Back to the topic of this thread, my source said what the HUGE issue with digital maps is the whole survey thing. Surveying the country to ensure accuracy with the VNC's I can't be the only person to question this... aren't you supposed to survey the country BEFORE you draw up the maps? That is, dr...

Source for statistics for women in aviation: http://www.womenofaviationweek.org/five-decades-of-women-pilots-in-the-united-states-how-did-we-do/ "Furthermore, the U.S. Department of Labor reports that only 4.3% of the population that reports making a living as a pilot or flight engineer is female. "...

As an aside, I'd strongly recommend the GSM version of any iPad, which does have GPS, even if you never intend to have a data contract for it. But yes you have to stump up more for it.

Complaining about only having an "old" iPad to navigate with is the 1st-world problem of 1st-world problems. I've a 1998 panel mount GPS with a 240x120pixel map display, that's perfectly serviceable for navigation: give me any kind of iPad at all: old, new, pink red or purple.

Just as an aside, I've noticed that while the AMEs at my local flight school are excellent on maintenance procedures questions - they're not really clued up on the costs of maintenance for private owners. (And why should they be? They don't do any.)

You don't really want an older tablet to use moving map software. Why not? My 18-month-old iPad is probably free for the cost of shipping on Ebay, by now. It runs Foreflight perfectly. I can't comment on Android, and this is not a pissing match over which is better, or cheaper. It is simply that th...

Older iPads are about $200-$300 on ebay. Less than a decent headset.

A C172 with full tanks and just two in it will climb at over 800-1000 FPM on said warm summer day, getting you to altitude twice as fast. Not any C172 I've flown, and I've flown a few. I have actually sat and counted that in about an hour of circuits (0.8-0.9 air time) you can get about 6 circuits ...

Nice to read a discussion where people disagree on the wisdom of a procedure without it turning into the usual name-calling bunfight.

common practice in the aerobatic/air show business. Have a nice round number so you know when you'll hit the ground without having to add or subtract on the fly Until you're this guy: http://www.f-16.net/f-16-news-article968.html and the DA means you can't set the altimeter to read zero at ground l...

Do you think there might be a reason that TC took the trouble to recommend that you don't join on base or final?
If you think there is a reason, do you disagree with them over it?

Where does the AIM say we shouldn't join on base/final? It points out aircraft should join on the upwind side and may join downwind. Nothing specifically about final or base. In RAC 4.5.2(ii) and (v), and in this diagram also: Screen Shot 2015-01-11 at 11.18.02 PM.png The base and final legs are no...

If you're in a 100kt aircraft, and there are six other similar in the circuit, is it merely "a suggestion and a starting point" to join overhead? Is it acceptable and respectful to other pilots to ignore the AIM and join straight-in or on the base leg just because you don't like the AIM's "suggestio...

I see this as a suggestion and a starting point, not something that you HAVE to do. Let's say a 200 KIAS airplane joins the circuit as per the AIM and there are 6 other light aircraft (100 KIAS) in the circuit. Is it smart? Or would a straight-in approach, timed to fit in between 2 aircraft be smar...

It's true that only the CARs are regulatory, and all they say is "turns to the left, unless notified in the CFS" and "conform to, or avoid, the circuit flown by other traffic". Nevertheless, the AIM goes to lengths to describe how to join the circuit at MF and non-MF aerodromes. I would also accept ...

ATF applies when the MF is unattended. No, MF radio procedures still apply when the MF is unattended! But procedures for joining the circuit at an MF depend on whether a ground station is in operation. Is it common to have a UNICOM ground station at an MF aerodrome? I'm not sure. I can't find a lis...

CYRM: FullSizeRender.jpg It's all in the CFS: The mandatory frequency is 122.8. Address ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOUSE UNICOM during ground station hours, ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOUSE TRAFFIC other times. MF radio procedures apply at all times. If the ground station is open you can use the relaxed joining procedures....

I take your point, but bad examples. Getting the station name 100% right is about a million times less important than a pre-flight inspection, or checking the weather. Good for you for thinking ahead and looking into it, but don't drop the airplane to fly the radio. If you have a particular aerodrom...

I think he means that joining procedures are relaxed if there's both an MF *and* a ground station in operation.

Otherwise it's overhead at circuit altitude for the mid-downwind or the extended downwind join, only.

For example, I am flying to an aerodrome and under the COMM section in the CFS, it is listed as MF: UNICOM 122.8 ltd hrs etc. etc. So my first question here is: What would I call them on first contact? xxx Radio or xxx Unicom? Firstly nobody cares what you call them. As long as you call them. Secon...