The perception that all pilots must have perfect vision is an enduring myth, but is it true? Many types of pilot certificates are available, and as medical technology improves, so do the possibilities. Don’t misunderstand, we won’t be certifying blind pilots any time soon, but the image of an eagle-eyed
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Safety in aviation has many dimensions: aircraft maintenance, flight operations, air traffic control, and human performance. One area that often receives attention only after a crisis is mental health among aviation professionals—pilots, air traffic controllers, and others.
The Mental Health in Aviation Act of 2025 (H.R.
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The saying “in like a lion out like a lamb” is most often used for March, but April can also be a crazy weather month. While aviation training tends to focus on the go/no-go decision, equally critical are the continue/divert decisions that happen quite literally throughout
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The mechanical operation of an airplane at night is no different than operating the same airplane during the day. The pilot, however, is affected by various aspects of night operations and must take them into consideration during night flight operations. Some are actual physical limitations affecting
…Eyes provide the brain with a visual image of the environment. Each eye acts as a natural and very sophisticated digital camera. Its basic function is to collect light rays reflected from an object, using the lens to focus these rays into an image on a screen (the retina), and
…Yesterday, the FAA Safety Team distributed a newly published Fly Safe Fact Sheet, Avoiding Pilot Deviations (PDs). Now listen, if you’ve read this blog over the years you know we have discussed this topic before. However, it’s worth discussing on the regular
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Of the senses, vision is the most important for safe flight. However, various terrain features and atmospheric conditions can create optical illusions. These illusions are primarily associated with landing. Since pilots must transition from reliance on instruments to visual cues outside the flight deck for landing at the end of
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