Sergio Sovero
Coffin Corner and Mach Tuck
While piston airplanes are not subject to coffin corner, subsonic jets must be aware of Mach tuck and associated aerodynamic implications. At a jet's...
Maintaining a Positive Intra-Cockpit Gradient
“Good leadership consists of motivating people to their highest levels by offering them opportunities, not obligations.” – Lao Tzu, Chinese philosopher
A gradient can be thought...
Mountain Wave Turbulence
The FAA defines turbulence as air movement created by atmospheric pressure, jet streams, air around mountains, cold or warm weather fronts, or thunderstorms. Although...
Holding Procedures
Holding patterns can be assigned by ATC to facilitate traffic flow or when a clearance limit is reached. Similarly, a pilot may request a...
Volcanic Ash: An Unrecognized Threat to Aviation
Volcanic ash is a major threat to flight safety. An inadvertent encounter with an ash cloud has the potential to cause severe aircraft structural...
Wake Turbulence: What It Is and How to Avoid It
In flight, all aircraft generate wake turbulence as a byproduct of lift. These counter-rotating vortices form behind the trailing edge of an airfoil and...
Airmen Certificates and Recency
It is crucial for pilots to understand the significance and validity of their airmen certificates. These documents serve a key role in flight operations,...
Diversions
Planning a diversion is always a high workload task which could potentially lead to overlooked items. Careful planning and consideration are paramount to a...
Airport Surface Operations and Hot Spots
Hot spots are so designated because they are areas on airport surfaces that have historically resulted in unintended aircraft movements that are contrary to...
Aircraft Oxygen Delivery Systems
Various types of aircraft oxygen delivery systems and oxygen mask products have been developed over the years. It is imperative to have a comprehensive...