Richard Swindell
Phones on Planes
In 1999, long before binge-worthy series became available on multiple streaming platforms, the show The West Wing premiered on cable TV. In a season...
Notices to Airmen-Missions-Airmen
In 2021, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) changed Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) to Notices to Air Missions (still NOTAMs though) in a stated effort...
Some Thoughts on TCAS: An Operator’s Perspective
The probability of anyone reading our column and this article not being aware of the recent mid-air tragedy in Washington, D.C., between a PSA...
Can You Land This Plane?
So, there you are, settling into a little nap about mid-way through your transcontinental flight from New York to San Francisco, when a flight...
Disaster on the Road, Pt. 12
Just over five years ago, on Thanksgiving Day 2019 in the crew room, one of the Grey Matter authors was speaking with a few...
Disaster on the Road, Pt. 11
In October, we walked through what to do when faced with a failed training event or line check. This month, we are talking about...
Disaster on the Road Pt. 10
Our dedicated readers will recall the August installment of disaster and disruption on the road, where we discussed operational meltdowns. Funny enough, that article...
Disaster on the Road Pt. 9
Year to date here in the Grey Matter column, we have focused on things happening directly or indirectly that affect your life on and...
Disaster on the Road Pt. 8
Here in the Grey Matter column, we are continuing our yearlong series on facing and managing disasters while on the road. This month we...
Disaster on the Road Pt. 7
As aviators, we strive for the perfect flight every time. However, an argument could be made that such a thing does not exist, yet...