USA Today Fails the Test on Aviation Training and Testing

June 7, 2009

USA Today’s lack of understanding regarding aviation has become another sensationalized story that does nothing other than scare the flying public.  In this case, the headline is “Pilots in crashes had multiple failed tests“, and the story states that in most of the major regional airline accidents in the last 10 years, at least one of the pilots had not passed multiple of what USA Today simplistically calls “tests”. 

This USA Today article makes no more sense than suggesting that because at least one pilot in each of these accidents was a male (a good bet considering airline pilot demographics), males are inherently unsafe pilots.

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Posted by brianflys

Q1EX with Windows 7? Not Yet…

May 31, 2009

Does Windows 7 Release Candidate work on the Samsung Q1EX?  In short, not quite, not yet.

With reports that W7RC is installing well on other tablets and convertible PCs, I gave it a try on my new Samsung Q1EX.  Having installed it on several other computers including a Fujistu P1610 (worked great), the look of Windows XP is starting to look pretty dated.

Backed up my SSD on the Samsung Q1EX as an image on a USB HDD using Acronis.  Then did a clean install of W7RC from the DVD I had created (using a USB DVD player and keyboard.  Installed without errors, but does not install a WLAN driver or touchscreen drivers.  After some experimenting (and reloading W7RC after snafus), I found that the Win XP driver for WLAN (the one for Marvel) gives you the WLAN.  Only partial success with the touchscreen.  The only touchscreen driver that seems to give you any functionality is the XP “TSP” driver that loads the eGalaxTouch utility.  The other drivers marked as touchscreen or tablet  (either XP or Vista versions) do not seem to work alone or in combination with the TSP driver.  The issue may be that the touchscreen is a PS-2 hardware item.  W7RC does not recognize the tablet function, and does not provide the tablet/pen settings in control panel. To even log on you need a USB keyboard to enter the password. No access to a tablet-style keyboard.

I contacted Samsung asking about the status of Windows 7 drivers.  They are no help based on this response:

Samsung does not provide any support or drivers for altering the Operating System on the Q1 line of Ultra Mobile PCs. We do not provide any drivers for Windows 7 at this time for any of our mobile computing products.

So much for customer service from Samsung.  Looks like I’ll be sticking with XP for awhile on the Q1EX until Microsoft or Samsung provides driver support.

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Posted by brianflys

Review: Samsung Q1EX vs Fujitsu P1610 running Anywhere Map Pro

April 18, 2009

This post provides a user review and comparison of the Samsung Q1EX versus the Fujitsu P1610 UMPCs. This review focuses on the user interface and screen performance in an aircraft cockpit environment running the  Anywhere Map Pro aviation GPS navigation software created and sold by Control Vision Corporation.  This is not a formal review but rather my personal observations as an experienced user of the AWM Pro system on a variety of tablet PCs.

Fujitsu P1610 vs Samsung Q1EX

Fujitsu P1610 vs Samsung Q1EX

Why do this?  When I read about Samsung’s release of the Q1EX, it looked to me like a great match for this software as well as sized to fit well in a small aircraft cockpit.  I bought one as an ”upgrade” to my existing Fujitsu P1610.  To test my decision, I (temporarily) loaded AWM Pro on both units and flew with them in my Grumman Tiger to get a good side-by-side comparison.  Made sense to me to share the results with you.

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Posted by brianflys

Economy Got You Down? Go Flying!!

March 8, 2009

Who isn’t spooked by the news that’s hitting us every day it seems. Layoffs, closings, business failures. Even Eclipse Aviation, one of the most successful makers of the very light jet (at least for awhile), now going Chapter 7. If you do still have a job, you keep your head down, try to stay focused, make sure you are bringing maximum value to your company (even when you ARE the company).

But guess what, there is an escape from all this madness, if even for a short while. Usually measured in tenths of an hour. Flying. Yes, flying. Proved it again this weekend. Once I strapped into the cockpit and fired up the engine, the rest of the world, the economy, politics, all melted away. I focused on the one job of pilot in command.

Even better, once you lift off and get some altitude, you really do get the sense of perspective. Took my 4 new cylinders (another story for another time) on a little tour of the low desert, building those hours at 65-75% power to really seat the rings. At 5,000 feet, you can see the beauty of the landscape, feel the sense of speed, and see how tiny the human presence is on that open land. Just me and my plane, with the engine playing its smooth drone, and Jimmy Buffett playing through the intercom. The rest of life could wait for that couple of hours. I had that priceless perch to see the rest of the planet, truely above all the issues of the day.

Some call this “boring holes through the sky.” But to me it’s a vertical vacation, allows me to clear my head, soak up the view (and it is a great view, have you looked lately?).

So go flying. Make the time. Even if it’s only a short flight. Nice thing about our planes is they can quickly take you to a new landscape, a new view of your world. The rest of your life can wait a bit. You will return fresh, energized, even if a little lighter in the wallet!

This is the essence of being Hog Wild for Flying.
Cheers!

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Flying to Margaritaville!!

January 2, 2009

This is the kind of mid-day trip only possible by General Aviation.  As a Parrothead, I found it a perfect way to end 2008.  Flew from San Diego to Margaritaville for lunch!  That is, the Margaritaville Cafe in Glendale, Arizona, outside of Phoenix.  Good way to spend a mild Southwestern winter day.

margaritaville011

Ok, Jimmy Buffett wasn’t there that day.  But the cafe played the live Radio Margaritaville feed from the internet as well as video from various cafes and concert venues across the world.  And the place is laid out like a waterfront pier with booths created from fishing or dive boats.  Good food too.  I’ll be going back…

 margaritaville02

Cheers till next time!

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205 Knots in Grumman Tiger!!

December 27, 2008

Ok, that was groundspeed on the return flight yesterday returning from Mojave Airport/Spaceport back to San Diego at 11,500 feet. No record or anything, just a “personal best” for me and my Tiger. One of those many little things that make flying so much fun.

And I guess the strong tailwinds get most of the credit since I normally max out at 135 TAS. But hey, it still was fun watching the groundspeed spool up on the GPS, especially after slogging up to Mojave earlier in the day into the teeth of stong headwinds.

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Avgas Price Gouging? Yes!

November 28, 2008

Ok, I am convinced that someone is feasting on bloated avgas prices.  In a prior post, I noted the difference between the falling automobile/mogas prices compared to avgas prices that are stubbornly sticking near their all-time highs.  Other folks are noticing this as well, as reported in “Air Time with Carol Legg“.  

It has not gotten any better, in fact, it’s worse!  The gap between avgas and mogas is wider than it has ever been.  What is going on?  Who are lining their pockets with avgas profits?

Where is AOPA?  

This is a major flying cost issue for small GA operators.  Every AOPA member should be emailing AOPA and asking them to get involved in getting control of avgas prices!

Proof?  Topped off this week at KSEE after a local Southern California flight.  Self-serve 100LL was $4.59 per gallon, only a few cents a gallon cheaper than a month ago ($4.77).  Meanwhile, mogas is now widely selling for below $2.00 per gallon.  So I am paying far more, on a percentage basis, for each gallon of avgas.

Checked with the 100LL.com fuel price search, and it still shows all of the airports in the area with avgas prices well over $4.00 per gallon.  So there appears to be an organized effort to keep avgas high, at our expense.

Will I keep flying?  Absolutely!  But I’m going to keep watching avgas prices and KSEE will not seeing my business until prices come back to earth.

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Avgas Price Gouging?

October 24, 2008

Why are avgas prices still holding near their all-time highs, while automobile gasoline prices continue to free-fall to near last year’s prices?

Are we being gouged by avgas?

Just updated my fuel price service, 100LL.com, part of my Control Vision Anywhere Map subscription.  At my home field, the price of self-serve avgas is $5.28 per gallon.  According to the fuel pricing service, the national average is $5.08 (updated as of 10/23/2008.  Meanwhile, local low grade auto gasoline, mogas, is running about $3.15 a gallon, and some of the cheapest outlets are slipping below the $3 level.  That a 60% difference in price between avgas and mogas.

Ok, I understand all about avgas being a niche product produced in small quantities, needing special handling and shipping because of the lead content, and the price change lag (both up and down) because of fewer flight hours requiring longer to consume supplies bought at higher prices. 

Avweb has an editorial about this, but basically says the FBO business is difficult, so grin and pay the prices.  Nope.  AOPA needs to get involved in this.  

In the meantime, I’ll continue to use 100LL.com to avoid the FBOs who insist on holding the higher prices.

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Formation Flying on a Beautiful Weekend

October 18, 2008

Beautiful weather, and a beautiful location for some formation flying last weekend.  Santa Maria, California (KSMX).  Inland enough that there were no worries about the marine layer coming in to delay the day’s flying.  But close enough to the central California coast to allow some great photo ops.

Formation Flying at Santa Maria, Oct 2008

Formation Flying at Santa Maria, Oct 2008

Fun weekend for the West Coast Hepcats, an informal group of pilots flying Grumman light single aircraft.  Informal, but very serious about our formation flying.  We take this very seriously (with strong focus on safety), following FFI and Grumman formation flying standards. This weekend our training included 2-ship and 4-ship formations (I’m flying slot in the above photo) and even a 6-ship formation with a Delta configuration.  If you are interested in flying formation, PLEASE get the appropriate training.  It is intense, safe, and fun when the participants are properly trained, led, briefed, and can execute (good stick-and-rudder skills).

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TSA Damages Airliners! Another reason to Fly GA!

August 24, 2008

Here’s another reason to skip the airlines and fly General Aviation.  The next airliner you get on could be damaged and made unairworthy by none other than TSA!  I’ve previously written about the top 10 reasons to skip the airlines and fly yourself on general aviation.  But this new reason may save your life!

Yes, that’s right, TSA is now damaging airliners!  This week, an ignorant TSA inspector damaged and made unairworthy 9 airliners at Chicago O’Hare airport.  Nine aircraft damaged (fortunately this damage was discovered by observant pilots) and over 40 flights delayed while the damaged equipment was replaced.  Why was this done?  To see whether someone could get into the airplanes.  Not by steps and doors…but “spiderman” style. A TSA inspector used aircraft equipment as…monkey bars!…in an attempt to climb into the aircraft.  Keep in mind that TSA did not report the damage they caused, so what might have happened if they damaged equipment that was not discovered before the flight………?

tsa.jpg     =       

But of course, TSA was apologetic about this incredibly stupid act, disciplined the inspector, and said this would never happen again…..right?   WRONG!  Instead, they are defending the inspector, blaming the airline for lack of security (because by damaging the planes, they could get access to 7 aircraft).  Worse, although they have supposedly provided some additional training to its inspectors, TSA continues to encourage its inspectors to look for and exploit such “vulnerabilities”.  

So while you worry about the terrorist threat against air carrier travel…you now need to add the ignorant, self-righteous, virtually unregulated staff of the TSA.  Do you know who’s been climbing on and digging through the sensitive equipment on your airliner? 

Fly your own airplane and avoid this madness!  Cheers!

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