AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 92
P&E
NEVER AGAIN
A change in the weather
Resolve to check the forecast |
B Y R A N DY M I L L E R
I LIVE IN CENTRAL TEXAS with my wife and two daughters, and I rent from a local FBO at an airport in Class D airspace. This particular Saturday morning in January started out nothing short of gorgeous. The weather report could be summarized as cool, crisp temperatures, and virtually zero wind. I booked the Cessna 172, loaded the family up, and headed off for a one-hour flight to another airport in south-central Texas. It’s a little airport with a café well known for great food and friendly staff. This was starting out as the
perfect outing with the family, and it was the first time I had taken my two daughters flying with me. We took off early and had blue skies the whole way. My wife, a freelance photographer, took advantage of the opportunity to snap a few great pictures of the scenery. My girls also had a great time and enjoyed the flight immensely. I took pride in that I was finally fulfilling a lifelong dream of sharing my passion for aviation with my family. We landed, taxied in, tied down, snapped a few more pictures, and then
headed to the cafe for a big breakfast. After breakfast we walked around, admired the airplanes flown by the taildragger club that had the same idea as us, and then started to load up for the flight back. We had probably been at the airport for a total of two hours. Since the weather briefing was so stellar and appeared from my perspective on the ground to be identical to the one I’d already received, I skipped getting a second briefing. It had been only two hours— what could have changed? Almost immediately after liftoff, I could see a thin layer of clouds at 12 o’clock, at about 2,000 feet agl. I proceeded above the layer, staying VFR the whole time. I probably should mention now that I do not have an instrument rating. After a few minutes it became painfully obvious that this layer had moved in from the southeast, which is very common in southern Texas, and extended well beyond my destination. Great, now what do I do? I switched to my home airport’s ATIS and listened to the weather report, which confirmed what I was seeing. So I called up the tower and as soon as the controller heard my call sign, he cleared me all the way in and instructed me to report when I was five miles out. I was a bit surprised considering the weather change and inquired about what he was seeing outside. He advised that the airport was still VFR and if I came straight in, I “should be just fine.” So, I quickly turned around, descended below the layer of clouds, maintained VFR,
JOHN CAREY
92 | AOPA PILOT January 2013
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013
Contents
President’s Position
Visual Approach
Letters
Waypoints
Proficient Pilot
Safety Pilot
License to Learn
Pilot Counsel
Fly Well
Strength In Purpose
Watch What You Eat
Milestones
AOPA Foundation
Test Pilot
News
LSA Focus: Light Years Ahead
LSA Focus: Personal Vision
LSA Focus: Buying Into the Dream
Will Fly For Food
Technique
Ownership
Avionics
Efficiency
Never Again
Frugal Flier
State & Local Action
Products and Partners
Products and Services
Air Safety Institute
AOPA Insurance Services-Aviation
AOPA Member Benefits
Fly by Wire
Pilots
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Cover2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Contents
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 3
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - President’s Position
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 5
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 6
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 7
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 8
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 9
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Visual Approach
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 11
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Letters
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 13
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 14
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 15
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Waypoints
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 17
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Proficient Pilot
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 19
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Safety Pilot
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 21
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - License to Learn
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 23
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Pilot Counsel
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 25
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Fly Well
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 27
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Strength In Purpose
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 29
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 30
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 31
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 32
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 33
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Watch What You Eat
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 35
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Milestones
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 37
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 38
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 39
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - AOPA Foundation
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 41
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Test Pilot
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 43
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 44
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 45
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - News
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 47
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 48
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - LSA Focus: Light Years Ahead
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 50
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 51
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 52
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 53
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - LSA Focus: Personal Vision
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 55
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 56
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 57
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 58
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 59
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 60
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 61
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - LSA Focus: Buying Into the Dream
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 63
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 64
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 65
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 66
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 67
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 68
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 69
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Will Fly For Food
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 71
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 72
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 73
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 74
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 75
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Technique
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 77
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 78
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 79
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 80
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 81
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 82
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Ownership
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 84
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 85
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Avionics
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 87
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 88
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Efficiency
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 90
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 91
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Never Again
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 93
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 94
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Frugal Flier
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - State & Local Action
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - I1
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - I2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 97
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Products and Partners
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 99
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Products and Services
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 101
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Air Safety Institute
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 103
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - AOPA Insurance Services-Aviation
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 105
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - AOPA Member Benefits
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 107
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Fly by Wire
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 109
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 110
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 111
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Pilots
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Cover3
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Cover4
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