Aero-Tips!

A good pilot is always learning -- how many times have you heard this old standard throughout your flying career? There is no truer statement in all of flying (well, with the possible exception of "there are no old, bold pilots.")

Aero-News has called upon the expertise of Thomas P. Turner, master CFI and all-around-good-guy, to bring our readers -- and us -- daily tips to improve our skills as aviators. Some of them, you may have heard before... but for each of us, there will also be something we might never have considered before, or something that didn't "stick" the way it should have the first time we memorized it for the practical test.

Look for our daily Aero-Tips segments, coming each day to you through the Aero-News Network.

Aero-Tips 07.09.06

Flying into the world's largest airshow at the busiest airport on the planet is a high point of any pilot's career. This week we've been reviewing lessons for planning a VFR arrival into Oshkosh. As you practice your crosswinds and short-field spot-landings I'll leave you with these final thoughts about flying the AirVenture arrival:

1. Don't just read, but study and know the arrival NOTAM. There are some changes this year, and there are a lot of things you need to know I've not even hinted at in Aero-Tips.
2. Plan your flight and fly your plan, with ample reserves of fuel and a healthy respect for weather.
3. Practice to hold altitude and airspeed instinctively, while keeping your eyes outside the cockpit on traffic watch.
4. Train your passengers to become observers, to be part of the process of making a safe Oshkosh arrival.
5. It's not a failure to break off the arrival or go around if conditions aren't right -- EAA has fantastic volunteer emergency repair services, but you don't want to need them.
6. Manage your flight risk all the way to shutdown -- then be amazed at all AirVenture has to offer!

Aero-tip of the day: You're not "at" AirVenture until you safely land and secure your airplane. Allow yourself to be distracted anytime before that and you risk your safe AirVenture arrival. Fly safe and have fun, and I'll see you at Oshkosh!

Come to my AirVenture presentation "Avoiding Gear-Up Landings: Becoming One of 'Those Who Won't'" on Saturday, July 30 at 2:30 pm in Forum pavilion 1.

FMI: Aero-Tips