CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 4 - 33

CFI TOOLS
LIGHT GUN SIGNALS
WHY WORRY? BY MACHTELD SMITH
and I requested and received flight following from ATC. The flight was
smooth, winds were calm, and I enjoyed chitchatting with my passenger
who was a student pilot. What could go wrong? The air traffic controller had
just cleared us into Philadelphia's Class Bravo airspace when it happened.
I had an intermittent stuck mic and was stepping on radio transmissions.
ATC promptly told us to leave their airspace immediately. So, we exited as
quickly as we could and I started troubleshooting. But nothing seemed to
revive the radio-transmitting and receiving remained intermittent.
I was stumped.
FOR SOME REASON DURING FLIGHT TRAINING-NO MATTER HOW MUCH
I STUDIED-I HAD TROUBLE REMEMBERING THE " DREADED " LIGHT GUN
SIGNALS AND MY RESPONSE TO THEM IN CASE OF LOST COMM. Once I
passed the checkride, I focused on other things-like taking my husband
and children to new places and enjoying my newfound freedom sans CFI.
I did periodically brush up on my knowledge of airport lighting, including
rotating beacons, but the light gun signals were a distant memory. Silly me
for letting that slide. It just didn't seem likely I'd need it. As time passed, I
collected several advanced ratings and flew at a mix of nontowered and
towered airports never experiencing radio issues, so why worry?
Then one day, I flew a Beechcraft Bonanza up the East Coast to Westchester
County Airport (HPN) located just outside and below New York's Class
Bravo airspace, northeast of LGA and JFK. It was beautiful VFR weather
Plan B: No comm, no flight following, stay under New York's Class Bravo
outer shelf, hang a right at the Tappan Zee Bridge, set the transponder to
7600, look for light gun signals from HPN's tower, and stay sharp to see and
avoid other traffic in this busy airspace. Nice thought, except for the light
gun signals-if I saw them would I understand what they meant? I asked
my student-passenger hoping he would be on top of it. No such luck. Maybe
time for Plan C: Find and land at a nontowered airport. As I was reviewing
my options, the radio crackled to life and seemed to work correctly again.
(continued on next page)

CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 4

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 4

CFItoCFI Newsletter—Volume 12 Issue 4
CFI Notes
Letters
From the Editor: Why Choose ASI's eFIRC? Because It's a Wise Choice
I Tested Positive for What? False Positive Results
Safety Webinars: Hone Your Skills—Be Well-Informed
Safety Webinars: Learn to Turn
ASI Message: Expanding the Envelope
CFI News
CFI Tips: Tower Talk
Checkride Checklist: DPE Answers for Students and CFIs
Practical Advice: Avoid Mishaps—Keep Your Pocket Book Happy
Chart Challenge: High-Speed, Low-Altitude Military Training
Accident Case Study: Into Thin Air
You Can Fly: Flight Training Experience Survey and Awards
Safety Quiz: Ice Flight
CFI Tools: Light Gun Signals—Why Worry?
Chief's Corner: Dealing With Learners' Fears
Safety Tip: Runway Conditions
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 4 - CFItoCFI Newsletter—Volume 12 Issue 4
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 4 - CFI Notes
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 4 - Letters
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 4 - 4
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 4 - From the Editor: Why Choose ASI's eFIRC? Because It's a Wise Choice
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 4 - 6
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 4 - I Tested Positive for What? False Positive Results
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 4 - 8
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 4 - 9
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 4 - 10
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 4 - 11
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 4 - Safety Webinars: Hone Your Skills—Be Well-Informed
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 4 - Safety Webinars: Learn to Turn
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 4 - ASI Message: Expanding the Envelope
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 4 - 15
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 4 - CFI News
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 4 - 17
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 4 - 18
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 4 - 19
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 4 - CFI Tips: Tower Talk
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 4 - 21
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 4 - 22
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 4 - Checkride Checklist: DPE Answers for Students and CFIs
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 4 - 24
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 4 - Practical Advice: Avoid Mishaps—Keep Your Pocket Book Happy
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 4 - 26
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 4 - 27
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 4 - Chart Challenge: High-Speed, Low-Altitude Military Training
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 4 - Accident Case Study: Into Thin Air
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 4 - 30
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 4 - You Can Fly: Flight Training Experience Survey and Awards
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 4 - Safety Quiz: Ice Flight
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 4 - CFI Tools: Light Gun Signals—Why Worry?
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 4 - 34
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 4 - 35
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 4 - Chief's Corner: Dealing With Learners' Fears
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 4 - 37
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 4 - 38
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 4 - Safety Tip: Runway Conditions
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