AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 105

Technique

Sit back and relax,
Invoking your inner airline captain

it’s going to be a nice flight
BY IAN J. TWOMBLY
your passengers are as comfortable as they can possibly be in your airplane. This means acting like Joe Cool pilot, giving a proper briefing, and attending to their very specific needs. I’m sure we’ve all done it at some point. We judge our own landings aloud (Shoot!), get off the glideslope (Come on!) or misunderstand an ATC call (What the heck is he asking?) with some regularity. We are striving to be perfect, after all. Alone in the airplane or with other pilots, comments like these are fine. But with passengers, they often elicit strange glances and rising blood pressure.

T

he red light comes on. “Uh, oh, why is that on?” I ask no one in particular. Then I realize I’ve made a mistake. There’s nothing wrong with the airplane, mind you. It’s completely fine. My passenger, on the other hand, looks at me as if we’re about to spontaneously combust and die in a heap of twisted metal. Such are the joys of flying with inexperienced passengers. Bringing passengers on a flight, especially those new to aviation, is a great privilege of being pilot in command. With the privilege comes responsibility, and it’s important to ensure

PHOTOGRAPH BY MIKE FIZER

AOPA PILOT • 105 • NOVEMBER 2010



AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010

AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010
Contents
President's Position
Hangar Talk
AOPA Action
Letters
Waypoints
Proficient Pilot
Safety Pilot
License to Learn
Pilot Counsel
Fly Well
Pilot Briefing
Epic Flights: Coastal Maine in Autumn
Could It Happen to You?
GA Serves America: Above the Spill
Great Shot
Crossover Classic Sweepstakes: Landing a Good One
Everything But the Pilot
Responding to a Demand
Wx Watch: Freezing Rain Facts
Frugal Flier: Save Some Gas
Technique: Sit Back and Relax, It’s Going to be A Nice Flight
Never Again
AOPA Aviation Summit
Pilots
Fly By Wire
AOPA Pilot Online
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - Cover2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 1
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - Contents
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 3
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - President's Position
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 5
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - Hangar Talk
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 7
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 8
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 9
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 10
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 11
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - AOPA Action
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 13
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 14
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 15
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 16
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 17
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 18
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 19
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 20
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 21
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 22
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - Letters
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 24
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 25
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - Waypoints
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 27
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - Proficient Pilot
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 29
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - Safety Pilot
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 31
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - License to Learn
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 33
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - Pilot Counsel
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 35
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - Fly Well
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 37
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 38
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 39
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - Pilot Briefing
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 41
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 42
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 43
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 44
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 45
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 46
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 47
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - Epic Flights: Coastal Maine in Autumn
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 49
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 50
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 51
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 52
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 53
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 54
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 55
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - Could It Happen to You?
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 57
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 58
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 59
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 60
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 61
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 62
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 63
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - GA Serves America: Above the Spill
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 65
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 66
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 67
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 68
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 69
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 70
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 71
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 72
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - Great Shot
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 74
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 75
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 76
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 77
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 78
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 79
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 80
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - Crossover Classic Sweepstakes: Landing a Good One
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 82
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 83
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 84
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 85
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 86
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - Everything But the Pilot
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 88
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 89
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 90
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 91
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 92
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - Responding to a Demand
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 94
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 95
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 96
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - Wx Watch: Freezing Rain Facts
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 98
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 99
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 100
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - Frugal Flier: Save Some Gas
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 102
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 103
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 104
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - Technique: Sit Back and Relax, It’s Going to be A Nice Flight
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 106
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 107
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - Never Again
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 109
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 110
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 111
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 112
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - AOPA Aviation Summit
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - Pilots
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - Fly By Wire
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 116
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 117
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 118
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 119
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - AOPA Pilot Online
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - Cover3
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201706
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201505
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201103_test
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201011demo
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot0308
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com