51 in action (first time I've ever seen an actual P-51 in person and not just a kit plane), and loved the other vintage birds. The Yak-18 w...

I like their bomber jacket, but if I'm going to spend that kind of cash on a jacket I'd rather spend a bit more and get a reproduction of a B-3 Bomber jacket with the sheepskin. (Even if I get made fun of by some of the people on here because I really don't care! LOL) I'd rock it with Ray-bans too. ...

Colonel Sanders,

Great posts in this thread. The manometer trick is still very much alive and kickin'. It's used in automotives and heavy duty quite often. My dealer uses one as standard procedure on diesel engine checks when excessive blowby is suspected.

I just found out they now accept eye surgery? I sure wish they did this 10 years ago. It was always my dream to be a pilot in the CF. My current eyesight is -3 diopters so I would need surgery for sure (nearsighted). I'm just not sure they would even look at a 30 year old now. Anyone have insight on...