Flight Training - January/February 2020 - 6

ALWAYS LEARNING BY KOLLIN STAGNITO

Vice President of Publications/Editor
KOLLIN STAGNITO owned a Motorola Bag
Phone when he first started to fly. He never
tried to make a call with it while airborne!
kollin.stagnito@aopa.org

MAKING THE CALL

I've become heavily reliant on the easily accessible weather and
airport data available on board general aviation aircraft today.
The irony is that I find myself making more phone calls than ever
to confirm the information I'm seeing will actually help me make
a safe landing at my destination-or prevent disappointment
upon arrival by not having access to the services I'm expecting.
The airport and weather data available online and on my electronic flight bag (EFB)
have made me way more efficient-and self-sufficient-while "becoming familiar with
all available information concerning that flight" as required by FAR 91.103, Preflight
Action. I think we all can agree in-cockpit weather and satellite imagery is a marvel
of technology-streaming seamlessly to our tablets and cockpit displays. Because this
data is so reliable, the tendency is to believe it also is always accurate; we could easily
conclude that we have all the intelligence we need right in the cockpit. However, I'm
continually reminded that some pieces of information just can't be automated, and a
30-second phone call can give me the rest of the details I need to know.
On a recent flight from Frederick, Maryland, to Chicago I was hustling to arrive
before a cold front brought deteriorating weather to my destination airport. An hour
before my estimated time of arrival, ADS-B weather alerted me of significantly stronger
surface winds than forecast-not only at my destination, but for 75 miles in all directions. Because the winds were stronger than my personal minimums, it was an easy
but frustrating decision to land short of my destination and assess my options. After
checking the weather and not seeing a forecast reduction in wind velocity before the
poor weather arrived, I was ready to call a hotel. As a last resort, I decided to call the
6 FLIGHT TRAINING JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

FBO at my destination to confirm that what
they were seeing out the window matched
the METAR and TAFs. I was told the winds
were easing, shifting westerly, and slowly
aligning with the single runway. If I could
get there soon, a window of opportunity
remained. I ran to the airplane and flew
at maximum cruise speed, arriving a safe
margin before the front, in conditions I
knew I could handle. That phone call made
the completion of the flight possible.
If it's so helpful, why not call while still
in the air? Calling while flying may sound
convenient-and Bluetooth headphones
enable hands free calling-but cellular
telephone operation while airborne is prohibited by the FCC: 47 CFR 22.925 specifies
cellphones be switched to airplane mode
while airborne to prevent interference
with cellular towers. This includes texting.
Cellphone calls and texts are allowed in an
aircraft while on the ground, however, so a
quick landing and call on the taxiway would
be legal. If you have an emergency, you can
attempt to call or text while aloft, but know
that getting a reliable connection can be
difficult, particularly above 3,000 feet agl.
Here are a few other instances in which
you may considering making a preflight call:
Fuel availability. Many FBOs close at 5
p.m. No problem, right? You'll use self service. Call ahead to make sure it's operating
properly. Self-serve fuel farms are notoriously finicky. Worst case, you'll have to fly
to the next airport with available fuel.
Runway conditions. The amount of
snow and ice on the runway after a storm
(or the amount of mud or standing water
on a grass runway) may appear accurately
in an airport notam, but don't count on it.
Call ahead to confirm runway conditions
and root out hidden hazards.
Restaurants. As great as EFB airport
databases are (and don't forget AOPA's
Airport Directory), it's a dynamic world
and airport businesses change frequently.
Your dual cross-country flight to that airport diner 45 minutes away may conclude
with a growling stomach if the restaurant
is closed that day-or permanently. If you
do find a restaurant is out of business, consider posting a comment in AOPA's Airport
Directory online.
We are increasingly equipped with
powerful tools in aviation, but the information they provide has limits. Sometimes,
nothing can beat the old-fashioned phone
call and quick chat with another person to
get the specifics. FT

Flight Training - January/February 2020

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