AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2023 - 16

LETTERS
increasingly crowded pattern, the others radioed
that they saw me, even maneuvering so that
I wouldn't feel crowded. On my second landing
one pilot on final as I was on downwind radioed
that the windsock had changed, indicating a
significant crosswind, and wanted to make sure
I saw it. With so much help, I hoped that this
would still count as a solo with so much friendly
assistance. I'm too new to aviation to know for
certain, but I hope it's always like that. Talk
about the friendly skies! I really had no idea. So,
thank you for a very helpful article just when I
needed it.
Bill Ferrenad
Crestview, Florida
Remembering Dad
I was deeply moved by the Musings submission
in the June 2023 issue of AOPA Pilot by Pete J.
" PJ " Van De Hei, " Remembering Dad. " PJ's father,
Myron, had to have been quite a competent pilot
as well as an A&P. Myron had made repairs on his
Cessna 140 and was going to conduct a test flight to
another airport later to be retrieved by PJ. Shortly
after takeoff the Cessna 140 crashed and sadly
Myron died the next day. PJ wrote, " Dad would
have been the first to admit that the accident
was caused by a maintenance mistake that cost
him his life. "
PJ closed by saying that for 55 years " I have
always believed I was my father's distraction. "
I vigorously disagree! Yours has been a
world of unnecessary suffering, sir. As a retired
mental health professional after 40 years in the
field and having had my private ticket for 54
years, I say this with the utmost certainty: You
were never your " father's distraction. " I have
made mistakes because I allowed myself to be
distracted, thankfully only causing embarrassment.
Approaching 80 years old I have had to
establish additional limits the past few years.
No passenger comes near the Cessna 172 until
I have completed the preflight. There is no conversation
after my runup, takeoff, and clear of
the pattern. All cabin conversation stops entering
downwind. It is my responsibility to stay
focused, to stay safe.
Your father made a maintenance error. It
was his error, not yours. No loving, decent parent
living or deceased would ever want his son
or daughter to suffer as you have, PJ.
Please find your peace, for in this case your
emotional suffering is optional.
Tim Schnabel
Monroe, Georgia
16
AOPA PILOT / September 2023
Hangar Talk /
Our writers and photographers
go to great heights for our stories.
Senior Photographer David Tulis
and Senior Video-grapher Josh
Cochran soared to 10,500 feet in a
Cessna 182 with North Carolina's
Jumpers Away flight school pilot
Ed Scott-not to jump out of the
airplane, but to experience the flight
characteristics of the modified 182
for skydiving adventures. The school is located at Cape Fear Regional
Jetport (SUT) in Oak Island, and Tulis and Cochran, both pilots, donned
parachutes and experienced what it feels like to be a jump plane pilot;
the remaining seats are removed for the jumpers. Tulis is interested
in jumping, Cochran is not. " It almost made me want to try jumping,
but I'm still not sure, " he said. " Maybe someday. " Read " Rudder and
Wrench: Perfectly Good Airplane, " on p. 80.
Be Prepared
I enjoyed Catherine Cavagnaro's article about
mastering eights on pylons ( " Be Prepared, "
July 2023 AOPA Pilot). But, for the life of me
I don't see any skills learned perfecting this
maneuver that are necessary for commercial
operations, not to mention having this maneuver
being a requirement for the commercial
practical test.
It doesn't help perfecting pattern flying or
landing out with loss of power. As pointed out
in the article, the maneuver is generally flown
at very low altitudes enticing pilots to push the
limits of FAR 91.119. To me this condones and
encourages low altitude risky behavior.
What am I missing here?
Vince Pangia
Poughkeepsie, New York
I don't think you're missing anything! As I mentioned
in the article, the FAA's fascination with
the maneuver has always puzzled me (for the
reasons you cite) and I wouldn't be disappointed
to see it go away. Until then, I hope some of the
advice helps aspiring commercial pilots and
flight instructors. -Catherine Cavagnaro
Virginia Beach and Beyond
Regarding Dennis Johnson's article " Virginia
Beach and Beyond, " the information presented
was mostly accurate but could use a
bit of clarification. I would recommend that
visitation be limited to either north or south
of the James River at this time because of
ongoing construction on
the Hampton Roads Bridge
Tunnels. The Norfolk airspace
is Class C, but I would
highly recommend contacting
Norfolk Approach for
area transit. There are multiple
attractions in the area:
Busch Gardens, Jamestown
Settlement, restored Colonial
capitol at Williamsburg,
Virginia Air and Space Center
in downtown Hampton, Air
Power Park along Mercury
Boulevard for static displays,
Mariners Museum in
Newport News, Great Wolf
Lodge (an indoor water park),
and the Yorktown waterfront
and beach. There are two GAfriendly
airports on the north
side: Newport News (PHF)
and Williamsburg (JGG) in
addition to those listed for the
Virginia Beach/ Norfolk area.
Al Dyer
Yorktown, Virginia
Send letters to Editor, AOPA
Pilot, 421 Aviation Way,
Frederick, Maryland 21701 or
pilot@aopa.org. Letters may
be edited for length and style.
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2023

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